Skip to main content

UPDATE: Tiers of Joy

UPDATE: March 9, 2023 I've had more time to pray on it and really listen to God, and I've decided that I am not going to close Jenuine Enterprises as a whole. Instead, I am going to restructure it a bit. That being said, I am still closing the edible creations division of the business as well as customized or personalized crafts. Inventory specific to those divisions of my company will be liquidated. I am working through the new structure of the business as we speak, and I am very excited about how it is shaping up. When I have more details, I will share them. In the meantime, I have some backend work to do and a website refresh. Stay tuned! —Jen

The Prophecy of Broccoli

Three months ago, had you asked me what veggies I like, I'd have said, "None." Then, I would have said, "I hate all green things, especially broccoli."

Many of us are familiar with the prophecy that foretold the coming of a boy who would have the power to vanquish Lord Voldemort. But are you familiar with the self-fulfilling prophecy? Britannica defines it as the process through which an originally false expectation leads to its own confirmation.

I'd been telling myself for years that I hated broccoli. But what if I changed my mindset? What if I tried affirming my like for broccoli? What would happen? What do you think happened?

If you guessed that I started liking broccoli, you would be correct. By simply changing my mindset and saying out loud, "I love broccoli," I found myself actually enjoying it and looking forward to it at mealtimes. Crazy, right?

Not really. It's just psychology. Often used in dialectical behavioral therapy (or DBT), radical acceptance, or "turning the mind," involves changing how you feel about something or learning to accept it. 

Now, before you attack me for applying a technique often used to address big traumatic experiences in life, I'll say that this practice can be applied to the little things in life as well. And, though I am not in any way, shape, or form a psychology professional, I spent the better of 5 years with a licensed therapist practicing DBT, radical acceptance, and mindfulness to overcome the effects of big traumas. So, I am simply sharing my experiences.

The key to radical acceptance is just that: accepting things as they are without judgment. Many who practice radical acceptance use the mantra, "it is what it is." It can help to repeat this mantra when you find yourself judging a particular situation.

For you, it may not be affirming your like of broccoli or green veggies, but perhaps it is something that happens that causes you anger for hours after like a coworker who gets under your skin or the bottom of the trash breaks while you're taking it to the can in the garage. When hiccups like these happen, stop what you're doing, take a breath, and remind yourself, "it is what it is." Don't judge yourself or the emotions you feel, just simply acknowledge them and move on.

This practice might not fix all of your problems, but I hope it can help you minimize the daily suffering so many of us face.

—Jen

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

REVISED: Owl Eyeglass Holder Crochet Pattern

Here is a link to the original pattern: https://myfingersflyblog.com/2019/05/24/friday-freebie-owl-eyeglass-holder/ Jen’s adjustments in orange Materials: Worsted weight yarn 2 1/3  oz. ombre or variegated – I alternated the base color (ivory) with a light pink since they would compliment the color of my frames 1 oz. solid Few yards orange – I used a light yellow to compliment the light pink Size G crochet hook – I used a size I because I tend to crochet too tight Yarn needle Plastic googly eyes 40 mm – I used 25 mm eyes because I wanted them to be smaller Fiberfil Pantyhose – I did not use the pantyhose since I was using a color similar to the color of the fiberfil Crocodile stitch video – https://youtu.be/HN_SNZDW21w Directions: BODY: Rnd 1: With ombre yarn, ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc). Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat around (18 sc). Rnd 4: *Sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, * repeat around (24 sc). Rnd 5: *Sc i

UPDATE: Tiers of Joy

UPDATE: March 9, 2023 I've had more time to pray on it and really listen to God, and I've decided that I am not going to close Jenuine Enterprises as a whole. Instead, I am going to restructure it a bit. That being said, I am still closing the edible creations division of the business as well as customized or personalized crafts. Inventory specific to those divisions of my company will be liquidated. I am working through the new structure of the business as we speak, and I am very excited about how it is shaping up. When I have more details, I will share them. In the meantime, I have some backend work to do and a website refresh. Stay tuned! —Jen

Otis: An answered prayer

This past Friday, October 15, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed over lunch when a post on one of the dog mom pages I follow caught my eye. It was a rehoming post for this little boy: Otis, a 1-year-old teddy bear (Shih Tzu/Bichon mix). Now, this was a type of post I had seen before, but there was something about this one that stopped me in my tracks. I just knew in my heart we had to help. I called Dan over to take a look. He had a similar reaction, which told me we were being called to do this. Even though we already had three fur babies, we were drawn to Otis. We had to know more. We had to meet him. The post specified that they wanted Otis to go to a home where he'd be the king of the house or the only pet. That didn't stop me from reaching out. I wrote from my heart and asked that they consider us even though we did not meet the criteria set forth. Imagine my excitement when I heard back from the owner! We both poured out our hearts and knew this was worth a shot