Monday, December 7, 2009
Classic Book & Gifts 50% Off
Classic Book & Gifts on Lehi Main Street is going exclusively online so everything in their store is 50% off this week only. If you live in the area, it is definitely worth a visit. They have books, kids art supplies and toys and more! Have fun!
Personal Power
I participated in yet another life-changing conference call with the folks at LEMI. The topic of the call was Personal Power which Tiffany and Aneladee defined as (in a nutshell) the ability to manage our state of being. This call has truly been a treasure that I have been seeking. I may not have referred to it in those words. I may have had pieces of the puzzle already. However, they put a name on my desire and gave me all the pieces I need to develop it in my own life.
Here are the key points of what I learned. They began by sharing four states of being (the first three from Plato and the last from Stephen Covey). By recognizing our levels in each of these states, we can trigger or return to a state of courage or personal power.
1. Physical State
When we are in a state of receiving, we are in a state of courage because we become open to truth.
It is important to recognize when you receive best: studying in bed vs. sitting at a desk, in pajamas vs. fully dressed, etc.
If you feel you are in a disempowered state--MOVE YOUR BODY!!! This changes the physical state the quickest.
2. Emotional State
Listen to the story you are telling yourself and if it is negative--stop it, control it, change it.
3. Mental State
Be present and be REAL!
4. Spiritual State
A process that begins with courage and humility with love being its fruit.
Tiffany and Aneladee gave detailed descriptions of each of these states as well as used stories and examples to illustrate the principles clearly. I have only a simple summary of great truths they shared but hopefully you get the idea that we have the power to manage how we act even when a storm is raging around us. Developing personal power puts us in a place of choice, on a positive frequency, in a state of pro-action and courage, and helps us be unafraid to feel feelings.
Not only do I now have the tools to practice personal power, little by little I am sharing with my children how they can manage their state. Now that's power!
Here are the key points of what I learned. They began by sharing four states of being (the first three from Plato and the last from Stephen Covey). By recognizing our levels in each of these states, we can trigger or return to a state of courage or personal power.
1. Physical State
When we are in a state of receiving, we are in a state of courage because we become open to truth.
It is important to recognize when you receive best: studying in bed vs. sitting at a desk, in pajamas vs. fully dressed, etc.
If you feel you are in a disempowered state--MOVE YOUR BODY!!! This changes the physical state the quickest.
2. Emotional State
Listen to the story you are telling yourself and if it is negative--stop it, control it, change it.
3. Mental State
Be present and be REAL!
4. Spiritual State
A process that begins with courage and humility with love being its fruit.
Tiffany and Aneladee gave detailed descriptions of each of these states as well as used stories and examples to illustrate the principles clearly. I have only a simple summary of great truths they shared but hopefully you get the idea that we have the power to manage how we act even when a storm is raging around us. Developing personal power puts us in a place of choice, on a positive frequency, in a state of pro-action and courage, and helps us be unafraid to feel feelings.
Not only do I now have the tools to practice personal power, little by little I am sharing with my children how they can manage their state. Now that's power!
Friday, December 4, 2009
It's About Time
I would like to share some insights I have learned after doing a little experiment. A few of us from my LEMI group decided to plan every 15 minutes of one week. Here's what I learned...
First of all with a family of seven I decided to give myself a break and schedule every half an hour. It just so happened that was the week my computer died. It was fried in a power outage the previous night...it's amazing how these things just happen ; ) As a result I not only saw myself clearly (loud & clear) but I was also able to come up with a solution that works for me! (Read more in Confessions of A Time Abuser).
I also learned that I waste an amazing amount of time looking for things. One night I was getting in bed and my glasses slid between the bed and my nightstand. I was too tired to pick them up. (Sound pathetic? It gets worse.) Keep in mind it would literally take me two maybe three seconds to bend over, pick them up, put them in the case and stick it in my drawer. I forgot the whole thing happened because I was sooo tired. The next morning I spent literally 45 minutes searching frantically for my glasses (which were within my grasp the entire time). I was so grumpy and put out even resorting to my usual find-it-right-away prayer didn't work. Had I minded my three seconds, I could have managed my time and state of being more efficiently.
It reminded me of when I took my children to the local fire station. The fire engine has a compartment for EVERYTHING. EVERY fireman (is fire person the politically-correct term?!) puts things back in their correct place. If a fireman is careless and puts the hatchet away in the wrong place, it could possibly cost a life in an emergency. I feel a family council comin' on...
On Thursdays my mom comes to spend time with my kids and I get to run errands by myself (yes, she is the best mom!) I struggled all week to keep my schedule and Voila! on Thursday everything worked like clockwork! What was different? No kids. I realized I need to schedule literally an extra 15 minutes just for little people needs. I found by allowing myself more time, I not only stay on schedule but I maintain relationships with the most important people in my life. When I tried to barrel through tasks in order to stay on schedule, I often sacrifice relationships which take MORE time to mend.
Last but not least, my husband shared the sun dial quote with me from Franklin Covey seminars when I was moping about the result of project I had been working on.
The shadow by my finger cast,
Divides the future from the past.
Behind its unreturning line,
The vanished hour no longer thine.
Before it lies the unknown hour,
In darkness and beyond thy power.
One hour alone is in thine hand,
The now on which the hour stands.
I was wasting time in the past. I realized living in the present is a key to managing my time.
I would love to hear how you have learned to better manage your time. Please share!
First of all with a family of seven I decided to give myself a break and schedule every half an hour. It just so happened that was the week my computer died. It was fried in a power outage the previous night...it's amazing how these things just happen ; ) As a result I not only saw myself clearly (loud & clear) but I was also able to come up with a solution that works for me! (Read more in Confessions of A Time Abuser).
I also learned that I waste an amazing amount of time looking for things. One night I was getting in bed and my glasses slid between the bed and my nightstand. I was too tired to pick them up. (Sound pathetic? It gets worse.) Keep in mind it would literally take me two maybe three seconds to bend over, pick them up, put them in the case and stick it in my drawer. I forgot the whole thing happened because I was sooo tired. The next morning I spent literally 45 minutes searching frantically for my glasses (which were within my grasp the entire time). I was so grumpy and put out even resorting to my usual find-it-right-away prayer didn't work. Had I minded my three seconds, I could have managed my time and state of being more efficiently.
It reminded me of when I took my children to the local fire station. The fire engine has a compartment for EVERYTHING. EVERY fireman (is fire person the politically-correct term?!) puts things back in their correct place. If a fireman is careless and puts the hatchet away in the wrong place, it could possibly cost a life in an emergency. I feel a family council comin' on...
On Thursdays my mom comes to spend time with my kids and I get to run errands by myself (yes, she is the best mom!) I struggled all week to keep my schedule and Voila! on Thursday everything worked like clockwork! What was different? No kids. I realized I need to schedule literally an extra 15 minutes just for little people needs. I found by allowing myself more time, I not only stay on schedule but I maintain relationships with the most important people in my life. When I tried to barrel through tasks in order to stay on schedule, I often sacrifice relationships which take MORE time to mend.
Last but not least, my husband shared the sun dial quote with me from Franklin Covey seminars when I was moping about the result of project I had been working on.
The shadow by my finger cast,
Divides the future from the past.
Behind its unreturning line,
The vanished hour no longer thine.
Before it lies the unknown hour,
In darkness and beyond thy power.
One hour alone is in thine hand,
The now on which the hour stands.
I was wasting time in the past. I realized living in the present is a key to managing my time.
I would love to hear how you have learned to better manage your time. Please share!
Inspired Anew
I have been trying to get back into the habit of posting since I got my "new" (really my husband's old) laptop. Yay! I am working on being disciplined with my time so I need to schedule this back into my life. I have been learning so much from so many places...I need to share!
Since this is an illegal computer time for me : ), I thought I would make this short. This morning I had to take care of some family business on the computer so after morning devotional I needed an activity that would keep the kids busy AND learning. I found this fun list of 101 Ideas to Add Spice to Your Homeschooling Days.
I gave the kids some blank address label stickers cut in half and sent them to the kitchen pantry to play store. They decide the value of each item and they have monopoly money and change to buy and sell with. I allow them to check their math with the calculator which makes it more store-like. Wow it's quiet and everyone (even the baby!) is happy. What else do I need to get done?...
Since this is an illegal computer time for me : ), I thought I would make this short. This morning I had to take care of some family business on the computer so after morning devotional I needed an activity that would keep the kids busy AND learning. I found this fun list of 101 Ideas to Add Spice to Your Homeschooling Days.
I gave the kids some blank address label stickers cut in half and sent them to the kitchen pantry to play store. They decide the value of each item and they have monopoly money and change to buy and sell with. I allow them to check their math with the calculator which makes it more store-like. Wow it's quiet and everyone (even the baby!) is happy. What else do I need to get done?...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Confessions of A Time Abuser
Hello my dear friends!
Where in the world have I been!? My last post was October 1st. Well, my computer was fried by a power outage a few weeks ago and my only other means of reaching the world wide web is through my husband's work computer. Unfortunately he has to work ; ) and I have only had snippets of time to check my email (if I'm lucky). Why not buy a new computer some may ask? Since I am being a good steward over my finances I have decided to only buy it with cash of which I haven't quite enough...yet.
I wanted to share an insight I gained by not having a computer. Wow! I waste a TON of time on the computer!! Only having a short time to get my business done, I came up with a system to help me get the most out of my computer time. Every time I think I need to use the computer, I make a list of the activities I need to do. Throughout the day I add things on the list, i.e. email a friend, check the price of an item, pay bills, etc. Then when I get my minute on the computer, I go down my list and can literally get through it in less than 1/2 hour!
Time management is a skill I've been trying to develop and loosing my computer taught me how to schedule my time more efficiently. In order to fulfill our missions on this earth, we need to be master over our schedule so we do the most important things first. I'm so grateful for power outages and hard life lessons (well almost...)
Where in the world have I been!? My last post was October 1st. Well, my computer was fried by a power outage a few weeks ago and my only other means of reaching the world wide web is through my husband's work computer. Unfortunately he has to work ; ) and I have only had snippets of time to check my email (if I'm lucky). Why not buy a new computer some may ask? Since I am being a good steward over my finances I have decided to only buy it with cash of which I haven't quite enough...yet.
I wanted to share an insight I gained by not having a computer. Wow! I waste a TON of time on the computer!! Only having a short time to get my business done, I came up with a system to help me get the most out of my computer time. Every time I think I need to use the computer, I make a list of the activities I need to do. Throughout the day I add things on the list, i.e. email a friend, check the price of an item, pay bills, etc. Then when I get my minute on the computer, I go down my list and can literally get through it in less than 1/2 hour!
Time management is a skill I've been trying to develop and loosing my computer taught me how to schedule my time more efficiently. In order to fulfill our missions on this earth, we need to be master over our schedule so we do the most important things first. I'm so grateful for power outages and hard life lessons (well almost...)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Creating Beauty
My amazing friend Ali posted this on her blog the other day. I love it!! Thanks for letting me share Ali!
Acorns $ 0.00
Berries $0.00
Flowers from the park $0.00
Cattails from the river $0.00
Sticks and weeds $0.00
Using a bunch of weeds, leaves, flowers, and berries to make something beautiful........
P r i c e l e s s
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Teasing
I had had ENOUGH!!! I felt like I've tried EVERYTHING I had ever heard of to help my son to STOP teasing. Desperately, I said a silent prayer as I once again sat my son down for a talk to somehow help him make better choices. I reminded myself and him how this was really just temporary and that I saw a glimpse of the son I know when he complimented his sister earlier that morning (literally the ONE nice thing he did that day!). Something HAD to change but HOW?
In answer to my prayer, I saw a picture of a hiker climbing a mountain flash into my mind. We talked about how we hiked the "Y" on the mountain behind Brigham Young University as a family. It's a pretty steep climb but he was able to make it to the top. I told him that changing a bad habit is like climbing a steep mountain. We decided we would make our own mountain and hiker to help my son overcome his bad habit of teasing and being unkind to his siblings.
In answer to my prayer, I saw a picture of a hiker climbing a mountain flash into my mind. We talked about how we hiked the "Y" on the mountain behind Brigham Young University as a family. It's a pretty steep climb but he was able to make it to the top. I told him that changing a bad habit is like climbing a steep mountain. We decided we would make our own mountain and hiker to help my son overcome his bad habit of teasing and being unkind to his siblings.
We decided together that if he slips and makes a poor choice, his hiker will slip too. Immediately, my son named his hiker Adam because he said, "He is a son of God." He went on to explain that Adam represents him.
We've had a whole morning without teasing or fighting!!! That may not seem like a very long time to you but it is truly an accomplishment that we celebrated with a couple of steps up the mountain ; ) Now my daughter wants one...she's trying to think of something she needs to improve. I'll post a picture of it when our hiker reaches the top!
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