Daily Prompt: Elicit

Recently, I have realized that I am very sensitive to manipulation. The very concept of being manipulated by another infuriates me! I feel like this image…

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And I am not sure where it all begun – maybe a childhood memory of my choice being taken from me only to be ‘convinced’ that another option would be better? Or maybe I simply reject the action of taking advantage of another person’s emotions. But one of the definitions of today’s word gave me a different sentiment…let’s explore!

Oxford Dictionaries defines elicit as:

evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone in reaction to one’s own actions or questions

Do you realize that when you elicit a response from another person, it is a form of manipulation? Think about it – you have a certain belief that you hold true and you desire for others to believe this as well. When having a conversation with a friend, you elicit a response from them that lines up with your belief through the use of certain words, phrases, images and stories… similar to a potter manipulating clay. The potter has a vision in mind and the intention is to create what they see.

You have a definite intention when you elicit another person and many times, it can come from a self-centered source rather than an other-centered source. When you speak with another person, what is your intention? What do you want to happen as a result of your interaction? Asking these questions can help you expose the true position of your heart and mind towards others.

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Our thoughts impact our words…

Our words impact our actions…

Our actions impact our world.

And when we impact our world, we impact everyone in it! All we need to do is turn on the television to see how our world has changed as a result of a thought that gave birth to actions that elicit fear, hate and hopelessness. One person had a thought that went unfiltered and that created a reality that is very painful to watch.

BUT…

We have also seen examples of the results of thoughts that produced words of hope, love and unity. Random acts of kindness to a homeless veteran, a generous tip given to a well-deserving restaurant worker. If you tune your eyes and ears to love, you can see love responses elicited in daily interactions among everyday people.

So what will you do today? Elicit emotions from a place of control and fear…which will only create more of the same.

Or, will you choose to elicit love responses through your right thoughts, words and actions?

SET YOUR INTENTIONS AND CHOOSE WISELY!

via Daily Prompt: Elicit

Daily Prompt: Scorched

As I sit at my desk, the word that comes to mind is far from our Daily Prompt. It is 35 degrees in Maryland and my warm cup of coffee truly kept me warm as I walked into the office. So, to see a word that creates images are warm, glowing ember is welcomed! But this word contains a more damaging element. Let’s explore it!

Scorched is defined, according to Oxford Dictionaries, as:

burn the surface of (something) with flame or heat

(of the heat of the sun) cause (vegetation or a place) to become dried out and lifeless

These images create a feeling of loss and destruction that can send a chill down your spine. The dual power of fire to both warm and destroy are evident. What causes that shift in power? What can turn a flame that can comfort into a flame that can eliminate life?

Lack of Balance

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We have all heard the saying, “Too much of a good thing is bad for you.” That saying is not just talking about excess of material items like food, clothing and money. Many of us have an imbalanced heart and mind. We focus too much on what we do not have rather than reflect on what we do. We think on what this country is lacking rather than the possibilities for what it can change. We focus on how much our neighbor has rather that the blessings right under our roofs. This imbalanced thinking scorches our vision…it causes us to see a reality that is not accurate. A reality that has been impacted by our lifeless thoughts and burned out dreams. We have allowed the belief in our apparent lack to eliminate all hope from our hearts…and what is left is a scorched wasteland of unfulfilled purpose.

Our thoughts create our reality. Circumstances may lack at times, but that is a temporary condition if we decide it is. If we choose to step back, adjust our focus and balance our thinking. With these steps, we can extinguish the scorching fire our of thoughts and create a beautiful landscape of hope, peace and possibility.

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What scorching thoughts are threatening your garden of life? Choose to extinguish them today with thoughts of love, hope and wholeness.

via Daily Prompt: Scorched

Daily Prompt: Mythical

The word ‘mythical’ creates fantastic images in the mind. It expands your vision to creatures, places and experiences that seem too incredible to exist. You imagine the creative genius displayed in Disney movies or in Marvel comics that transports you to dimensions unknown to man. It is a very exciting word!

Let’s explore this word a bit deeper…

Mythical is defined as:

occurring in or characteristic of myths or folk tales
idealized, especially with reference to the past
fictitious

I have a dear friend who absolutely adores unicorns! I believe she would have a unicorn if they were not a mythical creature. I can understand her love of the image of a unicorn…they look so peaceful, majestic and regal. Yet, we ‘know’ that they are not real.

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Personally, I absolutely adore the concept and imagery of Wonder Woman! I dreamed of being her as a young girl – deflective bangles and all! You could NOT convince me that I was not driving in my invisible jet while sitting on the sofa… nope!

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Our imaginations are a gift from our Creator. It takes us up out of the limitations of our human existence to a place without bounds. It gives us space to believe in the seemingly impossible. To believe that we can be more than what we see. That we can have more than what we currently possess. The ideals carry us through some challenging seasons of life. I also believe that they are glimpses into what is actually possible for our lives. Not every myth is fictitious. The concept originated from some point of truth… some point of belief.

Have you ever thought about some of the myths we learned as children? Where did the concept of the gods in Greek mythology come from? Where did the concept of Santa Claus start? Each of these ‘myths’ originated from some person’s experience in their lifetime. Through oral tradition, words were added or deleted; attributes were embellished or removed completely. But at the beginning, the myth was very real to the originator of the account. Consider this – maybe they had a painful experience and the image of this person pulled them out of that pain momentarily? Maybe imagining an unknown creature empowered them to believe that life was more than what they saw with their own 2 eyes? Or maybe…when you imagine the life that you desire to live and you see yourself being that person right now, it increases your faith in the POSSIBLE and encourages you to keep doing the good in your heart?

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Close your eyes and imagine the impossible for your life…then pause for a moment and consider, “What if this really IS possible?”

NEVER.STOP.DREAMING.

via Daily Prompt: Mythical

Daily Prompt: Percolate

This word brings many different thoughts to mind – coffee and dancing are the most prominent for me! Being a 90’s teenager, I remember a song that played often in New York where I grew up. If you were a teenager around that time, you know what I am talking about! And the lovely warmth of a cup of coffee on a cold fall or winter morning in my hands is the other image. Both brought smiles to me face and a pep in my energy – Thank you WordPress!

But now, let’s go deeper! Follow me…

Percolate is defined as a verb in 3 ways (Oxford Dictionaries):

(of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance,

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(of information or an idea or feeling) spread gradually through an area or group of people,

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be or become full of lively activity or excitement

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Each of these definitions evoke images of action, movement and energy flow. The word has impact on its environment and changes the atmosphere – it transfers from one thing to the next. From one person to the next person. From one location to the next location. This energy flow can be a flow of positive, productive, fruitful activity – which is what I am showing above. This energy flow can also be negative, destructive and burdensome as well.

Once again, it is a daily choice what energy you will percolate into your atmosphere. What type of vessel are you? What energy are you percolating today? I chose to be a powerful percolating vessel of light, joy, excitement and expectation of all that is good! What about you!

via Daily Prompt: Percolate

Daily Prompt: Filthy

What a word! As is my custom, let’s look at the definition (Oxford Dictionaries):

disgusting dirt
obscene and offensive language or printed material.
used as a term of abuse for a person or people one greatly despises
corrupt behavior; decadence

I am looking at these definitions and I am searching for the good in it. Isn’t that how we should navigate our daily interactions and conversations – What good can I pull from this?

Follow me for a moment…

What emotions come to the surface when you see this image? I know as a mom, I feel disgusted, frustrated and disappointed if this was my son’s room! As a woman who values cleanliness and order, this is chaotic image. But then…if I allow my emotional expectations to take a seat, I begin to see something different. I see OPPORTUNITY!

A person with a filthy mind has an opportunity to choose purity.

A family with a filthy home has an opportunity to choose order.

A business with a filthy reputation has an opportunity to choose honor.

We can choose to see and seize the opportunity or we can choose to see the filth and:

accept it (Hey, this is who I am!)
ignore it (What filth? I don’t see it)
condemn it ( How could I do this to myself? I am such a loser!)
defend it ( Don’t judge me! You have no idea what I have been through!)

There is an element of filth in everyone’s life…what opportunity will you choose to see in it?

via Daily Prompt: Filthy

Daily Prompt: Tart

I looked up the definition of the word “tart”. I am very intentional about how I use words and what I allow to come to my mind and from my mouth. Traditionally, when people hear the word “tart”, we think of a delicious dessert that satisfies our physical bodies (somewhat). With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, it is quite understandable. Just look at this!! YUM!

tart

But, I decided to go deeper…

Tart is defined in 2 ways – both descriptive:

sharp to the taste; sour or acid:
sharp in character, spirit, or expression; cutting; biting:

Let’s look at the second description – ” sharp in character, spirit, or expression; cutting; biting”. What images come to mind when you read that? Speak those words out loud…what does your mind see?

A sharp character has been projected on us as a negative image. One of anger, one of negative confrontation, one of isolation from others. Did you see the same thing? I want to challenge you to expand your vision to see ‘sharp in spirit and expression’ as something more! Something powerful and productive…

The definition of intentional is “done on purpose; deliberate”. The word you speak has a definite purpose and accomplishes its goal. It CUTS through all fluff and distractions and hits it mark. Your words are SHARP! Can you see the difference? Can you FEEL the difference?

Tart has been attached to our mind as an unwanted sensation. When you go deeper and understand the truth far below the surface, a wonderfully powerful vision comes to the surface!

Be TART with your words and accomplish your purpose today!!

via Daily Prompt: Tart

JUMP!!

There is a movement brewing across the nation…a movement of empowerment…a movement of faith! Those who are hearing the call are being encouraged to JUMP! Jump into your destiny and your purpose. Jump into the unknown with confidence and faith that all that is ear-marked for you will be available for your success. Jump…

Tonight, as I sit in front of my laptop tying this blog, I am intentionally jumping.

It is time… jump

I have been sitting with my legs dangling off the edge of this cliff for far too many years…calculating, strategizing, ‘what-ifing’ myself into complacency and poverty.

It is time…

2016 has been a year of growth, stretching, re-birth, and death. And I am thankful for each moment I experienced. I am thankful for the hard knocks that triggered a switch in my wiring. I am thankful for the hunger it created. I now hunger for POSSIBILITY. I now hunger for LEGACY. I now hunger for LOVE! I possess a burning desire to heal those I come in contact with each day. A burning desire to bring peace, calm and tranquility to every atmosphere I enter. A burning desire to be the one who restores what has been devastated.

It is time! And I AM ready, are you?

Journey with me!

Transition…

Right now, my family and I are heading to NY to see my grandma. It is her turn to transition on and it will be a challenge for me. Dementia has taken away her independence and voice…and I am heavy hearted about it. She is 89…

This summer, I will turn 40…another amazing transition! I have been looking forward to 40…excited about this next leg in my journey. I want to make my years on earth count…I want to shine the light within me to guide others to peace and wholeness. I can no longer do anything less…

So, as I drive along I-95, a road I have traveled many time over the past 22 years, I am thinking about my journey – the ups, downs, pauses and full stops. They are all molding and shaping my mind and heart…at times I allowed them to negatively frame my outlook and my life hurt because of it. But today, right now, I am envisioning a different path…one that will leave a legacy of hope, peace and wholeness for my grandchildren and the generations after them. I choose to that up that mantle and run towards the future!

Say a prayer for my family as we prepare for the next chapter in this life…one I knew would come, but is hard all the same.

Shalom…

Workplace Design Thoughts…

“…Schachtel further suggested that it is the security of the mother’s love that provides the background for such openness in the child. According to him, when that love is provided, the child is capable of tolerating uncertainty and newness in the environment. When such love is absent, an unchanging environment becomes a substitute source of security.” (Israel, T. (2003). Some Place Like Home)

Background

As a child, the love of our parents helped us deal with our changing environment. Anchored in the surety of their unchanging love and protection, the child is open the outer environment changing. The absence of this process creates a lack of surety in the child and the child then associates love and security with the steadiness of the environment that has now become a source of love and protection. When that is changed, the child become lost and begin to feel out of place and unsafe.

Workplace Design Process

As designers, asking questions is part of our creative process. In workplace renovation and design, we need to ask specific questions such as, “How long have the tenants worked within the existing space?” Tenants who have been in the space longer will have a greater attachment to the environment and change will be a sensitive process. Similar to the child, if the company (parent) has shown love, appreciation and support towards the employee, then changing the environment will not be a traumatic process. To the contrary, if the employee feels unloved and disconnected to the company (parent), then the employee will associate belonging and security to the workspace (home), rather than the company (parent). The threat of change to that environment can cause trauma, confusion and a sense of alienation. The resultant emotions, behaviors and overall well-being of the employee will be negatively altered and the relationship will be strained. The company should expect the loss of relationship with the employee (quitting) or the distrust of further changes in the company (pessimism and discontent).

We need to consider the ‘resident’ of the space we build, design and renovate. These individuals have experiences and anchors attached to their workspace that need to be considered. As designers, we need to remain sensitive to this reality and refrain from flippant disregard of the ‘old’ for the trendiness of the ‘new’. Relationships and client well-being are the ultimate trends and foundations of a healthy, successful design.

Healing Journey…

Yesterday, I made a conscious decision to intentionally invest my time and energy into tasks that fill me up. Tasks that make a positive impact on the environment around me. I realized that I have spent the last 10 years existing in an industry and business and not living my purpose within it. That saddened and depressed my spirit for a few hours…but then I decided to change it. Listening to a motivational speaker and an entrepreneur on Blab Beta, I was encouraged to begin writing again…and to write about my journey back to purpose!

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I desire to enter into the field of Design Psychology…the practice of creating “life changing architecture that helps with healing”. Toby Israel is the pioneer in this field and she has graciously provided me with some steps to take in order to walk out my purpose. I am VERY excited!!

So it begins…journey with me!

Artisan of Peace

Creating Space to BE in your Life