New Year, New Me: A New Way

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“Mindset shifts change lives.” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

“If I could grow in one area this year, that would radically transform my life, it would be….”

Well, here’s my honest answer….

“… self-acceptance. Part of me is still that little girl that no one wanted around, and no one saw as smart, talented, and capable. If I could grow in one are this year, it would be in affirming myself that those were the opinions of a handful of people and I no longer have to try and prove myself to them. There are many others who already see what I have to offer and many who would love to experience all I have to share. If at the end of this year I can say, “I’m so glad that I no longer feel the need to prove myself to anyone, because I know that who’s for me is already with me or the universe will draw us to each other,” I’ve had a great year. This is my intention this year—to become so comfortable with myself that I need no outside affirmation.”

What about you? What growth (in your mindset) this year, would radically transform your life?

You can answer in the comments, the notes app in your phone, on a napkin, in your journal, etc., whatever makes you comfortable. If you’d like to see some changes in your life this year, please complete the statement for yourself.

Fill in the blank for yourself.

“If I could grow in one area this year that would radically transform my life, it would be….”

And if you dare, set this statement as your intention for the year. Write it down. Print it out. Place it somewhere you’ll see it every day. Make it your phone’s wallpaper or lockscreen.

Keep it front of mind in whatever way makes sense for you. That’s what I’m going to do. Here’s to leaving this year more fully ourselves!

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

Does It Have to Hurt?

Realizing that alignment feels different than discipline….
This is just me talking about what works for me. Believe and do what works for you.

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It’s the simple things that can give me deeper revelations. I used to get those Quaker Oats (1/3 sugar) flavored oatmeal packets, because they were a quick option. Over the years it seemed like the sugar to oatmeal ratio just kept getting worse. And eventually I didn’t just feel “guilty” eating them, I didn’t like them. I didn’t want a bowl of sugar with an oatmeal garnish.

Honestly, I probably bought them two more times AFTER coming to that conclusion… because it was simpler than figuring out how to make real oatmeal. (Of course, now I realize it wasn’t that complicated, but I thought it was gonna take a day and half of boiling, like grits.😅)

Each time I ate them, I felt like I was doing something wrong. (Not to mention I’d throw out 1/3 of the packets because that cinnamon flavor is so nasty. Who wants that? Ewww.)

Anyway, back to my point….

Recently, I was at Whole Foods and I saw this oatmeal…. Just regular old, we haven’t done much to it, but put it in the bag, oatmeal. And I bought it. And I thought about what flavors would be nice to taste, AND would be nice to my body. So I added a little honey for the sweetness, a pinch or two of salt because (as Tabitha Brown says) “that’s my business,” and then I thought, “Hmmm…. I wonder how cardamom would taste in here?” So I shook a little of that in there. And LAWD, it was delicious!

I gave myself time to think about what I wanted. I trusted myself to figure it out. I realized that it really is a “boil water and stir” simple process. And I’m now enjoying oatmeal that feels good going down.

I’m not forcing myself to eat right. I’m choosing foods that feel good to eat. And I’m doing it in a way that satisfies my palate. And I’m really proud of myself for that.

I’m sure discipline has its place…. AND I prefer to find ways to make things (I already want to do) enjoyable. I don’t want to make eating a chore. I want to enjoy it. And by simply aligning with my truth and giving myself room to try something new, I found a new favorite thing to eat.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

On Purpose

“When we lose our passion for what we once loved, maybe it’s time to reassess our purpose.” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

Person in muted orange sweater with beard and mustache, pensive appearance, looking up with hand on chin as if thinking. Text states: Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist "When we lose our passion for what we once loved, maybe it's time to reassess our purpose." — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist mdillondesigns.com
Tap this button to listen to associated podcast episode for this blog post on SoundCloud!
Listen to the associated podcast episode on SoundCloud!

Sometimes our feelings change and we prematurely “jump ship.” Our feelings and our choices tend to correlate with the kinds of questions we ask ourselves.

Before we ask questions like, “Is it time for me to leave?” And “Do I even want to do this anymore?” We can ask ourselves more empowering questions, like:

– “What was my intention when I started? Has it changed?”
– “If I chose to pivot here, what would I enjoy doing/offering/learning? etc.”
– “Has my purpose changed?”
– “Can I still be of value here?”
– “Is it time for me to set new intentions?”
– “Is there possibly a win-win I’m overlooking?”
– “Is it healthy for me to continue?”

I admittedly tend to pack up when the passion lulls. Today, I am challenging myself to reassess my purpose and see if I’ve still got it in me to keep going.

A lot of people are setting goals for the future right now, but some of us need to be evaluating what we’re doing in the present.

If that’s you, take a break with some tea, a journal, and good music, and think about these questions, or allow these to spark some of your own.

I just want to do more of what makes me feel alive and blissful. And taking time to get in alignment with what I do is a huge part of that.

I hope this is helpful for you.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

*If you found this post empowering, you should definitely check out my podcast, or my blog, and follow my page Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist. 😘

Read my blog: mdillondesigns.com/blog
Listen to my podcast: soundcloud.com/marlenedillon
Watch my podcast videos on YouTube: youtube.com/@marlenedillonempowerment

Why Slow Down?

{Image Description: Meme. Photo of two turtles on a log above a murky, olive green pond, one smaller than the other with tail down and head raised. Text states: Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist "Slowing down allows us to see the patterns that are guiding our lives." mdillondesigns.com}

by Marlene Dillon

Why slow down?
To breathe
And know
And see
And hear…

Why so slow?
How do I get there?
You can’t get there
If you don’t know the way
You got here.
Let go, dear one.
Can I go faster, please?

Why so slow?
I have to get there.
They are counting on me.
But where is there dear one?
Where are you going, and why?

I have to get there.
Don’t you see?
Everyone is counting on me?
Without me their world falls apart.

But what about yours, dear heart?
What about the world you carve
In your mind?
Why chase down their dreams
And leave yours behind?

You love them more than you.
You need to see why you do
As you do.
You want their love and
None of their pain.

You jump through their hoops
Again and again.
And if you can slide through
Their hoop just as before

You avoid what you fear—
They’ll close their love door.
You want to be loved
To escape their abuse.

You run, leap, and jump
Right into their noose.
Chasing their love
You’ll never be free.

You deserve to be loved
Unconditionally.

So make your new choice
To love you instead.
To let them be mad
To stay in your bed.

You get to rest
And be kind to yourself.
You can dust off your dreams,
You’ve placed on your shelf. 

Allow them the chance
To upgrade their love.
And don’t wait for them
To place you above.

You’ll wait in vain
Must choose for yourself,
To remember your worth
To value yourself. 

Don’t live just for them.
That’s no way to live.
They’ll take every drop.
Left with nothing to give.

Return to your truth.
You do know the way.
If it lights up your heart
On that path please stay.

You deserve the love
You give to them all.
To place smiles in your day
No matter how small.

Place joy in your life.
Do more that you love.
That’s enough of below,
Place yourself above.

Don’t give in to feelings
That say to feel bad,
That when you are above
You’ll make them feel sad.

Remember how you’ve felt
All of these years,
Giving your all
While fighting through tears.

You’re here to be more
Than their source of joy.
This is your life to live—
For you to enjoy.

Now, find ways to every day
Bring smiles to your face.
Be loving toward them.
But you take first place.

Written & Published
December 20, 2023
by Marlene Dillon.
All rights reserved.

We deserve to be main characters in our own lives, not just supporting characters in everyone else’s. This is a new truth for me. If you’d like to follow my journey of self-discovery, and learn with me along the way, please check out my podcast. It’s called Share & Let’s Live!

Check out my podcast Share & Let’s Live!

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