Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 100

Mastery

The path of mastery is not about valuation or appreciation from the outside. 
It is about overcoming doubts and fears on the inside.  When mastery is growing within you, life will happen easily, without any struggle, and victory will become a way of life . Iyanla Vanzant

I love Iyanla's definition of mastery. It is what I would call an inside job, it is resting in the knowledge that despite the doubt, the fear, the trepidation, the questions, I can rest easily knowing that all will be well even if it turns out different to what I had anticipated.

Mastery is part of the self love process, Without mastery the doubts can take you over
the work, causing you to look outside of yourself for kudos and validation.
That can lead to aiding in poor choices.

Mastery requires commitment and discipline,
Mastery requires faith
Mastery requires self belief
Peace 

Heart Fire in January

Looking Back to Move Forward

You will never know how much you are holding until you let it go . Maryam Hasnaa



Yesterday, as I was making preparations for Unveiling- Looking into the Mirror of Self on Saturday  ( I am so excited and happy for this weekend - I digress)
As I was going through the materials, in between them was a journal from 2013 called " The Accountability Process".  In the Journal was a through detail of the vision I had for myself and how I would hold myself accountable for it.

I laughed a hearty laugh when I saw it. I pulled it out and started reading it.

What was the vision I wanted for myself?
That year was a tough year, freshly out of job, house, marriage  and just floating around in Uganda laying low, I wrote out the vision I wanted for my life. To feel free, to serve the world in a meaningful way, to share my story, to be financially comfortable.
I read it back last night. I was living my vision, plus or minus a few small details (the financial part!! - confessions on the Journey)

 I immediately gave thanks! I had no idea how it would come to pass, and this further proves to me that I really don't need to know the how, my role is to be willing, be faithful, do the work that is required and  to have patience.

Making choices also form part of the process, and more importantly when the choice made does not work,  please feel free to make another choice
There were 2 items that startled me- I am still there, I haven't moved. Finances! I am still in the same spot. I stared at the paper.

I gave thanks again because it came as a timely reminder that there is still work to do, there is still faith to gain and there is still a gap in the belief that I am enough. It's closing, but the gap remains!
The Universe is always on time

Come see Akosua at Kaiso Blues Cafe

Opportunities are Grounds For Action

the problem with knowing is that it takes away the possibility of pretending! Pearl Cleage



I am grateful for new opportunities. Iyanla Vanzant defines opportunities   as  grounds for action. It’s a state of affairs that makes something else possible. It is the falling together of things and people and circumstances.
Over the last week, there have been opportunities that have come to me, I had to take action, I saw the coming together of things, people and circumstances which seemed so effortless. I have learnt that it requires effort, that effort is usually not one of forcing and coercing. It seems like a natural flow
How many times do we force ourselves in situation and a box because we mistook a lesson for an opportunity?
How many times do we look for opportunities that dishonours us because it is the trend or the money?
 How many times do we settle?
Ask yourself, is this situation allowing me to take action, to bring together people, things and circumstances to grow!
Peace

Setting Boundaries

Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. Brene Browne
My friends, I have missed you! How have you been?I have been on a Journey to BoundariesYes, I said it!!Over the past few days I have been on the road where I had to not only set some boundaries, but enforce themConfessions on the Journey - Its downright darn challenging for me to set and keep boundaries. I want to be a nice person, I want people to like me, I want to avoid conflict, so I ignore a lotbut what I have learnt is that if I want all those things at the expense of my self respect and peace, then that's just downright plain ole crazy making behaviourAnd so the Universe is divinely timed to show us where we are, through sending people and situationsBoundaries are invisible lines which you draw that determine the things you accept from yourself and others. Boundaries require discipline, honesty and the willingness to make some tough decisionsWhen someone crosses a boundary that you have set, what are you willing to do?Before this week I would hardly ever enforce the conditions that came with stepping over the line, I would let it build up and then either explode or never speak to the person again! That now takes too much energy and very little courageSetting boundaries also taught me about having hard or awkward conversations ( do it with kindness and love)So, I enforced the consequence and guess what? I am still alive! I was willing for the other person to be pissed off, to deal with that and to learn from it allSo, I will continue to practice this and you now what they say, practice makes masters
Join Akosua at Heart Fire

Journey to Detachment

I went  for my first run of the year  and fell over bust my knee over! I couldn't even believe that the first thing that pissed me off was - sheez I cannot run for the next few days, maybe weeks!
The pain was mashing me up, I had to walk about just over 1 KM back to where I parked and all the while I was thinking the same thing - I will not be able run for a while
Then I thought - wait- get a grip girlfriend.
This fall could have been worse
I survived it without any major injuries
My glasses are still on my face
The knee is bust open and paining but I know that there is some lesson in there, not sure what it is yet
I took the day and rested (not much else could be done if walking was a problem right?)
I have become so attached to running, almost daily, now I have to accept that running will not be a part of my daily routine until I am fully healed, it is really a lesson for me not only in acceptance but in letting go and detachment
When we are attached to something there is a possibility that it can be come addictive and we believe that we are unable to live without the thing, the person, the activity
That is a recipe for making an idol out of a thing and setting us up for unnecessary heartache.
And so, I am on my healing, detachment and acceptance journey
Wish me luck
Peace

Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
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Genuine Relationships are not ego based

  The ego establishes relationships only to get something. And it would keep the giver bound to itself through guilt . ACIM


Still in reflection mode as we enter 2019, yesterday's reading in ACIM threw out the line that "the ego establishes relationships only to get something" It stopped me in my tracks as I had to ask myself how many of my relationships are fuelled by the ego?
How many times have I established a link with someone to further along my own agendas rather than for a genuine reason?It's quite a sobering thoughtSo, my assignment today is to write those down and decide- what's next?What about you?Are you willing to join me on this journey and share the lessons?Peace
Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

Share Your Story

"Your Silence Will Not Protect You" - Audre Lorde


There is power in your story. Your Power
 Your story may irritate some, piss off some, trigger some, unchain some
people will call you names - like emotional, high-strung, opinionated, arrogant, even bitchy.
So what's the alternative?
Staying silent?
Change because people called you names?
Nah - because trust me, the word will not end if people call you names
Your story will free you, it may even free others
it will reshape your world, give you wings
it will bring you clarity
and clarity will keep you open to what life wants to give you. Life usually has something better in store for you than you have on your to do lists
Clarity will give you the guidance when to speak up and when to shut up
because... yea...it's your story, with power
Peace

Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

Heart Fire 2019

You must have your heart on fire and your brain on ice . Vladimir LeninWhat sets your heart on fire?
Do you know?
Do you have a burning desire to do something, be somewhere, change something?
Heart Fire 2019 is my new mantra!
Got this from a very divine soul, a wonderful friend of mine who graciously shared it with me as use for a 2019 theme.
It got me thinking about how many times we have a burning desire, a raging flame inside and we ignore it for one reason or the other. Mainly due to fear or the belief that this is your lot. Have you heard the saying "you make your bed, so you lie in it?" what is that anyways? can we not get off the bed, change sheets and remake it?
So, for 2019, I am ready to honour the fire raging in me, the fire in my heart, the burning desire, to respect it, to not dismiss it
Are you?

Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

The Light Comes In

I think when you are entirely open and honest with yourself a door opens and the light comes in - April Green


I had a penny dropping moment this moment, you know the type where you saw "Oh!" or "Aha" or "Hmm"
I was, of course, writing in my journal this morning and it came to me - I have been anxious about everything! the flow, the relaxation, the belief has been usurped lately by doubt and anxiety and pressure - albeit on myself. I laughed out so loud when it came to me. The awareness of it all made me chuckle. How can I let doubt take over this? Why would I? I have planted the seeds and the lessons will be learnt along the way
Have you ever been so anxious for something to work, you stress over it? you dig up the seeds?
As I reflected on 2018 I realised, even the things that I planned that went differently was even so much better either in terms of lessons learnt or in terms of the events itself, the joy it brought, the love that was present
So, here we are, with the awareness that anxiety comes from a smidgen of self doubt, that self doubt will fool you, so speak to it, let the doubt know that you have seen and heard it but will not let it fool you, that the seeds planted will be taken care of, with enough care and love. And when storms come know that it will wash away what it must and we can start again with the confidence that the storms will not last forever
Peace

I DeClare

The intention to grow instantly creates space for your body to step into but, unless you let go of everything weighing you down then that space dissolves into air like a broken promise  - April Green 
I DeClareIt is rare that I make resolutions
Don’t want them to haunt me in the dead of night
Each day guilted by all the things I said I would or would not doI only do what I want, when I want
With a full heart or not at all
And the rest will have to settle somewhere between my lips and my intentionI don’t DeClare oftenBut there comes a day
When I am more than dependable woman
More than what I’ve accomplished or seek to and as that day approaches
Know this:I declare to remember how to love
In the face of hurt in my heart
I will love you, that’s me
Foolishly, at times, but courageous
I vow to forgive
To ignite the soft of me and surrender to that knowledge that everything ain’t gonna grow like I grow
Aint gon’ know what I know, how I know
And that is ok
There is still love in letting goI commit to love myself
To honor this girl with dreams she can’t stomach yet but works hard to
In the morning, I will pray to a God I hope to be more like and she will laugh Knowing I have forgotten already that she loves me unconditionally
Just a girl wanting more and more and more
But having everything I already needI commit to laugh hardest when life is most challenging
I will  to tell strangers they are beautiful because they haven’t heard it in too long
I promise to dance across the floor when I’m excitedI promise to be excitedTo sit with my mother to remind her that she makes amazing things and prays that she believes it
To listen to my elders, to honor the repetition in their stories
To watch intently as my cousins blossom
I promise to be there for them how they want me to be
And none of this comes easy
None of it will be overnight
I might be scared and stubborn at first and when I am
I vow to lean into it
To let life make a masterpiece of meTo be a thank you note to God
To say what needs to be said in the moment and trust that I am preparedI promise to listen to the way God moves
I promise to be moved
To notice the details in the day
I vow to never stop picking up on energy
And feeling responsible for humanity
I promise to let this fire rage
To drink more water and carry this skin like a gift
I promise to breathe on purpose - every breath is blessed responsibility
And to fall in love without fearI DeClare I vow. I promise
Peace!
(Big love to Natalie P)