The I LOVE ME and I SHOW IT Challenge

Hello Beautiful People!

In a bid to strengthen my relationship with me and by extension God and everyone around me, I have started to actively and consistently put some more self-love in motion. Showing yourself love sounds pretty basic, yet many of us neglect giving ourselves the very thing we so desperately seek. Instead we pour it onto others hoping they will pour it back on us, thus filling spaces and voids in us that only God and we ourselves can fill.
I am issuing a challenge for the next week (OR FOREVER) that I hope you will join me on. The I love me and I show it challenge. It's pretty simple, I'm going to add a list of ten things I suggest that I have been trying to incorporate to show me some love. Feel free to add what works for you and type it in the comments so others can try it too :-).

• Remind yourself that you DESERVE love
• Be more compassionate to yourself and others
• Try something new (especially something you've procrastinated on)
• Look in the mirror and smile and blow yourself a kiss each day
• Stop worrying about the MANY opinions of others
• Spend more time feeding your soul
• Stop trying to blend in
• Respect yourself completely
• Appreciate the people in your life more (tell them too)
• Be your own hero

Much love to you wherever your journey finds you today.
God Bless.
  

Begin again.

New year, New focus, New direction.
Clichè? Just a lil (and unintended) Necessary? Most definitely.

So, the new addition to my family is here (insert weird and awkward praise dance). I'm still experiencing a plethora of emotions and adjusting to the new normal. God has been beyond everything on this part of my journey. The support from my family, church and friends has been tremendous and my heart is full.

God has been leading me concerning our relationship and I have asked him to take over in a way I have never known. So this is a new journey for us as I seek him, withholding nothing. I was going to scrap this blog and do another where I focused more on this leg of the journey, but decided against it. After praying and looking at where I'm coming from, I realized that continuity is necessary and that was always the intention. So the journey and changes will be evident because that's what I set out to do.

In my search for purpose and a deeper meaning, I've come full circle. I started my walk with Christ years ago, but I had much learning and growing to do. I was straddling the fence wanting more of God, but not sure how to live that and not even sure I was willing to do what it took, giving him all of me. He has faithfully guided me to this point. My inadequacies became more clear as self help taught me that I was all I needed to do it. While I am undoubtedly a major factor in what happens, I've learnt I can't do it alone. Believe me I've tried! I'm at the point where I need to do the thing that scares me so much! Relying completely on another (whew). More specifically trusting God completely, but first I have to strengthen our relationship and deepen our bond.

When I did my c section I realized that He would be the only one who could and would go the distance with me ALWAYS. The chief cornerstone He is to me. I thank God for his mercy and patience.

I'm comforted to know that He had no intention for us to navigate this life without His input and guidance. I'm grateful for all my blessings and lessons on my journey.

As I gaze hopelessly in love with my little human, His blessings couldn't be more obvious and my heart is so full.

I'm thankful for this outlet and I'm thankful for every soul that reads. Blessings to you and yours and I hope you continue on this journey with me and that God will manifest in your life answered prayers and the clarity and guidance you seek.

Much LOVE.
Blessings...

No Limits...

This is our lil secret... I had me a good ol' pity party. Maybe not even one, or two, or three... I've had a couple of them in the past few weeks. And while they've been "familiar" and my ego was pleased, I really didn't enjoy it like I used to.. This reminds me of the simple fact that despite how I feel and the challenges, I have to keep moving forward.

“The only limits in your life are those that you set yourself.” - Celestine Chua

I came across this quote that I've always known, however today it took on new life in my mind. Whether you agree with it fully or not, it does have some merit. You decide what you do or not do, I'm not even talking about excelling or not, I'm talking about having the guts to even try something.
There are so many ideas in my head that I've rationalized about, like this blog. There are so many thing I want to do that in my mind I decided I cannot do or that I think I would fail miserably at (Who does that? a fear of failure in my case).

Today just for all of fifteen minutes I took the limits off and saw a world greater than I could imagine. What was so major is that I saw myself in it! I could not contain my excitement! I'm a bit of a realist, so I know for sure I will not succeed at everything I attempt and success might by eventual, however I do owe it myself to follow my heart. You know how you get inspired unexpectedly and in the most surprising ways sometimes, yesterday I heard singer Sia's song Chandelier on the radio and the line "I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist" hit me like bricks! Why am I not doing this as often as I should? Giving my best to everything I do? Maybe swinging from chandeliers wont be my thing. But there sure needs to be some swinging going on over here, releasing the passions in my heart and soul. Living to the fullest. I've always been drawn to people who just do them and not care about opinions, but determined to figure it out on their own terms and I know now that it's because I secretly admired them and was seeking to give myself that permission.

Today October 31,2014, the end of #OVO (October's very own) my birth month, I will do more of the things I dream, that challenge me. I'm going to give it my best. Swinging from chandeliers aren't my thing, but if it's yours swing away and smile while doing so! No holding back. Give your all. No more limits.

I'm currently reading this book by Nick Vujicic. Really good read and quite inspirational. You should check it out it you haven't already.





One Love
God Bless

Metamorphosis...

I am so tardy for the party!!! C'mon smile! It's kinda cheesy but you know you wanna. :D I have had this post in draft for a month or so. I had blocks, lows and highs and made several changes...  There is always some force to press against to do what we really need/want to do. But the pressing through and getting it done inspite of, is where victory lies. So I decided not to scrap it. And finally here it is and as usual it is from my heart, as I grow more and more comfortable being openly vulnerable.

I find butterflies really fascinating and so I was searching for photos on the internet and became even more fascinated with the process they undergo to get to the beauty we see and admire. Metamorphosis is a really awesome process. The life cycle of the butterfly is one of those things that make me cheese so hard in awe and amazement of the level of intelligence the Creator clearly possesses.

The butterfly's life cycle consists of four stages, each stage beautifully designed and all necessary for it to transform from an egg to a beautiful butterfly.

To grow into an adult the butterfly goes through the following stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Each stage accomplishes a different goal. Caterpillars need to eat a lot, and adults need to reproduce. Depending on the type of butterfly, the life cycle of a butterfly may take anywhere from one month to a whole year.

Like the butterfly we go through various stages of change in our lives. Changes that vary in length of time and season. Outside of the more obvious physical changes. We also grow and develop spiritually, mentally, psychologically and many other ly-s.

As shared from the onset I'm on a journey although sometimes I don't think I am. Those are the times when the growth doesn't feel like growth but then it is evidenced in some way. Those times when my questions outweigh the answers (which is quite often). When most of my days look the same and the changes I yearn for seem extremely distant.

As I prepare for the birth of my baby, one of the most major changes in recent years. I feel I am caught in a tailspin. These darn emotional and physical changes do quite a number on a girl. I have to relinquish complete control of my whole life to this process whether I like it or not. So does the butterfly, the series of changes have to take place. It may not be pleasant, enjoyable or even welcomed but it has to be.

My whole life is being rearranged like that of the butterfly on many fronts. Some are scary, but like the butterfly I have to surrender. I have to surrender to the process to get to the promise of which I dream.

Some seasons seem that not much is happening, like the third stage of the butterfly's life where they form themselves into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis.  From the outside it looks as if the caterpillar may just be resting, but the inside is where all of the action takes place.  Inside of the pupa, the caterpillar is rapidly changing.

So it is with our lives, some of the most beautiful moments, experiences and changes arise out of moments where there appears to be a lull, like nothing is happening but if we only knew. God is busy molding us and shaping our lives into His will and often our answered prayers.

So enjoy your journey, your metamorphosis. You aren't alone for the ride.

One love.
God bless.

Big ups to: www.thebutterflysite.com for the wealth of information..

Transparent?

We often proclaim how transparent and "real" we are, but are we really?

Being honest and transparent is something that takes real guts. Rooted in our obsession with what other people think of us. We are all self conscious which is good and required in good measure (in my opinion). But how about the fact that we sometimes pretend that everything is A ok or perfect. Don't get me wrong, It makes no sense to walk around moping etc.. but I believe it's ok not to be ok sometimes and that it doesnt make you weak. Where we are weak or challenged is where Divine strength and power steps in.

So caught up in not showing our cracks and flaws, we pretend we don't need anyone. Truth is we do. We don't need everyone, worst of all people who mistreat us and fail to see the value and worth in us. But we do need each other. To form and maintain relationships that give life. Relationships where we can love and be loved. Relationships that bring out the best in us, while helping to bring about change because of it's sheer power and influence.

With that said here is my truth, I have always struggled big time with "appearing" vulnerable. I have limited my list of people I allow myself to be vulnerable with but even then it's to an extent. A lot of it is rooted in a fear of rejection. This makes me put up walls and different detection strategies. So I am on alert for the people in my space, if I sense any sign of withdrawal on their part I get a head start and beat them to the punch. This is no way to live. It's extremely time consuming and energy draining.

After much thought I realize a lot of it is rooted in the issues with my father which continue to this day. Being real, open and honest, not just about our victories but also our fears can be scary stuff. But living with an open heart is worth it.

I've been thrown off by a number of things recently and I haven't been trusting the process as I should. I've been preoccupied with circumstances and engulfed with feelings of hopelessness. But I'm slowly making a recovery. God is crazy faithful I will continue to say. When I feel overwhelmed and alone on my journey He finds a way to show me His all encompassing, unconditional love.  All praise be to Him, as He is the reason I'm still on this trail. When God is all you have you learn He is all you need. This is true for me.

If you can relate I pray peace for you on your journey. Make the necessary changes to get the results you want. Trusting God and the process is our only hope.

Today is Jamaica's independence so I'm gonna share this Bob Marley song that has been my tune of comfort recently.

Blessings and love to you and yours.