as i age i gain wisdom. (and that’s a GOOD THING!) epiphany after epiphany i will become a better person. can i share some of those epiphanies with you?
It does not surprise me that the two times the phrase “Do Not Be Surprised…” is used in the Bible it is speaking of SUFFERING.
I Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
I John 3:13 – “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”
Why ARE we surprised when hatred is hurled our way?
Why are we surprised when we face trials? When we are mocked or ridiculed?
Because the human condition is built that way.
And this is why we need God’s GRACE, His HEALING, and His perfect LOVE.
The gap between the world’s HATE and God’s LOVE is filled by JESUS.
Go mark yourself OUT OF OFFICE for at least 24 DAYS of 2022 (and not you’re already scheduled days off, not weekends).
Can you do it?
Sure you can decide later to let things creep into this sacred time. But before the year starts make YOUR TIME the sacred thing. And plan some fun things for those days, some relaxing things, some personal development things, maybe even NOTHING for one or two of those days.
Screen shot from video on “Only a Mr. Bill” channel
Wherever you stand on the …
Whether or not you think the actually protects anyone…
Whatever you’ve decided re getting the …
No matter where you stand on all of this… you cannot deny, there’s A LOT of Oregonians who are clearly OVER the tyrannical power of Governor Kate Brown.
Enough is enough.
If you’d like to see for yourself what it looks like in the Capital city of Oregon today – check out this live feed.
Our local news stations have said there aren’t enough people present to warrant them coming out to cover the story. Shame on you KGW-TV, KATU News, Fox 12 Oregon, KOIN 6… and so on. You’re not willing to tell the truth? Shame on you.
A post on Instagram hit me hard this morning – and I’m going to paraphrase the message and what it meant for me.
Jesus died so we can LIVE.
Stop being scared to live your life. Stop letting the opinions of people dictate how you operate. Stop NOT doing the thing you are feeling led to do. Stop being a chicken.
Pour out everything that God has put inside you for your generation. You are unique to your position, to your influence, to your journey in life… and it’s for a unique purpose only God can fulfill through YOUR walk.
Chase your dreams and die empty.
We are called to live – not simply exist, not simply wait to be taken to heaven. Jesus came to give us LIFE and in abundance! Step out in faith and start the business, start the ministry, start your family, start your blog, start your podcast, etc. Do it!
JUST START! Stop living life on the sidelines waiting for the approval or OK from people – Jesus already gave it when He died so that we can live!
And if He put that inside you, and He has a plan for you – why wouldn’t you want to live out that amazing plan he has for you?
Whether in a PERSONAL relationship, a VOLUNTEER position, or a JOB-related situation… these skills will get you places. Get good at them. Practice them. Master them.
… you wake up and decide EVERY DAY… what’s important to me today?
Maybe one day it’s having fun. And maybe the next day it’s completing a heavy journey. And maybe it’s heavy for a long time. And maybe it’s about putting aside the To Do list, throwing caution to the wind, and taking some time off.
And every day, amidst all of those things… we make decisions about what’s best for us. And that’s a decision ONLY we can make for ourselves.
I hope you’re seeking the best for you. I hope you’re asking important questions, seeking guidance, and being intentional with where you exert your time, money, and affections. This is not a new concept coming from me. If you’ve known me for longer than 15 mins you’ll know my heart for chasing down the best out of life, crushing goals, building community, learning from each other, and cheering each other on… with a passion.
If you ask my opinion I will tell you the truth. I will not shame your decisions (even if it’s Converse and/or skinny jeans). Know this – I want the best for you. But your life decisions are YOUR life decisions. And my decisions are mine. I own them. You own yours. I encourage you to ask all the questions you need to ask, make the decisions that are right for you and your family. Do your research. And know, I am here for you.
I started doing research just over 7 years ago and have learned volumes worth of information that I get to share regularly (and I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to sharing about what I love). My focus on being proactive with decisions (vs reactive) sometimes gets the side-eye. But I am 100% confident in that decision.
In the blog post I have the opportunity to share MY STORY – I’m happy to share what I am doing in regards to being the best advocate for myself and our family members… emotionally, physically, and so on. I truly desire to be a resource for others seeking answers. It all comes down to what we personally decide and how we take responsibility (and be prepared) for ourselves. So, with that I share…
My Top 5 Things I am Doing For My Health
Want to feel empowered to do what’s right for you and your family? Then I am glad you are here. This is what my PROactive looks like. And friend, you are worth it. Everyday.
Pray / Worship
Each morning my day starts in the quiet. It’s not typically limited by time. There isn’t a timer that says “ok – next!” Sometimes it’s 15 minutes, sometimes it’s 2 hours. Sometimes God talks to me for a long time. Sometimes we spend it together in song, in worship and I get to thank Him for all He’s given me. It’s the foundation of my day. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
#protip – Put a drop of Valor / Sacred Mountain / Grounding / Release / Bergamot / Tangerine / Believe OR Highest Potential in the palm of one hand. Rub your hands together and cup over nose & mouth. Breathe in, hold for 10 seconds. Breathe out. Repeat for a minute.
Mental / Emotional Health
Pay attention to the DRIVERS of your emotions, and the emotions themselves. Is it the presence of certain people? A certain set of circumstances? A certain location, special time of the month, after you’ve over-eaten / neglected yourself, before the anniversary of a traumatic event, a certain sound / song / visual cue? Pay attention to those. Don’t run from them. Your emotions are telling you something. They may be lying to you (yes, you read that right), but they’re ever present. Don’t ignore them. Find tools to improve your mental / emotional health.
Be prepared for what you’ll do when you know big emotions are headed your way. Take time off. Support your emotions with the use of your tried & true tools: massage, aromatic influence, the influence of your favorite uplifting music, the sounds of the beach waves or trees blowing in the wind.
Feed your sensesand feel your emotions. But don’t let them dictate your day (or your mood).
Identify answers to these, mindfully:
What sets your heart on fire? In a good / bad way.
What is your deepest hurt? Biggest regret?
What emotion haunts you? Do you shame yourself when this pops up out of nowhere?
Where do you PHYSICALLY go to process big emotions?
How do you turn off the NEGATIVE recording in your head and switch it out for a POSITIVE one? Hint: you do it over and over again every day.
Have a plan ahead of time to reach out for the help you need, when you need it. Talk to a friend or someone trained in the tools you need – AHEAD OF TIME. Be prepared to follow this plan BEFORE you have to put it to work.
#protip –
Put a drop of Valor / Sacred Mountain / Grounding / Release / Bergamot / Tangerine / Believe OR Highest Potential in the palm of one hand. Rub your hands together and cup over nose & mouth. Breathe in, hold for 10 seconds. Breathe out. Repeat for a minute.
Support your ADRENALS with the use of Nutmeg while on the go. Ask me about using a warm compress with with clove, nutmeg and rosemary over the kidneys/adrenal glands for extra oomph!
Or take these Vitality oils internally in a capsule. Let’s chat.
Also – did you know the organs in our body store remnants of our emotions? Let’s chat to discuss various emotions and which organs they might be affecting. I have protocols! I want to share about them!
Physical Health
Remove bad things. Replace with good things. Be PROactive instead of REactive.
Rely on my WELLNESS cabinet instead of my medicine cabinet. It’s a mindset change that took a long time. But when the light bulb came on it was LIFE GIVING!
Repeat after me “I am the gatekeeper. I am the gatekeeper. I am the gatekeeper.”
What does this look like? Remove toxins. Replace with safe + natural items. From cleaning supplies and chemicals in my environment to what goes IN my body. I had to stop using some prescriptions due to severe reactions. I was SO GLAD to find a way to heal from those reactions and avoid the reaction altogether in the future.
But also to find a way to PROactively sustain our health is SO EMPOWERING! To have a plan for it and a decision made ahead of time. I can proceed with 100% confidence that I’ve made the right decision.
A book recommendation: “A More Excellent Way”, Dr. Henry Wright
#protip –
In addition to regular physical activity, there are a number of Young Living products that can support your musculoskeletal and respiratory efforts. From supplements to essential oils.
Drink your water. Lots of water.
And recovery? HELLO AMINOWISE!
Personal & Professional Growth
Here is a list of 5 books that I have read multiple times. I’m a slow processor. It has to sink it, then I have to apply it, then I want to come back and glean it again after learning the lesson. It’s how I learn. Here’s some of my favorite books on this topic of personal & professional growth:
“The Way of the Warrior”, Erwin McManus
“The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth”, John Maxwell
“Leadershift”, John Maxwell
“Start With Why”, Simon Sinek
“Emotional Intelligence 2.0”, Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves
#protip – As you dig deep into working on breaking old habits / establishing new habits… put a drop of Valor / Sacred Mountain / Believe OR Highest Potential in the palm of one hand. Rub your hands together and cup over nose & mouth. Breathe in, hold for 10 seconds. Breathe out. Repeat for a minute.
Rest/Relax
What do you do for fun?
Where do you go to let off steam?
What type of setting do you recharge in?
Is “relaxing” for you a nap or a run?
When you “rest” do you feel recharged?
Be mindful in this too. Like in kindergarten, naps are good for EVERYONE! There is a lesson to learn in this.
Schedule “off time” for yourself. Recognize the patterns that make you feel unrested, uptight, and under pressure. And schedule some rest / relaxing time for yourself. Being mindful even in this is key!
#protip – To promote good sleep, diffuse a calming aroma next to your bed at night. A few oils I can recommend: cedarwood, Dream Catcher, Valor, Sacred Mountain, orange, Stress Away, Lavender, Sleepyize, or Stress Away.
Email me at lori@lorijtisdale.com for a further discussion, and a list of the proactive health protocols I’ve been relying on as the gatekeeper to my health and home.
I’ve been quietly contemplating a tough lesson in life. It takes me a while to process my emotions. Is this a valid feeling? Am I overreacting? Am I responding in a loving way? What emotion is prompting me to react right now? What can I share about this lesson that would be edifying for others?
I am usually quiet about things until I have done some introspection and have some answers to these questions.
What’s the lesson this time around?
People will disappoint you.
OK, I admit it, I’ve learned this before. And I’m learning it again. That’s how some lessons happen in life. And I’m convinced that the lessons I learn in life don’t just happen to me – they happen FOR me – and they are meant to be shared. So I’m going to finally share what I’ve learned through it this time around.
I was recently let down by a leader, a friend, a mentor. She wasn’t merely an “influencer” in my life. I had chatted with her on the couch for hour after hour, I had laid hands on her and prayed, I had poured into her. I had connected with her in a unique way.
It’s not that I NEEDED that individual in my life… but as I sought an example for a specific area of my life she spoke truth to the core of me… for a time.
What she taught me isn’t invalid because she let me down. But maybe I once valued it TOO much.
Her influence in my world isn’t to be thrown out the window. But maybe it wasn’t truly for my benefit.
The role I allowed her to play in my life (as a woman, as a Christian, as a business owner, as a leader) may have been appropriate for the time. But I outgrew her at some point.
I said what I said.
I outgrew her leadership, her influence, her guidance… I outgrew her and I knew it immediately. It was time to move on. It was time to step up. It was time to quit blaming it on being let down by an outward force.
Granted, it helps to have an example. It helps to feel heard. It helps to feel validated. It helps to feel seen. It helps to be valued and to have a seat at the table. It helps to watch and learn. It helps… maybe… for a short time period. Until it doesn’t anymore.
There’s a scripture in the Bible that reminds us to stop conforming to outward patterns, and instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind (because of being focused on God’s will). Read Romans 12
At some point you and I have to take the examples we’ve learned from and courageously and boldly step into our own strengths, passions, skills, desires, and follow our true north to GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Stop putting humans on pedestals – humans will fall off those pedestals.
I can name a bunch of humans who have done that. A bunch. Humans aren’t perfect. We weren’t created to be worshipped that way.
Is God on the throne of your life? Do you look to Him without waver? Do you seek His validation? His eyes? His ears? His influence? His guidance? His acceptance? His wisdom?
I’ll leave it there.
I think if you have read this far you will probably know how to bring God into your life in a truly meaningful, impactful, purposeful way… but if you want some direction along those lines, drop me a note. We need more Godly wisdom in our lives (and less of almost everything else).
These are his words: “My home is in Heaven. I’m just passing through this world.”
He faced eternity willingly… knowing his life on this planet was temporary. Every thought he had was long-term, heaven-bound, and God-focused. It made his short-term issues of much lesser importance.
We should not be mourning his passing. He wouldn’t want us to. He would want us to party it up with him…. imagine him dancing on the heavenly streets of gold, imagine him sprinting towards the throne of God… it’s hard to visualize. But I dare you.
May that vision serve as a challenge for our faith today…
Why would he do that? Because he served a GREAT God! Rev. Billy Graham made it his life’s mission to share his story, to share the freedom he found in Christ’s grace, to make sure he could share that with as many people as possible and as often as he could.
We should not be sad on this day. We should be happy. We should be thrilled that he left this legacy to us, for us to carry on.
We should be challenged to continue his legacy.
Rev. Billy Graham… thank you. To the family of Billy Graham, our hearts are with you today. We know you’ve long said your goodbyes to the leader of your household, you’ve said farewell to your legacy-leaver, you’ve said “see ya later pops… we’ll see you on the other side”.
I’m going to be very unpopular because of this opinion – and I’m ok with that. I’ve never been one to go along with the crowd. And I should have said this years ago… but it’s never too late to make a good decision. So, here it goes…
SNL – shame on you!
When did it become a national pass time to ridicule and shame others? I’m going on record and saying I’m not ok with it and I hope others take a stand against bullying too. Shame on you for supporting the bully mentality. I dare you – try doing some good with the platform you have!
I quit watching SNL years ago when the jokes turned to below-the-belt jabs, when the teasing turned to belligerent badgering, when the parody turned to outright ridicule.
So there you have it – I’m taking a stand against it … because it’s never too late to make a good decision. I’m doing some good with this platform I have.
Let’s talk about bullying for a hot second … because I know some people will try to shame me for simply posting this. And I won’t have it. I’ve been bullied enough in my lifetime to stand for it.
Dismissal of bullying is bullying too…
Some of my readers are going to say “Oh come on – lighten up.” That’s the danger in it. Bullying is often dismissed away with a response of “It was just a joke – lighten up!” Face it – that does even more damage to the person feeling bullied.
Let’s bring respect for others back to our values my friends. Let’s put others’ needs first. Let’s take care of each other. And find humor in things that are actually funny… not making fun of others.
Personal note from Lori: This isn’t in response to Melissa McCarthy or Sean Spicer or Barron Trump… this is just in general. Ask me for a few reasons I posted this I’d tell you there are dozens of reasons I posted this. Additionally, as I was doing research for this post I learned about the #boycottSNL hashtag. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily represent the same views of all users of this hashtag. I’m not attempting to bully the bully-ier here (like some of the other #boycottsnl users I’m seeing) just making the good decision. I’m boycotting SNL and challenging others to do so along with me.
You are mad. You want to speak your mind. But destroy property? What’s that going to accomplish?
You feel hurt. You want to be heard. But hurt other people and call it your right to free speech? What’s that going to accomplish?
You feel slighted. You are afraid. But physically and verbally hurt other people? What’s that going to accomplish?
You are angry. You want to stand with others who are angry. Are you standing with them just to join the angry-parade? What’s that going to accomplish?
I hope you know this – along with our right to free speech also comes the burden of responsibility to pay the appropriate consequences. Are you prepared for those?
Say anything you’d like on social media – but your words might haunt you when you go looking for a job next year. That’s a consequence. Was it worth it?
Say anything you’d like to law enforcement – but you might find some consequences that aren’t very comfortable. That’s a consequence. Was it worth it?
Say anything you’d like to your boss – but you might lose your job over it. That’s a consequence. Was it worth it?
Say anything you’d like to your mother …. no, don’t. You don’t want to pay that consequence.
I don’t know why I’m even writing this because I doubt any of the protesters wreaking havoc in Portland are going to take the time to sit down and read this thoughtful blog post… otherwise they’d be reading posts from a far more incendiary blogger than little ol’ me. But I’ll just say it…
Hey – protesters, you are not alone. There were people truly upset at the last election, and the election before, and the election before. What’s different is that they did not act out in the same ways we are seeing today. They had enough self-respect and self-regulation to know that rioting, trashing the city, damaging property, and defaming historic sites was not going to bring about the change they were hoping to see in their world.
I have a few more questions for you protesters –
Did you do your independent research on the candidates and vote?
Did you encourage your friends and family members to vote?
Did you encourage your colleagues and acquaintances to vote?
Did you take your future into your own hands and read up on what the candidates stand for?
Did you merely listen to what the skewed media was spewing about the candidates?
Do you believe everything the media says?
Do you think for yourself? Or are you a follower?
Want to make a change? Put those feelings to work. Find a cause and go help someone. You make a difference with your choices. Will it be for good? What legacy will you leave? It’s in your hands.
…
actually protects anyone…
… 
Know this – I want the best for you. But your life decisions are YOUR life decisions. And my decisions are mine. I own them. You own yours. I encourage you to ask all the questions you need to ask, make the decisions that are right for you and your family. Do your research. And know, I am here for you. 
Lori J. Tisdale 