Making A Difference: More Than A Cliché

Digging In: A Discussion on Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is one of those tricky phrases we hear a lot in our culture. We're told it's a mark of a healthy person. Articles on self-esteem shout at us as we stand in line at the grocery store, looking at all the women's magazine covers.

What does it mean to have good self-esteem as a Christian woman? Does it even belong in a Christian's vocabulary? What does it mean to suffer from lack of self-esteem? How do we keep from settling on the world's definition of self-esteem, instead of God's? Some Christians even go so far as to say self-esteem is not of God – in effect, evil? What do you think? Let's dig in!

First, we need to clarify our language so we're all on the same page. Dictionary.com defines self-esteem as "a feeling of pride in yourself" and "the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect." Essentially, it is holding yourself – your body, mind, soul, spirit, everything you are – in high appreciation or regard. It is to think highly of yourself, to love who you are, and to be happy in who you are in all of these areas. It is putting yourself where you would elevate an object of importance and high worth: on a pedestal.

At first glance, it doesn't seem like there is anything wrong with taking pride in who we are. Our culture tells us that we need to have a high view of ourselves. Yet the Bible clearly asserts the opposite. All are sinful, there is none righteous (Romans 3:23). We are born into this world sinful, jealous, greedy, quick to anger, etc. Most of you will agree that there is abundant evidence to support this claim. Just think of when you carelessly gossip at work, when you don't help out where you need to, or when you hastily speak words of hate instead of love.

A lot of women suffer from poor self-esteem in one major area: physical appearance. So many of us are obsessed about our weight, and for unhealthy reasons. We are convinced that to accept ourselves as truly beautiful, we need to look like Elizabeth Hurley or Kate Moss. We tell ourselves that guys, even Christian ones, are shallow and visually-stimulated, so we resign ourselves to trying to pull off the supermodel look, some even going to extreme measures to make ourselves and others happy with our looks.

Others suffer poor self-esteem from comparing ourselves to others.

"She lives in such a posh townhouse, and I'm still renting someone's basement!"

"She gets to be a wife and mom – I'm single and pushing papers!"

"She has such a gift for encouraging others – why can't I be like her?"

"She is so smart and says all the right things – I could never live up to her!"

And the list goes on and on.

For some, self-esteem can be unbalanced. While there are certain parts of us we don't value/esteem as highly, there are other areas in which we take an inordinate amount of pride. A lot of us indulge in an overactive sense of self-esteem, or a very airbrushed self-image.

Take a long look at yourself in the mirror of your heart and check yourself out. Where are you basing your sense of self-worth? This is something we women should get in the habit of doing every day, because every day we are barraged with an onslaught of worldly messages: e.g., physical appearance is the most important quality, brains will get you power and wealth, etc. It is terrifyingly easy to get sidetracked from God's truth and lured into worldly thinking. Test your heart with these questions:

Where am I basing my sense of self-worth?

• my physical features, appearance, sense of style
• my intelligence
• my expertise
• my achievements
• my talents
• my romantic relationships
• my friends and family, social connections
• my various attributes/character qualities: my charm, charisma, friendliness, resoluteness, strength, boldness, mercy, take-charge attitude, etc.
• my great job
• my financial status
• my job/role as a wife, mother, student, employee, boss, etc.?

Reality check: everything we are and everything we have comes from God. We did not do anything to deserve what we have been given. It is God's grace, pure and simple. So how come we still act like we are the ones who made ourselves the way we are?

First of all, we need to humble ourselves and give thanks to God and rejoice in the wonderful things He has blessed us with. But we also need to request the proper perspective on how to view our blessings: they are gifts from Him, to be stewarded wisely (that extends to everything – our relationships, our bodies, our talents, etc.). Also, as wonderful as they may be, they are not solid enough to hold us up forever – our cute young faces will get wrinkles, no matter how popular Botox becomes; our savings accounts will be depleted or we will die before we have a chance to delegate the funds; our own character traits sure can't save us, because apart from God, they are still tainted by sinful nature; our boyfriends and husbands are only human, flawed as we are, and will not satisfy all our needs and wants like we'd hoped; and there will always be someone with a more impressive resume of achievements than our own.

Finally, at the core of our very beings, we should base our self-worth in nothing more and nothing less than Christ, in His magnificent love for us and how He demonstrated that through His death and resurrection. And why? Because "Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:5). This promise from above is also our surefire way of protecting against an extreme attitude either way that results in a self-image that is out of whack: either a self-depreciating loathing, or an overly inflated ego. We can acknowledge that we are incompetent in and of ourselves to save ourselves, and that we're a sinful package, through and through.

But we don't stay there, dwelling on how sinful we are and how unworthy. Move on from there! After experiencing God's grace, and seeing the beauty and wonder of who we truly are in Christ, we will come to love ourselves. This is not a prideful or selfish love, but a love that is thankful to God for uniquely crafting us to demonstrate His truth and love to others. We can only have good and true self-esteem in Christ when we look at our whole selves through His lense of grace. We can love the way we look, all the while knowing and rejoicing that life goes deeper than skin surface. We can delight in our talents and gifts and resources, and even more so knowing that Christ works through those gifts and makes them more powerful than they could ever be on their own.

So does the word self-esteem have a place in the Church? Yes and no. If by self-esteem we mean basing our sense of self-worth in only ourselves, then that is unrighteous self-esteem. It is less than the best. You can do infinitely better. But a sense of genuine self-love and respect that results from seeing the way God sees you – that kind of self-esteem rocks!

Express Your Opinion

Ellys Thoughts...

"Will the Child you were, be proud of the Adult you have become"?




                                                 



                                                                    *THINK LONGTERM*

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS)

The baby is the joy, the sparkle and all that depicts the product of love for families who want them.  However letting go of these precious little ones is always a pain for parents and even when we become adults our parents are always there, as our heroes, mentors, best friends and closest  confidant. For some, especially depending on the cultural orientation/ family dynamics children should always be kept very close to protect them from impending danger and right from the cradle, some babies sleep on the same  bed as their parents. Pleaseeee give yourself a break lol! Seriously though, studies have shown the impending danger of this act and I had to inform you my favourite audience. Quite informative if you ask me, keep reading...

Sudden infant death risk 'is five times higher if the baby sleeps in its parents' bed'

• It is believed that 120 babies could be saved each year in the UK if parents stopped bed sharing
• Research shows 88 per cent of deaths while co-sleeping could have been avoided had the baby been in a cot

Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents are five times more likely to die of sudden death, experts have warned.

Bed sharing is on the increase despite warnings that parents should have their babies in bed with them - particularly smokers and those who have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

But the latest research says all babies are at extra risk no matter what the parents’ lifestyle.

The largest ever study of its type found the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) was five times higher even when neither parent smoked, and the baby was less than 3 months old, breastfed and the mother did not drink or take drugs, than if the baby had slept in a cot next to their parents’ bed.

It is possible accidental suffocation may be to blame, especially when the baby is under three months old.

Despite a dramatic drop in the rate of cot death in the UK since the early 1990s, experts are advising parents that the safest place for a baby to sleep is in a cot, and that dangerous co-sleeping arrangements are an avoidable risk.

Professor Bob Carpenter, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who led the study said 120 babies a year could be saved if parents stopped bed sharing.

He said: ‘Eighty eight per cent of the deaths that occurred while bed sharing would probably not have occurred had the baby been placed on its back in a cot by the parents’ bed.

‘Annually there are around 300 cot death cases in babies under a year old in the UK, and this advice could save the lives of up to 40 per cent of those.

'Health professionals need to make a definite stand against all bed sharing, especially for babies under three months.’

The study looked at five published data sets from the UK, Europe and Australasia, which included information on 1472 SIDS cases and 4679 control cases.

The risk of SIDS while bed sharing fell as the age of the infant rose.

But if either parent was a smoker or the mother had drunk alcohol or used illegal drugs, including cannabis, at any time since the child was born, the risk was greatly increased.

The study found in 22 per cent of cases where infants had died from SIDS, one or both parents had been sleeping with their child at the time of death.

Over the past 10 years, there has been a marked increase in bed sharing and the authors now estimate half of SIDS cases occur while bed sharing - more than double the figure found in the study.

Even in very low-risk breastfed babies, where there were no risk factors for SIDS other than that they had slept in their parents’ bed, 81 per cent of SIDS deaths in infants under three months of age could have been prevented by not bed sharing, they add.

‘We currently recommend that doctors, midwives and nurses should warn parents of the risks of sleeping alongside a baby in a bed.

‘The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a cot in their parents’ room for the first six months.’
(culled from mail online)

"Grabado"

We carve our names into tombstones to become memories, but it is only when we carve our name into hearts that we become memorable. So smile at strangers, be kind to everyone, meet anger with compassion, give unconditionally, and expect nothing in return. Your character will be honored long after your name is forgotten. And remember, you cant get to the good, till you get rid of the bad.

GRATITUDE—IT’S CONTAGIOUS!

‘In every thing give thanks...’

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Author Barbara Johnson was frazzled; she was running late, and on the bus to work she had to stand. Her attitude was going downhill fast when a cheery voice from the front of the bus announced, ‘Beautiful day, isn’t it?’ She couldn’t see the man, but she listened to his commentary as he described the lovely scenery…this church…that park…a cemetery…a firehouse. His grateful attitude lightened the mood of everybody around him. Then as Johnson got off the bus she caught a glimpse of the speaker: an average-looking man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white stick! Paul said, ‘In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.’ We don’t thank God for trials, we thank Him in them. Gratitude is like a boomerang. It blesses the recipient, makes a 180-degree turn and blesses the person who gives thanks. One Bible teacher says: ‘Whatever crisis there is in your life, before it ever came God made sure you’d be able to endure it…others have gone through exactly what you’re going through…and made it through victoriously…with every temptation God promised to “’‘…make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Trials and “’‘escape ways” are inseparable. But the devil doesn’t want you to know that, so every time you go through a test, he tells you there’s no way out. I learned long ago when the devil keeps pressuring me, it’s always an indication that “the way out” is about to be revealed…We need to do what God says. “Rejoice!” Remember, “…The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). When you have His joy, it gives you strength for the journey’.(UCB)

Seeking validation in the wrong places!

Seeking validation in the wrong places,will never bring us to the place of fulfillment/ contentment. Sometimes we seek validation in our jobs, our family, our bosses, our relationships, our peers etc. But the more we do this, the more empty we become, because the truth is that we dont have to prove ourself to anybody, nobody at all deserves that position in our lives other than God. The only thing we should be concerned about, is that our words, thoughts and actions please God cos in the end, His approval is the only thing that counts. Its good to have plaforms in life, but prioritizing our love for God over everything else brings us to that place of fufillment we so earnestly yearn. "You cannot do anything without God.It's a profound and elemental truth. Not,you cannot do most things without God. You will not be able to do anything that you want, truly, in fulfillment, without God"-Marco Rubio. And if you are reading this, do well to listen to Paula in the message below, so so inspiring. I loved it and I guess you will too

Future View

I attended a workshop at the London School Of  Economics Yesterday, and I got so much inspiration listening to John Ayton speak(CEO of a luxury brand links of London)
Most times we spend the major part of our lives complaining about the jobs we do, the managerial styles of the corporations we work for, the career progression patterns etc. And yes its understandable, you spend the most of your life working for an organisation, that determines your income, life style, location and even when and how long you rest. In fact your life is literally programmed by the organisation you work for. And what happens if one day in your mid years, they decide they no longer need your services? Remember no one is indispensable, or what if you carry on working for the organisation and complaining all the way till retirement and you have not learned anything else?

John Ayton said "To get the best job in the world, I had to create it myself".
I have parents who have worked for  a good part of their lives, until they decided to start their own business and if you ask me, its one of the best decisions they have ever made, other than staying married lol!. And my dad always reminds me up till today that as long as you work for others, you can only progress to a certain level, but when you work for yourself, you shoot the stars, and the good thing about the sky is that, it is too wide for two birds to clash.

The best time to start thinking of retirement however is before  the boss does so! Yes
Its not about retiring most times, but for a majority of people not having what to retire to is the dreaded cancer. Having so much time in your hands and no cheese to play around with.
While my parents peers are thinking of retirement, my parents are actually employing individuals who are retired but not tired. You know why?  Retirement kills more people than hard work ever did.  ~Malcolm Forbes

The time to think of the future is now, the time to bring that business idea to reality is now, because the longer you wait, the more you have to loose.

Now off the records some of you have requested to see what I looked like after I spoke about the blazers on the previous post and I promised you some pics, so here they are

Yea you can always embellish your blazers with a scarf. 

                           

Like I said in the previous post, look out for the sleeves (patch elbows etc), the length,even the style of the pockets, (the unisex trend is the double slit pockets on one side and a single slit on the other) the colour depending on the occasion/time of the day.

Yea I blazed it all the way lol!, I ll leave the rest for the fashion blogs. Got any contributions? E mail or drop a comment.

 And remember, "Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to".  ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

*THINK LONGTERM*

Blaze It Up!

This week has been a pretty long one, just the second day and I already feel like wow shoot me! lol! Even the holidays are quickly forgotten once reality sets in. And now I am going through my wardrobe checking for what to wear tomorrow and because its going to be a pretty long one for me and one in which you want your image to speak before you do(laughs), I am looking for the most comfortable but stylish pieces in my wardrobe. And it just occurs to me that, If there’s one garment that adds instant polish to any ensemble, it’s a blazer. Worn over everything from jeans to skirts and dresses to even shorts, it adds the perfect element of sophistication for work or for play. The beauty of a blazer is the way it instantly transforms an outfit—a casual ensemble can become a chic statement just by adding a tailored blazer, or a bold-colored jacket can make a formal look much less stuffy! I was at a leaving do two weeks ago and I wowed everyone by my subtle addition of this lovely cut piece over a sequence camisole  I had on. The key to staying  in tune, is having them in different colours, lengths and most importantly the style of the arms/sleeves. If you feel its to bland, just roll up the sleeves sluggishly, as seen in the Terracotta coloured blazer you will be amazed at the outcome.  

  

For Day to Night: Mustard, Emerald, & Leopard 

As I like to say, there aren’t any rules when it comes to mixing colors—so why not mix in a print as well? This look is professional enough for day, but the pumps make it fun enough for night.

Blazer: Zara

For a Party: Sequins & Pleats 

 You can still wear shiny, glamorous sequins! Like I said earlier, I did two weekends ago and it just looked lovely.

 To downplay the sparkle factor, opt for sequins in muted colors, like army green or navy blue.

For Casual Friday: Instant Chic

The easiest way to go chic in an instant? Throw a blazer over your favorite jeans and top.

For Brunch With the Ladies: Conjuring Fall 

When it comes to wearing a staple time and time again, playing with fabrics and colors is the key. This blue velvet blazer is a unique twist on the classic, but it’ll always be in fashion.

The velvet is surely my favourite, also get them in burgundy and you can get away with just anything, trust me.

For a Date: Nighttime Basics 

Dressing-up classic denim is my favorite fashion pastime. When all else fails, throw on your fave pair of jeans and add nighttime basics: a blazer and pumps!

Its quite amazing what a pair of heels and those blazers can do, to your final outlook. Will bring you more tips, have you got any to share? Feel free to do so.

(photos:Daily Muse)

Ellys Thoughts..The Stubbornness Of The Status Quo!

I just read this from the american journal, and marveled at the ratios. Its amazing though when the population of women to men is more..... Anyways you read too.

"At the six largest U.S. banks by asset size, just 12 of the 82 people who comprise the executive teams are women. Beth Mooney became the first female CEO of a top-25 U.S. bank and a number of women have reached the top management tier of large foreign banks with operations here like Irene Dorner, the CEO of HSBC USA, who was this year's Most Powerful Woman in Banking".

"Women and men enter the banking business in roughly equal numbers and get promoted to mid-management at nearly the same pace. But fewer women clear that next rung, into senior management, and only a tiny fraction have an office in the C-Suite."(American Banker)

"There is only one woman on the executive team at JPMorgan Chase, at Citigroup, at PNC, at Goldman Sachs and at Morgan Stanley. Two women have cracked that barrier at USBank."

I am not of the opinion, that there should be stiff competition in life, the sky is really too wide for two birds to clash but I believe we should do our best and not settle for Mediocrity.

Its All In The Crunch!

Now some of my friends who know me well always say I am a very health conscious person, which I think its very true,and you hardly open my fridge without being greeted by both cooked and raw vegetables. In fact vegetables and low fat yogurt are like a regular constant in my fridge. But for some time I have been reading on the health benefits of carrots and decided to share some of my findings. I truly believe that in addition to rest and exercise, a healthy diet is key to good health and longevity and to a large extent, the Chinese have proved this right.

Benefits of Carrots

1.  Improved Vision
Western culture’s  understanding of carrots being “good for the eyes” is one of the few we got right. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.

Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat the most beta-carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.

2.  Cancer Prevention
Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and falcarindiol which they feel cause the anticancer properties.

Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating mice.

3.  Anti-Aging
The high level of beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism.  It help slows down the aging of cells.

4.  Healthy Glowing Skin (from the inside)
Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.

5.  A Powerful Antiseptic
Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts – shredded raw or boiled and mashed.

6.  Beautiful Skin (from the outside)
Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask.  Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey. 

7.  Prevent Heart Disease
Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.  Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.

The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.

8.  Cleanse the Body 
Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fibers present in carrots help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.

9.  Healthy Teeth and Gums
It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste.  Carrots stimulate gums and  trigger a lot of saliva, which being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria.  The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.

10.  Prevent Stroke:
From all the above benefits it is no surprise that in a Harvard University study, people who ate more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less.(culled from care 2).

Now that you know all these, start doing the crunch and do you know cooking carrots have no negative effects on the nutrients as the nutrients are tightly enclosed in protein sacs that have to be broken by heat or mechanical action(grinding, juicing or proper chewing).

Got more views? Feel free to share

                                 

God Awareness

And here I am singing a worship song during my morning devotion, and as I move unto the next song, I clearly hear in my spirit, go back to the other song you just sang, sing it with understanding and believe what you say. The lyrics of the song was, I have confidence in God, anytime/any day. And as I obeyed and began to sing the song again, I begin to ask myself what it really means to have confidence in God? And I tell myself, its believing even when it seems impossible, its silencing my intellect and allowing the word of God to take charge and bring the supernatural unto the natural, its knowing the facts but believing in the truth of His word, and power of my God. Its coming to the understanding that the foolishness of God is wiser than man.

In James 4:8, it says Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Until we go past religion/dogmas and the burdens of silly spiritual political idiosyncrasies and come into His presence with just one purpose-to know Him/please Him/Be like Him, our lives remain as bland as we can ever imagine. Until we break forth from how my church does it/ what the priest/pastor/spiritual leader says and come to understand this God ourselves for who He truly is, we end up just living mere rituals that take us nowhere and constantly widens the vacuum we so desperately need God to fill.

As the Russians celebrated Easter yesterday, and majority of Christians a few weeks ago on the 31st of March, there was so much hype about lent/fasting/ abstinence of meat etc. I vividly remember one of the days at work during lunch hour and a colleague goes"I cant wait for the fasting to be over so that I go back to my meals" and I quickly say and what has abstaining from a meal got to do with the state of your heart/pleasing God? Don't get me wrong, fasting is a spiritual exercise, I do not take lightly, but being seasonally religious, when we tell the whole world its our season of "Lent" and try to indulge in rituals which we have no understanding of and thereafter return to our regular selves is absolute stupidity in my opinion. It would be better if the purpose was to maintain a healthy lifestyle/diet but lets not link it to Christianity.

In the book of Isaiah, He shows us the type of fast he wants, He is interested in the heart and not necessarily the foods we abstain from. And I ask what will abstinence from meat for instance, for a certain period have on  a heart that is full of filth and wickedness? What we really need is a God awareness and moving away from  playing religion which is our greatest undoing to establishing a renewed relationship with Him where in we can boldly address Him as My Father!
  "Serve God with a different understanding, and experience a difference to life"
                                              *THINK LONGTERM*

BODY ALERT!

And here I am having lunch with my colleagues, and we are looking at this magazine and behold on one of the pages is this 14 year old who weighs 40 stones, my oh my! You need to see what she looked like at just 14. But all I could think of was, how did she allow herself get to that stage, but as I think about the whole situation all I can come up with is, it all begins with a wrong diet/practice that becomes a habit and lifestyle, which invariably has a knock on effect on not just outlook but health issues. Yea and speaking of lifestyle, exercise is key to maintaining a healthy life style. Most people exercise for various reasons, to look good, please a partner, fit into that bikini wow and for people like me so we dont feel guilty when we greedily consume all the food lol! I was at a barbecue last weekend, and everyone goes "O Elly you have lost quite some weight, dont go any further", and my response was "I am just starting, but right there in my heart, all I could hear was licence to eat freely and I really ate that evening lol! All these are quite valid reasons but they cant sustain the zeal, however the main reason I feel should be on the grounds of health reasons. Exercise should be part of our routine not optional but mandatory. Some people approach exercise as well as dieting aggressively, but soon loose the zeal and go back to square one. I always say take baby steps and consistent daily steps to achieve the desired result. That is why I have attached this write up on the health benefits of walking/jogging, you can actually walk, just invest in some good running shoes like I just did, and swap them at the end of the day as you walk back from work, or to the shops and give those clutches a break. Dont wait to enroll in a gym, as you might spend the whole year, talking the talk and not doing it rather start something today even in the comfort of your bedroom. My simple routine which I do, is a 20-30minutes jog in the morning, as well as a few minutes of tummy exercises in the evening, and the outcome is amazing, you just feel good within as well as your self confidence too. Dont forget to hydrate, I really love my water and it makes a huge difference. Some friends marvel at how much water I take, as we were out for the weekend, and they noticed I actually got up at night to have some water, but I say its better than all the colourful artificial drinks, advertised on the shelves. Change Your lifestyle today and experience a newness to life! Jogging offers same health benefits as walking Jogging is the next natural step from walking. Jogging is a form of trotting or Running at a slow or leisurely pace with the main intention to increase fitness, endurance, and caloric expenditure. Jogging, like walking, can be done anytime, anywhere, and can be done alone or in a group. Jogging has all the health benefits of walking: It conditions the heart, improves muscle tone and strength, relieves stress, and can help with a variety of health problems including heart disease and arthritis. However, whereas walking is a low-impact activity because one foot is always in contact with the ground, in jogging and in Running, impact is introduced. This is a high-impact exercise that places strain on the body, notably the joints of the knee. But impact can actually be a good thing. Because jogging is a weight-bearing activity, it will enhance bone density, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The big advantage of jogging over walking is that you can cover the same distance in a shorter period of time. The disadvantage is that it can result in more injuries than walking, because the strain placed on both muscles and joints is greater. But with proper shoes and preparation through stretching, you can greatly reduce your risk of injury. Jogging and Running, like walking, involve rhythmic, forward action of the legs that target the large lower muscles of the body including the hip flexors, gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and hamstrings. Assisting those muscles are the gastrocnemius and the anterior tibialis. The less obvious, yet equally important, muscles are your hip abductors and hip adductors, which are responsible for stabilizing the hips and legs in general. The torso muscles are also actively engaged to keep your torso erect as your arms swing naturally with your stride. Because of the level of impact associated with both jogging and Running, proper alignment of the torso is paramount in limiting stress to the joints and low back. Visualize and create a tall vertical position of your torso, keeping your abdominal muscles engaged throughout your jog. Maintain a strong upper postural position by keeping your shoulders down, creating lots of distance between your shoulders and ears to avoid carrying your arms too high. A well-fitted Running shoe is the most basic requirement for jogging. You will need to try on a variety of models to see which style provides the best overall fit. The amount of cushioning you require depends on how hard your foot strikes the ground during your stride. The frame and build of your body will help you determine how much cushioning you need. Most experts agree that a good pair of comfortable sneakers will suffice; however, as we recommended in walking, choosing a well constructed performance Running shoe is a good idea because it is designed specifically for Running and will help you avoid injury. If you take the time to choose proper footwear, your feet will not only perform better, they’ll feel better too! by June Kahn and Lawrence Biscontini.