Bling Effect. Discover Your Radiance and Worth

Kat Smith compares women to the 4 C’s of a diamond; Cut, color, carat and clarity. Discover your radiance, your brilliance in your bling effect. Realize that you are highly valued as the diamond you are. Be empowered by your worth, radiance and carat.

BLING EFFECT:
When we are trying our best to live up to our potential, it can sometimes seem that society is attempting to mold us into rocks as opposed to the beautiful jewels we are. And as we all know Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.

When you remove the carbon coating of the social, financial, physical, relational and other stresses of day to day life, we remain brilliant. And we are tough. We can cut through the hardest of challenges and solid ceilings that are placed above us and we shine and prosper.

Take diamonds for instance. They are graded by four characteristics that are referred to as the 4 C’s: CUT, CARAT (weight), CLARITY, and COLOR. All four of these properties combined determine how much a diamond is worth.

Let us now compare the qualities of diamonds with those of a woman. Like a diamond, wars have fought over women. We possess the Bling Affect. Like the stone, we are multi-faceted. We can multi task and be so many things to so many people. We are highly desired, like diamonds. When we shine, others desire to bask in our light.

Let me explain these 4 C’s as I parallel characteristics of a woman.

CUT
Diamonds are finished by shaping facets onto the surfaces. Round brilliant diamonds are commonly cut with 58 facets. The better proportioned these facets are on the diamond, the more light will be reflected back. This is extremely important. When cut properly, the diamond will sparkle more.

What is the CUT of your CHARACTER? What are the aggregate of features and traits that form you as an individual?

CARAT

The weight of the stone is very important. Larger diamonds often cost more per carat due to their size. There are 100 points to a carat. Hence a 50 point diamond is 1/2 a carat. (There are 5 carats to a gram.)

How big is your heart? The CARAT/ or CARING can outweigh the stresses of life and replace it with love. Women are naturally caring and nurturing individuals. That is not a weakness. It is a GENEROUS and GENUINE quality.

CLARITY

How clear or pure is the stone? Clarity ranges from Flawless (perfect with no inclusions or flecks of material like carbon) to I (inclusions that you can see with the naked eye).

How clear are you? Do you have goals? See your dreams or desires with CLARITY? Are you fulfilling your destiny? Are you consciously aware of who you are and what you are about?

When you have CLARITY you have direction and are guided by your light. When your path is lit and you can see clearly, you can avoid situations that challenge your character and strip you of your dignity and self love and worth.

COLOR

Diamond colors generally range from D – X for white and yellow diamonds. D is the whitest. Around S they become “Fancy” yellow Diamonds. One can also find green, pink, red, blue and brown diamonds – though these are usually irradiated.

Does your attitude add COLOR to your life? Do you laugh? Entertain others? Embrace friendship? Socialize? Enjoy music, the arts, cultural diversity, travel, the young, the old and the simple things in life?

How we see life affects your attitude on life itself. It’s like looking through polarized lenses and seeing through the haze to a beautiful sunny day. We can alter the way we react each day. Either we wake with a colorful attitude or stick in a dark and gloomy mood.

There is beauty in all things. Are your life experiences like a bouquet of flowers – thorns and all? Do you feel the joy and radiate a glow of happiness? Is there something or someone that makes you smile? When you are in a funk, can you think of that thing or person and smile and feel loved?

Our lives are full of COLOR. So must our personalities. We don’t live in a black and white world – A beige existence. You are the artist, the Master Jeweler has blessed you with the talents and abilities to create your world the way you see it. Either you see it in full, rich color or you exist in the haze, full of imperfections and unable to shine to your full potential.

We are alive with BRILLIANT LIGHT and COLOR. CUT through your obstacles with flair. Paint the world with the COLOR of your smile. Light your path with the radiance of your CARAT. And see your dreams with CLARITY.

Crisis Resources for Abuse and Assault Victims

Finding help when you feel there is no hope in escaping a life of abuse or any other crisis can be debilitating.  If you are in need of assistance, there are organizations that are available to help you. Many of these services are at no cost because you are too valuable. Get help now. Help someone in need and help eliminate abuse and assault.

Crisis Resources

This is a list of service providers that offer survivors and their loved ones the resources they need to reclaim their lives. I begin with my area (DFW) then list national organizations that may have an office near you. Please check your local area for similar services and be encouraged that there is help available.

For IMMEDIATE EMERGENCIES, please DIAL 911

Dallas/Fort Worth: (Local and National)

RAPE / SEXUAL ASSAULT:

Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center (DARCC)
Sexual violence
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 972-641-7273
Counseling Services: 972-641-7273
http://www.dallasrapecrisis.org

Brighter Tomorrows
Domestic violence and sexual assault
24-Hour Local Hotline:972-262-8383
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (safe)
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 (hope)
https://www.brightertomorrows.net

Victim Intervention Program (VIP) and Rape Crisis Center Family Violence and Sexual Assault Victims – (Parkland Hospital)
214-590-2926
https://www.parklandhospital.com/phhs/news-and-updates/victim-intervention-programrape-crisis-center-staf-589.aspx

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

Brighter Tomorrows
24-Hour Local Hotline:972-262-8383
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (safe)
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 (hope)
https://www.brightertomorrows.net

Genesis Women’s Shelter
Emergency Shelter/Long term housing / Counseling
Emergency Hotline: 214.946.HELP (4357)
https://www.genesisshelter.org

Family Place
Family violence programs addressing emotional/physical abuse and incest
24-hour Crisis Hotline: 214-941-1991
http://www.familyplace.org

Mosaic Family Services (Translators available)
Culturally/linguistically services to refugees/immigrants in crisis 24-Hour Crisis Hotline 214-823-4434
https://mosaicservices.org

New Beginnings
Crisis and long-term therapy services to sexual assault survivors
24 Hour Crisis Line 800-226-7273
Main Number 972-276-0423
http://www.nbowensboro.org

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)
VICTIM ASSISTANCE HELPLINE 800-879-6682 (800-TRY-NOVA)
Advocate for victims by connecting them with services and resources
https://www.trynova.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Mental illness
NAMI HELPLINE 800-950-NAMI
info@nami.org
https://www.nami.org/

Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.HOPE (4673).
https://centers.rainn.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network
24/7 Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (Veterans, press 1)
Crisis Chat Service – http://crisischat.org/
Crisis Text Line – Text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7 http://www.crisistextline.org/

Veterans Crisis Line – Send a text to 828255 https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
1-866-331-9474
http://www.loveisrespect.org

The Power of Encouragement

In this episode of #ResilientLivingTV – Kat talks about how simple is it to lift someone up with just a kind word of encouragement. It can be pivotal in life just to know someone thinks enough of you to nurture and support you with a word of encouragement.

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How Hormones Affect Our Mental State

How do hormones affect mental health? In this episode of #ResilientLivingTV, Kat speaks with Doris King, a mental health advocate and author or Curing Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. Doris will share some insight about her diagnosis and living with mental illness and how it affects our relationships.

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Fix Her Upper – A Life Renovation

It’s Demo Day in your life. In this episode of #ResilientLivingTV, Kat inspires you to take on a fixer-upper of your life – Renovating your life after challenges. Taking out the old and outdated habits and beliefs and bringing in new and fresh ways of living, thinking, and being. Read below.

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Much like our homes, our lives can use a simple refurbishing, a detailed renovation, or a full-on remodel. The task of tearing out old, outdated beliefs and behavior that no longer or never served you allows you to open up to fresh and ideas and habits. Adding a fresh coat of color rejuvenates living and increases lifetime value. It’s Demo Day!

One of the most common reasons people renovate their homes is a change in their lifestyle;

  • an upcoming wedding
  • a new baby
  • or grown children moving away

For our lives, we make changes for some of the same reason as well as:

  • a divorce or change in marital status
  • new or change in a job situation
  • finally tired of neglecting ourselves

We may not need a lot of work so there are levels to a life improvement just like in home improvement. Let me start by clarifying between a Refurbishment, Renovation, and Remodeling;

Refurbish: (Make-Over)

To brighten or freshen up. – painting, repairing and cleaning to make look new again. 

Refresh: A hair cut, a new wardrobe, or way of doing our make up that makes us feel better about how we present ourselves.

Renovate: (Lifestyle Change)

To restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; includes re-painting, re-facing cabinets, installing new fixtures or finishes. The original design isn’t altered drastically, but rather, it is updated to a new standard.

Invigorate: Lose a few pounds, get a make-over, and adopt a healthier diet. 

Remodel: (Life Overhaul)

To alter the structure or changing the use of space. Involves complex design considerations as well as construction, electric, and plumbing

Repair/Revive: Get back to your desired weight, adopt a healthier lifestyle, new wardrobe, attitude, and way of being.

So there are steps to undertaking a project:

1. Make a Plan

Assess what you’d like to renovate and set priorities

  • Where to start – If you can change anything about yourself what would that be?
  • When to start – Don’t start at a time when you cannot devote the time and energy to the changes you desire. It’s self-defeating.

2. Be realistic 

Starting any good renovation requires a realistic idea about what you can and want to accomplish. 

  • See your renovation in stages. 
  • Do your research and talk to friends who have renovated their lives and ask them what to expect. 
  • Clip photos out of magazines of the life you want and create a vision board. 

3. Start Demolition

Once you ready, it’s demolition time. 

  • Begin to pay attention to your thoughts and actions that may sabotage our plan
  • Work behind the walls – check the emotional and mental wiring and make sure that there are no shorts or old wiring that will short circuit your progress,

4. Get advice 

Self-determination is great when it is working with you but there may be times when you feel weak and defeated. Don’t give up.

  • Have a support system that you can call for encouragement and inspiration. It takes a good friend to remind you that YOU will love how you feel once you have completed your remodel. 
  • Invest in a coach, trainer, or stylist to help you reach your goals.

Don’t look back and regret the before and after shot of your life. Take steps now to breathe new life and inspiration in your goals, dreams, and desires.