Emotional Resilience: Wrap Up

Hello Friends! 

It's hard to believe that it has been eight weeks since I started this journey. I have learned so much and feel that practicing these tools will help me throughout my whole life. Learning about something doesn't commit it to memory like actually doing it does. 

My class project (doing this emotional resilience journey) had an end date for today. You can't believe how good it feels that I actually did it! I wrote on my blog and did the tool-of-the-week every day, even when I didn't want to or forgot about it until right before I was going to get in bed. That's quite an accomplishment for me. 

It's been amazing how using this blog has been such a great accountability tool for me.  I wonder, would this work for other things I'm struggling with doing? 

These tools have helped me understand myself better, recognize quicker when I'm getting stacked with emotions, not getting overwhelmed like I used to, feeling more calm and seeing things more clearly. I've had so many great experiences using these tools and hope to continue having them and gaining even more clarity. 

I wish everyone had these tools and would actually use them. The game changer for me to actually using them was using my class and this blog for accountability. 

Do you need accountability to help you move forward with your goals? What would help you? Whom could you be accountable to?  

Look at all these tools that we have practiced over the past eight weeks....

- Truth & Lies: We uncovered lies we were telling ourselves and replaced them with truth statements. 

- Gratitude: For experiences, things and people. We also expressed gratitude to someone. 

- Service: Daily ask, "Who can I lift and serve today?"

- Crazy Happiness: This raises our energy and happiness by dancing/moving to uplifting music. 

- Release & Refill: Release emotions by writing about them and then refill with positive. 

- Quick Forgive: I forgive myself for_____, I love myself for_____, Now I choose____.

- Create Order: Consistently doing small things around your house that has been bugging you or that has been on your mind. 

- Simmer Down: Meditate and write to unload

Plus, here are some other tools that I mentioned...

SODAS, which is a problem solving tool that stands for Situation, Options, Disadvantages, Advantages, and Solution. 

And also, prayer, studying scriptures, exercise, reading a good book, using a timer and doing something you love. For me, a couple things I love are holding babies and doing puzzles. 

So, from here, and at least for now, I'm not going to be posting on my blog every day.  It might be just once a week. 

I still plan on using several tools on a daily basis. And continuing to practice using new ones as well. 

How are you going to use these tools in your life? Will you use them every day? Once a week? Do you need accountability? 

I would love to hear about your experiences using these tools! Please comment below and let me know. 

Emotional Resilience: Simmering Down #Week8Day6

Hello Friends! 

Something happened yesterday that I needed to write about. I needed to simmer down. Remember, though, my simmering down is internal. That's something that is different for me to think of... my going inward, basically shutting down, is a way of becoming UPtight. 

Well, after writing about it, I did see it in a different light. I could think more clearly. It was quite amazing actually. I ended up thinking it was a blessing seeing it in this light. When it originally happened I was sad, I didn't talk, I even left the room. 

Those reactions were so subtle. It's looking back on the whole scenario that has helped me see it even more clearly. 

I was looking for things in my past to write about, but when this situation came up yesterday I thought, "I need to write about that."

As I have been writing about all those things in my mind and my heart I now want to change, or improve them in some way. 

Honestly, I didn't know if this tool would really work, but I feel like doing the writing and meditation together has been a powerful way to clear my mind. 

Have you noticed that your mind is more clear after using these tools? 

Emotional Resilience: Simmering Down #Week8Day5

Hello Friends! 

Since working on this tool I've been trying to be more aware of my responses to my emotions. I tend to go more inward so my responses would be more... quit helping, quit talking, blaming, and then I would get triggered and/or push away from people. 

If you are more of an external person you might be intense, then move to being loud or yelling, then say mean words and finally, push or run away. 

Each of these (internal and external) start with not doing something. For example, you're nervous about something and so you don't do it.

Here's the order in which your emotions seem to go....(from bottom to top) This is how you become UPtight. These emotions fill you up. That is why we need to know how to simmer down. 

Panic 

⬆️

Afraid

⬆️

Scared

⬆️

Worry

⬆️

Nervous

Can you see how this would work? You get nervous so you just don't do it. You think about it more and your emotions increase to worry and so you quit helping or you increase your intensity. You then feel scared and then afraid which leads you to quit talking or being loud and even yelling. Then you experience fear and you start blaming or saying mean words. And finally you panic which causes you to be triggered and push away or run away. 

Which one seems more like you? 

I go inward. So, I need to look for when I don't do something. If I miss that cue, then I need to look for when I quit helping then quit talking... and so forth. 

These emotions and responses would also be good things to look for when I'm doing my writing. 

This tool is a great preventative measure, but if you don't use it to prevent, then start meditating and writing when you see those cues. 

Do you see any of those cues coming up in your life? 

Emotional Resilience: Simmering Down #Week8Day4

Hello Friends! 

My meditation audio says, "When we are experiencing stress our amygdala fires up and it's difficult to make thoughtful decisions. So if we find our mind is clouded due to overwhelm we can use meditation as a tool to calm the mind down. Ideally we want to meditate in a preventative way so we don't get to that point."

Here is one definition of amygdala: a roughly almond-shaped mass of gray matter inside each cerebral hemisphere, involved with the experiencing of emotions. 

And then this: The amygdala helps control our fear response, but it also plays a crucial role in many other cognitive functions. Therefore, damage to the amygdala can cause serious problems, such as poor decision-making and impaired emotional memories. 

It's interesting to learn that deep breathing helps calm our amygdala response down. I do that a lot! Something will happen that might be a little stressful or I'll learn something about one of my kids or be in crazy traffic or something that happens often is I'll start feeling overwhelmed and I'll take a deep breath...or several. It really has helped a lot over the years. Now I know why. 

My writing and meditation exercises have been going well. I want to keep working on the writing and going deeper with all the stuff on my mind and things that I haven't said. 

How are you doing with your meditation and writing? 

Emotional Resilience: Simmering Down #Week8Day3

Hello Friends! 

Well, I did do a little bit of writing yesterday. I see how it will be more helpful the deeper I go. 

Something that I struggle with is I quit talking when things are bothering me. Other people yell and say mean words. I really want this tool to be preventative in helping me not get to that point. 

So, what is bothering you? Do you go inward and quit talking? Or do you go outward and yell or say mean words? Have you put what's bothering you in writing? 

Emotional Resilience: Simmering Down #Week8Day2

Hello Friends! 

Honestly, the only thing I have been doing is the meditation each day. I'm on vacation and haven't done any typing yet. 

Today I am committed to write (type) at lest for a few minutes. 

The meditations have been going good. I am still trying to figure out how to relax certain parts of my body, but it's getting better. 

How about you, have you tried the typing tool yet? How is the meditation tool going for you? 

Emotional Resilience: Simmering Down #Week8Day1

Hello Friends! 

I took some time yesterday and chose a meditation audio. It was a free one on YouTube. I will probably look for others as well. For now I will try this audio a couple of times and see how I like it. 

Did you find a meditation audio that you are going to try? 

Emotional Resilience: #Week8Intro

Hello Friends!

Are you excited to learn and start using a new tool?! I am! 

Here is the video explaining the new tools. There is always more in the video than I write on my blog. So, if you want to understand these tools better and know how they will help you and why you need them, watch the videos.

We have a lot of emotions that get built up. We become uptight. Have you ever yelled or said mean words to your kids or anyone else? Do you blame others? Do you quit talking to others? When these things happen it is because you are overloaded with emotion. In order to simmer down we need to have a preventative maintenance program. (Lots more explained in the video about this.) Here are a couple of tools that will help us simmer down.

New Tools:

1. Meditation

• Find a meditation audio that will help you relax all parts of your body. 
• Listen to daily

      2. Write to unload

• Write down (type) everything on your mind and on your chest. Include things that you wish you could talk about. Type all of your issues.  Continue to ask yourself, "What did I not say or own up to?" "What don't I want people to see about me?" Our ego keeps us from a complete confession.
• Delete (don't let anyone see it)

Benefits:

The mentor that taught me these tools, Kirk Duncan, says that the benefit of doing these tools and simmering down, besides being relaxed, is that we will start to think and feel. We will then be able to make better decisions and be able to talk to people. (Refer to video for more explanation of this.)

Will you join me in using one of these tools each day this week? 

Emotional Resilience: Create Order #Week7Day6

Hello Friends!

I got so much done yesterday! 

A few days ago I cleaned under our washing machine. It needed to be done for a few weeks now because some laundry detergent got spilled and went under the washer. I also moved things around and got rid of some stuff. I hadn't cleaned behind the dryer yet and so I wanted to get that done. Basically so that the laundry room would be 'done'.

My son helped me pull the dryer out so I could get behind it and I got a surprise. There was a bird's nest in the dryer vent tubing! So many sticks and lint from our dryer! I wondered how air could even get through there. That's probably why I kept feeling like I should clean behind there. 

I also put up some paintings that I have had sitting next to our piano for at least a year. I did get the family pictures put on the wall as well.

We have had a stand up clock in our living room for years that hasn't worked...it just needed a battery, and I finally got that cleaned up, put a battery in it and set it on top of our piano. It looks so nice in there now with the paintings on the wall, everything dusted and cleaned up. 

I hope to keep the momentum up by continually working on my list and adding the other rooms to my list. I also need to add the projects that I didn't add to the list before because I knew they would take longer...besides the papers.

How has this week been for you? Did you get a lot done that has been weighing on your mind? How do you feel now?

Emotional Resilience: Create Order #Week7Day5

Hello Friends!

Yesterday I spent some time on creating my schedule. I have a list of things that I want to include in my daily and weekly plan.  As I was developing the document for my schedule I realized that I don't know if I am going to like that type of schedule. 

Here might be another time to use SODAS. Using this problem solving tool really helps clear my mind. 

Another thing that got done on my list was actually completed by my daughter. I just told her that I would like to go through the cupboards in the bathroom and get them organized and she went right in there and started decluttering, cleaning and organizing. That's the best way to get something on your list done...have someone else do it. 😃 Actually, it really does feel good when you are the one that does it. There is a feeling of accomplishment when you complete a task, especially when you have had it on your mind for a long time.

Are you getting lots done? Have you experienced that feeling of accomplishment? 

Emotional Resilience: Create Order #Week7Day4

Hello Friends!

I did it!!! Yesterday I told you that I was going to try another tool to help me with my paper problem. Well, it helped. 

Have you heard of Nicholeen Peck or Teaching Self Government? That is where I got the tool I used to help me. She calls it SODAS. It stands for Situation, Options, Disadvantages, Advantages, and Solution. I went through each of these steps to figure out what to do with my papers. I listed three options. Then listed disadvantages and advantages for each option. It really helped me get more clear.. 

So, I had the thought to do SODAS, worked on it, and then had a desire to go through my papers again. This time it seemed almost easy to decide what to do with each piece of paper. It was amazing how much I was able to get done. I threw away a few, put others in a folder, and took pictures of some and put them in OneNote. 

Last night as I was expressing my gratitude for being able to move forward with these papers I had an overwhelming feeling that it was the Lord helping me. Isn't it great how he helps us in steps? After doing the SODAS my mind felt more open. That's when the Lord could work with me. 

So good, right?!

That was a huge win for me! I still have some more papers to go through today, but it is not weighing on me like it was before.

I hope that bonus tool will help you work through problems that you might be facing. 

What is the Lord directing you to do? Maybe it's your next step to finding a solution to what you are facing right now.

 

Emotional Resilience: Create Order #Week7Day3

Hello Friends!

My daughter came over yesterday and we finally went through our family photos so that we could choose some to put in our picture frames. My daughter even ordered them, picked them up and put them in the picture frames. Now we just need to hang them. That has been needed to be done for maybe around a year. Actually, more than a year. 😬 Wow, that felt good to get done. Not only did we get the pictures chosen, but I am now able to get those frames out of my library (my grandkids call it my office). 

The papers that I have been talking about every day so far this week (can you tell they are on my mind?) are still needing some contemplation. I thought I had a great plan just working on them a little at a time. I think that would be a good plan, but I feel like I am on decision overload every time. I am to the point where I want to toss the whole pile out and be done. 

Thinking about throwing them all away puts my stomach in knots though. If you all have any ideas on what I might be able to do with these papers I would love to hear them!!! For now, I have time today to try using another tool to help me with this problem. I'll let you know how it goes.

A better system to start with is needed. That's another thing I need to figure out. Again, suggestions are welcomed! 

Other than my papers, everything else is going great! It is amazing what I'm able to get done. I just go to my list when I have some time and see what there is to do. Loving it!!

Do you have something that is causing you some problems (like my papers)? How are you going to tackle it? 

Emotional Resilience: Create Order #Week7Day2

Hello Friends!

Remember the pile of papers I said that I was going to work on yesterday? Well, I did work on them for a while. I realized that it's going to take longer than I had hoped. There are just too many decisions to make with each one. So, I made a new plan. 😄 

The new plan is to work on my papers for at least 10 minutes every day. That way I am not spending all of my time on the paperwork and not seeing any progress with the rest of my list. This is very freeing. I'm not just putting them in a pile to be forgotten somewhere. My plan allows my brain to know that those papers will be taken care of. 

I did also dust the ceiling fan in my bedroom, put my thimble collection out to give away, figured out what to do with some pump supplies we had in our closet that are no longer needed...but now I need to see if there is anyone that would like them. 

My hope is that I will be able to make a big dent in my list today. However, besides my 10 minutes working on papers, just spending at least 10 minutes working on the other things on my list will be good if that is all I can do. 

I love checking off those to-dos on my list! What a great feeling!

How about you...are you having any success with creating order in your home? 

Emotional Resilience: Create Order #Week7Day1

Hello Friends!

Wow! This tool is amazing!

Yesterday, right after I finished my blog post, I decided to do something that has been on my mind to do for weeks. All I needed to do was to update a form and resend it by email. Sounds easy, right? 

It was easy. However, in my mind there were too many steps. I wanted to get on my husband's computer to work on it because it's easier. So that means I would need to find a time when he wasn't on it that I could actually do it. Then, I needed to pull up an email that had the corrections I needed to make to the form. There were just a lot of small steps that made it feel like it was a huge deal in my mind. Well, it probably took me less than 10 minutes. 

All that thinking about and worrying about getting it done...and in reality it only took less than 10 minutes!! It was liberating! It felt so good to have done and not have to worry about it any more. It felt like it actually freed up brain space.

I also went around the upstairs of my home and made a list of what I wanted to get done in each room. This time around I tried to write only the things that I could get done in a week. For instance, one thing that I really want to do is repaint all the main areas in our home. That is not going to happen this week. So I didn't write it on the list.

I have many pages of things to do and I didn't even get to the downstairs rooms. However, there are a lot of small, simple things on the list. Yesterday I spent some time and got a few of them done. It felt so good! I returned something to a friend that we have had for a long time. I took some clothes to the dry cleaners that have been sitting in my room for at least a month. I was also able to get some decluttering done that was on my list. It feels so good. 

One thing I should mention. I didn't give a priority number to each item on my list. I'm just going to do whatever I have time to do and what is bugging me the most, or what I can do in the amount of time I have available in the moment.

Remember those piles of papers that I mentioned yesterday? I finally have an idea on what to do with them all. It's going to take some time to do it, but it will be so freeing. I have had this on my mind and it has been weighing heavy on me for a long time. So, even though I would rather get a big chunk of the other things on my list done, this project is what is bugging me the most and will bring the most relief. I'm doing it. Or, at least, starting it today. 

Did you make a list? Were you able to start creating order in some part of your home? 

Emotional Resilience: #Week7Intro

Hello Friends!

I'm so excited about this tool! 

New Tool: Create Order

This week we are going to go around our house and determine those things that need to be done, or are driving you crazy. When I see something that needs to be done, but put it in the back of my mind, it weighs on me. I'm either constantly thinking about needing to do it, or it's weighing on me subconsciously. 

Have you ever gotten upset with others because your house was a mess? Or became frustrated with yourself because you still haven't done something that has needed to be done for a long time? Or maybe you have some decisions that you need to make that you keep putting off? Or you have so much stuff that your house is always messy because there isn't room for everything to have a 'home'?

This tool is going to help us feel lighter. It's going to help us feel good and have more peace.  

Here are some suggestions on how to use this tool:

• Go through each room in your home and determine what there is to do. Maybe there is something that needs to be returned to the store, or a pile of papers that needs to be filed, or perhaps there are a pile of shoes by the door that you need to figure out a system for so that they don't always end up there, or maybe something needs to be dusted, or decluttered. The ideas are endless.
• After you made the list, go through it and put each task in order of importance (to you). 
• Then start tackling the first item on your list. Make time each day. Set a certain time each day that you will work on this. Even if it is only for 5 minutes it will make a difference. 
• Keep working on it for however many days it takes to finish the first task.
• Now, move on to the next one.

Another suggestion is to take it day by day. What is bugging you the most today? Or what is weighing on your mind the most today? Choose the thing that will help you feel lighter when you complete it.

Something else that might be helpful is to do a mindsweep or a brain dump. Get everything out of your head and onto paper. That way you can have something to look at and not have to keep everything in your mind of all the things to do. For instance, maybe on my mindsweep I wrote down that I need to get a birthday present for my mom. Or, I need to call a certain person to get information about a project I'm working on. When we get all of the things down on paper then we can start working on them. If they are just in our mind then we get overwhelmed. If our minds know that we are going to start sytematically working on this list then it will start to relax knowing that those things will eventually get taken care of. 

Example:

About a month ago or so I noticed that the door to our main bathroom had, I assumed, some dirty water (from the mop bucket) all over it. I thought, "I need to clean that." Well, it didn't happen. I noticed it again a few days later. Had the same thought. Still didn't clean it. Finally, it bothered me so much and kept coming to my mind that I chose a day that I was going to do it and put it on my list for that day. It got done! It was so freeing! I felt so much lighter! And now when I see that door it brings a smile to my face. 

What is weighing on your mind? What is driving you crazy? How will you implement this tool?

Emotional Resilience: Quick Forgive #Week6Day6

Hello Friends! 

It worked! That turned out to be a good plan - to ponder about what and who to forgive while preparing my food. And then sticking to it until something comes to mind. 

Being intentional with when I work on these tools is very helpful. 

How important to you is your emotional health? What are you doing to be intentional with using tools to help you increase your health in this area? 

Emotional Resilience: Quick Forgive #Week6Day5

Hello Friends! 

Again I didn't even try to think of what I needed to forgive until right before I went to bed. 😕

I think I'm going to try something different today and tomorrow. I'm going to attach it to something else I'm already doing. For instance, while I am preparing my lunch I will ponder about who and what I need to forgive. And do the quick forgive then instead of waiting until I'm ready to get into bed and I'm tired. 

What are you doing that is helping you implement these tools? 

Emotional Resilience: Quick Forgive #Week6Day4

Hello Friends! 

It was another one of those days again yesterday. Right before going to bed I realized that I hadn't worked on the tool yet. I considered just not doing it. I didn't want to take the time to think about who and what I needed to forgive. 

I'm so glad that I did it anyway. It was someone I had a little more difficult time forgiving. I didn't think I had a hard time forgiving this person until I started saying it out loud. 

I am not going to share who or for what I forgave, but I wanted to share what I felt guided to do for the 'now I choose...' part. And I will also share that it was a little difficult to come up with what I loved about this person. However, Heavenly Father is so good because after I shared the first two parts of the tool I felt strongly to say, "Now I choose to give it to the Savior." I pictured myself giving it to the Savior. I felt better and lighter after that. 

How about you, are there people or situations that you struggle to forgive? Have you tried giving it to the Savior? 

Emotional Resilience: Quick Forgive #Week6Day3

Hello Friends! 

It wasn't until I was getting ready for bed that I realized I hadn't used the Quick Forgive Tool yet. Does it seem that we are so used to feeling certain emotions that we might not recognize them...unless we look? 

So, after I realized I hadn't done the tool yet, I started reviewing my day. Was there anything that I needed to forgive myself for? Or forgive someone else for? 

Is there something that I feel bad about, or am experiencing regret for? 

Something came to mind...

I have the wonderful opportunity to be in a class where all of us are able to discuss things we are learning and ask questions through a Marco Polo group. Well, the others have been having some great comments and questions. I would listen to all of them and want to add something, but felt like I didn't have anything of importance to share, or I just didn't know what to say. (I haven't said my truth statements for a couple of days. It looks like I need to work on them some more.)

 I went through the quick forgive tool: 

- I forgive myself for not commenting on the Marco Polo group. 

- I love myself for the desire to want to get out of my comfort zone and share something. 

- Now I choose to be intentional and share something I've learned or ask a question on the Marco Polo group. 

Remember, I had been feeling this way probably for the last couple of days, and I hadn't noticed it until I asked myself some questions.

So, here are some other questions I thought of that might help:

• Did I choose doubt over faith in some area?
• Is there someone that said or did something that hurt or offended me or someone I love? 
• Did I not respond to a prompting I received?
• How am I doing with the way I spend my time? (Every once in a while I start scrolling Facebook. Afterwards, when I look at the clock, I can't believe how much time I wasted. Not a good feeling!)

So, why am I looking for these, searching them out even? Well, for me, when I bury my emotions it affects me physically, emotionally, spiritually and also in my social interactions. Why not look for them and then have the opportunity to change my response? 

One thing that I want to be more consistent about is repenting daily. I feel like this is a great tool to help me do that. And the questions I posted on here will be a great start to help me 'see' more clearly what I need to repent of (to change) and seek forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness, to me, is showing the desire to change, to do something different.

Have you tried out this tool yet? Did you need to ask yourself some questions in order to come up with what you needed to forgive yourself or others for?

Emotional Resilience: Quick Forgive #Week6Day2

Hello Friends!

Can you believe that it has been six weeks into this emotional resilience journey? I can't. However, it has been a powerful force for good in my life. Let me give you an example.

Yesterday was good in a lot of ways. However, a couple of things happened that were sad. One of my sons said something that hurt a little. He didn't mean for it to be hurtful. He was just stating something that he saw in our family and thought it was funny. He was referring to something that was going on with his sister. Both of these things were feeling a little heavy...what my son said, and the thing going on with my daughter. So, I did a quick forgive for my son. Then I did a release & refill with the emotion of being sad and I topped it off with prayer. I also read an uplifting book. 

Because these tools are on my mind and I have been practicing them it is easier to know what to do when I'm in the middle of an emotional slump or breakdown. Last night was one of those emotional breakdown times, but because I had these tools I was able to use them and recover pretty quickly. I used multiple tools...quick forgive, release & refill, and prayer. You probably guessed that I used 60 seconds of crazy happiness to refill. 😂 Before when I would have emotional breakdowns or a slump it would sometimes take days  before I would start feeling better. 

Because I have been practicing several tools, those are the ones that come to mind when I need them. I have learned about many tools, but only the ones that I have been working on have come to my mind. How powerful is that?! Practicing can be applied to so many areas of our lives. 

Are these or other tools coming to your mind as you face hard things in your life? Or that help you get out of a slump? 

Emotional Resilience: Quick Forgive #Week6Day1

Hello Friends! 

This is going to be short. 

Honestly, the only time I used this tool yesterday was when I used it in the video I posted. I didn't notice anything else come up.... maybe I need to pay better attention. 🤔 

Did you have an opportunity to use this tool? How did it go? 

Emotional Resilience: Quick Forgive #Week6Intro

Hello Friends!

Quick Forgive Tool: (Another tool I learned from Becky Edwards)

• I forgive myself for __________
• I love myself for ____________
• Now I choose ______________

An example of how to use this tool is in the video. 

You can also use this tool to quickly forgive others as well. 

Each of these tools that we are learning can go in your emotional resilience toolbox. As things come up in your life you can choose a tool or tools that will help you with that particular situation. 

Here are the tools that we have learned so far:

• Truths & Lies (Truth Statements)
• Gratitude
• Serve
• Crazy Happiness
• Release & Refill
• Prayer (mentioned in one of my recent posts)
• And now Quick Forgive

Emotional Resilience: Release & Refill #Week5Day6

Hello Friends!

Happy Mother's Day to all you women! 

I did something a little different yesterday after I wrote and released emotions. This time I wrote a question on how I could improve in that particular area that I was releasing about and then set a timer and started writing whatever came to my mind. Let me tell you, it was so good. It was definitely a different way to refill with something positive. I think I'm going to do this again. 

I love to learn. I love to work on things to improve myself. So this was exciting for me. If this is something that would add more stress to your life then, of course, don't do it. This is just another option to try for those that would like to.

A friend also mentioned something to me that she does to refill with positive. It is something that I do a lot as well and so I thought I would remind you of the power of this tool, too. The tool is prayer. It is so good to talk with Heavenly Father about anything that we might be struggling with knowing that He understands and can see the whole picture and what will help us through it.  

How did you do with this tool? Have you seen a difference in your life?

Emotional Resilience: Release & Refill #Week5Day5

Hello Friends!

Have you noticed that as you write to release different emotions the same experiences come up? That has happened to me. One situation that comes up for me for probably every emotion that I have written about is homeschooling. It makes sense. There are definitely a lot of emotions that can go into homeschooling. I love all the layers that this tool uncovers so that I can release them. 

Well, you probably guessed that I went back to my crazy happy dance yesterday. I think there are several factors that make this a favorite. First of all, you are moving your body. Exercise is good for your mental health as well as your physical health. Then, the upbeat rythym of the songs gets your heart rate going. And really getting into the music, whether you are singing along with the music, dancing, waving your arms in the air like you just don't care, brings a smile to your face.(Have I mentioned that before?) 😄 At least it does mine. 

Do you experience different emotions for the same situation? 

How are you doing with this tool? 

Emotional Resilience: Release & Refill #Week5Day4

Hello Friends!

You might be shocked. I didn't use the 60 seconds of crazy happiness tool yesterday.

I'll tell you about that in a minute. 

Yesterday was a good day of healing for me. I was able to spend some time in a holy place which was amazing! Then I was blessed to spend some time with my husband's cousin's wife. She was so kind to let me hold her new baby while we talked. I love babies! After that I went and visited my mom and dad for a couple of hours. It was a wonderful day!

When I finally got home I did my release, and then to refill I just felt so full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father that I spent some time writing down what I was grateful for.  

What tools are you using to refill yourself with positive? 

What things uplift you?

 

Emotional Resilience: Release & Refill #Week5Day3

Hello Friends!

My heart was so heavy yesterday. I didn't use the release tool until after I wrote my blog post last night. However, I did it a little differently. This time I started off the same, but then it turned into more of a plea to Heavenly Father for help. I just wrote whatever came to my mind and that is what was coming. It was really healing. 

And, of course, I did a crazy happy dance afterwards. Actually I danced to two songs. 😀

Even though there are some crazy things going on in my life right now, I feel the weight being lifted each time I release and fill with positive. Like I said yesterday, it has been a huge blessing to be using this tool in my life right now. 

The original plan was to use this tool (Release & Refill) last week. However, I felt like the tool needed to focus more on positive and that is why I did the 60 seconds of crazy happiness tool. If I would have switched the order I don't know if I would have been as good at releasing every day this week. The Lord works in small and simple, yet powerful, ways to bless our lives!

How about you? Are you seeing a difference in your life? Do you feel the weight being lifted?

Emotional Resilience: Release & Refill #Week5Day2

Hello Friends! 

What a blessing that I am doing this emotional resilience journey right now. There are so many things that are really heavy going on in my life that if I wasn't working on these tools and being accountable to you I think I might be curled up in a ball right now. So, thank you, again, for being there!

I have definitely noticed how important it is to fill with positive after you release. Yesterday I did another happy dance after I released. I really like that tool!

Have you used this tool yet? How is it going? 

Emotional Resilience: Release & Refill #Week5Day1

Hello Friends!

When I used the release part of the tool yesterday, I set my timer for five minutes and started writing. The timer went off and I still had more to get out so I went for another five minutes. After that, I set it for another five minutes. I didn't use that whole five minutes before I decided that I was done. 

My penmanship was not pretty. I didn't care. I was just trying to get all my thoughts out as quickly as possible knowing that I was going to destroy the paper anyway. 😄 Afterwards, I did repeat a mantra or two and then I turned on some music and did a crazy happy dance. Like I said before, doing a crazy happy dance brings a smile to my face. 

As I was thinking about the different emotions that we have I thought of another one that seems to come up a lot, actually two more...fear and worry. 

Did you try it out? How did it go? What positive tool did you use to refill yourself with?

Emotional Resilience: Release & Refill #Week5Intro

Hello Friends!

This video explains the new tool for this week. 

Release & Refill Tool:

Release:

• To release emotions that you are feeling - overwhelm, sad, angry, frustrated, stupid, lonely, etc - write down on a piece of paper I feel (your emotion) because....
• Write everything that comes to mind even if it doesn't seem to go with your emotion. Get it all out.
• Then destroy that paper...tear it up, shred it, burn it. 

Refill:

• Refill yourself with something positive - 
• Truth statements
• Gratitude
• 60 seconds of Crazy Happiness
• Mantra
• "Done is better than perfect"
• "Christ/God is bigger than all my problems"
• "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"

This tool and why we would want to do it and the mantra are explained more in the video. 

You don't need to spend a long time doing this. Set a timer and write for 5-10 minutes. Then refill for 1 minute.  I'm hoping to see a big difference in those emotions that seem to keep coming up in my life like overwhelm - as mentioned in the video.

Will you join me? 

Emotional Resilience: Crazy Happiness #Week4Day6

Hello Friends! 

How did things go this week for you? Did you try out the crazy happiness dance? Did it help? 

I thought this was a fun tool. A great way to uplevel your happiness and energy in the moment. 

Will you continue using this tool? 

I'm sure that I will still use this tool. Probably not every day, though. Just at those times when I need a little boost.  

Are you ready to start a new tool tomorrow? Can't wait!