Posted on in mindset

Betrayal

The thing about betrayal is there must be some level of trust and moral expectation in order for it to be betrayed. That kind of hurt comes with shock or surprise. It is sobering, a let down from how you previously viewed someone. It is the misuse of trust that comes from giving something of yourself with the expectation that the part of you will be honored.

Recently, I was betrayed when someone stole my intellectual property. I had trusted this person to collaborate with me and had intended to work together in a business relationship. That did not happen and instead this person abused my trust, copied my writing, and used my business ideas for personal gain. Have you ever heard “Copying is flattery”? The sentiment insinuates that you have inspired someone so that they want to model after what you do. I suppose that to inspire someone to do something similar would be a nice gesture. However, when they take your literal words it does not feel flattering at all. It’s dirty.

I want to approach this with sage wisdom. It’s something I am learning to do in this season of life. In fact, I am being taught how to “retrain my brain” in a new way. I often teach others how to retrain the brain, a phrase I’ve used for years, and it’s exciting to learn new skills that I hope to share with others soon. So despite how it FEELS to be used for content, I choose to accept that my work is good enough to be admired. Despite the direct plagiarism and it’s moral indications, I choose to accept that my written words are only an outpouring of my ideas and personality, therefore my value is more than words. I choose curiosity about how I can move forward with the knowledge that I have a good foundation and I am ready for the adventure of the next chapter.

I can remember a time when obstacles made me stop. I would often get stuck trying to rationalize things that happened and therefore were in the past now. In this season of life, I am empowered to find the gift in any obstacle I encounter. I have some powerful mentors to thank for such a perspective. Are you getting stuck at obstacles in the road? Or do you have the creativity to climb or move them? You don’t have to do it alone. Reach out if you want to connect for support. I’m happy to help.

Photo by Lidia Riehman on Pexels.com
Posted on in Identity

Creatives

The moment inspiration hits it can shift everything forward. It’s like a pulse of energy that is carried on the wind of motivation. Sometimes the wait for such inspiration is long and the search is dry. If you can relate to this, you might be one of us.

I choose to believe that everything holds purpose and value. So the intrinsic searching and sometimes unpleasant personal growth I have encountered over the last couple of years must be full of potential. A recent moment brought some of that potential to fulfillment for me. In a deeply emotional conversation about purpose there was a word that formed in my mind suddenly; creatives. That word illuminated as though someone had flipped a switch and lit it up.

To give context, I have spent significant time in recent years studying new and deeper concepts around business and marketing. I find value in being both educated and current in what people are seeking. After all, it is people which I serve. I hit a wall in defining exactly who I serve. For many years I have worked in roles in which I serve many different people with many different issues. That has been productive and rewarding. Still, there are certain relationships and contexts in which my strengths produce great results. In other words, there are many things I can do but there are certain things which when I do it fuels my passion. That’s where I want to be. That’s where I want everyone to be. So as I was pondering how to define the type of person who I am most enabled to help, I found the inspiration of Creatives.

So, what exactly is a “creative”? That is what I wondered. Like all good millennials, I asked Google. I was very impressed with the explanation given by Jeff Goins (direct link: https://goinswriter.com/what-is-a-creative ) it follows:

“So, what is a creative?
A creative is an artist. Not just a painter or musician or writer. She is someone who sees the world a little differently than others.
A creative is an individual. He is unique, someone who doesn’t quite fit into any box. Some think of creatives as iconoclasts; others see them as rebels. Both are quite apt.
A creative is a thought leader. He influences people not necessarily through personality but through his innate gifts and talents.”

I love the way that explanation flows. Thank you Mr. Goins, I couldn’t have said it better myself! This touches the heart of what I have been searching for. I know that I am best equipped to help others who are similar to myself because I can walk with you and lead you through places I have been. However, in my analyzing I kept coming up with things I had experienced or knowledge I have obtained that just didn’t define me or anyone else quite deep enough. Now I have a better picture. I know that the people who I work with are the stuck creatives. The artist in heart and soul who possesses something beautiful to leave a mark on the world, whether it’s the world of one or many. It’s the person who has a mix of nature and nurture; natural skills and talents and the touch of trauma that is holding something back. The person with a drive of passion but is looking for direction or guidance on how to tap into it.

Education is a great help. Skills and knowledge are tools. Still, it’s authenticity and knowing who I am that empowers me to see and know who you really are, and help you to see it too.

Posted on in Emotions

A Hellish Train Ride to a Desolate Place

Imagine you are on a train. The train is moving along smoothly, at a comfortable speed. The the motion is relaxing. Outside the windows there are beautifully unfolding landscapes; mountains, woods and rivers, an immaculate sky in the background. It is a peaceful, pleasant ride.

You are on the edge of your seat. Sweat is beading down your forehead and your whole body aches with tension. Your stomach is tight and you feel as though you might get sick. You are missing the beautiful landscape and the relaxing atmosphere of the ride. Instead, your neck is cranked so that you can see out the window and straight ahead. Every hill or shadow in front of the train makes you clench your fists tight to the seat cushion. Your anxiety is in full throttle.

Your greatest fear is experiencing a train crash. So instead of being present in the moment to enjoy a blissful ride, you are thinking about the “what ifs” and potential tragedy. It doesn’t matter that you are in a safe place with a near non-existent chance of actual danger. As soon as your brain recognized that just being on a train that is moving left a minute chance and opportunity for disaster, you locked onto that thought. You are actively watching for danger, of which you have no control to do anything about anyway.

Anxiety is a thief. Fear robs us of pleasure and enjoyment. You could be taking in the moment and noticing all the pleasant things about your experience. Instead, you are trapped way up high in your head, in a place that doesn’t actually exist – the land of hasn’t-happened.

What if you could be present on the train? What if you could see the sunset over the hills and notice how wonderful it really is? What if the dangers and disasters in your mind don’t have to take up space there anymore? You can choose presence and peace. I can help.

Posted on in Identity, personal development

A New Angle

To think; I’ve been placed here on a little 2 acre lot, teaming with life and love, to truly see just how deep, connected, and vast life really is.

Know these things: I believe that perpetual personal development is essential to happiness and fulfillment in life. Also, I believe that pain is the divinely appointed catalyst to change, and change demands growth. Simply, life involves pain and we will meet it at set appointments throughout the journey of living.

Often pain comes through a gradual building of pressure. The ups and downs of life can sometimes tip towards overwhelm with things that need to be experienced. This has been true for me a few times in my journey. Recently, a combination of big shifts and smaller tensions had set me off balance and searching for clarity. Although I did not lack peace, I was not in a comfortable space in my emotions. For me, this indicates work to be done, and so I did.

Very recently I had an epiphany. My overwhelm resolved quite quickly into a peaceful understanding. I used a visual analogy to describe the very abstract resolution in my mind, it follows. Eggs fit nicely into egg cartons. Pears do not. Both an egg and a pear have similar purpose, similar characteristics, and are certainly useful. I have been a pear trying to squeeze into an egg carton. Now that I can see the pear from the egg, it makes sense. My pear represents emotions and beliefs which seemed to set me apart from the eggs I was among. That part of me, representative of the greater whole, doesn’t look like a carton full of eggs all alike. It looks a lot like a bowl of fruit with more color, shapes, flavors, and excitement. I better understand my peace now.

Posted on in personal development

Growing and Going

I love plants and life. We can learn so much from all levels of life, including our life-giving green friends. Let me be honest; I wish I were more of a gardener. I’ve had moments in life where I’ve had my hand in growing things and making beautiful life bloom. More often though, I fail at keeping little chlorophyll darlings alive. It’s really hit-or-miss for me. In the wild, where only God gets the credit for what grows and thrives, I love being a mindful observer.

In some ways we are a lot like plants. God gives as a start, roots, and nurtures us to grow. We need Sonlight and the flowing water of the Holy Spirit. We must be pruned in order to produce good fruit. And if God chooses to uproot us and transfer us somewhere else, it is in our best interest to not resist but to trust him, take root, and grow through the changes.

Sometimes we need to just be where we are planted and grow. In fact, much of life is a matter of growing as we go through both times of downpour and drought. In my life, I have many moments of feeling stuck in a certain place where growth was hard and painful. I also have many moments where growth was a freeing as wildflowers, and maybe just as beautiful. The parts of my story where there was uprooting, transplanting, and going somewhere different; in every case it made me stronger and more able to see the Father’s love for me.

Does this resonate with you?

Posted on in Personal Thoughts

Logo Reveal

I am so excited to get to share this with you! I am an artist at heart and visuals are so important to me. When I decided to develop a logo, a symbol of my core values that would represent my work, I knew exactly where to go. I contacted the most amazing graphic artist I know; Dalton Mault. Seriously, check him out here > His Calling Photo and Design and here > His Calling Design
Follow him because he’s awesome and you might just need the best graphic artist around in your near future.

Dalton was able to listen to all of my thoughts and many words and turn them into an amazing picture. The first thing you see is a tree. I have long used trees in my analogies. If you have read my writing or worked with me you likely know that. Trees symbolize so much to me; strength, growth, renewal, nature, environment, shelter, spirituality – the Tree of Life. I could write pages on the symbolism and what I see. The roots being revealed in the graphic is significant because of the kind of work I do. Roots are literal and metaphorical – all things are connected. There you see where the tag line came about in this process!

Next you will notice this isn’t a portrait of realism. My tree has a special twist! That twist in the trunk is a symbol of the likeness of DNA. This is such a powerful image because DNA is the foundation of identity. Maybe you know where I’m going with this? My niche, the one thing that consistently comes into view in my work, is identity. The “DNA” comes from the roots but nothing is hopeless because roots, like branches, can be cut, pruned, grafted, and changed!

This is my passion and my logo graphic captures it so well. I’m truly pleased with his work and this is a perfect image to represent Sanders Connected. I put my heart into what I do and everything has meaning! You will be seeing this banner and logo across the many platforms I engage with. When you need custom graphic work or your own logo, get in contact with my friend Dalton, I highly recommend him!

Posted on in Personal Thoughts

Big Dreams and Big Plans

Thank you to my followers for keeping up and giving your support. I truly hope you are blessed here! If you are in the inner circle, you already know the plans that have been in progress for the last 6 months. If you don’t already know, there is a lot going on!
I’ve taken a pause from some writing in order to organize some outlets. Website development, contract revising, program development, social media growth, continuing education, and networking are among the things that have been priority for the first half of 2021.

Maybe you have noticed some of the new integrations here? Now you can connect via Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It’s all a work in progress but I am so thankful for those of you who are growing with me!

The biggest feature of this year has been and will be the program I am developing. Very soon you will have access to a course for personal development. It’s kind of a big deal! It is the first of a series of tools I want to make available. I am taking the common threads of things that pop up with frequency among my clients and getting “the basics” down in a way that a person can begin their journey and make significant changes in life with an at-your-own-pace indirect coaching system.
If you have worked with me, follow me, support me, and have benefited from what I share; this tool will be something you will want to share with the people you know! More details to come.

If you’ve made it this far, will you do something for me? Comment below with how you were lead to this post. Did you get a subscription email? Did you follow a link on social media? Did someone send it to you? I would love to hear HOW my content is reaching you so I can dial in the best ways to keep it up. You’re wonderful! Stay tuned for more to come.

Posted on in Personal Thoughts, Success

The Myth of Multitasking

In the corporate world, diversity of ability is an asset. If one person can do the jobs of three people, that person can save the company the cost of personnel and make more money by completing more work. Some people believe that the ability to do multiple jobs is necessary to be successful. Maybe you are one of them. The value of honing a craft and being very skilled at one thing seems lost in time in some ways.

Even if you are not in the corporate business world, you may believe in the same principles of productivity on a personal level. The image of “Super Mom” who is the perfect mom, wife, housekeeper, secretary, manager, personal assistant, accountant, taxi, etc. still exists as a model that women of all ages strive for. It seems that many believe that being busy equates to being successful.

Often when you are “multitasking” you are simply transitioning among different tasks quickly and efficiently. It is a matter of organization. Understandably, organization is a productive strength. The trouble comes when this becomes a preferred mode of functioning or a lifestyle. Busyness without adequate rest builds toxic stress.

Take an inventory of your activities. Would you consider yourself a busy person? Are you overworking because you lack boundaries? Is it a season or a lifestyle? Are you getting rest; physically, mentally, and thoroughly?

This is a friendly reminder: Take care of yourself. Rest is essential to thriving.

Posted on in mindset, Success

Mindset Power

You will find what you’re looking for.

What if I tell you that you have the power to create your reality? Would you believe it? What would you do with that power?

There is a reality absent of thoughts or feelings. It is made of facts and laws. It is a fact that it is 73 degrees Fahrenheit in Ohio today. It is natural law that as the acorns are released from the tree they will fall to the ground and not float suspended in the air.

There are also many versions of reality which exist in the minds of those who perceive the natural world. Your perception is your reality. That is affected by facts and truth as well as input from others that we accept. We have great influence and power to change how we see things.

Perception is about focus. What I focus on will shape my perspective. In simplest form; perspective can either be positive or negative. Attributing “good” and “bad” can be a learned behavior. It is a way that boundaries are modeled and manipulated. For example; children are told what is bad and taught to avoid such. We also can choose what is positive or negative personally by what aligns with the truth that we accept.

If your focus is on negatives, limitations, and obstacles, that is what you will see in front of you. You will find what you’re looking for. Focus on what is positive, opportunities, and possibilities, if you want to shift your reality.

Posted on in Emotions

The Mess of Being Human

Everything you experience will be human. So you can only get as high as a human can fly and you can only go as low as a human can fall. We are never greater than what is possible. You are always enough as you are and you are worthy of all you can receive. Isn’t life so simple?

Let me tell you what it’s like for me; being human. Most of the time I am aware of myself. I own my thoughts and feelings. I respond to my internal guidance as well as the world around me. I see the target of my goals and execute the movements that will reach them. I feel accomplished, successful, and capable. From this vantage point, I lead others and enjoy my contribution of good to the world. That’s flying high.

Then there’s the raw experience of being both grounded and supernatural. Being human is having two feet; one in each world. The physical part is grounded in a physical world. It’s connection with nature, the sensations of connection with humankind, and an awareness of bodily needs. The spiritual nature of being human comes with awareness of something more than what we see. It’s faith, hope, and the experience of love. There’s no ego in the middle here. It’s just accepting what is.

Anything which can fly can also fall. This is polarity in action. If it goes up it must come down. This is where being human is messy. The height of emotional awareness and pouring good into the world requires balance and an overflow. Sometimes we lose our balance. It’s ok.

Let me tell you what it’s like for me; the falling. I can say it’s not often that I struggle with my thoughts or emotions. Of course, I walked a long road to get here and I’ve not always been so collected. Sometimes life is just too much to hold on my own shoulders. I walk with people daily; listening, feeling, sorting, offering reflections, and helping to lighten their load. Sometimes I don’t leave enough room for myself. Of course, I can’t predict when things outside of myself will become too heavy. I love many people and so I care deeply. When someone close is hurting, I feel it.

Unchecked emotions impact how I perceive the world and therfore respond to it. Here’s the good news; the moment I recognize there is disorder, I can execute movements to nurture and love myself back to order.

Emotional temperature check: how is what you’re feeling impacting your perception and reactions?