KloodIn » Misty

The Power of Whimsy

Misty — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:17:08 +0000

As adults we have often lost our sense of whimsy. REALITY has squandered our magical moments and the darkness of the world has dimmed our light of WONDER. Sometimes we even squash the whimsy in our children’s lives, not even realizing what we are doing.
I think it’s important for us to hold on to this other-worldly notion and even more important to allow our children to be filled with it.
To me whimsy can be directly related to optimism, positive attitudes, and fun. When we are able to use our imagination, it becomes easier for us to DREAM. So, when we are having a bad moment—sometimes a bad day or week—we can drift off to a place of sublimity. We can escape the harsh reality and turn our thoughts onto something that can add happiness back into our mood range. Many people have a difficult time LETTING GO of negativity, but the POWER of whimsy can help us turn that around and teach our children that capability.

Speaking of dreaming- how do you think someone becomes the president? What about an astronaut? An artist? Those all begin with a DREAM and then followed by ACTION to achieve it.
Remember the JOY you felt as a child on Christmas morning? What about Easter during the egg hunt? Fourth of July when the fireworks filled the sky? Building Leprechaun traps on St. Patrick’s? And when bubbles danced through the air? THAT is what we must hold on to—those wondrous moments that can slip away all too easily.
So, let’s spare our children the bad news of why the world will make it so hard for them to do this or that. Let’s spare ourselves the bad news- let’s choose to BELIEVE that there is more, and bigger, and greater out there and that it is achievable!
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”-Walt Disney
“Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A world of optimism and hope. A ‘you can do it’ when things are tough.” –Richard M. DeVos
“The mind is the limit.”-
“I don’t think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it.”-Richard L. Evans
Mantras:
If I think it, I can do it
DREAM BIG
Find the whimsy

Inspire Me

Misty — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:01:38 +0000

Devoted Conference 2013
First I would like to start off by saying that this was my first time attending the full conference. It is easily one of the best experiences of my life. I have walked away feeling refreshed and a new zest for life. I recommend that EVERY WOMAN attend.
The speakers; Christine Caine, Lisa Bevere, Sheila Walsh, and Sharon Kelly graced the stage humbly. They shared deeply personal stories with hundreds of woman. They enlightened, encouraged, and inspired all of us with their words.
It will be impossible for me to SHARE the experience with you(you can get your own set of DVD’s or CD’s). It was LIFE ALTERING. I can share with you some of the major points that spoke to me in hopes of you gaining a touch of what I did. **This blog is based on my personal experience, personal notes, and in my own wording. No one related to the conference, whether speakers or hosts, should be held accountable for any misconceptions you create in your own head.
1. BLESS YOUR ‘NOT ENOUGHS’: too often do we find ourselves complaining….our job does not pay enough, our clothes are not trendy enough, our marriage is not fulfilling enough, our children don’t do good enough, I don’t get enough appreciation, my weight is not good enough, etc., etc., etc. We must stop condemning everything. God cannot bless what we curse. He cannot multiply what we do not recognize.
2. BRING IT INTO THE LIGHT: When we are hurting, we have anger, or deep rooted disappointments, we sometimes PUSH those feelings and thoughts in a deep, dark hole hoping they will never be seen again. This leads to bitterness, resentment, and problems for our future. We MUST bring those things out and SHINE a light onto them. It is the only way to HEAL completely. You cannot put a band aid over every boo-boo. Every single person has a past, a story, a struggle. There is no reason to feel shame or guilt for yours.
3. WHEN IS ENOUGH?: The world today is programmed to make us believe that we need MORE! That if we have THAT THING we will be happy. The catch is that there is always another THAT THING. We need to understand that our joy should not be dependent on our external circumstances. There is not an external modification that will make us happy. Our happiness comes from within.
4. STEP OFF THE THRONE: If we do not already have ourselves on top of a throne, then we create idols in our life that we place there. When they bring on discontentment we replace them with yet another thing or person. We must tear those IDOLS down and REMOVE ourselves from this throne. We set EXPECTATIONS so high for the people around us and ourselves and we continually are let down. If you don’t set the expectation then there will be no disappointment. People will rarely let you down and you will rarely be upset with yourself. We destroy relationships by placing people on pedestals. We set them up to disappoint us. In marriage, for example, we are there to do life together, to build a life together, and NOT to have all our needs met by one another.
5. SHINE ON: We all have a light within us. When we don’t learn to be content then we DIM OUR LIGHT. We cannot transform the world around us with a dim light.
6. UNITE AS ONE: Calling all WOMEN….UNITE! We are in the time period where everything is under corruption. A world that is constantly growing darker. We must UNITE AS ONE, with ONE VOICE, to STAND as a UNIT. If we could all see that WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY and come together imagine the difference we could make. If we stopped turning our backs on each other and stood as one, imagine how STRONG we could be. If we stopped talking behind one another’s backs, stopped pursuing another’s man, stopped ridiculing each other…IMAGINE how we could CHANGE the world. We must REFUSE to compare ourselves; to stop seeing our ‘co-laborers’ as competition. We are the ones that will teach our children, who will teach their children, what it is to be a WOMAN. Let’s get our PRIORTIES straight.
7. RESOURCE YOURSELF: We must resource ourselves with books, classes, seminars, CD’s, DVD’s, workshops, etc. We need to TURN OFF THE ELECTRONICS and educate ourselves. (Yes, it sounds condescending when I say electronics and CD’s/DVD’s in this way, but you know what I mean….the MIND NUMBING JUNK that CONSUMES US!)
8. GO WITH YOUR GUT: Your intuition is your compass to life. It tells you when you are heading into trouble or making a good decision. It tells you if something is possible or too impractical for the situation. When you know, you just know. LISTEN.
9. PRACTICE MAKES BETTER PRACTICE: You must carry yourself every day in the light. Be HUMBLE, speak KINDLY, have FAITH, do not harbor OFFENSE, STAND strong, LISTEN to your intuition, UNITE with others, LIVE in the PRESENT, find JOY in all things, BLESS what is not enough, BE CONTENT, but not COMPLACENT. These things DO NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT because you wished on a star or said a prayer. No one else can do it for you. You can have friends who help to hold you accountable, but ultimately you have to make the choice every day when you wake up. AM I JUST GOING TO LET THE DAY RUN ME? OR AM I GOING TO TAKE HOLD OF THE DAY AND MAKE IT MINE?
10. JESUS IS THE ANSWER: He is the ONLY answer. Jesus is our HEALER, PROTECTOR, and PROVIDER. It is His word that becomes our WEAPON. We can use it to speak into our lives and situations and we should wield it with BOLDNESS. We have been studying His word, but now need to DECLARE it. Jesus is ENOUGH. He will always be there, always love you, no matter what your PAST looks like, no matter what you have done. He has the POWER to CREATE something out of nothing. “I can do ALL THINGS through Him, who gives me STRENGTH.” We must stop thinking that when we get THERE, to that point, THEN we will be ok to come to Jesus. ITS NOW. It’s always a NOW. “In this world you will have trouble, but TAKE HEART for I have OVERCOME the world.” He makes us HOLY; we do not make Him unholy. When God tells you something He puts it on the table and walks away. It’s up to you to take the next step. Is He speaking to you now?
I hope that some light has come from reading this. Thank you.
For more resource on the 2013 Devoted Conference and Speakers, please look to the following:
www.devotedconference.com
www.wavechurch.com
www.christinecaine.com
www.thea21campaign.org
www.womenoffaith.com
www.messengerinternational.org
www.sheilawalsh.com

To smell or not to smell…

Misty — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:17:05 +0000

Do you take time to stop and smell the roses?
To smell the roses is a term typically used to describe < it’s about having a strong focus in life, but also taking time to enjoy all the small things>.

I have little to no social life since everything they breathe is wrapped around one thing.

our kids to the park and dedicate some uninterrupted play time, paint a picture…….

Catching on yet?

Being “ON” all the time, you WILL burn out. It’s not a matter of IF, it’s a matter of WHEN. By allowing our self time to be “OFF” we have a chance to reenergize and come back to a situation relaxed, fresh, and ready.

ITS LIKE A LIGHT BULB. If it’s on all the time and never gets turned off- even the 5 year guaranteed ones -it will burn out much faster. Then what? You throw that bulb in the trash.

So, YES! I say SMELL ON! Stop and smell the roses as often as needed.

Mantras :
Stop and smell the roses
Slow down
I will NOT be the bulb that burns out
I deserve to relax and unwind
How do I feel? Do I need to down time?
It’s okay to be off, so I can shine brighter when I turn back on.

Kids will be kids, but what about Adults?

Misty — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 03:39:27 +0000

Kids will be kids. That’s a fact of life. They will push the limits, do things they know they shouldn’t REPEATEDLY, be fearless, throw temper tantrums, whine and cry.
One thing about being a parent is we TEACH them what’s right and wrong. We guide their moral compass until they are old enough to take over. And when they do reach that age of “adulthood” we have forever influenced the direction their compass will sway.

There is a fine line between being nice and letting people walk all over you, but I think being polite and having courtesy is a good sway on the moral compass.

WARNING: my first rant is about to begin.

So when I enter a playground, especially indoors with my children, I guide them in common courtesy. I don’t allow my children to climb UP the slides because that ruins the fun for the kids trying to go DOWN the slide — you know, the way slides were meant to be used. I also won’t allow my kids to do something that could harm the other children, especially the younger ones under 48″ –you know, the children the play ground was built for. Larger kids scaling walls and jumping off or blindly throwing themselves down the slides backwards tends to spark an image of an angry parent consoling their child who is now screaming and in tears. NOT MY KIND OF SITUATION. Oh and by the way…. there is NO LIFEGUARD at the playground. It is strictly PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

So, ADULTS please humor me. I would like YOU to be actively AWARE of the guidelines on the playground sign. If your kid is taller than the arrow ATLEAST make sure they are playing calmly in order not to hurt the little ones. And PLEASE watch your children. If you can’t see them then there is a good possibility of them pushing the limits and embracing their ‘no fear, go big or go home’ mentality. They could hurt themselves or someone else and EVEN WORSE be taken out the second exit door unknowingly to you.

Its common sense. Its common courtesy.

Mantras:
Keep your eye on the prize.
Eyes like a hawk.
Think about others.
Be polite.

5 things I’ve learned about being a parent

Misty — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:26:00 +0000

I did not realize the capacity that I had to love until I became a mother. I have two beautiful girls soon to be 2 and 5. Here are 5 things I have learned about being a parent:

1. My kids can drive me insane, but normally its when I am concentrating on my to-do list. So DROP EVERYTHING and spend QUALITY time with your kids! You will all be happier for it and the dishes will be there for later!

2. Time really does fly. The older you get and your kids get the faster it all goes by. WRITE those special moments down! Once you add more kids to the picture it becomes confusing on who did what and when.

3. Children mirror us. If we raise our voice when we get frustrated then guess what? Our kids will do the exact same and is it fair that we punish them for doing exactly what we have taught them? No. So as hard as PATIENCE is to come by….try.

4. Find your INNER CHILD! Sing at the top of your lungs, have DANCE parties in the kitchen, BUILD tents and crawl in them, have tea parties and picnics, JUMP over alligator infested waters to fight pirates and save princesses!

5. I have read somewhere that at the end of the night all that matters is that the child feels loved. So make some CUDDLE TIME before bed to tell them how much you LOVE them!

Mantras:

Anything is possible with IMAGINATION

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

QUALITY time builds QUALITY relationships

Do you feel lonely?

Misty — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:37:00 +0000

I’ve gone through a period in my life where I felt very alone, even though I was surrounded by people. I had never quite had that feeling before. As an extrovert it was very difficult for me to see any positives and not have a self-pity party. Fortunately I found myself on the other end of that tunnel and only after a short period of time.

1st obstacle: DENIAL
Just say it out loud: I AM ALONE. By accepting this loneliness you can now move forward.

2nd obstacle:SELF-PITY PARTY
Don’t whine and wallow in the loneliness. Just say: I AM ALONE AND THAT IS OK. Say this over and over until you truly believe that it is ok.

3rd obstacle:WHY?
Why is it ok to be alone? ANSWER THAT QUESTION. Once you give yourself a reason to why its ok, it becomes easier to accept it.

Your answer could be …… its ok because I will be a stronger person for it…..because I have been needing me time anyhow……because its all in my head and if I reached out I probably wouldn’t feel this alone. Whatever your answer….just find one!

Now you are getting somewhere. By acknowledging the feeling, accepting it, and having an answer to why its okay you can now create an affirmation for yourself. This will help you pull up when the lonely is dragging you down.

AFFIRMATIONS :
I only feel alone. I am not actually alone.

I will be a stronger person by the time this obstacle is gone.

By embracing the lonely I can grow from self-discovery of my inner thoughts and feelings.

This feeling of being alone is just that, a feeling. My feelings are valid, but will not last forever.

** if you are having deep feelings of loneliness or feelings like everyone’s out to get you or even depression due to the feeling I highly recommend seeing a therapist. Therapists are on your side and are only there to help you feel better!

New Years Resolutions

Misty — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:51:43 +0000

Let me give you some ADVICE :
Don’t set a resolution that you have no true desire
for.

If you lack in the will power department, don’t think your resolution is going to just happen.

Put a plan into place.

Set yourself up with a support system of friends and family that will hold you ACCOUNTABLE.

Place items, sayings, your goal list, and anything that will ENCOURAGE you in all areas of your life. Your fridge and pantry, bathroom mirror, car, wallet, front door, or the TV are all great places to start.

Set reminders in your phone calendar with the actions you need to take to reach your goal. Even book the allotted time in your calendar so there will be NO EXCUSE of forgetting or having no time.

For each goal you make write down the actions or steps you will take to achieve it. These are your mini goals along the path of success. Plus as you check each action off you can have a mini celebration!

Lastly, SET REALISTIC GOALS! Small goals are still goals that get you moving forward. To climb a hill and reach the top gives you the confidence to go climb the mountain!

I won’t say good luck because its not about LUCK…….its about how much YOU GIVE IT! So here’s to the best will power, drive, and perseverance you have in YOU!

Mantras:
I can do this

One step at a time

I have it IN ME. Only I can make this work.

I CHOOSE to succeed

I am strong. I am driven. I am in control.

Do you know when to say NO?

Misty — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:20:44 +0000

Anyone who is not completely self absorbed wants to do for others at least some of the time, correct? CORRECT. Everyone wants to succeed in their career which means going above and beyond sometimes, correct? CORRECT. We all have hobbies and interests that we dedicate time to. We all have family and friends that we spend time with. Some spend time in their faith. Others working a second job.
My point is that WE ALL have many areas of our life to spend our energy and time, neither of which are infinite. So, do you know when to say NO? What signals do your body send you when enough is enough?

HOW TO FILL UP YOUR TANK:

stay around positive people that feed you positive energy
take “me time” to relax
enjoy hobbies and activities that make you smile
overcome a fear or tackle something new and exciting
get a good nights rest
enjoy a nice night out with friends

SIGNS OUR TANK IS ON LOW:

we are exhausted
we easily become emotional. This could be getting upset easily or angered easily.
our patience is a ticking time bomb
our appetite is over or under
body aches and headaches are becoming more routine
we are overloading on caffeine
You start coming down with a cold or a full blown virus

When your tank is showing signs that it is low, it is time to start saying NO! Look at your schedule and prioritize the events. If it is not high on the list start to cancel and reschedule. You need calm right now and freeing up time for you to refill your tank is the best way to achieve this. Saying NO does not make you undependable, unreliable, or selfish. It makes you balanced, more intuitive of your bodys’ needs, and smart. Why does this make you smart? Because if you run your tank into EMPTY it is much harder to fill back up. It’s like a glass of water; if the glass is half full it doesnt take as long to fill it up, but if its empty it will take longer to get it full again.

LEARN TO SAY NO!

Mantras

I deserve “me time”

Time to refuel

Saying No is okay

My tank can never be empty
_

What does ‘Tis the Season’ mean for you?

Misty — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 06:35:35 +0000

‘Tis the Season’ is a saying we hear all the time in songs, advertisements, and from people. But in today’s world the meaning has taken a shape far different from its original intent.

Today when we say ‘ Tis the Season’ we say it out of irritation. Irritation with the crowds, the Christmas music in all the stores, the traffic, the commercials, the hype and craziness of buying presents, the finding time to cook…………all the little details.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS TIME OF YEAR being the time to be JOLLY? WE HAVE ALLOWED OURSELVES to get so anxious, so caught up in the worldly desires, so STRESSED!

Take a minute or 5 to TAKE A DEEP BREATH. What is most important to you not just during the holidays but in life?

For me its my children, my husband, my family, friends, and the people who support me. It’s my career and the people who have helped me get where I am today. IT’S THE PEOPLE. So during the Holiday Season shouldn’t that be our concern? To spend time with them and not just watching the football game, but quality time. Really listening to them, doing an act of kindness for them, telling them how thankful you are for them and how much you appreciate them in your life will mean much more than a gift card.

I CHALLENGE YOU to answer what does ‘Tis the Season’ mean to you? Has it lost its value and changed identities into something negative? Re-evaluate your attitude, your stress level, and how much you bring that on yourself. Challenge yourself to do things a little different this year, to not let the material things have all the importance.

Mantras:

Tis the Season to be JOLLY

people matter, materials do not

Is this quality time? OR What could i be doing differently to get quality time?

Keep calm and carry on

Is this important in my life? (if not, then why are you upset?)

embody the Holiday Spirit in all its peace, joy, and happiness

Assume…the most dangerous word

Misty — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:29:50 +0000

Assume
	to take for granted or without proof.

ASSUME:1. Believing that you know everything to the point to where it can harm you or work against you.

Synonyms 6. assume, Pretend, affect, feign imply an attempt to create a false appearance. To assume is to take on or put on a specific outward appearance, often (but not always) with intent to deceive: to assume an air of indifference. To pretend is to create an imaginary characteristic or to play a part: to pretend sorrow. To affect is to make a consciously artificial show of having qualities that one thinks would look well and impress others: to affect shyness. To feign implies using ingenuity in pretense, and some degree of imitation of appearance or characteristics: to feign surprise.

~You assume your coworker doesn’t need ‘that’ so you take it home, only to leave them incapable of doing their job and having to turn away clients.

~You assume that your friend is mad at you because they are being short, only to find out later that they have been dealing with stressful family issues.

~You assume your boss feels appreciated so you throw all your ideas at them, when really all they hear is that what they are doing isn’t good enough.

~You assume your mother doesn’t care because she hasn’t called, only to find out how upset she has been lately with some new ‘stress factors ‘.

~You assume people are talking about you, when in reality its all in your head.

Assumptions normally derive from feelings…your personal feelings. According to how you feel about a situation or a person, even unrelated events that have left you feeling a certain way. Look at the definitions above…do you see anything positive? NO! Because Assume is the most dangerous word. It leads to false blaming, feelings being hurt, withdrawing from people, relationships being broken, business being corrupted. There is nothing good that can come from an assumption.

STOP! Be aware of when you start to assume. And dig deep to figure out where those feelings are coming from.

COLLABORATE! Have someone to hold you accountable that can tell you if its in your head or not. OR go directly to the person you are assuming something about and confront them. Work with others to get your answers, even if it feels like giving in to enemies.

LISTEN! Hear out the people you have put in place to hold you accountable and those you must confront. Listen thoroughly to help yourself understand if what you were feeling is valid or not. If you do not listen then you will not stop feeling ‘that way’ and the assumptions will take root and grow a whole new life.

Mantras:

stop, collaborate, and listen (Thank you Vanilla Ice)

challenge assumptions

assuming leads to nothing good