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Understanding your emotional strengths begins with reflection.
Explore Crystal’s experience, strength, and hope, and see how emotional insight can deepen your growth and your connection with others.
Latest reflections
PinnedAre you the “strong” friend?Let’s have some REAL talk. How many of us are the strong friend? The one that people go to when they are having a hard time. Maybe people just find themselves sharing their life’s struggles with you or they come to you…PinnedSomething’s DifferentSomething is different-well, a lot of things. This is the last year of running around and balancing my schedule with his because he is soon going to college. It’s been him & I for so long, I have to admit I’m ALREADY…PinnedWhat will happen if you don’t show up?Wake up 5:55. Pray. Drive 20 mins to work. Work for 10 hours. Drive 3.5 hours home. Arrive home at 11:15 pm. Simply put, I don’t know how I made it through that day! Honestly, I do! It was because God graced me for it.…PinnedCommunity SupportIf you left your hometown would they MISS you? This is a question a mentor of mine asked me recently. Would they miss me? So I wondered- What have I contributed, or what DO I contribute that only I can contribute? I…Alignment MattersScripture: James 1:22 — Be doers of the Word, not hearers only. Awareness helps you recognize what’s happening within you. Alignment requires you to do something with what you’ve discovered. Sometimes we know what is…A Word on Awareness.The difference between our expectations and our experiences is the truth. EQwithLou was created to help people grow in awareness, come into alignment with truth, and live with greater authenticity through emotional…A reflection from CrystalHow do you write what people actually want to read? Writing what people actually want to read is not as easy as it sounds. Mostly, I write for those who are led to read whether it’s read or not. I used to try to write…SpaceWhat’s the kindest thing someone has ever done for you? The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was to “hold space”. Historically I look back over my life and consider some of the greatest times. Those who held…Hello September…Here’s how I felt last weekend: She has little sense of personal space & is quite curious. 🧐 Last weekend I snuck away to a beautiful pasture filled with butterflies, hummingbirds, five rescue dogs, & one rescue…Understanding Your Divine Assignment: Embrace the DifferenceThe passage emphasizes the significance of how we show up in our assignments, drawing on Joshua’s story where God repeatedly reassures him not to fear. It highlights that tasks are never solely ours, challenges may…Dealing with Uncertaintywhile our brains often misinterpret the cues. By learning to interpret emotions as signals to understand, we can navigate uncertainty and find inner peace.Does it even matter?It doesn’t matter HOW much time, prayer, money, effort you spend if you aren’t advancing the kingdom. Matthew 6:33 says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as…DevelopmentLet’s discuss development. Development implies progress. Avoiding development doesn’t speed it up. Denying it doesn’t stop it. Delaying it doesn’t slow it down. Why? Development is essential. The things that we avoid…Two Lies & A TruthWhile you’re busy looking at your leader—observing their flaws—you’re wasting valuable time: time that is best used seeking the Lord. True story: In my early days of being saved, I found myself earnestly seeking the…One Quote…What’s a quote that perfectly describes your outlook on life? Let’s talk about freedom & fear. Yes, we have talked about fear one time before…but I’m talking about the fear you don’t even REALIZE is holding you. The…Yes, I am.Are you a lifelong learner? I am a lifelong learner, but I’m not sure that it was a decision I made. I believe that we are all motivated by different desires. One of these things that I enjoy most is learning. I used…Rejection is world view but redemption is God’s view..I have been sitting with this for a hot minute… There are so many people who are stuck in the state of rejection… but that was NEVER the original plan. Here’s the first part of the discussion:…The NEXT is NOWI remember not long ago praying for the NEXT. Yet somehow the next never seems to arrive. Why? Because the next is borrowed, but the NOW is given. I used to strive for happiness, joy, satisfaction, and contentment yet…How will YOU yield?I trust and believe in God. I do my best to live in a way that shows the love I’ve been shown. Sometimes I’ve fallen short and more often than not, I’m faced with my “need” for God. Because of the grace I’ve been shown…Choosing Between Doors and Windows: A Journey of ReflectionThe difference between a door and a window is simply the purpose. Doors are meant to be passed through. They often represent the departure or the entrance to another space. A window on the other hand offers a glimpse…Navigating Emotions: The Truth Behind Our NoiseLet this serve as a warning to anyone who has a head & experiences emotions. If that’s you, read on. Now is not the time to lose your head. Now is not the time to make random noise. Let your noise be a noise of truth,…Recap: The Path from Emotional Survival to ThrivingUnnamed emotions will always seek relief. Where? What? When? How? Why? These are the questions that each of us must ask ourselves to start the process of true emotional awareness. Why? If we do not embark on this…A CALL to Right Alignment for the Ecclesia.Believe it or not, • Most of them didn’t ask for the cup they are carrying. •If they had asked for it, they would have chosen not to endure the distress. This distress comes with the formation necessary to carry the…How Do You Manage Expectations?As I’ve been watching, learning, & living, I can say that one thing consistently shows up as a source of contention: the inability to help those around us manage their expectations. Simply stated, this means that we’re…Catch Up on Today’s Emotional Intelligence EpisodeDid you catch today’s episode on the YouTube channel? If not, make sure you go back & catch the replay! I’ll drop the link here for anyone who wants to watch it. Leave your comments & let me know if this helped you in…No More Broken Cisterns: A 14-Day Return to God as SourceFor the faithful few who are tired of trying to pour from empty places… There are times when nothing is “wrong” yet something quietly feels off. You’re still praying. Still showing up. Still believing God. There are…Why Context is Key for Your 2026 DecisionsAccept Limitations What if I told you there’s so much more than this very moment? Seems obvious, right? How do you know there is “more” without first accepting your limitations? You don’t. Many are leaving 2025 with…Purposeful Connections…Many of us have made connections as part of our process, but the time has come that we must reevaluate the link between our process and our purpose: here’s HOW!It’s “okay”: it looks differentIt looks different.SpaceThis is a picture I took while sitting in the office. At first glance, it doesn’t appear to be anything extraordinary. Sure, it’s decorated in a beautiful scheme that’s both inviting and bright but it appears to be…Called but Why?Sometimes you might find yourself being called to rooms and not sure if you should really be in the room. Often times the first thing we ask ourselves when we are called to a room is whether or not we actually belong…AccountabilityThis is often word that has a dirty or negative connotation. I want to subject to us that as our responsibility increases so does our accountability. We have been given ahead of standard and we follow them not because…So many of us are too comfortable with God.So many of us are too comfortable with God. The thing that happens when you get too comfortable with God is that honor takes a second seat. I noticed this from both personal experience and observed experience. Getting…Embrace Pain: Transforming Challenges into GrowthEmbracing Pain has the ability to transform your life.BIG News!Subscribe to keep reading It’s a subscribers only post. Subscribe to get access to the rest of this post and other subscriber-only content. Subscribe…For those feeling discontent.UpdateHi Friends, Just dropping in to say hello and share a few things with you about what’s going on. First, I have NOT forgotten you. I paused for the month of August to ‘Rest4Clarity’ which was a time of recalibration &…GratitudeWhat positive emotion do you feel most often? Gratitude is the positive emotion I feel most often. I work in a tough field which exposes me to all sorts of difficult things. For as long as I can remember I’ve ALWAYS…August Access: Rest4ClarityBurnout is Real, so what do we do about it? As part of my intent to make content more useful to others and hopefully provide emotional insight- I’ve been intentional about posting on my social media pages information…“Should“ with EQwithLouWhat is a word you feel that too many people use? It’s my thought that too many people use the word “should”. I say this from both personal and professional insight. It matters because our language reflects what’s…7P’s of Rest as A Form of Emotional DisciplineOn the surface level, to “rest” implies that one is doing nothing. Further investigation suggests that rest is a little more than doing nothing. It’s the act of intentionally NOT doing something. This post will provide…A Small LightHonestly, my hope would be that this blog would cause people to feel empowered, equipped, and better able to manage their emotions so their emotions don’t manage them. I see so many people of all ages who are basically…Discipline MattersI said it before and I’ll say it again, “Do your ACTIONS equal your WANTS?” Please don’t tell me that you want more rest if you’re not willing to make some adjustments. If you desire “rest” please first understand why…Let’s Talk RestWeek 18/4-8/10 Rest & Discipline are not usually two words that are paired together; however, one cannot truly rest without discipline. Week 28/11-8/17 What happens when your emotional container becomes too full?…Random ActsGenerally, I cringe at the idea of writing about something like this because in my mind, “random acts” are best done when there isn’t a motive to talk about it, monetize it, or make a movie about it. Frankly, I used to…August AccessI could NOT be more excited. See, I believe that time is the most valuable currency we have. With that being said, I more often than not see that people are generally struggling with time management. Why? Well,…It’s about love, life, & languageI was invited to show up today to share information about 504s & IEPs. The invitation was overwhelming to me & caused me to consider what I’ve witnessed as a provider & a person. (Valuable resource linked below!) As a…What’s one thing you can NOT put a price on?My answer would be genuine authentic true friendship….the kind of friendship that holds you accountable and refuses to let you settle ! The kind of friendship that PUSHES you out of your comfort zone with your best…The Time I Stumbled upon my Passion….If I asked you what it was that you were passionate about, what would you say? Once you’ve answered, I want you to consider if you’d do it for free. I’m not suggesting that anyone work for free, but if you’ve truly…10 things I KNOW…Did you know that to “know” something is to perceive it? Yes, that’s right, it’s accurate. I saw this prompt and couldn’t help but get in here to share what I know. I sincerely hope that it will provide a point of…Language of Emotional IntelligenceWhat are you passionate about? This was a tough question for me…why? It was difficult mostly because it caused me to really pause for a moment & make some considerations. My first reaction was that I am passionate……A little visionI found this picture that popped on my timeline…and it’s kind of a big deal! It’s an oil pastel from 2 years ago while I was on a flight to California. Why is this a big deal? Because I was in the air flying with the…Paid Subscriber’s ONLY: It’s MORE than Just Reading!Subscribe to keep reading Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content. SubscribeBeing “right”Just putting this out there, I have learned that the totality of the relationship long outweighs the “need” to be right. Trust me, I wasn’t always this way. In full transparency, I used to overexplain and insist that…What Makes a Teacher GreatSubscribe to keep reading It’s a subscribers only post. Subscribe to get access to the rest of this post and other subscriber-only content. SubscribeA Little More On Rest:Have you BEEN to the EQwithLou Facebook page? Log in for more videos, content, quotes, and poetry! Thank you so much to everyone who has checked it out, subscribed, and followed. As you find the content helpful, please…RESTWhat are the most important things needed to live a good life? Rest is without a doubt one of the most important things needed to live a good life. Without it we don’t have the ability to actually LIVE life. Instead we…Self-Care is NOT a luxuryWhether I meet with people inside or outside of the professional setting, one thing is always abundantly clear. Self-care is defined differently by each of us. Some have said that self-care is the ability to take care…Overcoming FearWhat fears have you overcome and how? I actually lived in fear for a very long time. It’s kind of maniacal when I think about how something I couldn’t see or something that had not happened yet kept me bound in chains…Resolve to EvolveWho would you like to talk to soon? I almost bypassed this question, but decided to ponder on it a moment. Why? Because I am working daily to evolve to “her”. Why? I believe that most of our own healing is delayed by…Authentically Too Much for Some & Just Right for Others.The legacy that I want to leave behind is the transmittable kind- you know how when you meet some people, you leave different than before you met them? Yeah, I aspire to be someone who not only changes the atmosphere…Balance Is A MythHow do you balance work and home life? I used to think that balance was something to achieve- a finish line to reach…but life has taught me that it’s not. As long as I’ve been in the field of nursing, I’ve always felt…My Psychiatry Sponge: A tribute to Mental HealthSometimes I know a bit about you before I ever see you with my eyes.Maybe it’s because I’ve read your file-making sure your mental isn’t the only thing I recognize. Sometimes I sneak a glance at your license~always…Crisis- A Catalyst for changeChange can be difficult, even if it’s good change! Change implies that there is some sort of movement which can make us uncomfortable because we are creatures of habit. In fact, much of the time we may drive the same…Words…Why is it that words can hold such little or so much power? Depending on the context in which it’s said and received, the words take on a different connotation. I happen to personally like words now that they’ve seemed…Don’t Miss the Moment…You hop into the car and feel the blistering hot seat under you as you put the car into drive. You timed everything just right so you’d leave the house on time and head down the road. Listening to the tires on the dirt…Waiting on ApologiesDo you find yourself waiting on an apology? Thinking to yourself “if they would just apologize” you could move forward? Happiness & peace could finally be restored! But no, not really! Anticipating Apologies that may…“Fire Starter”Fourteen months ago I sat with my oil pastels, my sketchpad, and my feelings. I decided to try to put my feelings into art, and at that time I was not aware of what I had created. Has this ever happened to you?…Feelings & ChildrenWhat if we started acknowledging that children HAVE feelings instead of dismissing or invalidating them because our experience of that moment is different? Would society look different? I think so. Acknowledging that…FreedomIs anything really free? I don’t think so. I think everything has a cost, be it time, money, or expectations. I was working on a new oil piece this evening and it occurred to me that I’ve always been too “intimidated”…Platforms & the “stuff” on the inside…Are you using your platform well? It certainly looks like there is a space for almost anyone to have a platform these days- be it social media, blogging, or other means- but if I asked you whether you were using yours…Silence is Golden💛It took me a long time to develop an understanding of the purpose of silence. Actually there are several, but one must overcome themselves & the sound of their need in order to practice this much needed skill. I have…De-Clutter Your BrainWhere can you reduce clutter in your life? Clutter…it lends itself to overcrowding or full beyond capacity, so when I think about where I can reduce clutter in my life I immediately think of my mind. I don’t know if…An Unexplainable MomentCan you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved? Imagine walking into an old movie theatre with grey painted concrete floors, brick walls, and a wooden stage. The aged red theatre curtains still hanging and…My Energy Comes From…When I think about where my energy comes from, I find that I am first giving consideration to where I’ve been. No, I’m not trying to be profound, but in all honesty, ANYTIME, I’m around children- I feel energized. I…No One Is Talking……. Mental health providers, therapists, counselors, APRNs, Nurses, CNAs, & so many more not listed- click here. 💚No one talks about the experience of getting off work after a 10/12 hour day of listening to other…Real talk? I’m still trying to figure this thing out…What thing you may be asking? Life. Healthy relationships. Life with freedom. Adapting to the life I’ve been given. Deep, I know. In all honesty, I think we ALL get so used to operating the way we do because we may not…Tough…What’s your all-time favorite album? I’ll start by saying that my favorite album depends on my mood- but if I had to choose one, I’d say Walk the Line, by Ben L’Oncle Soul. I discovered his music a few years ago and I…No offenseShare a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life. Honestly, I wish I had learned earlier in life to practice more restraint. Restraint in the way I experienced my own emotions and those of others. I didn’t know…IsolatedWhat would your life be like without music? My life without music would be isolated. Music has a way of translating the words of the heart so the world can hear. It isn’t always pleasant, but then again, neither are…Kidz Matter“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandi I want you to know that I care about young people! I want you to know that I enjoy spending time with children and learning from and WITH you! You always…Fitting In…Isn’t it interesting that we come into this world and immediately upon arrival we find ourselves trying to “fit in”? Curious though, what is it we are trying to fit in to? Most of my life I went from place to place and…Doing Good…Let’s normalize doing what’s right for others WITHOUT making POSTS, VIDEOS, or SIGNS about it. Yes, humans want to feel inspired, connected, and relate to othersDream of this, but QuietlyAs a little girl I used to dream of being a famous singer- I mean, it was something I really wanted to do. Then it changed and I dreamed about being a gymnast. It seemed like I would spend the whole time at recess…Our Greatest FearIt didn’t occur to me until after several years of consistent searching, prayer, meditation, and spiritual reconstruction. What you may be asking? We’ve been set free—so why do we imprison ourselves? The reason is the…The journey of two…The hero archetype has been known throughout history, and their story follows the hero’s journey. It is the cycle of being sent out on an adventure, encountering troubles and challenges, reaching a final symbolic death…Hobbies & the brain reward system…There were a lot of years that I didn’t know what my hobbies were. There were a lot of things I put on the back burner and said I’d eventually learn, take lessons, or teach myself. Many things were far too important…Artwork, Brain dumps, workspace & more…Remember my plans to join photography with my love for writing? Well, here’s my first gallery with some of my recent photos:
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