The most effective people in life think ahead. They know what they want, know what motivates them, keep their thinking honest, and then act in consistent ways over time to achieve their goals.

A hallmark of intelligence and what separates us from other animals is our ability to think about the consequences of our behavior before acting on impulse.

Effective decisions involve forethought in relation to your goals, which helps you not only to live in the moment, but also to be living ten or even fifty years from now. Boosting your will brainpower and health will help you avoid troubled situations.

Here are seven simple steps to boost your brain and renew your thoughts.

“Then What?” The two most powerful words, when it comes to your health, are then what. These two small words can literally change your health in a positive way if you keep them at the top of your mind. If I do this, then what will happen? If I eat this, then what will happen? Does eating the third piece of pizza, skipping the workout, or staying up late help me with any of my goals? Think about the consequences of your behavior before you act.

Get 8 hours of sleep. Less sleep brings lower overall blood flow to the brain and more bad decisions.

Keep your blood sugar balanced. Research says that low blood sugar levels are associated with lower overall blood flow to the brain, poor impulse control, irritability, and more bad decisions.

Optimize your omega 3 fatty acid levels. Low levels of omega 3 fatty acids have been associated with ADHD, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease—all brain problems.

Read your purpose-driven goals daily. Ask yourself, “Is my behavior today lining up with my purpose?”

Practice using your brain. Self-control is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Just as good parents help children develop self-control by saying no, strengthen the self-control part of your own brain by saying no to the things that are not good for you. Over time your brain will make better choices more automatically.

Balance your brain chemistry. Getting help for problems such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression can help you maintain control over your life.

Making consistently great decisions requires a healthy brain. We gave you a lot to think about. That’s the point: We want you to think about your health and become mindful, intentional, and purpose driven. You need a healthy brain and a renewed mind to do that.

Reflect and Take a Step: Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life! (See Proverbs 4:23.) Replace any negative thought with one of God’s truths. Reflect on his promises and the plans he has for you to prosper. Journal your gratitude daily, and allow God to restore and transform your mind.

For more, check out The Daniel Plan – 40 Days to a Healthier Life.  The Daniel Plan is an innovative approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle where people get better together by optimizing their health in the key areas of faith, food, fitness, focus and friends. Here’s the secret sauce: The Daniel Plan is designed to be done in a supportive community relying on God’s instruction for living. Our research has revealed that people getting healthy together lose twice as much weight as those who do it alone.

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