I Am Not a Good Mom

September 10, 2015 | Robynn Coates

Okay. I have been thinking about this for awhile and I just have to write about it.

Have you ever thought or said, “I FeeL LiKe I Am NoT a GooD MoM.”?

This statement is front and center right now because recently a couple of my friends have said that very thing to me. These are not people I would ever put into the “bad mom” category. Not for a moment. But due to the MeSsiNeSs Of Life, things haven’t’ been going as planned.

I must admit, I have felt this same thing more times than I can count.

It is in times like this I must remind myself that the enemy of our soul is an accuser. He uses whatever we are doing to leverage it against us.

We leave the dishes in the sink to play with our kids and he accuses us that our house is a disaster and we are lazy. We do the dishes and tell our kids to go play and he tells us we are neglectful of our kids. Never will a day come when he stops accusing because that’s what accusers do – they accuse.

So what is a mom (or dad, wife, friend or any other person for that matter) suppose to do? RuN To YoUr AdVoCaTe (John 14:26 The Amplified Version). The one who has your back and is fighting your case before the only righteous and completely just judge – God Almighty. Romans 8:34 (NIV) says, “Who then is the one who condemns? No OnE. Christ Jesus who died – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

This verse simply flicks off our accuser like an insignificant pest.

So ignore the accuser. God’s got your back.

Day 37 – 1% Change {90-Day Challenge} Who Are Your Mentors?

September 8, 2015October 31, 2015 | Robynn

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
~Jim Rohn

So, if you are the average of the FiVe PeOpLe you spend the most time with, what kind of person are you? Do you like the person you have become?

That’s a deep question, I know, but it is definitely worth taking the time to think about. What kind of people do you HaNg OuT WiTh? Are they people you aspire to be like? Do they challenge you to do better than you are doing and go further than you are going?

If you’ve been reading my 1% Change {90-Day Challenge}, you may have noticed that I talk about My MeNtOrS from time to time. These are individuals that in many ways are living the life that I want to live. They have a vast amount of wisdom. And because they are further down the road than I am, their input is of utmost importance.

I remember when I first read Jack Canfield (author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series) talk about the importance of mentors in his book The Success Principles. It stirred in me the desire to have mentors of my own. I didn’t have any mentors at the time, and really didn’t know who even to ask. So I UsEd tHe ReSoUrCeS I HaD and enlisted mentors whose material I could read, watch, or listen to. People like John C. Maxwell, who although they didn’t know me, were passing on their wisdom and experience.

That was a few years ago and today I now have a handful of personal mentors, but it all began by using what I had.

Who are your mentors? Maybe the first question to ask is, “What kind of person do you AsPiRe To BeCoMe?” Once you know that question, then you can find the mentor that best fits and begin to learn from them.

It really is true. You become like the people you spend your time with. So ChOoSe WiSeLy. 🙂

P.S. You are seeing a snapshot of my life taken earlier this summer. For the previous post in this series click HERE.

For the next post in this series click HERE.

Lara’s Energy Balls

September 7, 2015September 7, 2015 | Robynn Coates

Many of you have asked for this recipe which I reference many times in our book. Here you go, enjoy!

Combine the following into a large bowl:
2 C. Oatmeal
3/4 C. Chocolate Chips (I either use chocolate or white chocolate)
1 C. Peanut Butter
1 C. Ground Flaxseed
2/3 C. Honey
2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 C. Raisins
1/2 C. Craisins

Directions: After thoroughly mixed, use a 1″ cookie scoop to form balls on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Get your hands slightly wet and roll each scoop to make completely round balls. Put baking sheet in the freezer until all balls are completely frozen. Remove from sheet and store in gallon-sized ziploc bag in freezer. It’s a great grab-and-go breakfast or snack! Enjoy!

*Instead of lining a baking sheet with parchment paper, I use the underside of the plastic lid that came with my 9×13 baking dish. This makes for quick and easy cleanup, and the balls don’t stick to the surface after freezing.

*You don’t have to freeze your balls when storing–you could store them in the fridge–but I find that I enjoy them more when they are cold and it forces me to eat them slower 😉

*This recipe makes a big batch. If you plan to tweak the recipe, cut the recipe in half the first few times, until you find the combination you like best.

*Remember, if you don’t like some of the above ingredients, omit or swap them out with something else! PWF is all about finding what works for you, so don’t be afraid to tweak the above to your liking 🙂

Want to check out more of my go-to recipes? Click here!

Day 35 – 1% Change {90-Day Challenge} Pursuit Mode

September 6, 2015October 31, 2015 | Robynn

Whew! Life’s been challenging and sometimes you have to move from the PuRsUiT MoDe to survival mode.

That was me last week.

With everything going on – Dad’s situation and an over-extended schedule (that’s my fault but there’s a great lesson there – maybe sometime I can share) – I have had to put my goal of 1% Change On HoLd. Not for long, but when your head is under water the only thing you care about is getting it above water and gasping for a breath.

That was me last week. But now I am getting back on schedule and back to pursuing my 1% Change – focusing on the process of perseverance.

Back to pursuit mode.

Hashtag to self: #backinthegame

P.S. You are seeing a snapshot of my life taken earlier this summer. For the previous post in this series click HERE.

For the next post in this series click HERE.

Guilt-Free Peanut Butter Cups

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 | Lara

Robynn and I LOVE peanut butter cups and I can’t wait to share with you some homemade, guilt-free healthy ones! These are a kid favorite too, and I don’t have to feel bad for letting them have this sweet treat–

Now remember, when it comes to Peace with Food, feel free to tweak the ingredients to set you up for success. If the first time around you want to use regular peanut butter (Jiffy or Peter Pan, etc) and use regular pancake syrup, then do it! The first time I made them, I used what I had on hand. Since then, I have changed it to the following:

Ingredients for the Peanut Butter Bottoms:
1 C. Natural Peanut Butter (I buy the Kroger brand at Dillons)
1/4 C. Pure Maple Syrup
1/4 C. Coconut Oil (melted/liquid)

Directions: Combine the peanut butter, syrup and coconut oil in a medium bowl and stir until well combined. Drop a spoonful into mini muffin cups until they are 2/3 full. Put them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes or until hardened.

Ingredients for the Chocolate Tops:
1/4 C. Cocoa Powder Peanut Butter Cups2
1/4 C. Pure Maple Syrup
1/4 C. Coconut Oil (melted/liquid)

Directions: Combine the cocoa, syrup and coconut oil in a medium bowl and stir until well combined. Pour a spoonful on top of the frozen peanut butter bottoms. Put them back into the freezer until hardened.

*I store these in a ziploc bag in the freezer. Serve immediately because they will become soft and lose shape if you leave them at room temperature.
*You could also use regular-sized cupcake wrappers or buy the silicone ones that are re-usable. I prefer the mini-sized cups because the serving size is smaller and I feel like I am getting “more” if I get to eat 2 mini ones, versus 1 large one. Find what works for you! 😉

Day 31 – 1% Change {90-Day Challenge} Embrace the Moment

September 2, 2015October 31, 2015 | Robynn

I’ve had a ReVeLaTiOn, an “Aha” moment and it is so good!

My response to trials and difficulties has been to try to get out of them as quickly as possible. But I’ve come to realize that God’s right here in this hard place. ThAt’s where HiS gRaCe iS for me. So if I want to try to get out of this trial I’ll be on my own. I won’t be where His grace and power are for my life.

So, Girl, sit back and relax! EmBrAcE tHiS pLaCe and this moment. God’s got you here and this is where He is at. . .

There’s no other place I’d rather be!

DaY 31 PeRseVerAnCe RaTinG: 4

Hashtag to self: #embracethemoment

P.S. You are seeing a snapshot of my life taken earlier this summer. For the previous post in this series click HERE.

For the next post in this series click HERE.

Day 30 – 1% Change {90-Day Challenge} Life in Focus

September 1, 2015October 31, 2015 | Robynn

(This is a post from earlier this summer during a very challenging time. Miraculously, my dad made a full recovery. I share this clip of my life for those of you who are going through difficult, sad, and/or uncertain times.)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (KJ21)

Fighting back the tears today as I’m visiting Dad in the hospital a few weeks after his brain surgery. Times like this bring LiFe InTo FoCuS.

Not sure how his recovery will go. Will I ever have my Dad back?

Life is just tough for me now. But I am determined to persevere. All I know to do is lean on my faith and PuT oNe FoOt iN FrOnT oF tHe OtHeR day after day. It is anything but pretty. But what are my options?

How is life going for you? Maybe everything is going great. If so AwEsOmE! If, not, use this as a time to take stock of what is important and get LiFe iNtO FoCuS. Nothing does that better than ChaLLeNgiNg TiMeS.

What can you do today to make that 1% Change?

Hashtag to self: #refusingtoquit

P.S. You are seeing a snapshot of my life taken earlier this summer. For the previous post in this series click HERE.

For the next post in this 1% Change series, click HERE.

Confessions of The Peace Coaches

August 31, 2015August 31, 2015 | Robynn

I have a ConFeSsiOn. You know Popeye’s famous line, “I’ve had all I can stands, I can’t stands no more.” . . . ?

Yep, that pretty much describes me.

A little over a week ago, Lara and I celebrated a big success – we published our book: Peace with Food: Eat What You Want. Never Diet Again. Live a Happy Life. A book that we had been working on for over three years. That was a HuGE win for us.

But the thrill of victory, for me, was short lived because almost immediately after publishing our book I was jolted with this harsh reality: although we had found the key to Peace with Food, I had No PeAcE with My TiMe and my schedule! And I’m a Peace Coach!!

It’s not for a lack of trying. I have tried numerous time-management methods, to no avail.

And not for a lack of accomplishment. I am a consummate tracker of my progress. I journal and I track. Have been doing so for years. And I’ve accumulated a lot of checkmarks.

Give me a graph-paper notebook and it’s like giving a baby candy. For some reason, checking those little boxes is SO very motivating for me to such a degree that I file away those checkoff lists so I can see all the things I have accomplished.

Motivating, yes, but satisfying in the deepest part of the soul, no. In regards to my time and my schedule there is a nagging sense that I am far from my target. That I am MiSsiNg SoMeThiNg. As Bill Hybels would say, a holy discontent.

I want to go from successfully checking off my checkmarks to SiGniFiCaNcE and SouL SaTisFacTion.

So, what now?

The awesome thing, is that in our search for peace with food, Lara and I discovered that the principles we used are transferable to the rest of life!

So, back to the drawing board I go. I’m embarking on a new journey. This time, my focus is to find peace with my time and my schedule and here’s how I intend to do that by using the peace principles Lara and I discovered in finding Peace with Food:

1.) Know myself – I have been doing a lot of ReFleCtiNg and soul searching. The first half of this post describes my discoveries to date. I will continue to reflect and record throughout this journey

2.) Educate myself – I will be spending a lot of time in the next months and possibly even the next few years on this subject. Here is some of what I plan to do:

Read John C. Maxwell’s new book, Intentional Living the moment it comes out this fall! I also plan on doing his 7- Day Experiment and 30-Day Challenge that coincides with the book.
Speak to my MenToRs about how they have found peace with their time and schedule.
Read other books on this subject.
Of course, I can’t leave out the GoD FacToR. This will actually be my first go-to. I’ll use what I call the PR36 Principle: (Proverbs 3:6)

3.) Experiment – I will continually be experimenting with the input and insight I get from mentors and the books I read to see what works best for me. I’ll also be trying some different systems such as Stephen Covey’s.

That being said, the most important thing is this: I don’t just want a new system, a new plan, or the latest and greatest technique that promises me that I will be able to get more done in less time.

No, I want something on the InSiDe Of Me To ChAnGe, specifically the way I look at my time, knowing that this life is very short and each moment that passes is one that will never come my way again.

Stay tuned. . . I’m a WoRk In ProGrEsS and I will continue to update you on my journey. 🙂

Do you have peace with your time and schedule? If so, please share!

Day 28 – 1% Change {90-Day Challenge} The Power of Progress Points

August 30, 2015October 31, 2015 | Robynn

Have a bias toward action – let’s see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.
~Indira Gandhi

Change can be slow. Painfully slow. But from time to time it’s good to take note of your PrOgrEsS PoiNts – all those little improvements you’ve made over an extended period of time that are so tiny, that if you weren’t intentionally looking for them you would miss them.

One progress point I have on the map is DriNkiNg H2O. A little over a year ago I gave up diet cola which I miss greatly, but I did so, because it gave me severe headaches. It took me years to finally kick the habit, but I did it. And now I drink tons of H2O.

That was a huge progress point for me, but I also have many small ones such as drinking a cup of green tea with sweetener.

What say you? What are your progress points – both BiG oNeS aNd SmAll OnEs?

Once you plot them you may be surprised to see that you are making progress. If on the other hand, you realize that you aren’t making any progress, then why not begin today having a BiAs FoR aCtiOn?

Keep at your 1% Change and let’s make it a great day!

Hashtag to self: #biastowardaction

P.S. You are seeing a snapshot of my life taken earlier this summer. For the previous post in this series click HERE.