Mandi Hart's Blog, page 7
September 1, 2019
Expect the unexpected and learn to thrive
What is it about the unexpected that makes us nervous? Is it because we link the unknown to so much uncertainty? Or is that our minds immediately gravitate towards the negative?
It’s the unexpected that changes our lives.
We have a tendency to worry about tomorrow or what could happen? The apostle, Matthew, advises us, “not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
And then he concludes this passage with the instruction: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
If that isn’t a reminder that we can’t control tomorrow or the unexpected, so why worry, then I don’t know what is?
Just recently, I’ve been thinking about the uncertainty of life. Without sounding too morbid, I believe that we need to prepare for the unexpected but live for today. Yet, there is a fine line, a balance if you will, between choosing faith or fear, between hope and worry, between preparing and living in the now.
Nearly all the best things in life can come through the unexpected.
I think back to when I met my husband. I was on a double-blind date with a friend, and to this day, we can’t remember if I went as Neil’s date to the wedding or his friend. A year went by, and nothing happened.
Zip, zero.
But then the unexpected rocked our worlds. Through a series of events and over five days, Neil and I went from almost strangers to knowing that we would be married one day. It was so unexpected and far out of left field.
Just when you think you have life all figured out, something changes everything.
We dated for six months, then Neil proposed and within three months after our engagement we said, “I Do.” Twenty-one years down the line, we are still in love – more so in fact.
Have you thought about that job promotion, the song release or a sudden breakthrough in finances or even relationships? An unexpected pregnancy could even spark fear, but consider the plan that God might have for the little one. Life can change in a moment – and it isn’t all bad.
Unexpected events can also lead to hardship. Take our armed robbery as an example. Or the day my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Hard times have a way of shaping one’s character. One friend said that she thinks that there is a gift in every sorrow we endure. We just have to look for it.
Don't fear the unexpected. Prepare yourself mentally that unforseen events can happen, both exciting and challenging.
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Think about the difficult times, conflicts or experiences you’ve encountered. What have you learned? What gift could be hidden underneath the pain? Every hardship, loss, heartache, and change can produce jewels in our character. I think that a beautiful life emerges when we deal with the unforseen with the attitude of a learner. Then, when the tides change unanticipated good times arrive, we can celebrate and enjoy them even more.
Imagine your life filled with diamonds and pearls.
Diamonds form over time under a high temperature and extreme pressure. A small irritant makes a pearl over a slow period. This irritant bothers the mollusk which then slowly secretes nacre to protect itself. The nacre coats the irritant and the layers build up over years. A pearl can take up to seven years to grow. Beauty emerges from pressure, grit and even irritation if we allow the unexpected to soften us, shape us and even build depth in our lives.
Image by moritz320 from Pixabay
Even Scripture records the words of character growth through trials. Read James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
The unexpected moments in life teach us to go with what happens, to bounce back after setbacks and to adapt, to get used to change.
Rejoice in the good times, celebrate life and endure with patience during the hard times.
Expect the unexpected
Revel in life
Grab hold of what may come with both hands
Support each other during the hard times
Celebrate one another’s success
And know that change will come.
Expect the unforseen.
Life is a grand adventure. Therefore, we need not fear but rather live fully alive. So, this is my challenge to you (and me today): Can you embrace life, be fully present and live fearlessly?
If you like to join my 7-day Fearless Challenge starting next month, then click on this Facebook link to join the group. I hope to see you there.
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List of blogs
Expect the unexpected and learn to thrive
Five fearless habits that can change your life
Future-proof your children to thrive in life
Fearless women can change the world
Insight can produce sparkle in your life
Wisdom opens the door to fearless living
Fathers can change the world
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
The post Expect the unexpected and learn to thrive appeared first on Mandi Hart.
August 25, 2019
Five fearless habits that can change your life
Habits can change your life and, according to Sean Covey, “we become what we repeatedly do.” What we repeatedly think about, say and shape our lives. 
Habits can bring healing
I struggled with post-traumatic stress after an armed robbery and fear of being attacked again at night threatened to overwhelm my life. I wasn’t sleeping well, let alone living well. Finally, I came to the point where I had enough of being incapacitated by fear. Either I was to win this battle or give in to the hold fear was trying to establish in my life.
With the help of my husband, friends, and a trauma counselor, I slowly made some changes to my life. I learned to not give up after feeling like I wouldn’t reach the place of freedom. On my journey I took this ancient proverb to heart. It reminded me that we can get up again. It reads: ‘Fall down seven, get up eight.’
This is what it takes to overcome any form of fear: you just keep getting up after falling down.
With help, I got up again and again. I learned how take it slower, to reflect on life and think things through in a clearer way. After a while, I noticed a pattern emerge with specific habits. These habits were life-giving. They were not complicated but require courage to keep doing the mundane, the basics and to keep on keeping on. It’s the little things that eventually add up and pretty soon your life changes.
What fear do you battle with?
Is it fear of rejection?
Fear of failure?
Fear of losing a loved one?
Fear of being alone?
Fear of making a mistake?
Fear of not being loved?
Whatever your specific fear is, know that you can conquer it and you can walk into freedom and live fully alive.
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.” – Gandhi
Here’s what I did to conquer fear using the power of habits.
First, check your body out?
How is your health? How is your eating? Are you taking care of yourself? Do you need to go for a physical check-up, change your eating patterns, start exercising?
Habit Tip
Cultivate a habit of caring for your body. Try this (every day if possible) – do 30 repetitions of something just after you get up in the morning – it could be 30 sit-ups, push-ups, squats or lunges. This little habit primes your body for the day and gets your blood moving.
Taking care of yourself is vital in the battle against fear.
Secondly, have the attitude of a learner.
Set your mind to learn something new. Learning a new skill boosts your dopamine levels and you feel better about yourself. Learning opens up your life to new relationships, new skills, and new joys. What do you need to learn about? What are you interested in?
Habit Tip
Develop a habit of curisoity. Become curious about life, relationships, learning new things. There are plenty of free online courses available. Let me know if you’d like me to send you a link.
Thirdly, become aware of the script in your head.
We self-talk all the time so what are you saying to yourself? What habit do you need to kick or kick into gear? Thoughts occupy mental real estate. Don’t give fear-based thoughts the power to wreck your life.
Habit Tip
Cultivate a habit of self-control in your thought life. One way is to memorize Scripture. Consider printing out a Bible verse that stands out to you and stick on your mirror, your cupboard door, or even on your car dashboard. What we think about grows, therefore, feed your mind the right kind of thoughts.
Fourth, become aware of your emotions.
How you feel is a truer indication of what’s going on inside you than realize. What are you feeling? How can you understand how your emotions affect your body and your sense of well-being? God created us as feeling humans, but our emotions can sometimes lead us astray. Emtoins are good followers, but poor leaders. Truth needs to lead your emotions.
Habit Tip
Develop a habit of emotional intelligence. Learn about EQ and how it can be applied at home, in the marketplace and in your relationships. A great tool is to use RURU (Recognize your emotion, Understand why you are feeling that emotion, Regulate your behaviour/response and Use the infomration to make a choice about your action step).
“Feelings can’t be ignored, no matter how unjust or ungrateful they seem.”
–Anne Frank
Fifth, change happens from the inside out.
A habit is something that you repeatedly do. Most of the significant and lasting changes in our lives happen from the inside out. When we renew our mind with the Word of God, an internal transformation happens.
Habit Tip
Establish a habit of prayer and reflection. Don’t check emails or social media the minute you wake up or just before you go to bed. Rather, take the time to pray, read a Scripture, and think. At sunset, consider practicing the Examen and reflect on your day. What you think about just before you sleep affects the quality of your sleep and how you wake up.
Healthy habits can change your life.
Which of these habits could you begin to develop in your journey of conquering fear in your life?
Daily routines and habits are not the enemy; Rather, they build a framework for a fearless life. A fearless life something worth pursuing. It takes time, effort and courage, but it’s oh so worth it.
To summarize this blog post, read this list and start your transformation. What else would you add? Let me know?
Habits take time to develop
Repeat what you do, and you will soon notice a change.
Get your body in order
Have the attitude of a learner
Check your emotional quotient
Control the thoughts in your head and don’t listen to the negative thought stream.
Live from the inside out. A spiritual life makes all the difference.
Would you like to join me on private virtual Street Team in November? As part of my launch team you will receive my latest book before everyone else and more.I’m looking for a team who will help me spread the word about this book all across the world. Overcoming fear is possible! If you’d like to be part of my team – and it would mean so much if you did – then click on this link.
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List of blogs
Five fearless habits that can change your life
Future-proof your children to thrive in life
Fearless women can change the world
Insight can produce sparkle in your life
Wisdom opens the door to fearless living
Fathers can change the world
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
The post Five fearless habits that can change your life appeared first on Mandi Hart.
August 19, 2019
Future-proof your children to thrive in life
What is hope? By definition, it means a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. It is future-focused. Hope is something that we carry with us from the moment we hear that a baby is on his way.
Hope is something that we hold close to our hearts. It gives us the ability to dream, to expect that something good will happen, that our child has limitless potential and will grow up thriving in this world – and in the days to come. Hope has no room for fear, and it fights discouragement. It feeds courage in our lives. And we all need an extra dose these days. You need courage when you are about to give birth or let your little one go off on his day at school or even when you walk your daughter down the aisle.
What is the hope that you carry in your heart for your children?
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you,” records Jeremiah in chapter 29 vs 11.
Can you see it? Jeremiah records these famous words… “to give you a future and a hope.” Speak hope over your children as future proof them.
Your role in the parenting journey
Future-focused parenting includes future-proofing your children. You prepare them ahead of time for the days to come.
“We’re effectively trying to prepare our children for a new world of work where traditional careers may no longer exist and new, previously unimagined options will emerge. It’s a world about which we have no knowledge or experience, which is enough to make anyone anxious. But I hope that this uncertainty excites us, at least a little, for the many possibilities and opportunities it holds.” Sameer Rawjee, founder of the Life Design Lab at Google
First off, accept your own limitations on your parenting journey. Most likely, your knowledge of the Internet is still playing catch-up while your children are more intuitive in this area. Remember, they have never known life without the Internet, let alone wifi. Figure out where you need help and then seek it.
Second, become proactive in your parenting style. Don’t just react. Think about the adult you want your child to become one day; then head in that direction. It’s a long-term investment so prepare wisely and execute diligently. It’s a slow and steady process; this parenting-thing is intentional but not as serious as it sounds.
Third, don’t take yourself so seriously. Yes, your children will imitate you, and yes they will embarrass you at times, but keep it light. Your strength comes from your imperfections and the fact that you are human. Teach them to be human too – neither they nor you are perfect or expected to be perfect.
Future-proof your children and prepare them to thrive
You can future-proof your children. Consider the following intelligences and think about how you can invest in your son and daughter in these areas. Raise your children to be fully alive and fully human in these areas:
Physiological intelligence – how we treat our bodies shows up in the way we think and behave. Teach your children that their bodies are precious. What they eat, how they sleep, exercise and treat their bodies will impact their whole sense of well-being.
Intellectual intelligence – Our intellect is our ability to learn, the capacity to reason and apply logic to solve problems. It helps us understand things, to come to conclusions, and think. Cultivate a love for learning, and the ability to adapt.
Emotional intelligence – In a world where artificial intelligence is growing, nothing can replace a human being’s emotions. Emotional intelligence is crucial for learning. Wise parents take time to develop this ability in their children.
Spiritual intelligence – Every person has a spirit. We are not only a body with a mind. Our spirit is an essential part of who we are. Take time in the Word of God and train your children to love the Lord, to follow and obey His commandments.
Future-focused parenting is exciting, it is thrilling and most of all, it’s filled with hope.
Please share this blog with your friends by using the icons on the left. I’d love to hear how you future-proof your children, comment in the box below.
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List of blogs
Future-proof your children to thrive in life
Fearless women can change the world
Insight can produce sparkle in your life
Wisdom opens the door to fearless living
Fathers can change the world
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
The post Future-proof your children to thrive in life appeared first on Mandi Hart.
August 6, 2019
Fearless women can change the world
What is a fearless woman? I’ve been thinking about this, dreaming about it, writing about it and even speaking about it. If you had to ask ten different people what it means to live without fear, you would get a variety of answers.
Fearless women are authentic.
Fearless women are tender.
Fearless women are brave, kind, compassionate, and loving.
F-E-A-R-L-E-S-S woman are powerful who can change the world
Faith-filled
Love moves faith. A fearless woman knows that she is loved and therefore believe and trust God. Faith can conquer fear. Why? Because if we know, we are loved, then we can believe the promises God has spoken over us. One such a promise is from Psalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Encourager
A fearless woman is an encourager. She speaks courage into those around her. Not only does she care for others, but she prioritizes self-care too. People change when they are around her. Consider this passage: “Sharing words of wisdom is satisfying to your inner being. It encourages you to know that you’ve changed someone else’s life.” Proverbs 18:20 TPT
“Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use.” – Ruth Gordon
Able to adapt
In my book on overcoming fear (release planned for later this year), I speak about being able to adapt on our journey toward victory. When we face our fears, we learn how to overcome and have to adjust to a new way of living. As we grow and change, our outlook on life changes and as a result, our habits and routines change too.
Roars at fear (she has courage)
A fearless woman has the courage of a lion – she faces her fears boldly (and sometimes quietly), but she doesn’t give up. She fiercely guards the promises God gave her and pursues life.
Did you know?
Aslan is the Turkish and Mongolian word for “lion.” It is also the name of the lion in C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.
A lioness doesn’t roar as often a lion but does so when she needs to communicate.
A lioness can experience emotions. In 2002, a lioness adopted and protected a baby antelope. However, two weeks later, a male lion ate the baby while the lioness slept. The lioness appeared grief-stricken and walked around roaring in anger.
How can you take courage today? Perhaps it’s a small step, such as acknowledging your fears or talking to someone about them?
Laughs
Proverbs 31:25 reminds us that just such a woman is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future, in other words, “she laughs at the time to come.” Isn’t that remarkable?
Who of us can say that we can laugh at the future? We don’t know what will happen in the days ahead. But these verses distinctly say, and it means that they can laugh with having no fear of a person, a thing or circumstance.
I want to be like that!
I’ve met women who are so afraid of the future that they live as if they are already dead. One lady described herself to me, saying, “I am paralyzed by fear. I don’t go to the beach or for walks because I’m afraid. I keep on thinking what if.” I’m not speaking about being foolish and making unwise decisions because a fearless woman is a wise woman too.
A sense of humor goes a long way to conquering fear. As a fruit of the spirit, joy becomes a source of strength. We can learn to consider it all joy when we face trials. Joy is a source of strength.
“Taking joy in living is a woman’s best cosmetic.” – Rosalind Russell
Enters the battle
There are moments in the struggle to overcome fear when we have to conciously show up and fight for victory. We battle for freedom on our knees, with our words and out of rest. Praying the Word of God, obeying His instructions to us and practically applying wisdom to our lives are all part of warfare. She fights for her freedom.
Surrendered to Christ
Fearless women live a surrendered life to Christ. We can confidently place our trust in the Lord and know that He will fight on our behalf. Psalm 91 reminds us to abide under the shadow of His wings. We surrender our fears to God and trust Him with our lives. In the battle, rest becomes a weapon. Our strength is renewed day by day.
Skilled to overcome
By now, we’ve entered the battle, faced our fears, and surrendered to Christ. Now it’s time to learn new skills or reactivate old helpful skills. These include learning to bounce back, to renew our minds, learn about a healthy diet, pursue meaningful friendships, and develop new skills.
A woman who is F-E-A-R-L-E-S-S lives in a growing measure with these traits (and more).
I’d love to hear from you – what would you describe the acronym – FEARLESS?
If you’d like to start a five-day devotional and learn to overcome fear, then click here, and best of all, it is free.
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List of blogs
Fearless women can change the world
Insight can produce sparkle in your life
Wisdom opens the door to fearless living
Fathers can change the world
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Love can mend your soul
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
The post Fearless women can change the world appeared first on Mandi Hart.
July 18, 2019
Insight can produce sparkle in your life
Do you want to live a life with sparkle and more joy? In this blog, I’ll show you how insight can make all the difference. Even more than foresight or hindsight, insight guides us in our fast-moving and complex world.
Insight is like a catalyst, and it’s the link between existing and living fully alive. This catalyst can produce sparkles in our lives. In the marketplace, in our relationships and families, this sparkle can lead to much good.
Think about it for a moment.
If you were to apply an ability to act and decide with insight, would life not be that much richer and joy-filled? And this world surely needs more joyful people.
Insight is the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or something. A deeper understanding of a person, situation, or something means that we can interpret things underneath the surface. We can see the meaning behind the stated or obvious.
Joy can increase in our lives and relationships.
“Mirth can be a major tool for insight, changing “ha-ha” to “aha” – Anonymous.
Joy can be the product of insight because insight leads to wisdom, and true wisdom leads us to joy. “Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God’s word and life’s experiences],” Proverbs 3:13 (AMP)
Insight leads us along the narrow path of wisdom.
Recently, the news broadcasts sound a little overwhelming with reports about politics, murders, and unemployment. If I don’t guard my thoughts, it can open the door to fear. In those moments, I need to apply insight. If I gain a deep understanding of an issue, then I can understand my appropriate response, leading me to ask more relevant and powerful questions.
Questions can open up my understanding and increase wisdom. They help us see things from a different perspective.
When I ask: “What should I do now in response to what I just heard?” or “Even if [ ____ ] happened, how could I respond with [ ____]?” then I grow in my ability to live with insight. Another good question to ask is,” Is there more about this situation that I need to know?” Or else, you can ask, “What can I learn?”
“If you never ask yourself any questions about the meaning of a passage, you cannot expect the book to give you any insight you do not already possess.”–Mortimer Adler
Insight leads to learning that leads to understanding and then to a healthy response or interaction. We can join the writer of Proverbs who urges us to” cry out for comprehension and intercede for insight.” Proverbs 2:3 TPT
Insight builds rather than breaks down.
When we combine insight with intelligence, then we become builders of our family, of our businesses and our communities. Our responses, interactions, and actions reinforce the strengths and encourage those around us.
So, how can you cultivate insight?
Firstly, ask God for insight. Pray about it and seek it. Secondly, read Bible verses about insight. Learn from the Master in this area. Thirdly, practice cultivating insight by asking questions as you go throughout your day. For example, you could ask why am I feeling this way about what just happened? Is there something more to this situation that I see right now? What else do I need to consider? Fourthly, pay attention to what is happening around you by using your senses. Fifth, speak to others about how they cultivate insight and how they apply it in their lives. Learn from those around you. And finally, practice using insight into your life. Give it a go, and hopefully, you will see the sparkle.
Great quotes to inspire deeper thought.
“A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.–Marshall McLuhan
“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.”–Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
“Nothing is more terrible than activity without insight.”–Thomas Carlyle
“The goal is to transform data into information, and information into insight,”–Carly Fiorina
“Regret is insight that comes a day too late.”–Anonymous
“If one is master of one thing and understands one thing well, one has at the same time, insight into and understanding of many things.”–Vincent van Gogh
I want to conclude with this Irish Blessing: “May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, The foresight to know where you are going, And the insight to know when you have gone too far.”
Let me know how you cultivate insight. Do you perhaps have another idea? I’d love to hear it in the comments below. If you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends using the buttons on the left.
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List of blogs
Insight can produce sparkle in your life
Wisdom opens the door to fearless living
Fathers can change the world
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Love can mend your soul
Exercise can help beat fear, anxiety and trauma
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
The post Insight can produce sparkle in your life appeared first on Mandi Hart.
July 11, 2019
Wisdom opens the door to fearless living
What’s the key to fearless living? A mentor urged me over 20 years ago to ask God every day for wisdom, discernment, and insight. She told me that wisdom is worth searching for, that discernment is worth cultivating, and insight is worth its weight in gold.
I love asking questions. I heard once that the ability to ask a good question is the way to wisdom. This quote by Benjamin Disraeli reinforces that thought, “The fool wonders, the wise man asks.” After her instruction to me to ask God for wisdom, I set about looking for wisdom. I’ve prayed about it, researched this topic and sought to apply my learnings.
In the Bible we read that “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (see James 1:5 NIV).
Wisdom is something that God gives us.
Wow!
It can be defined as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement; the quality of being wise. Wisdom is knowing what, when and how to do or say something. Possessing wisdom is vital to thrive in life. Growing in wisdom is also a journey; it is also an invitation from the Lord.
A VUCA world can produce fear in our lives
VUCA is an acronym used by the American Military when they coined this term in response to the collapse of the USSR in the early 1990s. VUCA stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous.
Volatile means that this world is unpredictable. Explosive news headlines, social media reports, and societal challenges feed this volatility.
Uncertainty is a mark of the times. Economies, family, healthy, and online threats produce doubt in our hearts and minds about the future. Uncertainty can breed into fear of the future and something we need to guard against, as we grow older.
What about Complex? According to vuca-world.org, “Problems and their repercussions are more multi-layered, harder to understand.” A complex world makes it difficult to see how things are related. Our decisions are mixed up with reaction and counter-reactions. Wisdom is needed now more than ever to help us choose the right path and not walk on fear’s highway.
Then we get to Ambiguous where even truth seems ambiguous. In today’s world, it’s rare for things to be clear.
Without wisdom, we give fear an opening
All these put together lead us into the gateway to fear. Fear of the future, fear of missing out, fear of failure, fear of violence, fear of making a mistake, and fear of living. Remember, fear’s agenda is to shackle one from embracing life to the full. Chained to fear, we end of isolating ourselves and holding back from exploring the abundant life that the Lord would have us live.
And I don’t mean a comfortable life. Suffering and hardship come with being mortal. We are not exempt from the challenges we face, but we have three powerful gifts that we can receive and embrace as we live out in a VUCA world.
Wisdom is the power to put our time and our knowledge to the proper use. Thomas J. Watson
In a world where anything goes, where truth seems to be relative or even missing, wisdom leads you to know the difference. Wisdom cannot be bought, but we can seek it. Even young children can be wise. I saw how a three year-old can exhibit age-appropriate wisdom and a teenager the same. Pray for your cghildren to be wise. Call it out of them and equip them to ask good questions because that sets them on the path toward wisdom.
Let’s look a few of the rewards of wisdom from Proverbs 2:
Wisdom comes from within and leads to outward success (vs 1)
It comes through training your heart to listen and practice discernment (vs 2)
Cry out for comprehension and insight (these are the tools that wisdom uses) vs 3
Search for wisdom in hidden places (keep your eyes open. The fear of the Lord leads to wisdom)
The Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom accessible to you.
Wisdom helps you discover what is just, proper and fair
It empowers you to make the right decisions as you walk into your destiny (vs 9)
Wisdom leads to true pleasures
Understanding the days and times protect you from making poor choices
It will rescue from evil in disguise
Wisdom leads to sweet sleep and freedom from fear
I particularly like the last one – sweet sleep and freedom of fear! Oh yes please.
The second of the three powerful words is Discernment, and the third is Insight. I will explore these two in separate blog posts to follow.
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I’ve also written a free five-day devotional to encourage you to live a Fearless life. Why don’t you give it a go?
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it. Albert Einstein
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List of blogs
Wisdom opens the door to fearless living
Fathers can change the world
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Love can mend your soul
Exercise can help beat fear, anxiety and trauma
Fear does not discriminate
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
The post Wisdom opens the door to fearless living appeared first on Mandi Hart.
June 13, 2019
Fathers can change the world
Fathers are like gold. The importance of healthy fathers is indispensable for the health of not only a family and a community but the entire world. Because, without proper fathering, we are perpetuating broken generations. Fathers can change the world.
Our world is suffering for lack of fathers
Recent statistics indicate that over 60% of the children in South Africa are registered without a father’s name on their birth certificate and have absent fathers. And, more than 40% of SA’s mothers are single parents.* These alarming statistics are cause for concern, but also an incredible opportunity for the men in our community to become fathers to the fatherless.
The children of the world need you Fathers – more than you know.
“In our school, we see that 50% to 60% of our students are growing up in a home where a family is split up, either by divorce or by a father working offshore. A lack of a male figure affects our kids, and especially our boys in the following ways: The child seems to feel that they do not belong, or feel unsafe in their home environment and this has a negative impact on their self-esteem. We see that these students often clash with their peers, and they may seem quite needy towards male staff members, searching for healthy male contact or love,” commented a South African junior school deputy head and educator (from my book Parenting with Courage).
A father’s role
In an excerpt from my book, Parenting with Courage, I wrote that there is no question that fathers do play an essential part in their children’s lives. Firstly, the majority of studies affirm that an involved father can play a crucial role particularly in the cognitive, behavioral and general health and well-being areas of a child’s life. Secondly, having a positive male role model helps an adolescent boy develop positive gender-role characteristics. Thirdly, teenage girls are more likely to form positive opinions of men and are better able to relate to them when fathered by an involved father. Consequently, it is generally accepted, under most circumstances, that a father’s presence and involvement can be as crucial to a child’s healthy development as is the mother’s. Finally, validation of a father’s importance in the general parenting literature has made these dads much more conscious of their value and, in turn, leads to their greater desire to be involved.
Many fathers believe the lie that they play a second-class role to the mother. If you are a dad, I want to remind you that your children want and need you; you are critical to their well-being and success.
A father’s commission
Fathers provide for and love their family; they protect their children, train them, disciple them in the ways of the Lord and life. A father who loves his children takes care when disciplining them. And, he is a powerful influence in releasing his son or daughter into their destiny. His presence offers safety and protection. A defender of his children, he also encourages them, and they can trust his word and his ways.
Good fathers are patient, humble, and godly. He shows them what God the Father is like. A dear friend of ours, Floyd McClung, said that being a good father has more to do with the atmosphere we create than the words we speak. People will remember our attitudes and our actions—how we say things—far longer than the actual conversations.”
Here are a few thought-provoking quotes about fathers:
“A child identifies his parents with God, whether or not the adults want that role. Most children’ see’ God the way they perceive their earthly fathers.” James Dobson
“Father to teenage son: “My relationship with you is more important than anything I’ve got to say to you.” Randy Alcorn, Courageous
“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.” Charles Kettering
“The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature.” Prevost Abbe, Manon Lescaut
“Listen to my correction, my sons, for I speak to you as your Father. Let discernment enter your heart, and you will grow wise with the understanding I impart. My revelation-truth is a gift to you, so remain faithful to my instruction”. Proverbs 4:1-2 (The Passion Translation)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 | NIV
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and through the various social media channels. Please get in touch and let me know which quote did you like the most?
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List of blogs
Fathers can change the world
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Love can mend your soul
Exercise can help beat fear, anxiety and trauma
Fear does not discriminate
Fear is either a stepping stone or a stumbling block
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
Video
The post Fathers can change the world appeared first on Mandi Hart.
June 6, 2019
What I learned about fear and trauma
Fear can rob us of living if we allow it to do that. Our lives are like a seed buried deep within the soil. For some water activates germination, for others it is fire and heat. In our family, an explosion took place in the form of an armed robbery. What was meant for harm ended up becoming something beautiful, who would’ve thought? And I learned a few lessons along the way that I will share with you in this post.
Four years ago to the day, my daughter Emily and I were in an armed robbery in our home. Tied up with medals on ribbons, I lay on top of my daughter directing the men in balaclavas to find what they were looking for in our home. In the blink of an eye, my perspective on safety, on rest, fear and joy changed. The journey to healing began with one small step at a time. How long does it take to heal from trauma? It’s different for everyone, but this much I do know – it takes time. You cannot rush it.
Certain proteas need fire to germinate.
Fear’s goal is to paralyze us
Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. For my family and I, it was an armed robbery in the early hours of the morning while the world was still cloaked in darkness. These are some of the lessons I have learned along the way.
We don’t heal by giving fear power, but in walking in faith and love.
Fear has one goal, that is to paralyze humankind in whatever form it may take. For some, it is fear of violence, for others fear of failure, rejection, illness, or phobias. Fear seeks to take you out, to cripple you from living fully alive. But God has another plan. He came to give us a spirit of power and love. Love truly ushers in healing from fear. Knowing we are loved, that we belong and that we are safe in love’s arms, kickstarts healing.
We don’t heal in withdrawing, but in offering thankfulness.
When we think about ourselves and the wrongs done to us, we tend to move into victim mode. But, when we turn our eyes and heart into being thankful, it can lift us out of the pit of despair. Thankfulness is key to healing, to joy and a motivation to step out of the dark place. Thankfulness can help heal you from trauma.
We don’t heal in living with unforgiveness but in forgiving.
Forgiveness is a powerful force. It sets the captives free. My family and I chose to forgive those men. It doesn’t mean that we condone what happened, but we decided to walk in the freedom that forgiveness releases. I can forgive others because I have been forgiven, not easy, but so necessary.
We don’t heal in isolation but in community.
Community is a gift. Just after the armed robbery, our family and friends flooded our home with gifts, prayers, their presence, and tender love. They cleaned up the mess left behind by the robbers; they cooked for us, they played card games with us while we waited for my husband to arrive home from Zimbabwe. Our community helped us heal.
We don’t heal in a moment but over time.
Patience is something that can be cultivated. Healing in our souls isn’t always instant. And so, the journey to living fully healed from the trauma took more time than I imagined it would. From counseling to resting, to exercising hard, I think I did it all. But taking time to heal isn’t so bad. I learned to take the pressure off myself to have it all together and allowed the healing to permeate my body, soul, and spirit.
We don’t heal by pretending, but in walking in the truth.
Pretending is a lie that we tend to believe. We cannot heal when we wear masks. It’s vital to walk in truth, and most of all, be honest with ourselves and those we love about where we are. Learning to live with vulnerability and honesty is a gift that you can give to yourself. Try it out; you might be surprised at the outcome.
In an excerpt from a blog post I wrote shortly after the armed robbery, I reflected on the following; These are the effects of fear that I have either experienced or seen manifest around me:
“Fear is an illusion, but the danger is real. It manifests in different ways in our minds, emotions, and bodies. A spirit of fear can stop you from living, and by that, I mean really living. It inhibits you from risking, from laughing and giving yourself to something or someone. Fear can make you sick. Lack of sleep suppresses your immune system and your mind’s ability to function at its peak level. Fear can rule your life and isolate you from those that love you. You start to shut down and not allow them into specific areas, or to support you as you should.”
Identity also helps us heal from trauma.
Just after the armed robbery, I struggled with fear in such a debilitating way that it challenged my every waking and sleeping moment. A helpful exercise I did was to create a personal list of who I am in Christ based on Scripture and His word to me. I wrote it out and read it and reread until it started to sink in. Knowing who we are can contribute towards walking fully healed.
The following is a portion of the one I crafted: “I am accepted; I am God’s child. I am a member of Christ’s body and am complete in Christ. I am secure and free from condemnation. God will work all things for my good in all circumstances. I am hidden with Christ in God. I am a citizen of heaven. I am God’s temple and His workmanship. I can approach God with freedom and confidence. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am loved.”
Finally, I am thankful that I can walk free from fear. When I feel it knocking at the door of my mind, I bolt it firmly shut and say, ‘no entry.’ Faith can answer with a resounding, “You are not welcome here. Love, power, and a sound mind reside here, not you.” Let the seeds of hope and purpose emerge out of the ashes.
Please share this post with anyone you think might need some encouragement today. Do you have a story of how you overcame fear? Please share it with me. I’d love to hear from you.
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List of blogs
What I learned about fear and trauma
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Love can mend your soul
Exercise can help beat fear, anxiety and trauma
Fear does not discriminate
Fear is either a stepping stone or a stumbling block
Want to learn to how to talk to your kids about a porn fee life?
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
Video
The post What I learned about fear and trauma appeared first on Mandi Hart.
June 3, 2019
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Parenting is as much about us as it is our children. In fact, sometimes I feel like I’m a juggler, trying to parent well and care for myself. It just seems like there is too much to do and think about. However, I think I’ve uncovered three simple ideas that can encourage us all.
Intentional parenting and self-care are linked.
Read more below to see how this can translate practically? Certainly, parenting involves sacrifice. Is it possible amongst the financial strains, relational pressures, illness, new adventures, beginnings, and endings to thrive? I would like to sound a hearty, “YES”. We can parent intentionally and still care for ourselves so that we call thrive.
Three ways to guide you into intentional living
The body benefits from movement
Our children learn and grow when they move. Since the beginning of time, we were made to move. Being active has many benefits, including increased health, physical strength, it builds mental resilience, and it gives us energy for life.
So, take stock today. Are you exercising? If we intentionally encourage our children to be active, would it not follow that we do the same?
You can read more about my journey to health in this area. I learned first hand that running beats stress, it increases my health and my capacity. Plus, I’m a better mom, wife, daughter, and friend for it.
To illustrate how hard it is to get moving, look at these stats*
Only one in three children are physically active every day.
Less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day; only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week.
Your children are watching you. Like the novelist, James Baldwin wrote, “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
The mind benefits from stillness
Have you ever thought, “I want to be calm when I’m home, but I lash out at those I love, or even I want to be still in God’s presence, but it’s so hard! I can’t seem to stop the buzzing thoughts in my head, and it’s frustrating!”
In this fast-paced world, we rarely get to experience stillness and peace. Yet, seeking stillness might be the very thing that we need because it doesn’t come easy. Consequently, learning to be able to be still amongst the noise is something worth fighting for. Stillness might be a breath of fresh air, the physical rest you are longing for, and the emotional freedom combined.
A case for being still
Your mind will benefit from being still and the atmosphere at home will reap the rewards too. Remember, your children might fight you in the beginning because it might be something different, but they will thank you for creating that space. I believe that stillness is the gateway to creativity. It’s a mystery but so very helpful.
Stillness is the gateway to creativity.
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“What is the biggest obstacle facing the family right now? It is over-commitment; time pressure. There is nothing that will destroy family life more insidiously than hectic schedules and busy lives, where spouses are too exhausted to communicate, too worn out to have sex, too fatigued to talk to the kids. That frantic lifestyle is just as destructive as one involving outbroken sin. If Satan can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy, and that’s just about the same thing.” ~ James Dobson
So often, we fill our minds with all sorts of noise. Authors Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder in Rare Leadership say that a well-trained brain can return to joy in ninety seconds. They wrote that a less well-trained brain can take hours, days, even weeks. So, I’d like to advocate embracing stillness at different times during the day.
Examine these verses for more inspiration to learn to be still:
Psalm 46:10 (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Isaiah 30:15 (NLT), “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”
Furthermore, be patient with yourself, with your children and those you love. Learn to move past the awkwardness of stillness and see what will happen.
How could you practice stillness in your home?
Firstly, sit quietly; offer the sacrifice of love by listening to what the Lord has to say to you today.
Secondly, you can practice active listening, choosing to be still rather than offering words quickly.
Thirdly, you can let your children and family know that all devices are to be switched to silent for a while. Be comfortable with the silence and listen to the natural noises around you for a while.
Finally, offer your presence to someone hurting and be present. Or perhaps offer it to yourself. Make a cup of tea or go for a run and embrace stillness.
The heart benefits from love.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Love is like a light; it shines into our hearts and lives. In a home filled with love, our children grow into who they are destined to become. Love gives our children capacity and security to dream and adventure into life.
When I think of love and family relationships, I am reminded that we cannot survive without love. Love is food for our heart and vitamins for our soul. We love our family and friends through our actions, our words, our gifts, our touches, and our time.
In conclusion, teach your children to love well. For if you leave a legacy of love, you can raise children to change the world they live in. They can shine light in their schools and communities by the way they love. Let love be the foundation in your home.
“Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.” James Dobson
Let me know, what would you add as the fourth tip for parenting intentionally or caring for yourself? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section. And please share this post with your friends or sign up to my blog if you haven’t done so already.
* https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/resource-...
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List of blogs
Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Love can mend your soul
Exercise can help beat fear, anxiety and trauma
Fear does not discriminate
Fear is either a stepping stone or a stumbling block
Want to learn to how to talk to your kids about a porn fee life?
How can I draw out and release the gifts in my child?
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FearLess
Parenting with Courage
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The post Three ways to parent intentionally and care for yourself appeared first on Mandi Hart.
May 28, 2019
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Seasons take us on a journey. Some are easier than others, and some catch us quite by surprise. Ever wondered what season you are in right now? Over the years, I have been in times of growth, times of pruning, and new beginnings. I’m sure you have too. What I never realized was how helpful it can be to discern and understand where you are right now.
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
We can learn from nature.
Plants know how to yield to the changing times and weather patterns, and so should we. Firstly, in yielding to where we are right now, we can find rest and then growth. Practically, this means that you accept the season you are in because “it is what it is.” If you are in an exciting time of new opportunities and increase or fruitfulness, revel in that – celebrate it and yield to that season.
Do not grieve the season you are in at the moment.
That is to say, don’t long for what was or what will be. Be content where you are – in good times and challenging times. Consequently, you can enter into the season of life God has you in. Every season will change. Hard times will end; easy times will cease; that’s the rhythm of life. Learning to yield will invite you into greater freedom.
For example, if you’re a mom with young children, yield to that period where you have nappies, bottles and sleepless nights. Be present, for in a few short years they will have grown, and everything will be different. If you’re working hard and nothing seems to be opening, hang in there. Your breakthrough is imminent. Perhaps you have to slow down due to illness or family crisis, take heart, this too will change. Wherever you are, enter in and embrace today.
Seasons of life
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” Albert Camus
Dark winter days
Winter is a time for slowing down. The trees and plants seem dormant, but don’t be fooled. Much is going on underground. Dr. Mark Ooi, a plant ecologist, said that only when a seed has been exposed to low temperatures for long enough, a process known as cold stratification, that plant hormones trigger the end of dormancy. At this time, if environmental conditions are favorable — such as enough water around — the seed can then germinate, again a process governed by plant hormones.
Slowing down
Slower seasons have a purpose. For some, your life might look like dead branches, for others a seed fallen in the ground, but wait. Likewise, winter might mean a season of isolation (due to geography, illness, or other reasons). Rest assured, winter can lead to the dawn of transformation.
“If you are enduring a cold season, don’t underestimate Christ can plant you right where you are at no matter how dirty, beat up, or worthless you may feel. Rest assured, He has strategically placed you in the precise place on earth for such a time as this.” ― Dana Arcuri, Harvest of Hope: Living Victoriously Through Adversity, A 50-Day Devotional
Delightful Spring
Spring is a season a new birth. In nature, plants get the conditions they need to begin to grow. The longer days mean they have sudden spurts of growth. Bulbs planted in autumn, start to shoot. Birds are singing, babies are being born, and flowers are beginning to bloom.
In our lives, a spring season could mean the budding of dreams, and new hopes begin to emerge. We have increased energy and take on new tasks with vigor. Often that which happens in the natural mirrors the spiritual realm. Ask the Lord, what new thing does He want to do in your heart?
Summer Sun
During summer a forest begins to experience a period of wild growth. Some trees can grow as fast as much as 2cm a day. Similarly, there is an abundance of fruit and scents of flowers fill the air. But, there is also (in some places) lots of heat and rain. For us, summer seasons could be a time of joy, rapid growth, fruitfulness, the establishing of new things, or even a drought? Summertime is often of the happiest of times.
“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”
― Yoko Ono
Autumn changes
Autumn brings mixed emotions; it’s an in-between stage. Hot days become rarer and the nights longer. The leaves begin to change, and so do our rhythms. In nature, autumn blooms are glorious. The various hues of reds and oranges light up the terrain with fallen leaves decorating the grass. What about the autumn harvest? Autumn speaks of preparation, of settling down as we ready ourselves for winter. Autumn is like a doorway to another season; a time of reflection or even transition?
What season are you in?
“The madness of spring is so enticing. I love it when things are opening up and emerging from the ground. I also love the middle of summer when fruit is bursting forth, but I even love the garden in the winter when everything is resting.” Ross Gay
Great questions you can ask.
One of the most insightful questions one can ask is: “what now?” ‘What’ rather than ‘why’ opens your heart and thoughts to interpret a myriad of options. When we ask ‘why,’ we often end up with more questions and fewer answers and frequently find ourselves discouraged.
Consider these questions to discern your season
1. What is your energy level like?
2. Are you filled with fresh vision?
3. What has God been speaking to you about?
4. Are you feeling like you are being hidden for a season?
5. Are plenty of doors opening up for you?
6. What’s happening naturally? I’m your life, and in nature?
7 What can I learn from my past season?
Like the writer of Ecclesiastes ponders: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”
“Our lives are a journey. As we move forward, we will not only figuratively experience the geography of life: the exhilaration of high mountains, the tranquility of calm meadows, the isolation of treacherous canyons, but we will also experience the seasons of life: the hope of spring, the abundance of summer, the harvest of autumn, and yes, the darkness and depression of winter.” ― Seth Adam Smith
You can live well through every season by embracing where you are, growing and learning all the while making the most of every day.
Did you discover something new about yourself? What season are you in right now? Let me know in the comments section or share a story of what you learned in a past season.
If you found this blog helpful, please share the journey of seasons with your friends. Just click the sharing buttons on the left.
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List of blogs
Uncover the season you are in to live well
Make memories that can last a lifetime
Grit can grow giant killers
Think right, live right
Why your life matters
Children heal one’s soul
Whose report will you believe?
Lessons from a teacher called Adversity
Stories can change your life
How to discover my purpose
Lent and 40 days to lean into generosity
Prayer is an act of great love
Coaches can play a vital role in your child’s life
Love can mend your soul
Exercise can help beat fear, anxiety and trauma
Fear does not discriminate
Fear is either a stepping stone or a stumbling block
Want to learn to how to talk to your kids about a porn fee life?
How can I draw out and release the gifts in my child?
Are you ready for a new school year?
Categories
FearLess
Parenting with Courage
Video
The post Uncover the season you are in to live well appeared first on Mandi Hart.
