Emotional honesty is critical in order to have healthy relationships with ourselves and others. We need to become aware of what healthy behavior and acceptable interactions look like.
A first step is to become emotionally honest with ourselves, to own our feelings, and to communicate in a direct and honest manner. Setting personal boundaries is a vital part of healthy relationships–which are not possible without effective communication. It is impossible to have a healthy relationship with someone who cannot communicate directly and honestly.
To get started, we must stop saying statements like: “You make me so angry.” “You hurt me.” “You make me crazy.” “How could you do that to me after all I have done for you?”
What does more effective language look like? We would state our feelings out loud and precede them with the words “I feel. . . .” “I feel concerned when our time together seems distant because. . . .” This allows us to own the feeling.
Whether the other person can hear and understand us is less important than the fact that we hear ourselves. It is so important that we own our own voice and speak up. In turn, we encourage the other person to do the same.
I invite all women to attend a heart gathering at my office in Norfolk, VA, on August 12 at 4:00 p.m. This event, held once each year, will help you learn more about the Leading from the Heart program–how it began and testimonials from women who have participated. Over 600 women have taken the program in the past 15 years and transformed their lives!
OPEN TO ALL WOMEN
August 12, 2012
4:00 p.m. (start time) to about 5:30 p.m.
Door Prizes, Great Food! RSVP: August 10 to maspenn@gmail.com–(Marva)
At Cynthia’s Office (see Contact link above)
Gift Certificate Give-Aways; Door Prizes; Incredible Food; Heart Fellowship–Priceless!
Wherever you landed on your family tree has affected you in countless ways. No greater influence exists during your growing up years than your family. Your parents as well as your siblings make such a powerful impact on you that this affects your forever.
The relationship dynamics of a family depend in large part on order of birth. Every time a child is born the family environment changes. How parents interact with each new family member affects not only that child, but also the other siblings.
Principles of birth order are not simplistic. For example, if you have two children in a family (a girl and a boy), each is considered a First Born since each is the first of that sex; however, the boy is also a Last Born. So the two dynamics are blended. If there is a gap in a family of 6 or more years, the first child of the second set is considered a blend of a First Born as well as a Middle Born.
Here are a few very interesting ideas about birth order characteristics of children based on research:
First Borns: Take charge (may be overbearing); command respect (may focus on goals rather than feelings); do things right (may criticize self and others); have things under control (may be less flexible); conscientious and strong-willed (sometimes stubborn).
Middle Borns: Often are mediators (want everyone to get along); act realistic (sometimes don’t expect as much of self or others); relationships important (may be too influenced by friends); feel invisible (may stay in background or be rebellious); get along well (may want peace at any price and so let others take advantage); can be trusted (may fail to admit when they need help).
Last Borns: Are likeable, fun, easy (may appear less disciplined); caring (can be gullible); humorous (may not be serious when need to be); relaxed (may not be focused); persistent (may see things only their way).
Only Child: Might be self-focused (didn’t have to compete with other children); trust self (may even be too independent in relationship); also often has characteristics of First Born (above).
Did you know the birth order of the following famous people?
First Borns: Bill Cosby, Harrison Ford, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey
Middle Borns: JFK, Princess Diana, Jennifer Lopez, Bill Gates
Last Borns: Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Carey, Jim Carrey, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Ellen DeGeneres, Jon Stewart.
Every birth order has inherent strengths and challenges, and no birth order is better than another. Of course, many variables contribute to one’s overall personality and success in life. Perhaps, simply knowing these ideas might allow a person to step back and take a different perspective on family dynamics.
You may have uttered the word “Om” during yoga or meditation, but do you know its history, significance and restorative powers?
The Sanskrit word “Om” is actually an intonation, which, like music, transcends age, race, and culture. It is probably the oldest chant known to humankind and believed to be the basic sound of the world and to contain all other sounds.
The word is made up of three Sanskrit letters “aa, au, and ma.” Combined together they make the sound “Aum” or “Om.” The correct pronunciation of “om” is a long “O” and a drawn-out sound of “M”–sounding like “Ohmmmm.”
If repeated with the correct intonation, it can resonate throughout the body so that the sound penetrates to the center of one’s being or soul. In fact, research has shown that chanting OM can alter brain waves from Beta to Delta (from a waking consciousness to a deep state of self-hypnosis).
We know that sound has a powerful effect on the mind and body and when combined with meditation can facilitate healing and spiritual growth.
Emotional honesty is critical in order to have healthy relationships with ourselves and others. We need to become aware of what healthy behavior and acceptable interactions look like.
