Write a Better Story

So you may have guessed by the length of my blogs that I love writing. Not novel level writing, but long short stories (sounds like an oxymoron), blog posts, songs, and even poetry. 

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Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist If imagination truly controls our narrative, our lives can shift by writing a better story. mdillondesigns.com Share.

As you may know from my recent posts, I now offer inner child coaching. Inner child work is a practice that I am constantly learning for myself and offering to those around me. It has been helpful for friends and for myself, and I was recently invited to speak to a group of women on the topic. The breakthroughs in such a short amount of time confirmed for me that it is something of value and I’m qualified to support people in learning to do it. 

As part of my practice, I love to learn and read constantly. I began learning about the inner child and learned of an aspect called the “vulnerable child.” This is the part of us that is intuitive, aware of the energy of people… the reason why children will back away from a person who is not good natured without having met them. This aspect is typically shamed into hiding as adults reprimanded us for not hugging that (stranger) relative, or for not speaking to their “sus” friend. This is the aspect of us that is emotional and sensitive, the part of us that cries and feels openly. So for many adults this part is silenced. What I learned is that when we don’t acknowledge and support this aspect of us, it finds other ways to be heard and get its needs met. For example, when we keep going to that job that we know is slowly killing our spirit, a sudden illness may come up that keeps us from being able to go. That desire to shift becomes stuck energy that can cause illness, etc. 

Anyway, for some this is complete nonsense, or too “woo woo,” but for me, it’s fascinating and eye-opening. I began doing some work over the last few days toward connecting with my vulnerable self and what has come up for me is a request for me to tell beautiful stories about my life… how I want it to be, rather than how it currently is. Within there is a desire for me to pivot from conversations of poverty, to stories of how my life turned around and I am now living abundantly. So I thought it would be cool… okay… let me be honest…. I felt led to share this personal journal assignment (that I thought would be for my “ears” only). I hope you enjoy it. 

This is my new story. Blessings!   

Once upon a time in a far away land 

There lived a mom and girl… and no man. 😂

She was a writer and designer

And occasionally she spoke.

She even assisted teaching

Adorable little folk.

One day she came to realize

She really loved to speak.

The children went from sassy

To cooperative and meek.

She found the process easy

For the words flowed from her soul

She didn’t have to script or plan

Just let go of control.

She also wrote the cutest books

To the children’s glee.

She even wrote songs to go with them

Like I’m Proud to Be Natural Me!

She designs gifts and t-shirts

Where you can put your name.

And supplies for birthday parties

Where you can do the same.

She is a single mother 

Of a daughter that she loves.

Who adores the winter.

And won’t wear socks or gloves. 😒

They’ve become the best of friends,

As she changed the way she talks.

So now she teaches parents

How to walk how she walks.

For years she made no money,

Which was no fun at all.

But she couldn’t stop creating

The ideas would call and call.

She knew one day they’d pivot

And money would just flow. 

That it would happen suddenly. 

Just when she didn’t know.

She began to share her stories

Through podcast and her blog

Helping people through her deserts,

Winters, and the fog. 

Before she knew it she was known

And people sought her for advice

She began coaching, returned to speaking

And it was oh so nice!

She found a way to do her loves

And their money grew.

Her daughter was so happy

And she was happy, too. 

Their life had changed before their eyes

With little effort given.

Now, they both give thanks

For their life feels just like heaven. 

The End.

Do You See Me?

I discovered recently that I LOVE to engage with people who already see and get me. I despise having to persuade people of who I am and what I have to offer.

It took me a minute to come to a place of recognizing my value—I’m honestly still on that journey. (Oh, BTW, thanks for your prayers! I FINALLY have a new therapist and she is AMAZING!) I recognize that I don’t just find it uncomfortable. I legit despise it. I prefer to be with and work with people who already “see” me.

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I noticed this tendency in friendships first. It started with “friendships” that I had for years (like decades), where I was finding myself experiencing misunderstandings about who I am. I got to a point where I was done. If you haven’t figured out I’m a good person, with pure intentions, and we’ve been cool for over 10 years, what are we even doing? That’s the quickest way to get me to throw up the deuces and wish you a great life. That’s the core of who I am.

Next, I started to acknowledge a similar need in my intimate relationships. When I’m with someone—even in a “situationship”—I am open and put it all out there. If I like you, you know it. If I love you, you know it. If I’m not experiencing reciprocity, you know it. I’m big on communication. Not the naggy kind, but the “I don’t like elephants in the room, so let me tell you what’s on my mind” kind. I don’t like to let things linger. I want to address it, early. I will tell you I have an issue as soon as I realize I have an issue… and I’ll do it with love….

What I came to see—through a beautiful (temporary) relationship I was in—is that I bring a lot to my relationships. In this relationship, I was taught to love myself because I got to see myself through their eyes and they loved me so dearly. I learned that those who did not value me in the past are the ones who missed out. I learned that I gave my goodness to people who did not appreciate it, and that I get to choose differently in the future. I learned to raise the bar of my expectations waaaay higher. I learned that I’m pretty freakin’ amazing and that there are people out there who can see that and will appreciate it. Through that relationship, I came to see how much more I deserved.

So recently, I started working with my new awesome therapist and realized how much I really hate working with people who don’t see my value. I don’t like having to convince people. I prefer to work with people who already “see” me and want what I have to offer.

I don’t just want friendships where I am seen for who I am, and intimate relationships where my value is obvious. I want clients, customers, and speaking opportunities with people who value who I am and what I offer.

I want my whole life to feel more natural and flowy…. less upstream.

I know “sales” is part of being an entrepreneur, but I also know I get to do things my way. I, of course, will need to be better about sharing who I am and what I have to offer. I can also improve on connecting with my target market. AND I’m choosing to not waste energy convincing anyone to work with me or buy from me, anymore.

I am choosing to believe that as I continue to share who I am, what I do, and all I have to offer—in the spaces where those who are most likely to appreciate my offerings are able to engage with my work—that my experiences of being in business will shift.

I am accepting that my audience exists, my ideal customers and clients are looking for me now, and I am providing them with opportunities to get to know me, work with me and shop with me. Now, that feels real good. 🥰😌🥰

Thanks for listening. (And I’d love for you to stand in agreement with me on this with good vibes and prayers.)

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

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Life Isn’t a Race, It’s a Journey

“I am exactly where I am meant to be. This is the trajectory of my life. I am on time.”

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I received these words as I was listening to an Abraham-Hicks recording. I’ve listened to that recording at least a thousand times. Probably more. But for the first time I really heard this message.

I learned at a very young age to compare myself to those around me. If I wasn’t doing what they were doing, something was wrong with me. At least that’s the message I received.

It was just about two weeks ago that these words came to me and that belief I’ve held since I was at most 5 years old melted away. Based on my experiences, how I’m wired, how I learn, my motivations, the support I received or didn’t receive, traumas and triumphs, I am exactly where I am meant to be. I am not behind. I am on time… for MY life.

We all got here to do different things, have different experiences, have different likes, and to expand in different ways. The most damaging belief I’ve ever held in my life is that something is wrong with me if I’m not achieving at the same level as those around me. Since kindergarten I have been trying to “catch up,” because somebody told me I was behind.

I have spent my entire life feeling like the last one in the marathon, because I was told I was behind before I started the race. I’ve been dragging myself along, trying to appear as though I’m keeping up, when it feels like I’m running in place. I’m breaking a sweat, but in terms of progress by this society’s standards, at my age, I’m nowhere near where I’m supposed to be. I carried that heavy weight my entire life up until a few weeks ago when I heard these words.

Do you have any idea how freeing it is to realize it’s okay to get “there” when you get there? Do you have any idea the peace I felt when I realized that I have nothing to prove to anyone else? Can you imagine the weight it lifted to realize that I am exactly where I am meant to be? It’s like an elephant stepped off my shoulders.

Now, the tendency to feel that panic and angst about what I don’t have and what I haven’t yet achieved still creeps in. I mean, it is a habit. I’ve been doing it for DECADES. But now when that nagging little “catfish” voice comes up, I can soothe myself with these words. I get to calm myself knowing that this isn’t a race, it’s a journey. And we’re all headed to different destinations.

I’m not in competition with you and you’re not in competition with me. I celebrate your wins and see the possibilities for my own celebrations. I no longer need to look at where everyone else is and what they are doing and what they have and how they get to live and beat myself up internally for not being there, too. I get to look over, smile, and return to my own journey.

I’ll get where I’m going…. I’ll achieve my goals in time… But for now I am exactly where I am meant to be. This is the trajectory of my life. And I am on time.

Blessings.

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

Who Is Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist?

It’s been a minute so let me reintroduce myself. I am Marlene Dillon (also known as Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist) and I.U.S.E. people. Inspire. Uplift. Support. Encourage.

Photo tile of various offerings of Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist. Her with a group of children holding copies of her children's book, I'm Proud to Natural Me! Her t-shirts featuring children of different complexions including dark skin albinism and vitiligo. Her Healing Our Families: Healing the Parent Child Relationship course on Udemy for parents who a better relationship with their children. Her speaking to a group of teen girls. Her Share and Let's Live podcast on SoundCloud and various personalized gifts from her zazzle store. Find out more at mdillondesigns.com

Through my numerous products and offerings I do my part to create the world I want to see.

❤️ Through my online parenting course, I teach parents to communicate with their children in healthy ways, and how to recognize the verbal and nonverbal ways that we unintentionally create rifts with our children. My course, Healing Our Families: Healing the Parent-Child Relationship™ is highly rated by my students. If you’re struggling in your relationship with your child, tween, or teen, OR you want to ensure you maintain your currently great relationship, purchase my course today on #Udemy.

💜 Through my S.I.S.T.A.™ Girls #Empowerment talks, I teach young ladies (4th through 9th grades) to love themselves, to see their value, to believe in themselves, and make choices that support their dreams. If you are a teacher or administrator dealing with bullying, teasing, and have a group of young ladies that tend to get into trouble, I’d love to come and talk with them. These talks are always transformative. I mean girls apologizing to each other, hugging, and crying together, transformative. Download the brochure to learn more.

💙 Through my brand I’m Proud to Be Natural Me! I empower children to love themselves and appreciate their natural beauty. My children’s book and products feature children of various skin tones with naturally curly hair to show our children that we are ALL beautiful. If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews with curly hair, if you are the parent of a multiracial child, or if you are a parent, teacher, daycare provider etc. who wants to bring more diverse books into your classroom, check out my brand and my children’s book I’m Proud to Be Natural Me! (Available on #Amazon) My personalized natural hair tees, gifts, and birthday party decor (in every shade from mocha to latte) is accessible through my website. #linkinbio #link in comments

💚 Through my #blog and #podcast I empower readers and listeners to feel confident to do more, be more, and show up more in life. We all have experiences and beliefs that periodically get in the way of what we truly want. By sharing my personal journey and the epiphanies and shifts I’m making along the way, I help others to embark on their own personal development journey. My blog posts are available here on my Blog page. I post around every 10 days or so. Sometimes twice in a day. No set schedule. I just post when I’m inspired. Subscribe to my blog on my website so you’ll be notified when I post something new. You can also follow my Share and Let’s Live! podcast on #SoundCloud! There you can hear my actual voice as I share some of my favorite epiphanies and insights.

🤎 SISTAMoms is my newest venture and I’m really excited about it. Last year, I was blessed to meet and instantly connect with my beautiful business partner Yvonne Livingston! We are two moms who have decided to use our gifts to bring change to our #community. Through program offerings, trainings for parents and clinicians, and empowerment workshops with students we are disrupting violence in our communities. We believe that love and healthy communication are keys to a peaceful environment, and we are out here teaching people how to do it. Find out more about our programs and download our brochure and bio on our website. Reach out to Yvonne if you’d like to learn more about what we do and invite us to come speak, do trainings, and if you’d like to partner with us.

🥳 Last, but not least, I have exciting news!!!! I am now accepting coaching clients! This has been a journey, but I have wanted to do this for a looooong time. I have been coaching and counseling people of all ages my whole life (literally since childhood). I even have a master’s degree in counseling. I have been the inbox coach to so many people for issues ranging from job dissatisfaction, to divorce, to overcoming the tragic loss of a child, and some of everything in between. I specialize in joining people in the uncomfortable space between where they are and where they want to be. I have a gift for it and I love empowering people to find their way to the other side. I also now offer inner child coaching! So check out my coaching page, if you would love to work with me. Let me join you on your journey. Visit my Coaching page here.

🤩 For a limited time, I am offering 30-minute inner child introductory coaching sessions for ONLY $50!!! If you’ve been curious about inner child work and want a guided tour into beginning to embrace your inner child, book an Inner Child Intro Session with me!

I hope this was helpful. Now, you know a little bit about who I am and what I do. There’s more, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. 😂

Have an amazing day, morning, afternoon, evening, and night! 🥰

Blessings!

Here are some social media links to connect with my (and my business partner Yvonne Livingston‘s) work.

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist
SISTAMoms I’m Proud to Be Natural MeShare and Let’s LiveMDillon Designs & Publishing #Proud2BNaturalMe #SISTAMoms #talktomeandsee #healingourfamilies #wordpress #blogger #childrensbooks #melanin #mentalhealth #community 

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