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Fran Thring

Dear God help me to let go

Fran Thring
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Dear God help me to let go

Please don’t let me get attached to what’s not meant for me anymore. Don’t let me hold onto what I need to let go of. Don’t let me fight for what I need to release. Don’t let me desire what will eventually destroy and don’t let me love those who will break my heart.

As I have followed God I have found this to be true: God will ask you to let go things you will not want to let go. There is something so humbling and hard about putting your life in the hands of someone you can not see and do not know if you can trust. My life of following Christ and becoming a Christian has been as much one of letting go as one of blessing and learning.

These are some of the prayers I have learned to say:

Dear God, help me to let go of the picture I had in my head

We all have a picture in our head of what we think our life should look like. The family, the job, the house with the white walls and big closets. We all have these pictures of our futures. God asks us to lay these down. He says to us, forget about the big picture in your head, I will give you my picture for you. Many times we don’t want God’s picture, but once we surrender, let go and go with it, we discover that His picture is always better than our own.

Dear God help me to let go of the person who I want to make stay

One of the hardest things in life is letting go of the person you want to make stay. Maybe it’s your sibling moving out of the house. Maybe it’s the boy you liked but knew wasn’t right for you. Maybe it’s your family. Or a close friend. Letting go of people is a huge part of life, but a difficult part of life. You’ll find, during your journey, you’ll have to learn to let people go with grace and dignity.

Dear God help me to let go of the temporary for the eternal

It’s human nature to want to build things here on earth. To create towers made of sand. What really matters isn’t what you build on earth, but what matters is what you build in Heaven. In Heaven what counts are kindness, love, mercy and forgiveness. God has to help us to let go of our natural desire to build things here and instead focus on building the things of God, which are rich and worthwhile.

Dear God help to let go the pain, bitterness and disappointment

Nobody has a perfect life. Not you, me or anyone else. Even if it looks like they do. All of us have ample opportunities to pick up bitterness and disappointment. What makes someone strong and wise is their ability to let go of these things and stop them from clogging up their heart. If you think you have these things in your heart then pray to God and ask Him to help you to let them go.

Dear God help me to let go my timing, for yours

God’s timing isn’t our timing. Many times we have deadlines and expectations of God which cause us to become frustrated and annoyed. God does things in His own time and in His own way. He is complex and outside of time. You can’t force God to do things before He wants to, no matter how hard you try.

Instead, relax. Take the time you are trying to use to make things happen and use it on something else. Trust God to help you with the things you need and to bring them about when He decides it is right.

I’m going to change trying to change

Fran Thring
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I’m going to change trying to change

Every so often I do this thing where I sit down with my notebook and I write down all the things I need to get better at. The list is long, needless to say. I sit and I pull apart my failures, strand by strand like a fussy child eating spaghetti and I put them down in the notebook. Then I resolve next time I do this, I will be better. I will have half those things off the list. I will have perfected all my weakness and I will be well on the way to becoming wonder woman.

Except it doesn’t always work that way. There are things about myself that I have come to learn to love and accept rather than try to change. It hasn’t been an easy journey getting to this place. As acceptance is often difficult and goes against our human nature. But yes, with maturity I am starting to see what I can and can’t change and focus with a little less fixation on the things I need to change.

In fact, I’m going to change trying to change me. Does that make sense?

Yes, I think it does. This is how I am going to start, I’m going to create a list of the things about me that I like, and even though they may seem strange or silly, I don’t think they are every going to change.

I can have 5 different emotions attached to the same situation in the course of one week.

Yes, I have emotions. A lot of them. And either I can fight them, or manage them. I’ve come to realise that as I process things I will go through a range of feelings and that’s ok. Now I know that I may feel angry about this now, but once I have spoken to someone and thought it through then I won’t feel that way anymore.

I hate it when people cancel at the last-minute

I’m very much a ‘say you’ll be there and be there’ person. I don’t like it when I make plans with people and then at the last-minute they decide to cancel. I get hurt, it feels inconsiderate and I don’t remain friends with you for long if you do this often. I’ve learned that this is just the way I am. I’ll take your word as your word because when I say I’ll be there, I will.

I always swing between feeling like I need more people time in my life and less people time in my life.

I have an extroverted personality but I love me time. It sounds kind of strange, but it’s true. I always have to make sure I live in some kind of healthy medium in the middle where both bits of me are satisfied. Too much one way and I’m exhausted. Too much the other way and I’m bored and restless.

I will always be dreaming of a plane ticket

I love adventure. I love the suspense of the unexpected and the feeling of something new. I love to travel. I’ve travelled a lot and while friends of mine are building houses and popping out babies I’m thinking about hidden alleyways and untold stories. I’m thinking about the wide open field and languages I can only laugh in.

I’m a single woman and I may be for a long time yet

I used to feel like I would never find someone nice who gets me (I still do feel this at times), but now I’ve started to accept the fact that my life isn’t someone else’s life and I can’t make magic happen. I’ve come to realise that my life as a single woman is beautiful and rich in its own ways. I’ve have loads of interesting friends, I can spend my evenings writing and eating chuckles from a plastic bag. My time is my own and I like that.

These are my 5 things, and I could, of course, write many more. What are yours? Stop for a moment and think about all the things about yourself that you can’t and wouldn’t change.

Do you have problems or do you have patterns?

Fran Thring
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Do you have problems or do you have patterns?

Every so often I take a moment to listen to myself. Yes, that sounds weird, and maybe it is. But also, maybe it isn’t. Try it! Put yourself into the place of your greatest confident – your best friend, Mom, mentor, Grandmother – whomever. And then imagine what it must be like for them to listen to all your problems. Not great, right?

We all have problems – we’re human and problems are a part of life. This is true. However, sometimes your problem are patterns. Meaning it’s not a once-off occurrence which you deal with and then move on, it’s a repetitive issue. This is why you need to listen to yourself. What are you going on about time and time again?

It’s very important to understand how to problem solve and how to learn to identify the habits which are holding you back.

Problems

A mistake or a bad choice won’t hurt you unless it’s a really BIG problem. News flash! Many, many problems are simply a part of life and if you learn to deal with them you will become braver and more capable as a human being. The best way to become a pro problem solver is to set a process in place for the problems which come up in your life.

That way you won’t feel overwhelmed by the issues and you will have something to help you overcome them.

We must constantly be in the frame of mind to recognise problems and then deal with them accordingly.

Here is a good problem-solving process:

  • See it
  • Own it. Weigh your options and select your next steps
  • Bring the right resources to it
  • Implement these resources
  • Check to make sure it’s all cleaned up
  • Done!

It’s not always easy but it’s better than letting the problem persist. This is becoming a problem solver.

Patterns

Patterns are problems which come back again and again. Do you know what I mean? Bad relationships which happen again and again because you select the wrong kind of partner. Or a promotion going to your colleague not you, because you don’t speak up enough.

Patterns are the problems you think you’ve fixed only to find that you are dealing with them once, twice or more because it has become the way you do things. These patterns are something to become aware of and to work hard to change else they can steal a lot of your potential and joy.

Identify a pattern

Step 1: Name it

Step 2: Observe it

Step 3: Recognise how often it happens

Sometimes recognising a pattern in your life is not easy, that’s why I try to put myself in the ears of the person on the other side. Another easy way to do this is to have an open and honest conversation with trustworthy people and ask them if they can recognise any negative patterns building up in your life? If you are able to recognise a few then it is time to ask the questions below in order to try to get rid of the pattern.

What do I need to change in order to prevent it from happening again?

What new skills do I need to learn?

Do you think this may be life (or God) pushing me in a new direction?

What help do I need in order to figure out the answer to the questions above? Is it a person, structure, class? What will prevent the pattern from continuing?

When you play the movie forward do you see the same scene in the next 6 months, or in the next year?

Is this how you want to live your life?

If you choose not to deal with an issue, then you give up your right of control over the issue and it will select the path of least resistance. When we have things in our lives, problems or patterns then we need to rise up as people so that we can overcome them. If you believe in God you can ask him to help show you negative patterns and to give you the strength to overcome the problems in your life.

Father’s Day Gift Cheat Sheet

Fran Thring
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Father’s Day Gift Cheat Sheet

I hate buying my Dad gifts. Whenever I ask him what he wants he says “oh, nothing.” Which isn’t helpful at all. But of course, when you get a chance to spoil Dad, it’s nice to do something for him. Dad’s are the ones who fix our car when it gets broken. They take us to our first hockey match and are cheering us on at the sidelines.

Dads, even though they don’t admit it also like to get some special treatment once every so often. And, because we know it’s hard to get Dad’s something, we’ve gone and put together a list to help you on your way. So when your Dad says, “oh, nothing,” you have something to fall back onto.

Take Dad out for dinner

Men are notorious for loving food. As the saying goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This is true and Dad will never say no to a good meal out. I’d bet you know what your Dad’s favourite dinner spot is – take him there for Father’s Day. Dinner out is also a great way to show Dad you care because it is quality time you get to spend together.

Buy Dad a book/ music

Most Dad’s are into books or music. Take a look at Amazon and see if you can find a new book by your Dad’s favourite author. Or take a look online and get him some music tunes, or a CD if he’s old school – he just might be.

Make Dad breakfast in bed

You’ll probably find that nobody makes Dad breakfast in bed and if you wake him up with a steaming cup of coffee and a bacon and egg croissant then it will start his day well. Try to surprise Dad and get him while he is still sleeping. Even if he gets out of bed to eat it, he will still appreciate the fun idea.

The new wardrobe

Dad’s usually don’t like buying themselves clothes, that’s why they leave it up to you for Christmas, birthdays and Father’s Day. There are some lovely new jackets which are all the rage this season and I’m sure that Dad would love something new to keep him warm over the chilly winter months. If all else fails, there is always socks.

The personalised gift

Sometimes we think Dad’s aren’t sentimental. That’s not true, underneath all that manliness there is a soft side to Dad too. If you can’t think of something to buy Dad then go ahead and make something for him. A photo album or something which has the personalised touch can not be beaten.

The pamper gift

Dad’s may not like pedicures, like Mom, but I would bet your Dad would not say no to a massage. If things have been stressing Dad out and you feel like he could do with something to help him unwind then get Dad a full massage and give him to chance to relax and rejuvenate.

The voucher

If all else fails and you simply can’t think of anything to get Dad then you can always go the voucher route. Most stores offer vouchers and you can always pool your cash together with your siblings and get Dad a voucher for a shop you know he will like, but probably wouldn’t shop at for himself.

The practical gift

Dad’s are practical. That’s why we love them and need them. You might think a new knife set or a toolkit is a boring gift but Dad won’t think so at all. If he can use it, then your Dad will probably be very excited about his new present. Don’t be afraid to get practical this Father’s Day.

It’s always important to show the people in your life that you love and appreciate them. I don’t think we do this often enough. Spend this Father’s Day telling your Dad that he is great and you love him. Because really, the world needs more good Dads.

I need a digital detox

Fran Thring
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I need a digital detox

It was a sweltering Cape Town night when a giant mosquito, I’m sure the species is rare, decided to end my idea of a peaceful night. ‘Bzzzzzzz’, it  buzzed in my ear like a vacuum cleaner exhaust. Ugh. I sat up. I swatted my ear and rolled over. ‘Bzzzzzzzzzz’; it started again, louder this time. I will find you and I will kill you, I told it. I reached over to turn on my bedside light. As I did this, in one deadly movement, I swiped (the irony…) my sleeping iPhone off its bed of books. The phone cartwheeled through the air and landed face down like a fat boy in a belly flop competition on my bedroom parkade floor. Smash.

The end had come. The following morning I gingerly picked up my iPhone. “Please, please work,” I begged it. I tried to open an app; access denied. A grey bar flickered across the screen; it reminded me of the ultimately fatal combination of my parent’s box TV set and a thunderstorm. I tried to make a phone call – no success; no response. Smartphone down.

I swore at my phone. I prayed over it. I gave it a 20 minute time out. And yet, still, nothing. Life without my phone – I was going to become an amputee. Something drastic must be done, I emailed my faithful friend at iBerry Repairs, he fixed my screen the last time it broke. (My best friend and I were playing a violent game of Nose Poke and the iPhone leapt out of my hand and shattered on the floor, yes there is a track record here).

“Yo, it’s me. Again. My phone isn’t working. Can you fix it?”

“Fran (insert smiley face emoji). I’ll look into it but you will have to go without a phone for 4 days.”

“4 days?! 4…Wait…did you just say 4 days.”

“Yeah…”

I took a breath so deep a yogi instructor on the foothills of the Himalaya’s would be proud. Fran, I said to myself, “you can do this.”

Hi, my name is Fran and I’m addicted to my Smartphone.

They say smartphones are the new smoking. They may be right.

I work in a digital agency. Everyone I work with raves about technical advances. I get it, I mean 4D is cool and everything. It’s just… there is a negative spin-off to all these so-called advances and I like to be aware of it. Here’s what I don’t like about my Smartphone:

It makes me lose my focus

When I get in the zone; I’m in the zone. Until a thousand notifications flood my inbox, the plague aka Whatsapp groups pings with memes every 2 minutes and some outsourced call centre in India calls me to tell me I’ve won an iPad.

I like to do my job well. In order to do my job well, I need to focus. I don’t like a piece of metal making that difficult.

Inability to have quality conversations

One of my favourite things in the world is conversation (why didn’t Maria sing about that in Sound of Music, I ask you?) One genuine and intriguing conversation and #daymade.

I like people. I like opinions. I like to make the person sitting across from me feel like a million Rand. Texting can ruin quality conversations. It breaks beautiful moments of reflection and connection with something far less worthwhile.

I’m losing the ability to think

I won times table and spelling competitions at school. Now, I can barely minus 63 from 93 on a bill. With Smartphones so many things are automated and I find my first instinct is to reach for my phone instead of using my brain. Need to remember important dates – there’s an app for that. Need to get to a destination – there’s an app for that. 

I read less

I used to think it was my life goal to read every book on the planet. Now, if I make to the end of a blog post I’m proud of myself.

Reading random shared articles online is not a substitute for taking in something rich, complex, worn smooth with hours of editing, a classic passed down from generation to generation.

Convenience kills appreciation

I used to drive 4 hours, over dirt roads, once a year to go shopping for new clothes. The amount of care I took when I selected the outfits was excruciating (especially for anyone shopping with me).

I don’t want to trade the real, hard, quality things in life for an instantaneous, mediocre hit. I don’t want to wake up and find I’ve wasted chunks of my life with a digital infatuation. I don’t want to lose the things I like about me because of spin-off bad habits.

Create a 30 day habit checklist.

Fran Thring
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Create a 30 day habit checklist.

Somewhere in my plot to take over the world, I decided to become a super human. Yes, I said to my small Fran self. You can do this. You totally can. No worries.

As we know, or maybe know, a lot of our success in life – I use the word lightly because success means many different things to many different people – is determined by our habits. The good or bad stuff we do over and over again. Gulp. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.

In my quest to become super human I decided to create a 30 Day habit checklist. Well, more like a rulebook or guidebook. It was aimed at turning me into a super human and kicking some of the bad habits I’ve picked up through the year.

Here’s what was on the list:

Make yourself lunch the day before

I spend way, way, way too much money on food if I don’t make lunch the day before. I’m hungry all day, every day. Me without food is a very bad idea. So in order to save cash and somehow make it to Barcelona by the end of the year, I cut the lunch cost.

Get up early to go to gym

It’s winter in Cape Town which means it’s really hard to get up in the morning. Really hard!!. Still, I feel so much better when I’ve got a work out in and I am able to kickstart the day and get it going with a BANG!

Switch off your phone at 10pm

Everyone is tempted to get lost in the social media vortex come 10pm. Don’t let it happen. I turned my phone onto flight mode at 10pm and decided to take back my life from the Internet Monster. It was a brave decision, but a good one.

Quit sugar

Sugar is a little devil; the more you eat the more you want. When you cut away sugar you suddenly start tasting it in everything. I found the less sugar I ate, the better I felt about myself. I mean, the odd chocolate wasn’t the end of the world, but being mindful about this has been a good switch up.

Set a daily budget

It’s so easy to say, ‘coffee on me!‘ Or find you’ve bought a smoothie and then bought something else online and then you are out for drinks. Set yourself a daily budget so that you can manage your finances better and save up for the things you want.

Listen to cool podcasts which feed your brain

Traffic in Cape Town is a nightmare. But you can turn the nightmare into a moderately pleasant experience if you listen to a good podcast on the way. I found some great listening material and it has made my traffic experience much better.

Drink water

My water intake is, in a word, bad. I go to gym in the mornings with a body which is already dehydrated and then dehydrate it more. It’s terrible, I know. I resolved to try and drink a certain amount of water a day and actually pay attention to my hydration levels. Body = much happier.

Evening questions

Benjamin Franklin had a daily habit of asking himself the question, “What good have I done today?” and there is certainly value in this question. It helps you to focus each day on doing something of value for someone else.

Do you like my list? It could go on forever, but I figured that was a good starting point. Creating rules or guidelines is never supposed to make us feel bad about our life or our habits. They are simply a way to jet set your life and help you to get on track with the things that make it better. Am I a superhuman now? Of course not, but I do see the consequences of some of the things I put in place and I feel proud of myself for the steps I’ve taken.

Never lose your wonder

Fran Thring
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Never lose your wonder

My friend Amy used to always say ‘cynical starts with the word sin, because it’s a sin’.

I have a tendency to become cynical. It’s a writer thing, we’re wry, good with words and ironic. Stepping across the road to cynicism is easy. It’s just one small little nudge away. But being cynical isn’t good.

I have a new intern who is helping me at work. This is her first job and she’s excited to learn as much as she can. The smallest task I give her is a huge privilege. She’s excited to see me. Excited to be a part of the company. Excited to go for lunch. Adjacent to all her enthusiasm is my… cynicism. I’m tired. I’ve done the role for a while. I have a never-ending to-do list of things the world wants from me, deadlines, responsibilities and expectations. I’ve lost that sense of wow. Even though, if I stop to think about it, there is so much WOW! to be found in my life.

In Matthew 6, in the Bible it says,

“If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.”

I like that thought. That when we choose to see things with wonder it changes us.

Nobody has it easy

It’s always a lot easier to look at everybody else’s life and think, “If I had what she has then I would be fill of wonder, I’d be happy.” This isn’t true. Even the richest person on the planet is always looking at someone else and thinking if only I had that. It isn’t having a lot that teaches us to be happy or content. Rather, it’s choosing to be happy with what you do have. Nobody has it easy. Even the person who seems to have everything doesn’t actually have it all. Everyone has to deal with death, emotions, and difficulties.

The world has hidden treasure in every day if you look for it

The world is full of beauty and wonder, you just have to select the option to see it. Every day that you wake up and the sun shines on your skin, you have the opportunity to see and experience something of the wonder. If you go through your day negative and cynical, never believing that good things will happen then there is a chance that you will prevent them from happening. Don’t do that! See the hidden treasure in every day you are given.

The most attractive quality in a person is their attitude

We often think the most attractive quality about someone is their hair or their long legs, or their eyes. The most attractive quality in someone is their attitude. This is your ability to say, even though it looks bad, I’m going to see the good. The good in other people; the good in the day; the good in your job.

The wonderful gift of salvation

I don’t think we quite realise that God has given us the most wondrous gift we could ever be given. When He sent His son to the earth to save us and set us free, we were given eternal life. There is no gift that can ever be greater. When you accept what Jesus did on the cross and believe in the resurrection then your eyes are opened to a world of many wonders.

Don’t let the everyday nitty-gritty hard stuff wear away at your wonder of God, or your wonder for life. Life is a gift. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it, it really is. You only get one shot so why live small. Be brave and positive and believe for the best. Let go of your cynical attitude – I’m working on mine, don’t worry. And replace it with hope.

Running a minimalist business

Fran Thring
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Running a minimalist business

As business minded young entrepreneurs we all want to make a success. We want the big paycheck, the high paying client, the office on the corner. We want to know that all our hard work has paid off and that we are winning in the game of life. But at what cost?

Here is the question I want to ask you this morning, is your business causing you unnecessary stress? Do you feel like you have no time to enjoy life and are constantly worried about something or someone?

Maybe it’s time to take a minimalist look at your business and adjust some of your mindsets around what makes for a successful career, and what doesn’t.

Is more better?

We often see growth as an indicator of success. But is this really the case? More customers often mean more support, higher staff payments, higher overheads and more management required. Sometimes enough is better. More money brings more responsibility, more stress and more work.

Maybe for a while you need to cut back on some of the costs and overheads in your business and make sure your core product and team are effective. Many businesses that produce quality products and services are not run with a huge team but with a few focused individuals.

Enough means you can optimize for more freedom, not blind growth.

Don’t say yes to every opportunity

Experiment to see what you can and can’t live with – maybe one strong product is better than 3 weaker ones. Maybe less staff is better. Maybe you don’t need a fax machine. Maybe you don’t need an office.

If we say yes to every opportunity then we often end up spread too thin. The product of this is long nights at the office, missed details, and a loss of flair and quality. If cutting back is going to make you better, then consider having some hard conversations with yourself and your staff.

Work with the tools that you have

What makes a great business isn’t great tools, it’s great people who know their tools well. You don’t need every new tool on the market. In fact, many new tools haven’t been tried and tested and may not support you as well as they claim to. Be hesitant before you launch into new tools.

Make sure that you have done your research. That you are able to use your current tool to the best of your ability and that you aren’t just buying for the sake of buying. A few wise choices are far, far better than a thousand average ones.

Get to the point

Boil down your business idea to as small a point as possible, and then launch quickly. So many times as a business owner what you think you know about the market isn’t accurate. You may have an idea about what is the best option but until you put that idea into practice you won’t receive feedback and be able to grow and shape what you are producing.

Adjust, iterate and improve

By starting small and adapting to changes you aren’t investing loads of time and effort into something which may not succeed. Don’t throw away your money on a guess but rather think about what the smallest possible investment is to make something significant happen and obtain enough information to go forward to the next decision.

Minimalism is a mindset, not a blind purge. It doesn’t mean staying small, it means remaining focused and taking in the bigger picture cuts which a more expansive business will require.

Remember a life lived well is a balanced life. This means you have to say no to some things in order to say yes to others (like time with your family). Growth doesn’t always account for a better work life and size doesn’t always equate to success or growth. Quality over quantity wins every time so if it’s time to get minimal as a business owner don’t be afraid to cut back.

Confessions of a shopoholic: is it time to stop?

Fran Thring
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Confessions of a shopoholic: is it time to stop?

Many of us ladies love to shop. Perhaps even a bit too much. Bad day – buy yourself a top and you’ll feel better. Some one at work was mean to you – go find yourself some retail therapy. Get invited to an event on the weekend – time for a new outfit. Our shopaholic tendencies are usually completely unnecessary and all the same we rationalise them because we’re women and “it feels good”.

Just because something feels good doesn’t make it a good idea or a mature decision. If you have a wardrobe full of clothes you don’t like and a credit card debit you are struggling to pay off then it’s time to ask yourself: “do I need to take a hard look at my spending habits?”

To stop buying things you don’t wear, we need to go much deeper than clothes:

Start with how you want to feel

We are attracted to clothes for the same reason we are attracted to a painting or piece of music: because it makes us feel a certain way. This is what we are chasing with each new piece of clothing we buy — a feeling. What we need to ask ourselves is rather how do you want to show up? What do you want people to know about you? How do you want them to feel with you? What do you most want to feel in your own skin? These questions will help you iron out a personal style.

Once you have a personal style you can feel is truly you, then you’ll make much better decisions regarding clothing and purchasing.

Raise the bar

Don’t just go for whatever is on sale at the closest store. If clothes come from a generic department store then they often don’t really feel special and are made with very little quality and attention to detail. You will also very likely grow tired of them. Hunt out the few good quality stores and rather look at options in these.

Create your own personal mood board

Sometimes we think because something catches our eye in a store it’s a good buy. Wrong. Style is more than just impulse buying, it’s a craft. It’s something that takes time and intention. Create a Pinterest board and start to follow people whose style you like. This will help you to improve your eye.

Go for quality over quantity every time

Every time you make a purchase ask yourself this question: “Does this fit with my style and will I be wearing this in 4 years time?” If the answer is I’m not sure, or maybe, don’t make the purchase. Rather leave an item like this, go home and then if you feel good about it look at it again at a later stage.

Just because something is in fashion doesn’t mean it will fit your personal style

Your personal style and what is in fashion will not always collide. This means if hippie clothes with tassels are the rage and your style is classic – you will have to say no to the fad. Always approach everything which is in fashion through the eyes of your mood board. If it doesn’t fit then it will not look great with the rest of the items.

Go through your cupboard and find some hidden gems

So many times we rush out to buy something new and yet there are items in our wardrobe which we have only worn once or twice. Sometimes when you go through your clothes you find oldies which are just as good as new items. Re-connect with the great pieces you already have.

Organise a clothes swap with some friends

Don’t be too clingy about your clothes. If something is in your cupboard and you don’t feel attached to it then give it away or do a clothes swap with a friend. The best way to keep green in your spending habits is to find someone else who you can share the love with.

Make sure you buy with your body type and size in mind

Don’t make the error of buying what you wish you looked good in, or the size you want to be. Buy for the body you have now. Also, always keep your body shape in mind. No matter how small or big you are your body can always be better dressed by baring in mind proportions, use of colour and lines.

Reams of countless clothes may make you feel good when you buy them but they won’t feel good when you have to pay off the credit card or don’t feel good in what you wear. Learn to be intentional about your shopping. Shop to the minimum and when you shop, shop well!

I need help praying!

Fran Thring
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I need help praying!

Sometimes there just is nothing you can do about a situation. The line at the grocery store is too long and you end up late for a meeting. Or perhaps it’s something more serious: your children move away to University in a new city and you miss them. Perhaps it’s something like your body shape or a job situation. There are situations in life where we have to learn to be content with what we have. The best way to learn contentment is to learn to pray.

When you pray you are admitting, “okay, I don’t really know how to deal with this situation”. You are giving up your control and being humble. Essentially prayer is how we connect with God and we only really pray when we realise we need His help. Prayer isn’t an easy thing for lots of us, so don’t feel bad if you struggle to pray and then feel guilty because you don’t pray enough. Here are some prayer tips that will get you going:

Recognize your need of Him

Unless you have come to the point in your life where you realise that you really do need help from God you will find that you do not pray with the degree of sincerity which you would if you did. When you need God you will find yourself on your knees and ready to ask some real questions. Take the time out to think about your relationship with God, where are you and do you believe in Him?

Have a morning routine

The easiest way to bring prayer into your day is to start it off as a part of your morning routine. When you get up and grab a coffee, get dressed and head off to work stop for a moment and find 10 minutes to add prayer into your life. Your day will go so much better and you will find that you have a greater strength to deal with the tough things you must face.

Build prayer into an everyday task

Sometimes it can be hard to find the time to pray. What you can do is build prayer into an everyday task like washing the dishes or folding clothes. Every time you do this, remind yourself, “hey, it’s prayer hour,” and you can turn your hour of admin into an hour of prayer.

Pray with a friend on a regular basis

I like to have close friends who I pray with on a regular basis. When we can, we get together over dinner or tea and we pray over the things in our life where we are taking steps of faith, or we are believing for break-through or talking to God on someone else’s behalf. It is crucial to have this group prayer as God tells us in the Bible that unity commands a blessing.

Make a commitment

Decide to pray seriously for a month. Anyone can do almost anything for a month. It’s not too difficult. What you will find is once you’ve done one month of serious prayer then another one will not seem too bad. Try to make a month, or even a week of prayer time and see the difference it will make in your life.

Write down answered prayer

There is nothing better than seeing your prayers answered in ways which are beyond your imagination. God is good and He does answer prayer. Keep a book and in it you can record all your answered prayers. This is a helpful way to remind yourself of God’s goodness when you are going through a tough season.

The more you pray, the more you want to pray

There is nothing quite like God’s presence. When you pray your spirit touches His spirit and something powerful happens. We don’t always know what it will look like, or how it will all unfold, but we can trust that God hears our prayers, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

If you would like to know more or if you would like us to pray for you, please click on the link.

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