Creating a Stronger Faith & Family

We’ve all received feedback that has stung or embarrassed us, making us feel defensive. And it’s normal to feel defensive. The amygdala, which is the part of the brain that constantly scans our environment for threats cannot tell the difference between a psychological threat and a physical threat.  Essentially, we get the defensive because we don't feel safe.  But there is not upside in feeling defensive.  This episode will give you real life strategies on how to counter that feeling of defensive.To work with me further, please go to www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.

In this episode I share with you the 5 things that have helped me love being a mom.  This year will be my 26th year and when I have looked back I see 5 consistent things that I have done that has helped me show up as the parent I want to be.  When you feel proud of who you are it benefits your children 100% of the time.

Our sibling relationships are the longest relationships we will have on this earth.  Because of this they can sometimes be difficult to mange and hit some roadblocks.The quality of sibling relationships is also one of the most important predictors of mental health in old age, according to The American Journal of Psychiatry.  Research shows that people who are emotionally close to their siblings have higher life satisfaction and lower rates of depression later in life. In times of stress or trauma, siblings can provide essential emotional and monetary support.I have 9 siblings so I have a lot of practice and experience on how to create strong bonds with your siblings.  In this episode I gave you 3 things to focus on to enhance your sibling relationships so you can fully enjoy the power of those relationships.

Today is my mother's birthday.  To honor her I asked each of her 10 children one bit of wisdom that she taught them.  She was an ordinary woman her left an extraordinary legacy of 10 children who have created happy, thriving families of faith.  Enjoy! Get as much education as possible.Sometimes you just need a good cry.The importance of PERSONAL Scripture studyIf it doesn’t have eternal consequences don’t worry about itNo limitations….you can do or be anything.Faithfully serve when God calls you.Things that drive you crazy in your kids today, will be their strengths when they are older.Your number 1 job as a mom is to teach your children who they are.Your best friends should be your family.Everything that happens in your life has a reason.

Do you think your child is LGBTQ but they haven't talked to you yet?Is your child out to you but nobody else knows?These real life scenarios are questions I have helped many families with.  In this episode I teach you some ideas on how to best support your LGBTQ child in a healthy non-harming way.

When your child comes out as LGBTQ things change.  This can include how you feel at church.  This usually feels scary and uncomfortable.  If you have felt this you are not alone.  I give you some actionable steps on how to handle the hard.

We all want stronger friendships.  But as we get older friendships can feel harder.I see a lot of adults struggle in the friendship department because they have forgotton how to make friendships simple and drama-free.We all want to feel loved and wanted and connected to others. The problem is we think other people's actions and words are what makes us feel loved, wanted and connected.We are wrong.  We are the only ones who can make us feel connected to others. The feelings of love, inclusion and connection are completely created by you; not by others.Easy enough, right?  If we want to feel these lovely feelings then we just think lovely thoughts.  So what is the problem?  Why do we have times that we don't feel loved, connected or wanted?In this episode I teach you how to manage your brain and 6 steps on how to navigate the landmines of friendships.

We all worry about our child's safety. This episode I am talking to you about the magic bullet in relationships. Creating emotional safety. When we are talking about emotional safety we mean creating safe place so that your child does not feel as if you are at risk of harm or danger and with emotional safety it means knowing that you will not be criticized, blamed, rejected, invalidated or dismissed by your parent. If your partner does not share with you, if your partner shuts down, if your partner finds it easier to talk to other people than to talk to you, instead of engaging in name calling and blaming and saying things such as “you’re secretive,” “you don’t know how to express yourself,” “you never talk,” “you’re such a coward,” “you don’t respect me,” etc, Turn inward and ask yourself: What am I doing or not doing that is causing my child to not feel comfortable sharing with me? What can I do to show my child that I am interested in what they want to share and I am committed to holding a safe space for them to express themselves fully? Today I give you 6 ways to create emotional safety in your relationship with your LGBTQ child.

Are we expecting too much out of marriage?  How much time does it really take to make your love better?  I answer all these questions in this episode. To create a long-lasting marriage you need to keep choosing your choice consciously every day.1. How you are thinking about your spouse?2. How you are talking about them to others?3. How do you talk to your spouse?4. How you think and talk to yourself?Are you being diligent in liking your choice and looking for evidence of how you are the luckiest because you get to be married to this person and they get to be married to you?I give you the tools that will help you create a better love.

This is a quote made by Jim Rohn,  “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”Who you spend time with influences the person you eventually become. Who you are with can elevate you as much as it can bring you down.When you become an LGBTQ parent you need to be very intentional on who you let influence you.  The kind of people you interact with influences (1) your consciousness level and (2) your beliefs and behavior in a particular area.I give you 5 steps on how to be intentionally on the teachers/influencers in your life.To work with me personally go to www.liftedtogether.com and schedule a consult.

It might be tempting to handle disappointment by avoiding it altogether. One way to do this is to not have expectations in the first place. But this isn’t realistically possible – imagine trying to have no thoughts or ideas about how something should be or might go! Also, expectations are helpful for us in many ways. So how can we cope with the unpleasantness of disappointment that is sure to come up? Here are some healthy ways to deal with disappointment:1.Acknoweldge2.Validate/Process3. &4. Reframewww.jeniehuntercoaching.com

When you think about your LGBTQ child do you think abundantly?  If you are not, you are causing unnecessary fear and worry and are not showing up as the best parent for your child.  In this episode I will teach youHow do find out if you are in scarcity.What causes scarcity.What is scarcity really creating for you.What abundance creates for you.How to create an abundant mindset.

We crave connection.  It is a human need. Numerous studies have proven that people who feel connected to others are happier, feel less anxiety and depression, have fewer health problems, and live longer. The tricky thing about connection is that everybody feels connection differently. We also live in an era when we are less connected as a species.  Our technology has been a great blessing but it has come at a cost of human connection. Brené Brown said, “Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”You are 100% responsible for creating that energy with others. We all need connection. If you are not feeling connected you are not creating it. In this episode I will teach you the 4 steps on how to get better at creating connection in your life.To work with me personally go to www.liftedtogether.com and schedule a free consult.

When your child comes out it can feel hard.  But not having your child tell your they are LGBTQ is harder.  Not having your child feel like they can live their life authentically is hardest.  This episode I teach you a tool that will help you choose your hard so you won't have to experience the harder or hardest.To find out more help and tips go to Lifted Together Community.

We all want to feel love.  What creates more love?  You do.  It is a skill that I will teach you today.  Your ability to feel love for yourself doesn't just happen, it is an intentionally mindset that is a tool you can learn.If you want to create more love, this is the episode you don't want to miss.To come learn more tools and to get 1:1 private help www.liftedtogether.com 

Most LDS/Christian parents share common dreams for their children. That their child will fall in love.  Get married. Have children. They believe in the power of falling in love.  They believe this is Heavenly Father’s plan for their child to become their best self and live their best life.When your child comes out as LGBTQ those dreams don’t just disappear. So if you are LDS/Christian this puts your brain into cognitive dissonance. The term cognitive dissonance is used to describe the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes.You believe that doctrine of marriage and you also believe that your child would have a more fulfilled life being married.You want you child to progress in the gospel but you also want them to live a whole full life. In the gospel, we believe that the highest level of happiness in this life and in the next life includes a spouse and creating a family. This conflict of the brain causes feelings of unease or discomfort. I don’t know of a LDS/Christian LGBTQ parent that doesn’t experience this. You want to be faithful but you also want to support what is best for your child’s well being.  This puts us in a space that feels unchartered with the Lord.  Historically LDS/Christian families have felt there were only 2 paths. Some choose to leave the church because they felt like in order to support their child they couldn’t keep their membership.  Others felt like in order to stay that they couldn’t support their child, so essence they left their child.  I believe there is a third path and I am seeing more families forge their way on this path. There is no map for this path, so to find your way you have to increase your skills of hearing Him.  You learn to trust the Lord in a new way. And most importantly you learn to find grace why you “wait upon him.” www.liftedtogether.com

The past is over but it still can cause a lot of pain today. The only way your past exists at all is in your thoughts about it now. Otherwise, it doesn’t affect you in any way. All of your thinking affects you deeply in this moment, but what happened to you in your past does not. I teach you 5 tools on how to evolve the pain from your past into more empowering emotions for your mental health today.To find my tips and to work with me  go to https://community.liftandlove.org

When you have an LGBTQ child you will need to make decisions for your family that their won't always be a guide book.  Learning how to trust your inner wisdom will benefit you and your child. What is inner wisdom? Call it inner wisdom, intuition, insight or the spirit .Whatever term you use, this is the little voice inside you that represents the real you.Your best self.  It’s the you after stripping away society’s standards and expectations — and everyone else’s. This is where you are operating at your best self. Listening to your inner wisdom helps you connect with others on a deeper level. It allows us to be most genuine, most real, and most available for true connection.To find out more help and tips go to Lifted Together Community.

Learning how to like not just love our child is a skill.  A skill I teach you in this episode.  The best news is that it has nothing to do with the child changing.  It is a 5 step process that I teach you on how to react to your child's actions and words to create love and LIKE.To find out more help and tips go to Lifted Together Community.

Do you want to learn more tools on how to grow your faith come to my FREE class "How to grow you faith"  on Thursday, September 29th at 11 am EST. Grab your spot here.When your child comes out you might feel angry towards your church or your God.  This feels true but terrible.  You want to have strong faith but you are not sure how to grow your faith.  This is hard because this time you need more peace and love not less!  In this episode, I teach you 3 tools to protect and grow your faith. It isn't just being more faithful, it is all about having the right tools to manage your mind.To learn more on how to coach with me go to www.liftedtogether.com