Hi, friends 👋🏽. I’m Stacy Casson, Chief Play Officer at Things to Think About. As a mom of five who also held a full-time job, I used to hold a PhD in creating chaos. Now, I help other busy, overwhelmed parents have peaceful evenings and avoid dramatic mornings. I discovered that by applying organizational principles through play, I could reduce my mental load, stop nagging, and finally move from overwhelm to action. You set the tone for your kids, and I can help you set a calm one. Let’s get started.
Celebrate Your Wins
Pause for a moment:
What’s one thing you accomplished this week—big or small?
Did you get your taxes done?
Finally stood up for yourself?
Started that craft project that’s been sitting on your dining table?
Drop your win in the comments or share it with a friend!
My wins: This weekend was my first in-person Playshop for A Clean Room, A Clear Mind. The parents and their kids left motivated and ready to clean their rooms and desks. Reflecting on your wins helps to keep the momentum when you are lacking motivation.
Every week, we explore a Tarot card because Tarot is rich in symbology and helps us to tap into our intuition. Reflecting on the card and noting what comes to mind is a metaphorical form of brainstorming that can provide insights when problem-solving.
Card of the Week: The World Reversed
A nude woman draped in fabric and holding two wands inside a laurel wreath surrounded by a lion, bull, eagle, and angel. Think about the last time you had a major win. Maybe your kid had the best birthday party, or you were recently promoted. Do you still feel like an imposter despite your success? The World card is the embodiment of “The world’s your oyster.” It’s reversed, so you feel like someone has stolen your pearl. I had a major win this week in my substitute teaching career. I successfully redirected the students to be on task, yet I was tempted to focus on my opportunities, which were corrected by the second period. As parents, it is tempting to focus on being late to the school play while ignoring that your child has been safe, fed, and loved for the rest of the week.
The Pattern It Reveals
We sabotage our confidence by focusing on our weaknesses. There is a saying: if you ever want to get something done, give it to the busy person. At first, it’s a dopamine boost to do what others couldn’t. Then, you became the default, and it got harder and harder to get your work done. You then see a pattern of being punished for your accomplishments and begin shrinking yourself to avoid additional responsibility. The World card wants us to shine. We should be taking victory laps, celebrating the culmination of our efforts. The eagle reminds us how we soared above our challenges. We tapped into our strength like the bull and had the courage to roar against discouragement. We were able to operate as the best version of ourselves, like the angel. We did it! We crossed the finish line. Yet we look back and pick apart our victory.
The Question Worth Asking
You achieved that goal you have been working toward, and feel empty or like an imposter. Or you immediately begin stressing about the next thing on your to-do list. Why are you unable to enjoy your success?
One Small Experiment to Try This Week
Every morning, look in the mirror and say a positive affirmation or two. You can write your own affirmation. If you need some inspiration you can say: “I am a loving parent and enjoy guiding my children. When I get frustrated, I’m about to have a breakthrough. I can do this!” Then, when you are winding down for the day, write down your daily wins and celebrate what you accomplished. This will build your celebratory muscles and help rewire your brain to see your success, building your confidence.
Ready to move from overwhelm to action?
If The World Reversed resonates with you, and you feel that you are blocking your success, that’s not something you have to solve alone. The first step is getting clear on what you're avoiding. Let’s do that together.
Book a Calm Down Session with me. In this session, you can allow yourself to surrender to a peaceful moment as we get to know each other and I guide you through a brief meditation. From there, we can see how I can help you on your parenting journey. People showed an average drop of 3-4 points in their stress or overwhelm levels. My clients often say that my soothing voice helps them feel calm and restored. Let me help you put on your oxygen mask. For my subscribers, use the coupon code BREATHE2026 and get $10 off your session now through the end of May.
