Introduction

  How do I live the best me beyond the crazy you? The demands of life are pushing women into the red zone. I call the red zone a space of heightened anxiety. When women are living in this space they often learn to operate the events of the day in their own strength. The danger of living in the red zone can cause headaches, body pains, sleeplessness, frustration, anger, jitters, hair loss, wrinkles, tiredness, stomach aches, hives, blemishes and a host of ailments too numerous to name.

In this fast-paced chaotic society we are living in today dealing with crazy people, crazy circumstances, and the crazy melodrama we find ourselves encountering every day, you may wonder if it’s possible to live the best me beyond all this. Women have so many demands placed upon them today that it is becoming almost impossible to maintain the essentials for living the best you. Women are wearing and changing so many hats throughout the day.

They are taking care of the jobs, taking care of the husbands, taking care of the children, taking care of the grandchildren, taking care of parents, taking care of church ministries, taking care of bills, taking care of the groceries, taking care of the family doctor visits, taking care of the dog or cat, taking care of the car, taking children to practices, cleaning the house, and meeting the demands of a job outside or inside the home. They are taking care of everyone and everything except themselves.

Not to mention having their own personal struggles with self-esteem, strongholds of the mind, health issues, weight management, and making time for God. When night falls all they can do is go to bed without a thought as to, “How did I take care of me today”? And then wake up the next morning to the same hectic routine.

Sisters, we have lost the art of taking care of ourselves. It is very important to remember you within your hectic lifestyle. We have over extended ourselves and are afraid to admit it and too afraid to ask for help, because if we do, it gives the impression that we are not smart enough or strong enough to carry our load. As a result, we are falling apart at the seams and when we realize this it is because some event has happened in our lives to get our attention, shake us up, or wake us up before it is too late. Now is the time to begin looking at ways to live the best you, despite all the craziness. There are always going to be crazy people in your life.

People will always try to impose physiological issues upon your mind. There will always be crazy circumstances because stuff happens, and crazy melodrama because you have your own personal issues. Circumstances that are out of your control you must leave in the caring hands of God. But the things you can take control of and change, you must take them by force through prayer, faith, and action. It is imperative for you to begin to put your faith into action if you are going to experience living the best you.

The things you will read in this book will serve as an encouragement and reminder to you of the wonderful God we serve and His desire for you to be successful in everything He created you to be. As I was approaching my fiftieth birthday I took inventory of my life. I examined every aspect of it to see if I, indeed, was living the best me. Was I truly living the life God intended for me to live? I made it personal, not about anyone else’s life, but my life. This caused me to dig deep within myself and be honest with me.

I found areas that needed to be overhauled, improved, discovered, rediscovered, cleaned up, cleaned out and reinvented. And this could only happen by submitting to God’s Word and making changes according to His Word. My heart’s desire is that you will draw from some of my experiences and allow God to provoke change in you so that you will begin living the best you. Begin living out the woman He created you to live, apart from anyone’s opinion or desires for your life. Remember you are the only you.