Introduction // Why this class matters

Hey! My name is Jodi McKenna. I've been oiling for about 14 years, back when my now 15 year old was just a baby. Back when I was DESPERATE for some harmony in the home but didn't know about diffusing or supplementing to achieve some harmony!

 

⌚️Flash forward, we have 4 kids (Asher 15, Ezra 13, Gabe 11, and Naomi 9) plus an 80 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback! Currently we are renting a home and homeschooling while we are building a house out in the boonies -- and boy oh boy has this rental space required tweaking our old routine.

 

We are on top of each other. And did I mention that all of my kids are musicians 🥁. . . including a full drum kit that reverberates throughout the house?

 

I'm kinda blown away how tweaking just a few things can be a GAME CHANGER to the atmosphere in your home by supporting calmer interactions and happier emotions! 🥳🤩😍

 

This class matters because you matter and the relationships you have with others matter. It seems that this time of year stress runs high, making now a great time to be vigilant about keeping harmony in the home.

Harmony in the Home

 

With all the different personalities and 👨‍🦳👩‍🦱👧👶🧔👩 body chemistries that family members have, sometimes it can be difficult to maintain a sense of harmony in the home.

 

Back when my kids were little, there was a winter that we received numerous snowfalls and extremely cold temperatures, followed by ice. Playing outdoors was out of the question. I, along with my kids, was going stir crazy. At the time, I did not know the science regarding essential oils. I did not know how they supported our emotions, feelings, and memories. All I knew was that my home 🏘 was filled with cacophony and felt like a 🎡 merry-go-round.

 

I saw the bottle of Peace and Calming on the shelf, took its name at face value, dropped several drops into the diffuser and turned it on. Within minutes, order was restored and the kids stopped climbing the walls. It baffled me at the time. But I kept using it because it worked. Harmony prevailed in the home.

Another testimonial occurred shortly after we stepped down from leading children’s ministry at our church. We felt a bit of pressure that our kiddos should LOVE Sunday School. Alas, every Sunday we battled with them in the hallway to get them through the doors of their respective classrooms. I had just discovered Valor to use on my back and I thought maybe this oil would work like that P&C’ing -- except create feelings of Valor in my kiddos. Guess what? It did. Harmony was restored.

 

Or what about the time my dyslexic son was experiencing a massive freak out moment in the car and beating himself up so much so that the other kids were scared and uncomfortable? I whipped out the blends Transformation and Endoflex. I had him inhale Transformation and paired it with an affirmation; and we rubbed Endoflex on this throat to help him calm down.

 

Oils are just one way we support our emotions. However, I must add that using an oil to restore harmony does not give an escape route to forgo apologizing and making things right with whomever we lashed out at. It never hurts to say that you are sorry.

 

The great thing about oils is that they can help diffuse a situation, lead to quicker emotional recovery and restore harmony between the people that matter in our lives.

How Oils Affect Moods

Essential oils are highly concentrated and contain powerful constituents that, when they get into our bloodstream or travel to our olfactory and limbic systems, can affect moods.

 

👃👃👃 Olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is one of the least understood senses. It is the sense most closely tied to memory because of its close connections to the parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory, the limbic system.

 

👃👃👃 Here's how it works: Stimuli that activate your sense of smell are called odorants. When you inhale odorant molecules they interact directly with the lining of the nose (olfactory epithelium). When olfactory neurons in the upper part of the nose detect odorants, they generate an impulse that is passed to the brain along the olfactory nerve. This info is then passed to the olfactory bulb, which processes the signal and then passes information about the smell to the limbic system. The olfactory bulb has direct connections to the amygdala and hippocampus which are both strongly implicated in emotion and memory. Interestingly, information from all of our other senses (such as sound and touch), do not pass through these parts of the brain. This is why the sense of smell is so effective at triggering emotions and memories.

What is also fascinating, is that depending on the information our brain receives from our nose, it can also initiate any number of physiological responses including activating the immune system, changing blood pressure, and affecting the digestive system (but more on that later).

 

When I smell the blend Journey On, it reminds me of Gary Young and I am filled with a renewed sense of purpose, plus my immune system is super supported with this blend.

 

Valor and Calm CBD influence me in powerful ways and help me calm my thoughts and recognize truth instead of believing lies that I may be anxious about.

 

Joy goes on my ❤️❤️❤️ heart every day reminding me that I have God’s joy down in my heart! And don’t get me started on Christmas Spirit . . . . we have been diffusing that non-stop since September!

Starting the Day Off Right

 

Are you a morning person? Bless you if you are. I think we need a moment of silence.

 

But seriously, the way you start your day can affect your mood for the rest of the day, if you choose to allow it to. I am powerfully aware of this. You see, I typically wake up at 6 am to have an hour to myself before the family wakes up. My first action? Turning on the diffusers and having Ningxia Red!

 

Diffusing an uplifting blend in the morning is a way to help set moods for the whole family: Citrus Fresh, Lemon and Peppermint, or Motivation are great oils to start with.

 

Personally, I love starting the day with Frankincense, especially in the winter. Frank is like liquid sunshine to me!

 

I find that having my shot glass of NingXia Red along with some Vitality oils actually makes me feel incredibly empowered. By doing these two things, I feel successful within minutes of waking up!!!!

Taming Tantrums

 

One thing I have learned is that kids 👧🧒 have less life experience and often don’t know the proper ways to deal with moods and emotions that they don’t understand. I love helping mentor my kiddo through these moments.

 

👉 If you are new to oils, be sure to dilute with Young Living’s V-6 or another fatty vegetable oil (not the traditional vegetable oil or canola oil) when applying topically or hit the easy button by using pre-diluted KidScents oils. When my kids were younger, I applied the oils to their feet, wrists, and/or back!

 

You know, it’s super fun to have your kids choose what oil / oils to diffuse. You might be surprised at the aromas they create and how happy it makes them to be involved in the harmony of the home.

 

💪💪 Ready for a recipe? Try this Mood Buster roll-on recipe: 10 drops Joy, 8 drops Orange, in a 10-ml roller bottle - fill the rest with carrier oil. Apply on their chest over their heart, behind their ears, and on the bottom of their feet.

 

Now, I personally am a huge fan of Endoflex on the throat to diffuse temper tantrums. Dropping Vitality Frankincense under the tongue or using Idaho Blue Spruce topically under the tongue can help support cortisol levels.

 

With teenagers, tantrums come across as attitude. But can I tell you something? Sometimes looking at our child as a young adult versus a teenager can make all of the difference. Young adults ask questions and are trying to figure out the world. When it appears they are challenging you, try assuming the best and ask them more open ended questions and coach them through this season of life. Often people rise to whatever you expect from them.

 

The Mood Buster roll-on would still work for them, but teenage boys might value Valor, Sacred Mountain, Northern Lights Black Spruce or any tree oil to support their emotions. If they respond well to floral oils but they don't want to wear them during the day, just have them diffuse that particular oil while they sleep. Young adult ladies respond well to Dragon Time, a drop of Progessence Plus or whatever aroma they gravitate towards.

 

Besides using the oils I mentioned above, simply laughing, walking barefoot outside, playing with rocks, or lying on the Biomat can really help improve the atmosphere of our home.

Healthy Gut, Happy Heart

 

Recent studies have shown that proper gut health 🧠 can improve someone’s overall happiness and mood. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/

 

As the gatekeeper of your home and mouth, there are many Young Living supplements that help improve your overall gut health. Starting with a probiotic, like Life 9, is a great first step. I personally am a huge fan of Essentialzymes-4 and a capsule of Vitality Digize with many of my meals!

 

Eliminating sugar and dairy have drastically improved my mood. What I eat affects the harmony in our home.

 

KidScents MightyPro is perfect for getting kids on track to good gut health. It has a great taste and easy to ingest formula. But make sure your dog refrains from eating it, because it contains Xylitol!

 

When moods are set off by upset stomachs, we slather on peppermint or Digize; and sometimes we bring the big guns out -- Aroma Ease. TummyGize for is great for kids, especially if you have a rollerball on top of it!

 

I'm sure you know that upset stomachs can be massive disruptors in the harmony of your home. But in the event someone has an upset stomach, I also keep Sulfurzyme, Allerzyme, Inner Defense, and Vitamin C Chewables on hand to do my very best to ensure happy bellies and happy brains!

Setting the Mood

Since essential oils work directly with our body’s emotional center, they can be used for all kinds of moods, even 💋 romantic ones. Quite honestly, I think I serve you best by directing you to the book, Lucy Libido : https://amzn.to/2sdq6re for #allthethings that support your "bedroom."

 

The hubby and I have made it a habit to have a date night each week for over 20+ years. Clearly communicating with each other is crucial for harmony in the home and marriage. We have many tools in place to make sure we are on the same page. Brian matters to me. And our relationship matters to our kids.

 

But sometimes, this mama is done. My love language is 🛍 gifts. His is physical touch. Praise Jesus for oils like Ylang Ylang, Sclarescense, Cypress, Joy, and Lady Sclareol. By applying these oils early on in the night, well we might both get what we want. :) Talk about having harmony in the home! #awkwardmomentwithjodi

 

 

👉👉👉 Try this Pillow Talk Roller Blend: 14 drops Sensation, 10 drops Idaho Blue Spruce, 7 drops Orange, and 6 drops Vetiver (helps calm any nerves and/or relax the mind to help with focusing on the moment) all in a 10-ml roller bottle - fill the rest with carrier oil. Roll on your inner thighs and set the mood! For a little extra spiciness, add some Black Pepper essential oil or use it to replace the Vetiver if it isn’t needed in your situation.

 

My husband knows that I’m thinking about him ahead of time when I take a shower (hello Young Living Dragon Time Shower Gel), apply some Savvy Mineral makeup, and apply Ammoresence from Beauty School. Little things like this help the harmony within the home. Young Living thinks of EVERYTHING!

Dealing with Emotions

Emotions and moods can range from a bad day to dealing with a traumatic event. What works for me, may not work for you. And sometimes, healing is simply a process -- a journey, if you will. Consistency is so important when using oils!

 

Science has shown that emotions are REAL things – they become part of the grey matter in our brains 🧠 and memories are stored in and the throughout our bodies where the vibrational frequency is similar. Stuffing them, ignoring them, dismissing them doesn’t make them go away. They become part of us and are stored in our cell memory. Thus, it is important to help our bodies process thoughts and memories -- and oils do a fantastic job of that if you remember from post #3. Read more about this in the book, "Switch on Your Brain," by Dr. Carolyn Leaf.

 

My husband has battled with a chronic condition for 10+ years that has RADICALLY affected our family. There was a season that was extremely painful and affected us emotionally. I am EXTREMELY thankful for the Feelings Kit to help us navigate and heal from those hard to handle emotions.

This kit contains

-- Harmony™, 5 ml
-- Forgiveness™, 5 ml
-- Inner Child™, 5 ml
-- Present Time™, 5 ml
-- Release™, 5ml
-- Valor®, 5ml

 

// How We Use the Feelings Kit //

NOTE: I apply these oils typically before bedtime and pair them with Scripture or an affirmation. I will use the kit for a month at a time.

👉👉👉Put Valor Oil on the soles of both feet & inhale. Valor helps balance and equalize the body’s energy thereby increasing oxygen intake to the pineal gland. The Pineal Gland is the producer of the hormone melatonin. The quality and duration of your sleep relies on how well the pineal glad produces this hormone. This tiny organ regulates your daily and seasonal circadian rhythms, the sleep-wake patterns that determine your hormone levels, stress levels, and physical performance.

👉👉👉Apply Harmony to the Solar Plexus. The solar plexus, or celiac plexus, is a large cluster of nerves that relay messages from the major organs of the abdomen to the brain. These organs, called visceral organs, are important to metabolism and to general life functioning. The solar plexus monitors them and makes sure they are functioning correctly. Emotional shock creates blocks which scramble our ability to think or feel properly. Harmony oil cleanses and balances the body. It will support harmony and allow you to let your emotions go. Stored anger will produce physical affects in your body. After using the Feelings Kit once or twice a day for a month, I noticed that I was able to think about a situation as if I were reading it in a book rather than experiencing it all over again in my head.

👉👉👉Inhale the oil then apply Forgiveness Oil around the navel (most nerve endings in body) and think of situations where you need to forgive yourself or others. Unforgiveness is one of the most common roots of physical, mental, and spiritual disease. Unforgiveness does not make the offending party sick. It makes us sick. Forgiveness is for our own benefit. Forgive yourself for allowing the person to affect your health and happiness. No more victim mentality. Let go of the anger, bitterness. When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.

👉👉👉Apply three drops of Present Time in the palm of your hand and then apply it to your thymus (the gland just under your sternum or breastbone). The gland produces thymosins, which are hormones that stimulate the development of antibodies. The thymus also produces T-lymphocytes which are white blood cells that fight infections and destroy abnormal cells. The thymus gland is very active in childhood. Besides keeping you focused on the tasks of today, this oil can increase your consciousness in the present. If the emotions don’t flow with Present Time use Release.

👉👉👉Apply Release over your liver (upper abdomen, right side) to release those emotions that can store in there. Maintaining good liver health includes drinking lots of pure water and doing a liver cleanse. This oil can help improve sleeping, emotional balance, peacefulness. You know you’ve dealt with that emotion when you can go back to it like you are reading it versus experiencing it. Release Oil enhances the release of memory trauma from the cells of the liver, where anger and hate emotions are stored. This oil may aid in the letting go of negative emotions so that one can progress in a more effective & efficient way. It helps to release frustration.

👉👉👉Some YL members say you can topically apply one drop of Inner Child onto the pad of your thumb and then place your thumb onto the roof of your mouth. This opens the cranial sutures and stimulates the pineal, pituitary, and other organs of the emotional brain that occupy the space just above the roof of your mouth. Or you can apply Inner Child to the crown of your head.

👉👉👉Close with Valor. Apply to your brain stem, back of neck, and both feet. Valor anchors that memory into the central nervous system.

Now for trauma and situations where the emotions and pain run so deep you feel like you are drowning, consider applying SARA or Trauma Life.

I admit facing our emotions isn't the most fun thing to do in the world. But the harmony it can bring into many of our relationships is well worth the time and tears.

Oils on the Road

The title of this post seems a bit out of place since this class is about having harmony in the home. Being out in public or ✈️ traveling can stir up all kinds of emotions. And how that situation affects us also affects the harmony when we get home. Sometimes I have great angst before attending certain social functions and can get a bit terse with my family. I gravitate towards the Valor Roll On for these situations.

 

The most profound experience I have had most recently is with the CBD Calm roll on. We were traveling back home from the Young Living Convention and the tire on our camper blew out on a VERY busy interstate. I was panicking because the dire reality of the situation really hit me. The anxiety inside of me was rapidly rising. I applied the CBD Calm multiple times and spoke truth to myself. I couldn’t believe the change in how I felt.

Tranquil and Stress Away Roll-Ons are great to keep in your purse or pack for a trip, as they can provide much needed emotional support.

 

--> Tranquil is made up of Lavender, Cedarwood, and Roman Chamomile with a coconut oil carrier. Roman Chamomile is soothing to skin and soothes muscle discomfort after exercise. Historically it has been shown to calm adults, children and pets.

 

--> Stress Away has Lavender, Copaiba, Cedarwood, Ocotea, vanilla and lime. Vanilla contains eugenol which may combat occasional nervous tension, while cedrol found in Cedarwood essential oil helps to promote relaxation. Copiaba contains Beta-caryophyllene, which has been extensively studied for its ability to modulate the body's response to irritation.

 

--> When we are out, whether our stomach is in a knot or we ate something we shouldn't have, an upset stomach can sometimes put us in a foul mood. AromaEase is a must have for road trips or travel, in addition to the Digize we already talked about.

 

 

--> Digize contains Peppermint Vitality, Lemongrass Vitality, Juniper, Patchouli, Ginger Vitality, Tarragon Vitality, and Anise. The smell can be intense which is why I often put 5-10 drops in a capsule when I fly, eat Indian food, or feel like butterflies are in my stomach. My daughter rubs it all over her abdomen.

 

--> AromaEase contains Peppermint, Ginger, which is commonly used to soothe, comfort, and balance, Fennel, Spearmint, which is rich in carvone and d-limonene, and Cardamon that has been traditionally used through inhalation to invigorate the mind. AromaEase helps us to mentally digest the external factors which we can not control. It encourages us to stay in a state of acceptance by calming, grounding and providing clarity on our own needs.

Diffusing the Mood

 

 

I don't know about you, but we have one diffuser, if not two, in every room. I have seen countless times how it changes the mood of our home and how it helps support our continued good health.

 

Not being a DIY kind of gal, I typically stick to the blends that Young Living has created for us. I like to hit the easy button. My go-to's are Thieves, Christmas Spirit, Northern Lights, Transformation, Immupower, Journey On, Chivalry, Grounding, Lemon/lavender/peppermint in the spring, and Frankincense most mornings.

 

My favorite diffuser is the Aria but I love the ambient lighting that emits from the Desert Mist and Lantern diffuser.

Finding Your Center

 

Every oil is different, much like everyone’s body chemistry is different. Finding the oil or blend that works best for you might take some time, but you’ll know when you find it.

 

I typically know I've found an oil that works for me when I can't seem to get enough of the aroma, my sense of smell improves, I feel more awake, or I feel a shift in my brain.

 

Oils help us hit the “reset” button on our emotions and bring us back down to earth. We learned that earlier when I explained to you how to use the Feelings kit.

Wrap Up/Recap

If you haven't already, I want to encourage you to make it a routine of supporting your emotions on a consistent basis. This will help contribute to an overall happiness and get us in the habit 📅 of turning to the oils for help when necessary. I think you will find that by supporting your emotions and those around you with essential oils, that you will see improvement in the harmony of your home.

 

Let's recap the science 🧬 behind how essential oils affect mood: when you smell something, the aroma is registered in the limbic system, which is the part of the brain responsible for emotion and memory. The structures in the limbic system play a major roles in controlling mood, memory, behavior, emotional responses, hormonal secretions, where memories are stored, sleep patterns, and feelings of exhilaration, anger, or unhappiness.

 

EO’s when taken aromatically, go to work immediately in the limbic system to affect each of these structures.

 

Knowing this helps us to understand why smell plays such an important role in memory, thought processes, mood, perception, emotions, and overall cognition. Knowing this shows us why and how essential oils can and do support harmony in all of our homes.

Need some of these items in your life?!

 

 

If you are a current member, you can log in to your Virtual Office and place a Quick Order to have these items shipped directly to you. Better yet, order through Young Living’s Essential Rewards program, and earn rewards points back! What’s Essential Rewards?! Learn more here → https://www.youngliving.com/e…/opportunity/essential-rewards

 

If you are not yet a Young Living member and are ready to add these products to your life, reach out to the person who invited you to this class, they will be happy to help you get started - make sure you ask them how you can order with a 24% discount!

Thank You!

 

 

Thank you so much for hanging out with me tonight and talking about Harmony in the Home. This topic is so dear to my heart and I was super excited to share what I have learned along the way.