12 Weeks to Greater Peace, Joy and Love

12 Weeks to Greater Peace, Joy and Love by Jennifer Jones Smith is the ultimate family guidebook to transform challenging relationships into loving ones. With over twenty-seven years’ experience in marriage, parenting and child development, energy healing practitioner and parent consultant Jennifer Jones Smith offers simple, yet profound wisdom.
Get sneak peeks about this book, download 4 Empower Your Family surveys, learn about the $160 in bonuses available on launch day, and be the first to know when "12 Weeks to Greater Peace, Joy & Love in Your Family" is available by visiting

http://myheartfelthealing.com/love

This is a positive self help book with constructive information written in a clear outline form. Jennifer has infused the manuscript with heart-felt stories that apply to us all. She has included mantras and specific assignments to help the reader connect with their own affirmative life force.

This delightful book will bring positive energy into the readers life in just 12 weeks, enhancing their quality of life and empowering them to a feeling of greater worth. I highly recommend this read.

Unmet Needs

When your child is acting up, wonder about his or her unmet needs.

Four-year-old Jaden had to pick up his toys in the family room before he could go sledding with his older sisters. Usually he finished his Saturday work in plenty of time for play, but today he wasn't a happy helper. He threw herself on the floor and kicked and screamed. He was NOT going to do his job. His mother told Jaden she would help. Jaden still cried. Dad put him  on time out until he could be happy. He shrieked louder than ever.

"Makes me feel like I want to give him a reason to cry," Mom said to Dad.

If an incident like this occurs, look for the unmet need in the child's life. When both parents took a minute to think, they remembered that Jaden had been up late the night before at the movies with his older sisters. Rather than sleeping in on Saturday morning, he had gotten up early. 

After his temper tantrum, Jaden slept for an hour and was ready to get his work done and then play.

Jaden needed some sleep.

Peter, age six, loved to wrestle with his older brother, Sam, age twelve. Peter came home from school one day and wanted to tussle, but Sam was busy with a book report he had to turn in the next day so he politely asked Peter to stop. But Peter wanted to wrestle so he kept on punching and poking his brother. Finally Sam got up and moved to his bedroom to finish his report. He shut the door. Peter pounded to get in.

The banging got so loud, Mother came and gently took Peter by the arms and told his to stop. He needed to listen to his brother's words. Mother asked him to put on his swim suit and help her clean off the patio.

Peter couldn't tell himself to quit so someone had to help him. He needed some attention and some large muscle activity. He'd been sitting still in school all day. Mother's idea met both his needs.

Whatever your child's behavior, look beyond the happenings of the moment and find the unmet need that is driving the child's conduct.

Wisdom begins in wonder. Socrates

Self Esteem Insurance

Managing Stress Part 1

Self Esteem Insurance

I just read an article posted in the New York Times, "Stories That Bind Us," March 15, 2013, by Bruce Feiler.  A study done at Emory University found that the more knowledge children had about their family and its history, the better they felt about themselves, the more they saw their families as successful, and greater control they felt they had over their lives.

My great great grandfather left a wealthy dairy farm in Denmark in the 1800s to move to the western United States. He brought his wife and daughter, Johanna Larsen. Johanna kept a journal of crossing the plains. I remember hearing the stories about her recovering from the measles, walking all the way behind the covered wagon, and picking up buffalo chips to make a fire to cook their food at night.

And somehow, I knew that though I had hard things to do, I would be okay.

As a child I had a terrible case of the measles, but I knew my great grandmother had recovered from that illness and so would I. My father died when I was in first grade, and I had to move to another city and a new school. I was scared, but my great grandmother had moved to a new country and made it, so I would be okay.

It was as if she set up a legacy for those who would follow after her. Her life wasn't easy, but she solved her problems and lived a good life. I knew I came from a family of strong women, and I would be a strong woman. 

What have I learned as I study this research and look back on my family? I can see how knowledge of my family gave me strength. I want to make sure my children and grandchildren know the stories. It's self esteem insurance, and I hope to give them the best chance in life that I can.

Here's the link to the article. Read it and give your kids self esteem insurance. It's a priceless possession!

http://www.greatertalent.com/speaker-news/bruce-feiler-the-new-york-times-the-stories-that-bind-us/

Don't Get Run Over

 
A young man about twenty came into my office for some counseling. He felt depressed. He worked a delivery job for a shipping company and hated it. It was boring. He wanted more meaningful work, but didn't know if he was even capable of doing something else.
He had come from an alcoholic family and didn't want to turn out like his parents. But he couldn't figure out how to change his life. As he talked, he told me that right out of high school he drank himself into oblivion at parties. He ran his credit cards up without any thought of how to pay them back.
One by one his friends began to get on with their lives. One went off to college. Another joined the Air Force. Someone else joined an international development group.
He sat alone one night and decided to change his life. He quit drinking (except for an occasional social drink), cut up his credit cards, and found the delivery job he now held.
He still felt his life was going nowhere. What could he do to change that?
I was excited to point out the significant changes he'd made already. Could he see that he had walked beyond the addictions of drinking and spending that many people struggle a life time to overcome? He had internal strength that he hadn't looked at before. He had never noticed these successes before, and he began to feel better about himself.

As he started to set goals, he decided he wanted to get a college degree. With my encouragement, he talked with a counselor at the local university and got himself enrolled in school. He came back to see me for a final session, saying he was 'scared to death.' How could he compete with smart kids just out of high school when he'd been away from school for so long?

I gave him this Will Rogers quote and told him he hadn't sat still long enough to get run over yet, and he probably wouldn't now.   

                                                                                                                 

Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. 

He laughed and said he was still scared. Could we outline a program to help him keep going along the right track. Here is what he came up with:

1.         Set a long term goal. (Go to college)

2.         Make sure my short term goals matched my long term plans. (Register for classes)

3.         Prioritize my day so I accomplish my short term goals. (Study first thing each day.)

4.         Evaluate my short term goals every month to make sure I'm on task, and readjust my

short term goals if necessary. (Stay on task. If I get side-tracked, get myself refocused.)

5.         Look for daily successes and pat myself on the back for my accomplishments. (Compliment myself for my small successes each day.)

This young man was successful because he set long term and short term goals and evaluated his progress monthly. I wish you happy goal-setting, and best wishes for your success.

Find Happiness All Year Long

Discover joy in service not only during this holiday season, but all year long.

 

 

 

True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Divinity of this Season

This is the holiday season of the year. Amidst the hustle and bustle, let's take time to remember the beauty in God's creations: your family, your surroundings, and your blessings. I love this Michael Angelo quote. No work of art can compare with divine perfection. Let's give thanks for the divinity in our lives.

True work of art is but a shadow of divine perfection. Michael Angelo

Blog Hop Winner

Congratulations to Linda Kish, winner of Becoming Free.

Thanks to all who participated in the blog hop. I love and appreciate you viewers.