CreativeSteph13: Encouragement

Showing posts with label Encouragement. Show all posts

Conversation Techniques to Building Deeper Relationships

My dad ordered a book and we received it a week after he passed away. It was called Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being by Dr. Martin Seligman. FLOURISH - what a perfect word to sum up the life my dad wanted to live. He was all about looking at life through "positive" eyes. And even with all his health issues, he chose to live a life full of joy, full of enjoyment, full of laughter....just full!

I read this book and it was so powerful. Part practical wisdom, part self-help with a lot of scientific studies to back it up. It was slow going for me (felt like I was back in college studying), but I was able to pull out many helpful gems that both reinforced my focus on a joy-filled life and opened my eyes to several new things.

One of the most interesting things I learned was... how we respond in conversations can strengthen or weaken our relationships.

How to deepen a relationship with one Conversation Technique.

When people we care about tell us about a victory, triumph or good thing that happened to them, how we respond can build the relationship or undermine it.

Active/Constructive Acknowledge, be excited for them, celebrate with them. Ask questions so they relive the moment with you.
Non-verbal: Smiling, Enthusiasm.
Passive/Constructive Passively say, 'that's nice'. No further interaction or conversation.
Non-verbal: Little to no active emotional expression.
Active/Destructive Critical, negative words, pessimistic, find the fault or potential downside in the victory.
Non-verbal: Display negative emotions, frowning.
Passive/Destructive No acknowledgement of the success/victory, change subject.
Non-verbal: no eye contact, leave room, etc.

I've been trying it. Such a great difference.

Have a Joy-filled week! Love, Steph

Dirt & Beauty & Rain

I lost my mom a few months ago after a long battle with Alzheimer's. I only got glimpses of her during the last few years, but her optimism and positive spirit continued to reveal itself until the very end. She liked to encourage everyone she met and you couldn't help but feel better after you spoke with her.

Losing her left a space in my heart that no one else can fill. She was my biggest cheerleader—always believing in me, even when I couldn’t see my own potential. Her words of encouragement echo in my mind during the toughest days, reminding me to keep going, to trust myself, and to be kind. She had this way of making me feel like I could do anything, and even now, I find strength in her unwavering faith in me.

She always loved that I created my art to help encourage others. And though it's been very tough these past months, I know she's up in heaven now, completely cured and spreading joy to everyone she meets.

I finally felt inspired again and have been in the studio painting like crazy. I miss her deeply, but I carry her love and support with me always. Thanks mom for continuing to encourage me.

Letting Gratitude Create a Better Life - Thankfulness & Blessings

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It can turn a meal into a feast,
a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Melody Beattie

You are Capable!

Recently my sweet cousin sent me a quote that encouraged me
during a stressful time in my life.

When you're focused on a tough situation, it's too easy to forget that
you are more than capable. You got this!

It made such a difference and inspired me to create my latest piece.

Remember... You are Capable of Amazing Things!

Storms, Rainbows and the Best View

The Greater Your Storms
The Brighter Your Rainbows

Grow Through what you Go Through

Do you sometimes get paralyzed with the thought of making a mistake?

Why did I do this?
Why is this happening?
I never do anything right!

Let yourself off the hook and change your way of thinking. Instead of beating yourself up, look for ways you can learn, grow, and improve as you move forward.

Fail Forward - acceptance of failure as a stepping stone to future success.
You choose to respect each failure for the lessons it teaches you,
and to apply those lessons to future efforts. John Maxwell

There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Brene Brown

I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that don't work. Thomas Edison

Why You Need to Retreat from your World

Think about a place or time in your life where you got to get away from it all?
A time where you could think.
A time where you could breathe.

Was it the beach?
Was it the mountains?
Was it your own back yard?
Or just having the house to yourself?

In a Mel Robbins podcast I recently listed to, they used a phrase that struck me.

"We need to think of rest as a right, not a reward."

Throughout our life, we're taught, once you get your work done (homework, chores, cleaning, errands, whatever...), then you can take a break.
What happens, more often than not, is we NEVER get our work done.
There's ALWAYS something that needs to be done.

What if we switched our mindset and scheduled in the relaxing time, the quiet time, the fun time, the I don't want to think about anything time?
Giving yourself actual space and time to recharge.

Give yourself a Place to Retreat;
where the World Grows Quiet enough for your Soul to Speak.

Retreat

For the Amazing You!!!

For anyone who focuses too much on the things they do wrong.

YOU ARE ALL KINDS OF AMAZING!!!

It's Not the End

We tend to look at life from a very narrow perspective - seeing only what's right in front of us.

Wondering if a problem will ever end.

Will I get through this?

Pain. Grief. Sadness. Loss. Stress.

Not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It helps to remember that problems are temporary and that everything will ultimately work out.

But often it's not the timing we hope for.

Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it is not the end.

It's not the end. You got this.

Having the Strength to Let Go

I have a friend who's been struggling the last several years - caught up in the past and having a hard time overcoming all the negative voices and tapes in her head. Feeling she needs to hold onto things, but knowing it's not the healthiest.

It's been wonderful to see her start to break free from the past - I knew she had
taken some very large steps towards freedom and happiness
when she shared this quote with me....

Strength to Let Go

Give yourself permission to Let Go.

Love, Loss & Remembering

For any of us who have experienced loss, it can be so hard to navigate the pain.

Recently, several friends have lost close family members, but while they're suffering, remembering all the sweet and funny and loving moments has momentarily eased their heartache.

Here's to never forgetting our special memories.

Bees Bees Bees - So Many Favorites

The Hum of Bees is the Voice of the Garden

Elizabeth Lawrence

Fun Bee Decor, Art, Jewelry, Clothing and more....

Check out all My Bee Favorites from small handmade sellers.

I love sharing the work of other creative artisans.

These are just some of my favorites and I do not earn any commissions from them.

#artisanssupportingartisans

Confessions of a "former" Control Freak

As a former (now just once in a while) control freak I was always focused
on making sure everything went well.

Work, People, Whatever.

Have you ever thought this way?
If I was organized enough, read enough peoples minds,
worked harder, worked longer, anticipated every possibility,
then I was sure I could change things or people and make things turn out right.

It was exhausting.

And ultimately unsuccessful.

You can't change circumstances. You can't change people. You can't change behavior.

We can only change ourselves.

So focus on you, on how you will feel, on how you will react, on what you'll decide.
And let go of what you can't control.

Freedom Awaits!

Love, Steph

Prints and more available in my Etsy Shop

Our Hardest Climbs Can Lead to Our Best Views

per·se·ver·ance

/ˌpərsəˈvirəns/

persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

determination, endurance, stamina, tenacity

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.
Walter Elliot

Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.
Samuel Johnson

Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to,
but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears.
Gillian Anderson

You Can Do It!!!

The Light Remains

This past week marked seven years since I lost someone special.
I know, like anyone who has suffered a loss, that time both goes in a blink and drags on.
The smallest things will suddenly bring back a memory and you're missing them all over again.

There are some who bring a Light so great to the World,
that even after they have gone,
the Light Remains