There are times in our lives, we have all found ourselves feeling worn out, lost, at a standstill, uninterested, or downright blue. You wonder how or when you will get out of this funk?
Winters have always been a challenge for me. Dark outside when I rise and even darker before the end of the business day. Experiencing day after day, month after month, full of anxiety, lack of focus, no energy, sluggishness, hormones raging (want to cry but cannot cry). Praying each day for the sun to shine so I can shake this funk off, trying my best to hold it together and not snap.
I kicked off the year 2020 with the journey of rediscovering the gift called “Me”. I was so excited about the Vision of 2020, Spring has arrived. Little did I know, I was entering into the darkest and most prolonged winter of my life. Within a couple of months, we all were looking in the eye of a major storm, the pandemic Coronavirus. This winter would continue for over two years and yet continues to this day. At that time, I knew God’s timing of Christal Clear 2020 Vision was for such a time as this.
For survival, I had to continuously dig deep and tap into His Spirit within to discover the strength of the gift of “Me.” You see, I am an extreme feeler, the magnitude of sickness and deaths of those I love and the strangers I never knew felt unbearable. Oh, the pain and heartbreak I felt for thousands daily, as I prayed, and mourned for each one. In this journey of rediscovery, I discovered Rhythm in my Blues. As I explored different experiences, techniques, and systems I found newness in “Life,” inner sunshine, growth, self-appreciation, peace, and harmony. I continue to discover so many cool and not-so-cool things about this Gift Called “Me.” My Rhythm in Blues adventures are transparent/clear, simple, and pure, that breathe Life, brings Joy, and creates Christal Clear Moments. My prayer is that as I continue the discovery of the Gift Called “Me” it will overflow to encourage others to take their journey of (re)Discovering the wonderful Gift of “You.”
Listed below are examples of my Rhythm in Blues Adventures, Techniques, and Systems
As we continue to journey into the year of 2021, it was pressed upon my heart that this should be the year that all of mine and your visions shall come to pass. In 2020 we had a time of rest, a time to reflect upon our visions. That is why I created the 2021 Visioning Worksheet, this was meant to help you manifest your goals in 2021. There are four sections contained within this worksheet and I will be giving you all a quick tour of how to use the worksheet to the best of its ability.
Let’s Start!
Self-Reflection
In the first part of the worksheet, I ask that you reflect upon 2020. This is your opportunity to just freewrite and allow for the thoughts that you may have had stored up through last year spill out on the page. Now is your time to release those visions, thoughts, questions and manifestations. Additionally, you are able to write down simply what you are looking to manifest in 2021, this could be a simple word, mission or an action.
2021 Manifestation Goal Setting
I am a big believer in setting SMART goals. I live by them actually, it really helps me to keep myself accountable by setting specific, measurable, achievable and time-specific goals. This second part of the worksheet is where you will keep yourself accountable. Be sure to refer to this section of the worksheet daily, weekly or monthly. Assess the 3 goals, let them be reminders that your goals are attainable and achievable this year because you planned well.
2021 Visioning Workbook – Manifest Your Goals
Enjoy this free download of the 2021 Visioning Worksheet. This 5-page booklet includes 3 worksheets that will help you to plan out your goals for 2021. Allow this to be the guide for the new year. After downloading you can print the pages and add them to your existing collection of The Gift of Called “Me”- 90 Day Planners. Or just use the worksheet on it’s own.
This is probably one of the hardest, but most freeing portions of the worksheet. I know that as I was working through this worksheet, I felt freed by confronting my negative and limiting thoughts. Truly, it is not our lack of motivation that gets in our way, it is the struggle to keep away those negative thoughts. I implore you pray and meditate on those challenges, negative or self-limiting thoughts that you may struggle with. RELEASE THEM! Those thoughts no longer have a place in your mind, heart or hands and to keep them from creeping back set 30, 60 and 90 day goals to rid yourself of them!
4.Vision Board
I love this part of the worksheet. Allow your creativity to shine. Use this space to place quotes or pictures that help you to visualize your goals. I am a firm believer that you can accomplish what you can’t envision.
“Write the vision, make it plain on the tablets, so he may run who reads it” – Habakkuk 2:2
In these unprecedented times, COVID-19 has provided the opportunity for all of us to reevaluate how we live. In doing so, families have had to make important decisions to adjust, manage, and restructure both their family lives as well as their work environments. Many parents find that they also need to be a virtual learning support coach in order to help their children stay engaged while learning from home. So, how exactly do parents balance work and virtual learning?
Childcare can be a very costly, stressful, and frankly scary thing to navigate when parents have to work during a pandemic. A few ideas to consider
Small groups of parents and/or families could create community learning circles (using safe distancing guidelines), to help share the burden of childcare.
Parent(s) could check into the Family Leave options at their job, and if doable arrange to take some time off to care for the kids.
A last resort would be for a parent to extend their leave or quit their job altogether. Only if you can afford to do so.
Here are a few Dos and Don’ts for parents to help ensure your child’s virtual learning success:
DO
Establish a daily routine: Eat Healthily, Drink Plenty of Water, Exercise, and Get 7-8 Hours of
Restorative Sleep.
Provide a quiet learning space in the house with limited distractions and background noises.
Ensure your student is on time to virtual school!
Make sure that your child dresses appropriately for virtual school.
Communicate with the teacher(s) in advance to get the details of the information and resources
your child will need for each class, including homework.
Be sure to review the virtual learning etiquette guidelines, provided by the school, with your
child(ren).
Express high expectations and standards for your child’s learning.
Encourage your student to participate in extra-curricular activities, if available.
DON’T
Don’t interrupt the virtual learning sessions. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the teacher via email. (Remember: This is a special time for students to meet with their teachers and classmates, so it is vital that the adults at home be quiet observers.)
We know that this pandemic won’t last forever. In the meantime, parents are challenged with the task to be a virtual learning coach while their kids learn from home. But, with help from school districts, the community, and employers, parents will be able to balance work and virtual learning.
Over the years I often dreaded this past weekend Daylight Saving Time, equating it with losing my valued one hour of sleep. Seriously though, let’s put this into perspective, what about the countless hours I’ve lost to Social Media, Daydreaming, Hallmark and all my Get a Round Tuit (tasks, plans, and goals).
Despite all that’s happening globally as I continue to pray, I yet feel the energy of a new awakening. The quote by Rumi truly spoke to me this week, “the soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand.” My declaration for us this season as we continue our 2020 Christal Clear Journey is as the clocks sprung forward, is that we embrace a different/new/fresh outlook in regards to every thought, need, plan, goal, and desire that’s springing forward as our spirit awakens more in 2020 each day. Each time you check the time don’t get caught up in what you see outwardly, stop and take note of what the soul is speaking inwardly to you. It’s a new breath and rhythm so different than anything you ever experienced in the past. This is an amazing season, don’t sleep on all the wonderful things springing forth in your life. Experience the burst of energy, clarity and the ability to CClear, beyond the natural eye.
Arise my Sisters and shake it off, your season of spiritual hibernation has ended. It appears as if the soul has been in a state of “Winter”, oh but I sense God affectionately calling us to “Spring” Forward. Therefore, we emerge together out of sleep from this deep cold place, moving forward into our Greatness.
We didn’t lose an hour; we’ve gained more Sunshine. Can’t you feel God’s warm gentle touch as he warms your mind, heart, body, soul, and spirit inviting you to all the countless opportunities he has in store for you? No more hiding, playing possum or being hijacked by the enemy. We boldly state to the adversary and foes, get ye behind us as we step forward into our New Season.
It would always warm my heart to hear my Mom respond to the little ones in the family as they started to coo, in their attempt to have a conversation. My Mom would laugh and affectionately say “What are you trying to say to me? I don’t speak Japtalian.” It would be so funny to watch them interact. Think about it, the more you talk and respond to the little ones the more they babble. They either become extremely joyful or extremely frustrated if their needs are not being met.
Actually, you can witness them within seconds going from one extreme to the other. Isn’t this true with any relationship if the communicator doesn’t feel understood? As a parent or caregiver, you begin to understand more and more after each exchange of what they are attempting to communicate.
My experience is you can love someone really, really, really hard and it can go unnoticed, creating feelings of rejection, unwanted and unappreciated. The truth is that you are not speaking their language. If your language is English or Spanish and someone talks to you in Portuguese, how would that work for you?
I’m married to my 1st grade friend and for many years we found ourselves not fully understanding and communicating with each other. I couldn’t understand the tension and why I didn’t feel the romance in our marriage. Why did he not get me or understand my wants and desires? Was the Honeymoon just a passing memory? Honestly, I really thought will I ever experience the Honeymoon I dreamed about? He would often say to me in a tone “Just give me the Script”.
I was frustrated, taking super long baths asking Calgon to take me away. Wondering what’s wrong with me, fantasizing about walks in the Park. I’m pretty sure Hallmark today was created and written from my long Calgon Baths. He was in the next room confused wondering how much more can he do for me. It’s never enough as I continued to be unsatisfied and perhaps unappreciative. Thinking what’s wrong with her, can’t she see I’m trying to get this house painted and she expects me to blow off the day by walking in a Park? He’s a Godly Man breaking generational curses… Faithful, working hard providing an amazing lifestyle for his wife, a home, travel, car (Porsche), let’s just say everything but the dog because I didn’t want one. We had Fish lol.
Thank God for The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.
This book opened our eyes and hearts to understanding the disconnection, outlining the five ways to express and experience love through the “Love Languages”.
Chapman describes those five love languages as:
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch
Just like we communicate in our literal language, we have a tendency to communicate in our personal love language. You see we weren’t speaking the same love language. I was speaking Quality Time and my husband was speaking Acts of Service, serving and taking care of me.
If any of your relationships (spouse, child, parent, friend) are challenged, there may not be anything wrong other than the differences in your ways of communicating and expressing love. You might just be speaking a love language that they don’t fully understand, and they’re speaking a love language that you need to learn. Learn how to speak each other’s love languages, being loved in the way that you understand and appreciate is important. This eliminates tension, confusion and missed communication, giving the opportunity to experience the true expression of Love.
The chart provided below offers examples and recommendations for each love language.
Note: this post is not endorsed by or affiliated with Dr. Gary Chapman or the 5 Love Languages book in any way, although I do recommend you add this book to your personal library.
Shut Up, Watch Your Mouth, and Be Quiet are just a few responses we give those that are in our ear, talking crazy and getting on our last nerve. They go on and on and on and you think why are you still talking to me? Growing up when my Grandmother would get on her soapbox, I would hear my Grandfather say, “Jesus Christ Susie give it a break will you?” She would stretch that neck, stick out her chest like a peacock and would just keep talking. He would eventually get up from the table and walk into the next room and sometimes right out the front door.
We can silence others by disconnecting ourselves, walking away, blocking their calls and texts, and unfriending them on social media. However, what happens when it’s impossible to walk away and disconnect from the negative noise that spends countless hours accusing and abusing us emotionally, mentally and verbally daily? How do we silence our Inner Voice which can be very negative, destructive, unrealistic, unmotivating and self-defeating? Because we are constantly talking to ourselves, we need to become more mindful, paying close attention to our self-talk. Our Thoughts become our Spoken Words and our Words become our Actions.
We need to Speak Up!!! Call it out, check it like you would for your loved ones and friends. We’re protective of all others we care about, why wouldn’t we fight to protect ourselves from the trash that sucks life itself from us. We need to set realistic goals that inspire our purpose. Give them life by promoting, supporting, encouraging ourselves just like we do others we care about. Understanding we are not perfect, yes, we error but that’s part of life’s lessons. When your Sister falls you don’t say your such a Loser… No, you say it’s ok Sis you got this, I believe in you, Victory is Yours. So, on your own behalf open your MOUTH and tell Negative Nancy to take a hike or say, Bye Felicia.
Once we evict Negative Nancy, say goodbye to Felicia or however you choose to name the negative conversations that take place in your thoughts, you need to immediately replace them with positive thoughts. Practice daily thinking about and celebrating your victories big and small. Fill each day looking, seeking and thinking about all the blessings you can Thank God for and the things you are grateful for. In other words, Philippians 4:8 that mess… Every Negative Thought!!!
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:8-9 MSG)
