8 Ways to Implant a Habit

For a long, long time I've had habits that I've wanted to implant. They include:

• Wash my face twice a day.
• Brush my teeth twice a day.
• Brush my hair every day.
• Read my Bible every day.
• Write in my diary every day.
• Post daily on my bookstagram.
• Eat better.
• Sleep better.
• Get up early.
• Drink more.
• and other random projects that I want to work on every day.

As you may have guessed, I've struggled with implanting these into my day. In the last two years I finally nailed the three basic hygiene habits. Last year I struggled hard with the rest of those goals. This year, I've suddenly found myself including those habits into my day. What happened?

The answer is just that I did them every single day. 

It sounds easy, doesn't it?

Let me tell you, it's not.

But there are ways to make it easier.

Today I will be sharing with you the ways that I have managed to acquire these habits.


1. Put them on your to-do list. 
Have you got a list of things you have to do today? (If not, you should. I promise it will save you time & energy!!) Put down all these things you're trying to do. Each time you see them written down, you'll be reminded--oh yeah, I want to ________. 

2. Have the objects you need to use visible.  
Keep your hairbrush on your desk. Stack your diary and notebooks next to your bed. Set out your music stand. If it's not practical to have the object (or an object) out, then write yourself some sticky notes and put them in a prominent place. Making them pretty, witty, or funny might help keep you from being unhappy about seeing them all the time. ;)

3. Appoint times to do those things.   
If you always write in your diary before bed, or brush your hair before you leave your room, or take a drink when you switch projects, you'll be reminded to do them. Appoint a time for practising your instrument and set a timer for it. If you can't do it then for some reason, snooze the timer!

4. Set a certain number of minutes to work on a given daily project.
30 minutes of writing a day. 10 minutes of Bible memorization. 5 minutes of stretching. Whatever. Set an amount of time to do something daily and time yourself as you do it. Pause the timer and return later if you have to.

5. Be conscious of your bad habits & counteract them. 
So you want to get up at 5 a.m. every day... but you don't close your phone until 11 p.m. Ehhh... yeah. Be conscious that you have a hard time getting off your phone, and find a way to counteract that. Put it out of reach, put on screen time, get someone to text you at 10 p.m. to warn you off your phone... whatever. Just find a way to make a new habit. Instead of picking up your phone when you get into bed, pick up a book or your Bible. Or work on poetry or Scripture memorization. Find something else to do instead of your bad habit. This stands for any bad habit.

6. Make it easier on yourself.
Do you want to post every day on your bookstagram? Keep a running list of ideas. Take lots of extra pictures that you can use. Write some posts in advance. Whatever it is that you want to do every day, find ways to make it easier for yourself to do this thing every day.

7. Get an accountability partner. 
We're proud critters. (Any Sheffey fans out here?!) We don't like to admit that we failed. Having an accountability partner can keep you motivated. They can encourage, threaten, praise, or comfort you. It can be someone who's trying to do the same thing or who's willing to partner over different stuff. Either way, this can be a great help.

8. Choose to do it. 
All the help in the world won't help you unless you help yourself. No one can make you choose to do this. You have to choose yourself. If you genuinely choose to do it and are absolutely determined to do it, you can do it. Ask the Lord for His strength. Be willing to sweat and hurt and work hard. Endurance brings satisfaction. :)

~ / / ~

There you are! I hope you found those tips helpful. Let me know of your tips for implanting habits! :)

Having Real, Pure Joy

When this journal prompt came out, I came upon the blog post and prepared to answer the answers in the comments. But the first question stopped me. 

What brought me real, pure joy?

In my heart, I knew it wasn’t Jesus. Other people said reading their Bible, or praying. For me, it was nothing of the kind. It had nothing to do with the Lord. Possessions & friends were what made me happy. 

So I didn’t do that challenge. Because I couldn’t. I didn’t have joy. I had a type of happiness. But not True, Pure Joy. 

Fast-forward to 2020. I remembered these journal prompts (there are several) and remembered that I wanted to do them. I’d forgotten what they were, but I found that the February one was this one—Discovering Joy in Jesus.

This time I had no problem answering these questions. My answers were true and heartfelt. I have joy in my Jesus. 

This year I’ve been trying hard to choose joy daily and intentionally. I’ve discovered that the joy of my Lord is my strength. I have discovered that choosing joy in the midst of circumstances CAN be done—but only in Him. I am so much happier now than I was in 2018 or 2019.

Because I have surrendered to the Lord. 

Surrender brings joy. I believe that with all my heart. Because I’ve lived it out. 

Surrendering myself to God and truly obeying & following Him has made a radical change in me. 

I’ve found joy. 

And I am never going back to that dreary desert of my own will and pleasure. Choosing God’s will and pleasure made roses blossom in my wilderness. I won’t look back. 

I have found His grace is all complete,

He supplieth every need;

While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,

I am free, yes, free indeed.

Refrain:

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Full of glory, full of glory;

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found the pleasure I once craved,

It is joy and peace within;

What a wondrous blessing, I am saved

From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found that hope so bright and clear,

Living in the realm of grace;

Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,

I can see His smiling face.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,

How its waves of glory roll;

It is like a great o’erflowing well,

Springing up within my soul.

Refrain:

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Full of glory, full of glory;

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Oh, the half has never yet been told.

Barney E. Warren

These things have I spoken unto you, 

that my joy might remain in you, 

and that your joy might be full.

-John 15:11-

Author Interview with Kassie Angle // Tattered Wings Book Release Blog Tour

EEEEEEEPS!!! You guys, I'm sooooo excited!!! This beauty is fiiiinally released!!! 

If you've read the book, you know why I love it so much. If you haven't... please do. Because it's amazing. Perhaps you have no idea really what I'm squealing about. In which case I apologize for the overexcited intro. XD

Today is the start of the release tour for.... *dramatic drum roll & fanfare of trumpets* 

Some scars can't be seen. And some can't be hidden.
Layla Trent's life is pretty much perfect, except for the little matter of a dog of her own--and maybe a brother. So why does a random nightmare of a princess dress, a hospital, and a stranger who's definitely not her daddy feel more like an aching wound? And can a broken, glassy-eyed puppy somehow help her release the pain she didn't even know she was carrying?
Corporal Andrew Reyes has proven he has what it takes to be the best--a US Army Ranger. But when a double tragedy rocks his world, his resolve is shaken to the core. What's left for a man to live for when he's lost everything he ever wanted to be? And is the sudden appearance of a teenage girl with a three-legged therapy dog a cruel joke or a divine appointment?
Some scars can't be hidden. But some don't need to be.

You guys. This book is amazing. Kassie's debut novel was amazing too. But this one is even more amazing. <33 

My review will be posting on Old-Fashioned Book Love on Saturday, so be sure to go check it out! The book releases on the 28th, but you can preorder it on Amazon now! Here are all the links...

Goodreads | Kindle (U.S.) | Kindle (CA) | Paperback

And now, an interview with the lovely author. <33 

When did the idea for TW come to you? 

Literally, driving home from the commissary singing “Stubborn Angels” and making a music video in my head, because I’m such a daydreamer. There’s a line that says “Now you need to walk the walk and maybe run a few stop signs,” and at that line I pictured this scene with a double amputee running with a three-legged dog. That was the seed of the idea—I wanted to write a story where I could include that scene. Let me warn you, that’s quite the way to try to write a story…but hey, it worked! ;)

Oh wow! That is a crazy cool idea story! 

Did you cry while writing this book? When? ;P

Oh yeah, of course I did! Specifically the scene where Layla sees her dad cry for the first time. If all my characters are crying, I’m gonna melt. And then my last three chapters, but that’s total spoilers. XD

Pretty sure I teared up some time in this book too... 

Which character was the funnest to write? 

Well, with the rollercoaster I put them on… Even still, I loved writing Isaiah, through all the ups and downs. He’s the steady one and at the same time he’s my rowdy Alabama boy. (ROLL TIDE!) Every scene with him was just, my heart. <33 And I loved writing the scenes with the Reyes boys in Arizona, just being normal kids.

(Yessssss. Isaiah is amazing.)

Did you have difficulty naming characters??? (Because I get stuck every. single. time.)

Honestly…no?? There are two side characters in Tattered Wings whose names are chosen at random. Everyone else is named after someone I wanted to include in the story somehow. Layla’s and Andrew’s names were kind of instant choices, and beyond that it was just a matter of figuring out who would be tied to who. 

That is amazing. <3 I love that. 

Any special people that this book makes you think of (because they helped in some way, because they inspired the story in some way, etc...)?

Well, I sorta already hinted at this. X’D Yes—my characters’ namesakes. The soldier/Marine/SEALs Andy, Dakota, Kyle, and Danny are named after. Family stuff snuck into names. Little things that mean a lot to me. And things that didn’t end up so obviously in the story but which I will always know are there. So yeah, I totally didn’t answer that, but…yes. This book is wrapped around a lot of special people. And I’m keeping them special by just leaving them hidden in the story.

I love that so much. <33 

How many drafts did TW have? 

Something like two and a half. I completely scrapped the original draft a few chapters in and started from scratch, and then I wrote in two separate documents and pieced it together, with scenes written ahead floating all over the place waiting to see if they’d make the cut. It was messy but I learned to love it.

See, guys, scrapping isn't bad! ;) That's such a cool writing process. 

What lesson did this book teach you? 

Don’t quit. I only wanted to write on O to be Like Thee. I didn’t want to be committed to another story just because I’d started writing it. I didn’t want to get down in it, work out the kinks, get the story flowing. But I didn’t quit, and I watched God take a story I didn’t like further than I had ever dreamed. And that’s only one of the things I’ve taken away from Tattered Wings.

Wow... that's good. 

What do you hope this story teaches others? Or, how do you hope it touches them?  

Our soldiers have sacrificed a lot, and that hits hard in places you won’t see, whether or not that seems obvious. They deserve our thanks. So do our police officers. Working dogs are heroes and deserve to be treated right. God answers prayers. You never know who’s trying to make a hero proud.

Ahhhh!! Yessss!! Just a few of the amazing lessons of this book... <33

Thanks for joining me for this interview, Kassie! I can't wait to read your next releases. XD 

Kassie Angle is a teenaged Christian author, cowgirl, therapy dog trainer, stereotypical INFJ, and Army girl to the core. Her first love, i.e. debut novel, O to be Like Thee, swept her unsuspectedly into the world of indie authors. She tries to use her stories to fill the silences in literature, helping more people understand the world of the Army and showing how God heals the broken-hearted. You can find her and more of her writing at SoldierGirlStories.com.

*NOTE: KASSIE’S DOMAIN HAS LAPSED AS OF 2022 AND BEEN TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER COMPANY. DO NOT GOOGLE IT*

And now... pop over to Kassie's website to see the other posts for today! Consider subscribing--I promise it's well worth your time. Her posts are always so amazing. ^_^

Rejecting Prejudice // An Appeal to Christians

This is a short post, but it is heartfelt. 

I grew up in Montréal, surrounded by people of every culture, colour, race, & religion. Ever since I can remember, our church had been full of diversity. Just now Italy, Africa, Haiti, Québec, & English Canada is represented in our church. I would be happy to see Jews, Arabs, First Nations, Asians, West Indians, South Americans, Europeans--anybody--joining too. I am convinced that when God sees our church, He is happy to see so many people of different countries, colours, races, nations, & backgrounds all gathered together, worshiping Him, growing in faith, & striving to reach the world for Him. 

I don’t get how someone can allow a person’s race, nation, colour, or religion to make them dislike that person. I don’t get it. I don’t, I don’t. What does it matter what their skin colour is? What does it matter what country they’re from? What matters is whether they have Christ in their hearts or not. What matters is to give them the Gospel.

My friends, it breaks my heart to think that some churches don’t accept people of a certain colour or nation. It breaks my heart that some people dislike people of another nation. This is contrary to Scripture. God tells us He loves the whole world—not the whites, not the Europeans, not the athletic, not the geniuses, not the rich, not the beautiful—THE WHOLE WORLD. We, as Christians, need to reflect that love. We cannot allow prejudice to creep into our hearts. Friends, I challenge & beg you. Reject prejudice. Don’t allow the Devil to plant that thought in your mind. Show God’s love & Jesus’ sacrifice to everyone, without any distinction. God created every single person on this planet; He cares for every single individual. Who are we to decide one is greater than another? We cannot. We will not. 

Cast this cancer far from you, and learn to love everyone. We hate the sin, but we do not hate the person. We disagree with the sin, but we love the person. Treat everyone as Christ would treat them.

Ask yourself this: What would Jesus do? Then go thou and do likewise.

Book Buddy Collab Tag! { How Well do You Know Your Bookish Friend? }

Hey, friends! I have a special fun post for you all today. My sweet friend Kassie from Soldier Girl Stories & I are collaborating to do a special tag! Her answers about me are over on her blog, so make sure to go check the post. :) We had a lot of fun doing this. ;)

*NOTE: KASSIE’S DOMAIN HAS LAPSED AS OF 2022 AND BEEN TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER COMPANY. DO NOT GOOGLE IT*

Rules: 

01. Thank the blogger that tagged you. Link back to the creator.  //  So I was actually tagged by Kassie... xD 

02. Pick a bookish blogger friend to do the tag with you and contact them.  //  Kassie offered to do it with me--thanks so much, girl! 

03. Coordinate so that your bookish buddy posts their part of the tag on the same day as you. Be sure to link to their post/blog on yours! // Check! 

04. Answer the questions given. Comment on your buddy’s post to let them know how well they answered! // We decided to co-write the posts instead, so my answers are in normal type & Kass's replies are in italics. 

05. Tag five other bookish bloggers and give them a set of 10 new questions. // Ehhh... what?? Ok. I hope I can find five...

And now for the fun questions!!

01. What’s your buddy’s all-time favourite book?

ACK. The Douglas Bond book that’s grey and has soldiers on the cover??? *goes find the title* War in the Wasteland, by Douglas Bond. 

...Or The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.... (Considering how often she mentions it...)

Hey, I’m impressed you remembered the cover so well! And yep, you’re right, which reminds me I should reread it. (It’s so good...) The Hiding Place is definitely on my master list of favorites, but it isn’t my very top favorite. 

Hahahaha that was mostly a lucky guess... ahhh, yes, I knew you loved that one but I didn't think it was the very top. ;)

02. How about their favourite author?

Douglas Bond. Right??

If you want me to pick only one... XD 

Lol...

03. What cliché does your buddy hate most?

Oh my word. I have no idea? I’m pretty sure she told me this in a comment under my post about my least favourite clichés... but I totally don’t remember. :[] Erm... love triangles?? They don’t seem her genre...

Love triangles are SO not my thing. X’D That would probably be my least favorite; there’s just better things for your heroes to be fighting over, right?

Is there really anyone who loves love triangles?? 

04. What’s their favourite genre to read?

Military fiction. XD Or military nonfiction.

Yes and yes. *heart eyes* (I usually say historical fiction and contemporary, but we all know that means military stories. ;)) Missionary stories are a close second on nonfiction, but military all the way.

Haha, right! Oh, yes, I love missionary stories too... <3

05. What book are they reading right now?

I have no idea. Sorry... Maybe my own book Broken?? I really don’t know... we never speak of that for some reason! :{

I KNOW RIGHT!!! I’m actually reading Band of Brothers—I finished Broken on like New Year’s Eve, though, so pretty close. 

That is hilarious! I read her book Tattered Wings on Christmas Day and she read my book on New Year's Eve... xD

06. What’s your buddy’s favourite side character?

Maysen. He’s from her own book, but I KNOW she adores Maysen. (He’s pretty amazing, guys... <3).

*wonders who she’s going to say for me*

Yeahhhh...Maysen all the way. Like she said, he’s pretty amazing. Hey, there’s not even a main character that can compete with my love for May...

May is amazing... <33

07. What’s their favourite reading-time drink?

Do other people actually drink while reading?? It always sounded like multitasking to me... unnntil I started doing it. xP I’m gonna say water. Or iced tea...

I definitely don’t... X’D Okay, so first thing in the morning when I’m reading my Bible I’ll drink hot tea. Otherwise, yeah. 

Hahaha, I never thought of you drinking hot tea. XD

08. Name a book that they read but hated.

I feel like I’m epically failing these questions. I have no idea. Like, I can’t even make a guess. Um... maybe a politically correct but historically incorrect Civil War book?? I simply don’t remember her mentioning a book she disliked...

That was like basically what I was thinking for this question. X’D If I didn’t like a book, I won’t really ever mention it. Although she’s right, there was that one Civil War book...at least get your historical names right, people... 

Lol! We just don't really mention that. (Seriously though, why are books like that even published??)

09. What’s their favourite classic?

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. Is that a classic?

*thinks*

In a way yes, and in another way no... anyway, if we’re going with the traditional sense of “classic,” um... does she even read classics??

*goes complain to my sister*

Lissa: She loves Little Woman.

Me: *glares because WHY DID I FORGET.*

So I’m totally gonna cheat and say Little Women. XP

The answer to if I read classics is basically no. X’D. I’ve read a few but, yeah. XP HOWEVER! I adore Little Women. Don’t get me started... X’D (That’s not cheating. That’s literally my favorite classic.)

That is so cool that we both love LW!!

10. What book are they super excited to get their hands on?

Ummmm... Ryana Lynn Miller’s next Battle for Heritage book. XD

I AM INDEED (mostly because she has me worried about what character gets killed...)!!!

I'm eager to read those too!! 

And now... the tagged! 

Dessa, Rebekah Morris, Kaitlyn, Mikayla, & Victoria! And if anyone else wants to do it, go ahead & send me the links so I can read the posts! 

And the 10 new questions:

01. What's your buddy's favourite book-to-move adaption?

02. What's their favourite cliché/trope?

03. What's their favourite movie? 

04. What is their least favourite genre? 

05. Do they check reviews before buying or reading a book, or just dive right in? 

06. What’s your buddy’s all-time favourite character?

07. Can you name three of their favourite nonfictions? 

08. What's their favourite series? 

09. Does your buddy enjoy buddy-reading? ;P

10. Does your buddy like to snack while reading?

Have fun, guys!! * whispers: if you need a buddy, me loves this tag. xD *