As I’ve progressed in my self awareness journey I’ve mastered the skill of being present in the moment and able to receive the messages as they come. If I ever have to question what faith, hope, and belief look like I witnessed it first hand. And more importantly there was action behind the belief.
As I sit and listen to her answer the question “So how is your mom doing?”, her voice doesn’t quiver. She doesn’t hesitate to say “it’s not the absolute worst nor is it better.” She confessed her mother had several mini strokes which led to her dementia. Then she delivered what faith, hope, and belief looks like: She said, “My hope is that mom has a final stroke and she goes in her sleep.”
Now on the surface you would clutch your pearls. But when you believe and have faith, you know living with a loved one who has no quality of life, has pain around the clock, loss of appetite, loss of movement in limbs, lack of awareness of themselves and loved ones, that isn’t the life you’d hope for for them. Yes, we want them around but at some point it becomes selfish. In result, whenever they do transition, we are left with the pain of what their last days reflected. MENTAL NOTE OF THE DAY
As she describes the emotional and physical toll it takes to care for her aging mother that has dementia, she’s still very self aware of her own needs. She told her mom, I have to go out and see people. She refuses to give up her life. Her hobbies, craft and book club weekly meetings. As well as church.
As she was speaking I could’t help but reflect on the countless family members and friends that gave up their life taking care of their loved one. After my grandma transitioned, all the arrangements and services were done, my mom sat at the table and said, “I don’t know what to do everyday.” Why? Because for months she gave up her entire being to take care of grandma.
Even in the midst of grief, her ability to have self awareness, emotionalwellness, and boundaries inspired me to continue. We’re going to experience some raw emotions and experiences, but all the while it’s still priority to put ourselves first. No matter what the situation is, we are left with ourselves to move on.
Have faith, hope, and belief. Believe you have the power and strength to do all things and over come all things. Just because you’re having a hiccup doesn’t mean to lack self care. If anything, ramp it up.
If we look around the validation we’re seeking is in front of our faces. You have already been validated. God sends you validation in many forms. We must hear and see in the spirit. As my grandmother would say when I was younger, if it was a snake, it would’ve bit you.
So often we look for validation when we’re experiencing different emotions. Or, we may seek validation when we begin a new venture of some sort. However, in my experience, the validation is already there.
The validation could come from someone you least expect. We often seek validation from family and friends, but God will send your enemy to give you a boost of encouragement. Don’t look at it as the person is being nosy or want something from you. God is telling you to go for it, because you are going to inspire the one person you least expect.
You have already been validated when you read that message that pops up on your phone. You know, the one that makes you say “hmmm” or “that is a coincidence”. That is God saying you have everything you need. You have been seeking from places that can’t give you what you need. GOD IS A KEEPER
When your friend or family member send you a inspirational message, that’s God saying you have been validated. He uses his resources wisely. If you come across a passage and it hits you differently, then that is your validation confirmation.
When I say validation, it could be you worried about switching jobs. Have you decided to move away and you are worried if its the right decision. You may seek validation from setting some boundaries and you want to make sure you’re doing the right thing. You could need affirmation to make a decision that would effect you financially. Just look, its already there. Any way you stand up for yourself and it scares you, its been validated already.
This thought of already being validated came to me when I was worried about if I made the right decision on something . But for several days, I came across messages and inspirational videos that let me know I was doing the right thing. Every morning for a couple of days, my morning message that I read, would have something to do with my decision. I had to stop and think to myself, this isn’t popping up by coincidence, this is God telling me to stop worrying, you made the right decision.
If you are struggling with a decision or feel you’re not receiving the validation you need, stop and look around you. I guarantee you, that you’ve been affirmed and validated. Get in tuned with your spirit. It won’t steer you wrong.
My hope for you is that you find the strength, courage, and passion you desire to live the life you want. As I sit here and enjoy my day off on my birthday 🎉 , I wanted to encourage at least one person to be themselves freely. Do You Have A Vision For Your Life
There is nothing more fulfilling than to be able to wake up everyday and be excited. You are excited because you are grateful. My hope for you is that you are excited because you are going to the job of your dreams. I want you to have excitement because you have accomplished your weight loss goal. You should get excited about waking up, seeing the sunshine, being able to walk, and to have breath in your body.
I set out this last year to take risks, set boundaries, and be of service. I am very happy and gratefulGod has given me the Grace to do so. But I’m more excited because I’m learning and growing in what my purpose and mission is. I know what I want to offer and bring into every situation or person I encounter.
On this day or whatever day you are reading this, I hope you forgive and let go of whatever is holding you back from being free. Give yourself a gift of freedom and happiness. The best thing I heard this week was “If your life don’t turn out the way you want it to, then you are the only person that has to deal with it.”-MJ Harris.
In this one life, we don’t get do overs. No matter if you do what others want you to or do what you want, someone is going to always have something to say. So why not live for you anyway. You have nothing to lose.
My hope for you is that you take one small step of faith. What do you hope for? How do you envision yourself living? Whatever the answer to those questions are, make it a goal by your next birthday to have achieved the vision. Step out on faith and give yourself a gift on your next birthday. Make it realistic and obtainable.
Using your birthday as a goal date is a great way to self reflect. By each birthday we want to have grown, achieved, or made progress. This day you won’t forget. And because it is your birthday, you will be more inspired and motivated to achieve your goal.
All of us on this earth have a purpose. I know because God specifically placed us here when He wanted, how He wanted, and whyHe wanted. So because God said so, You Have A Purpose.
It doesn’t matter who your parents are, where you come from, or where you grew up, the purpose that God placed you here for hasn’t left your spirit. Regardless of what you’ve done, good or bad, to this point, you still have a purpose.
”Nothing or no one can change God’s plan for you.”
There is still someone out there that you inspire. What you think is your pain or worst mistake, encourages and motivates another. How you overcome obstacles, inspires another to have the same strength as you. While you’re thinking you are damaged and no one would care, trust me there are many who look to you for light.
If you are feeling like you’ve been through too much trauma, ask yourself what is the common root of each experience. Look back and see how you over came each time. Now think about the lesson learned and what you know about yourself in the after math. Your purpose is sometimes in your pain. STRENGTH
Look around and I guarantee you, your purpose is right there. However, we can’t be afraid of what our purpose is. If it is to share your experiences to make someone else better or whole, then we have to get comfortable with being vulnerable. As I told my husband one night, I have to do “it” (I was struggling telling a family member something that could potentially hurt them) because I feel like God is trusting me to deliver a certain message to a certain person.
Don’t think your life is over and you have to settle. You have a purpose and will make a difference. Trust yourself to trustGod, and you will get through.
The other day I was walking with my husband and we were doing some reflecting on this past year as well as our 15 year marriage. The one thing that we always came back to was, God has kept us. God is a keeper. No matter what you go through or how bad a situation may seem, God has always kept us, you, and everyone else. How else are you able to sit here breathing and reading this. God has kept you.
What has God kept you from? When you were falling and didn’t hit that ground. He swooped you up right before you hit. There were times a bill or debt needed to be taken care of, God provided. It may not have been how you thought. Or, the resources come from the places we least expect. You’ve been able to eat everyday, God has kept you. Each and everyday you wake up, God has kept you. Let’s say the obvious, we survived an unpredictable year. God has kept us.
Most importantly there are many things God has kept us from and we don’t even know it. He has blocked us from so much without us knowing. In any event, you have overcome. There is so much you can probably say about what you’ve been through, but I guarantee you that there is more God has protected you from.
As we were reflecting on our walk, we agreed that trying to maintain control made issues worse than they should have been. I think we are all guilty of that. Trying to control and hold on to things that God has clearly said let go and let me handle it. Most often, we need to let go and let God lead us into the directionHe has set for us. Gods ways is better than ours.
If you find yourself going around in the same cycle, let go and trustGod to lead you. He has kept you this long, He will continue. Move out His way and let his will be done. He won’t steer you wrong. Trusting God, you can’t never lose. Allow Him in to lead you. Let him keep you as he has done so many times before.
P.S. I am not a preacher. I encourage and inspire based off my personal experiences. My hopes are to motivate and help others prevent them from any heart ache.
You can handle it. Whatever that “it” is, God said you can handle it. He is trusting you to handle that obstacle. God specifically chose you to overcome whatever hurdle you feel like you are facing. You can handle it, because God said so. You know what else? In actuality, you can handle it because you have been given everything you need to conquer.
Sometimes we need to change our perspective on our situations. Instead of saying why me? Ask yourself, why not me? Think of yourself as being the chosen one. You were chosen because there wasn’t anyone else God could trust to be an example, deliver his message, and show others what He can do.
I know its challenging. You feel like you don’t have what it takes. There is a great sense of loneliness. But tap into your Faith, and know you can get through. You can handle it. Allow yourself to let go and be vulnerable. Your greatest strength is going to come in your vulnerability. However, is it going to be scary, absolutely. But God isn’t going to allow you to fall. You’re going to rise and shine like never before.
Give yourself permission to let go and be free. The bravery and strength is in letting go. Once you let go, you are going to be able to conquer with the strength God is given you.
Believe and know you are everything that you hope and aspire to be. Just access it. We have been given the Grace. Forgive yourself . Set yourself free.
Happy Sunday everyone. Be encouraged and inspired. I just wanted to motivate and encourage anyone out there who hasn’t been feeling 100%. Have a great week ahead and be the best you, you can be. Because being you is more than enough. You are enough!!!
I just wanted to come to you all really quick and wish you a Happy Sunday morning, noon, or night. I hope you get the peace, relaxation, and joy this day has to offer before the start of the week.
It’s been heavy on me to express to those who are in distress or not, that there’s a reason and purpose for everything even in the toughest of times. Find your purpose for living. Even in the midst of storm my family is in following the death of my mother in law, I can’t help but to have this overwhelming feeling of gratitude.
Blessed Through The Storms
While in the storm we are getting drenched, dirt poured on us, and beat down in the process. Stay present in the moment. Feel every drop of dirt, debris, and rain no matter how bad it hurts. We need the storms to grow and show us the true strength and power we have. My friends anything that is good for us needs dirt and water to grow. Plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables.
We will have storms, we can’t stop that. But its how we clean up that will make us stronger. How we learn and overcome, will prepare us for the next storm.
If you are sick believe that you are healed. If you are weak believe you are strong. You have been prepared and equipped for every storm. You have everything you need to withstand. At this moment you just have to access it through gratitude 🙏 and having Faith.
Thank you and God Bless. Happy Sunday everyone!!!!!
Have you ever prayed for something and felt like you’ve been waiting for a while or it was never answered? Because we humans are emotional creatures, many times our prayers have been answered but we’re too in our head to realize it.
This lightbulb just went off for me recently. For many years I constantly said to myself and others I didn’t want a 9-5, Monday thru Friday job. The thought of doing the same thing over and over again, having no time during the week to handle business, and essentially a weekend that‘s non existent was something I wasn’t interested in.
Welp, I ate those words. Now don’t get me wrong I love being in the professional world, contributing to an office, and using what I’ve learned and went to school for. Balancing books, spreadsheets, financial reports, and budgets makes my heart flutter. However, I had so many other interest I wanted to pursue.
Recently I was honest with myself and husband in saying I no longer wanted to do a 9-5 because I wanted to pursue some other ventures. I knew I could pursue my gifts whilst making sure my family didn’t feel any effects financially.
Pre COVID-19 my attitude and emotions toward my professional job changed. I enjoy what I do, however staying until 5PM was beginning to weigh on me. I began feeling like my time was better suited at home taking care of my kids, husband, home, and personal ventures. Yes, many others would love to sit idle and make “free” money. So often I would tell family and friends I feel unproductive and I’m wasting time by sitting here.
They would respond in telling me that it’s easy, free money. Well I wasn’t happy just sitting there doing nothing knowing deep down my mind was elsewhere. So my happiness and eagerness every morning dwindled as time went on.
Now COVID-19 had come and the world went to a shut down but we continued to work through it. I was given the pleasure to choose what shift I wanted because only one person could be in the office at a time. Well that was a nice gift right there but I couldn’t receive it as a gift at that time. So anyway, I chose the 7am-1pm shift. I am a morning person. I was excited to have time to work, take care of my family, home and still have time to pursue what I wanted.
I fell in love with this shift and after weeks into the months I couldn’t envision myself going back to a nine hour day. I remember standing in my kitchen telling my husband I would love to stay on this shift because I was seeing my vision for the life I wanted to live begin to form.
Well literally God answered my prayers with in a week. My boss came to me with a proposition of remaining part time on my shift so he can bring back an old friend full time. When he approached me I felt insulted and unappreciated because he used the fact that I valued being a mom to get what he wanted. All the while it was what I wanted as well. Because it was packaged in old wrinkly wrapping paper with no bow I didn’t realize the amazing gift that was being handed to me.
Needless to say I felt every emotion. How dare he to proposition me like that. Mind you I just told my husband I wanted to stay on this shift of 7-1. So I reluctantly agreed and instantly went into my feelings.
I was angry that I was doing a full time job on part time hours. While the other person enjoy doing nothing. Remember what I said a little while ago, about how being there until 5pm, I felt like I was wasting time.
Eventually duties began getting taken away and they let it be known their preference on who they wanted to handle certain duties. Once again I’m in my feelings y’all. Because these gifts aren’t being wrapped in pretty packaging with bows I wasn’t realizing God was giving me the shift I wanted, taking away duties so I wouldn’t feel like I was doing another person job, and answering my Prayers.
Now school has started and I need to be available before and after school. Well I was once again given the gift of “let me know when you want to come in and what hours you want to work”.
No joke I literally make my schedule and work how many hours I want. At one point I was given a compliment of how I get more work done in 5 hours than a normal person does in 8 hours. I was grateful for the compliment but because these gifts I was “given” was wrapped in old paper I couldn’t fully appreciate it.
Because they would say things like, you’ve got us to a good place but we want her to handle it now, I felt some type of way. Or, you really good at what you do, but she knows how I like things done. Then I got, if you ever want to go back full time let me know because you come first. All the while I was thinking, if I’m your first priority, why are you choosing someone else over me? This was God giving me exactly what I wanted. When I spoke to my husband that day in the kitchen, God heard my cry, and delivered.
God was answering my prayers, while polishing my character and making me stronger. Letting me know, it’s not always going to be pretty. Trust in the Lord and His Will shall be done.
OMG!!! I am blessed and had to look back to see how every prayer was answered. I literally got everything I asked for. I love being a mom and wife, taking care of the house and making sure they have the time, energy, and love they need to succeed. I also love having the ability to pursue my interests and hobbies that makes me, Me. I love being able to work outside the home and provide.
Guys this has taught me to get out my head and get out my feelings because if not I would’ve missed or even lost some blessings. Just because things aren’t answered how we want them to, when we want them to be answered, and who we want God to use doesn’t mean that our prayers isn’t answered.
F-Forgive yourself first. Forgive yourself for everything you are feeling guilty about or regret. Whatever you said, done, allowed, ignored, or encouraged forgive yourself. Forgiveness is for you not them. Remember why you’re worried and losing sleep they are enjoying life while you carry this useless burden. Forgiving doesn’t mean you agree or you aren’t remorseful, it simply frees you and allows you to move forward.
O-Overthinking ruins your mental and emotionalwellness. Overthinking also ruins our relationships, keeps us in our head, effects our ability to be productive at work, and our everyday life is greatly compromised. Trust yourself, make your decision, and forgive.
R-Regrets are useless. We can’t take back what was said or done. We can’t get time back either. The best thing to do is apologize if the misunderstanding was on our behalf, understand why it was hurtful, and grow the relationships from there. If the misunderstanding was on the other side, express why you were hurt, if they apologize, great kiss and makeup. However, if they don’t that’s even better, because when we express to someone how they hurt us and they don’t apologize, they have let us know how we show up in their life. Forgive them anyway, and have a relationship at arms length.
Forgiveness is for you.
G-Grudges effect you not the other person. Holding a grudge is like a kid constantly picking the scab off. The road to healing and forgiveness is prolonged. Also you are the one spending time and energy going out of your way trying to stay angry and thus making excuses for why you’re staying angry. Your sleep, eating habits, daily life, and wellness is all effected by holding a grudge.
I-Interrupt the bad or negative patterns of behaviors. We talk about what we want to do so much sometimes you just have to “get off the pot or piss” as my mom says. Stop talking about it and do it. That negative talk about yourself or others for that fact, interrupt the pattern in mid sentence. Bad sleeping habits, eating habits, language, or anything that you want to stop or get better with just take the leap and start. Forgive yourself for letting so much time go by.
V-Victories are won when we let go and forgive. It’s a victory for everyone. The tension is released, everyone is smiling and feel like themselves again. Benefitting from forgivenesses stop us from walking on eggshells. The muscles in our jaws are relaxed, the wrinkles in our foreheads are smoothed, and we’ve loosen the lips. Our frown has turned into a smile and we can show our beautiful faces again.
E-Express yourself some way. Show your personality in art, fashion, music, writing, dancing, makeup or whatever you love. While we’re shy or thinking people may talk about us for being us, that is the one thing others need to see about us. You never know who you may inspire or how free you may become. The more colorful, wierd, or extreme it is the better. Do it unapologetically. How To Use Creativity To Boost Your Mental Health
F-Freshen yourself up. It’s amazing what a new haircut, outfit, new makeup, or facial will do. When we spend time on ourselves, it gives us a new look and confidence that we need to put some spunk in us.
A-Attract what you want. We are what we attract. That is in friendships, romantic relationships, finances, positive vibes, and in your spirit.
T-Talk and tell others how you feel. If we don’t express how we feel then our loved ones won’t know we need their ear, heart, conversation, and love.
H-Hope fuels faith. Always hope for the best. Even when things don’t pan out how you wanted them to or right away, having hope leaves us with the expectation that everything is going to be alright.
RosalynLynn
Be you so you can be free.
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