Remember Who You Were

Today, I’ve gotta give a special thank you to Rihanna. Her song, “Needed Me,” healed me deeply, today. I woke up this morning with the song playing in my mind. I’ve learned over the last few months, when I wake up with a song in mind, don’t ignore it. So I sat up, found it, and pressed play. (Here’s the “clean” version, if you need it.)

Meme: Image Red trees lined street to form heart shape. Text states: “I deserve, and get 
to have, the version of life and love that matches me. I don’t need to be other than I am. I am enough.”
— Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist
mdillondesigns.com/blog
Tap the play button to listen to today’s podcast. Tap & hold first if necessary, then tap play.
Press play to listen to today’s podcast. FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Blessings!

The song was EXACTLY what I needed. The lyrics were so aligned with my past experiences that I began to remember myself. And that’s what I’m going to share about, today.


Short version (of the better version I share on today’s podcast) is that when I entered my last serious relationship, I was independent, self-sufficient, and self-assured. By the time it was over, I was the complete opposite. No confidence, no self-trust, didn’t believe I could do anything independently, and have struggled ever since. I completely forgot who I was before him, but the song reminded me.

I didn’t realize how much I changed as a result of that toxic ass relationship. And I didn’t realize until today that there is still residue.

I began to look at all my past relationships (and situationships). I saw how I started out aware of myself, my power, my strength, my intelligence, skills, desirability, etc., and how by the end, I was insecure, needy, unaware of my worth, and out of touch with my most empowered self….

If you can relate to this, or feel intrigued and want to hear the rest of the story, definitely listen to today’s podcast. If you’ve ever been in a relationship that stripped you of your sense of self, you’ll appreciate today’s podcast. Trust me, you’re not alone. My hope is that my story will do for you what Rihanna’s song did for me.


Healthy love causes you to love yourself more, not less. Sometimes a relationship is good until isn’t. Sometimes it was never good. Either way, we deserve to give and receive love that feels good.

We ALL deserve love that feels like love.


Check out today’s podcast. (And remember I cuss.) This blog post is surface level by comparison to the actual podcast. Here’s an excerpt:

“to know that I deserve and then I get to have the version of life and love that matches me. That I don’t need to be other than I am. I don’t need to bow down to a system or a belief system that is completely opposed to my belief….”

So check it out. If it moves you, please share it. Someone else might need this and they’re not connected to me, yet. But they are connected to you, so please share.

BTW… Here’s another post of mine that speaks about narcissistic relationships. Some good information and resources along with my story. If you are in an unhealthy relationship, or someone you know, this post may support/resonate with you.
Check out “Love Feels Like Love.”

Blessings!


Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist


Learn more about me….


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Eff Society’s Rules, Do You

“We care too much about other people’s opinions and not enough about how we truly feel and what matters to us.
Tap the play button to listen to today’s podcast. Tap & hold first if necessary, then tap play.
Press play to listen to today’s podcast. FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Blessings!

Too tired today to write a description. Check out today’s podcast. The meme and title should give you an idea of where I’m going.

Blessings!


Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist


Learn more about me….

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Learn about my personalized gifts, tees, & bday supplies!
Learn about my empowering children’s book!

If you’d like to support my work, please check out my Support Page for multiple options. Thank you so much for being here.

If you’d like to check out more of my blog posts or podcast episodes….

Permission to Try

STORYTIME A few years back, as I was heading home I felt led to stop by my local park. I didn’t have a plan to go there prior. I just had a knowing that I needed to go. It wasn’t uncommon for me to have these “go here, go there” internal nudges so I went.

After sitting in the parking lot for a while, I felt another nudge. It was time to get out the car and go in. It felt weird because I didn’t have any business there and wondered what I’d do once I got in. So I questioned that inner voice. I received that if anyone asks me anything to just ask about what classes they offer. So I went inside.

At the desk, I met a lady who told me about the various classes. One of them was ceramics. I have wanted to return to ceramics since my class ended at UIC when I was 12 years old. She told me the class was for seniors but she would let me take the class if I was interested. She showed me her class and the work they’d done and I was sold. I said yes and signed up.

The type of ceramics was new to me and I was nervous (being habitually self-critical), but I quickly caught on. I had never really painted before, but decided to try more challenging statues knowing I’d have to teach myself to paint faces, and match skin tones.

This sculpture and the many others that now have homes are a result of me betting on me. I trusted myself. I trusted my inner voice. I trusted that I’d be safe trying something new. I trusted I could learn, that it would be okay to not be good at it right away, and the result was increased self-confidence, a few new skills, an awareness that my mind lied to me (I CAN paint), and now my dear friend Jennifer has this beautiful sculpture in her home to remind her of her sweet angel nephew who passed away so young.

We never know how our “yes” can expand us and bless others. This is why Share & Let’s Live! is my life’s purpose. I am here to teach you through my words, creativity, and example that so much more is possible. We can do what we love, share it, and everyone expands.

Give yourself permission to try the thing you think you might suck at. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them. Allow yourself to learn what you haven’t learned before and treat yourself tenderly, like a sweet child who needs super believing in themselves. You can do more than you imagine when you’re kind to yourself and willing to let yourself try.

Have an amazing whatever time of day it is for you.

Blessings! 😘

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist


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Affirming Positive What Ifs

We often don’t recognize the power of our words AND expectations. When one thing goes wrong we spiral into a whirlwind of negatives based on what has happened in the past. What we don’t always realize is that one negative occurrence doesn’t have to predict a full of avalanche of bullsh*t. We can train ourselves to notice the one thing that went wrong, catch ourselves spiraling into a list of negative expectations, and choose to start a new list of “positive what ifs.”

Meme: Image: Landscape of open field with green grass and sky with huge rainbow separating storm clouds from blue skies with fluffy clouds Text: states "“We don’t have to give in to the habit of worry. We can catch ourselves mid-spiral and begin to form a list of ‘positive what ifs.’” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist Share & Let's Live! podcast logo watermark
mdillondesigns.com/blog
Tap the play button to listen to today’s podcast. Tap & hold first if necessary, then tap play.
Press play to listen to today’s podcast. FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Blessings!

This is what I talk about today on the podcast. Check it out. I hope it’s helpful for you!

Blessings!


Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist


Learn more about me….

Tap to learn about my online course for parents!
Learn about my personalized gifts, tees, & bday supplies!
Learn about my empowering children’s book!

If you’d like to support my work, please check out my Support Page for multiple options. Thank you so much for being here.

If you’d like to check out more of my blog posts or podcast episodes….