Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 150
March 8, 2017
Happy International Women's Day
It is easy to conform, to quietly give in
But for those of us convinced in the greatness that lies within us, those who have chosen paths very uncommon we quiet the noise by fearlessly disrupting what is - Ijeoma
Today around the world International Women's Day is celebrated. I join in to celebrate my sisters, my mothers, my elders, my ancestors
Listen, I don't take the strides for granted- AT ALL
My grandmother - one of my favorite people in the whole wide world told me that she was asked to not go to secondary school - she was offered a place at one of the best schools in the country - to alloow her big brother to go, girls had no business going to school, she told me that she read her brother's books - who did not get a free place- did his homework and shadowed him all through secondary school
My grandmother told me that when she started working in an office she was the only woman, there were no toilets for women and the boss told her use the men's restroom or go to the other building. She said no - get some women's toilets in there or else
She was suspended from work, she went to the Union and the rest is history
I do not take any of the strides for granted
There are many stories like this that still exist in the world, women who cannot go to school, to own a business, to own property.
We are in a space where we have a responsibility to keep these strides going
what are you doing in your own life to be bold for change?
Are you living your purpose/
Are you being true to yourself?
Are you giving back?
Whatever it is, what are you doing?
In your own life because it starts right there
Peace
Today I have the privileged to be the keynote speaker at the ACCA International Women's Conference and the Women Everywhere Workshop
Peace
But for those of us convinced in the greatness that lies within us, those who have chosen paths very uncommon we quiet the noise by fearlessly disrupting what is - Ijeoma
Today around the world International Women's Day is celebrated. I join in to celebrate my sisters, my mothers, my elders, my ancestors
Listen, I don't take the strides for granted- AT ALL
My grandmother - one of my favorite people in the whole wide world told me that she was asked to not go to secondary school - she was offered a place at one of the best schools in the country - to alloow her big brother to go, girls had no business going to school, she told me that she read her brother's books - who did not get a free place- did his homework and shadowed him all through secondary school
My grandmother told me that when she started working in an office she was the only woman, there were no toilets for women and the boss told her use the men's restroom or go to the other building. She said no - get some women's toilets in there or else
She was suspended from work, she went to the Union and the rest is history
I do not take any of the strides for granted
There are many stories like this that still exist in the world, women who cannot go to school, to own a business, to own property.
We are in a space where we have a responsibility to keep these strides going
what are you doing in your own life to be bold for change?
Are you living your purpose/
Are you being true to yourself?
Are you giving back?
Whatever it is, what are you doing?
In your own life because it starts right there
Peace
Today I have the privileged to be the keynote speaker at the ACCA International Women's Conference and the Women Everywhere Workshop
Peace
March 7, 2017
I am the matter that matters
I open my heart and mind to be aware...that I am the matter that matters!
Matter is anything that has weight and occupies space. The only thing standing between you and exactly what you want is space. The question is, ARE YOU WILLING TO BE THE MATTER THAT OCCUPIES THIS SPACE? You can choose to fill the space with what you need. Or you can choose to fill the space with what you lack, fear or you could fill the space with what might not happen or what cannot happen. Or you could find the courage to fill the space with the holy boldness of "I can because I am; I will, because I am!"In the space that stands between you and exactly what you want, there is the fullness of God. The question is, how do you see the space? Have you placed the matters of others in this space? Do you see your place in the space? Do you see your joy in the space? Do you see God's grace, God's mercy, God's light and God's love in the space? Perhaps you see a risk that you can't take? Do you see what others have done and what you can't do? Or do you see the impossible dream becoming possible with God?In the space of God's fullness that stands between you and what you want, there is an opportunity. The question is how are YOU GOING TO USE the opportunity? You could use the opportunity to tell yourself what you have always told yourself about why you cannot or must not step into the space. You may believe that the space is too big, too wide, too much for you to handle. Or you just might realize that you have been given a divine opportunity to change the way you see the space and to close up the gap between you and God.Until today, you may not have realized that the only thing standing between you and what you want is the opportunity to spend more time with God. Just for today, be devoted to closing any gaps between you and what you want.Today I am devoted to taking every opportunity to spend time with God! ~~Iyanla Vanzant, "Until Today" #Lovemore
PeaceSharing this post today from the book called Until Today
PeaceSharing this post today from the book called Until Today
March 6, 2017
No judgments, no guilt, only full responsibility
Honestly! If you’re failing a couple of times, you are not doing something right. You know, it’s like, what is life but risk? The only way to make great things is to actually take risk. We should all feel more comfortable with failure.”
Bozoma Saint John
I've made peace with the fact that there may be some things that I will fail at, the thought of failing no longer sends me into a tail spin of depression and comparison. It's just life, how absolutely freeing! It's freedom I tell you
Me re framing the idea that in giving my all to something with faith and hard work and it turns out differently made ME a failure! Its only feedback saying do something else, do something different, check the lessons and be fully present.
But we want to prove people and maybe ourselves right, we misinterpret perseverance and persistence with proving people wrong and being embarrassed and "shame"
No shame in my game when I pay attention to the signs and to the feedback
The whole perfection thing, totally overrated and stressful
No judgments, no guilt, only full responsibility
Peace
I've made peace with the fact that there may be some things that I will fail at, the thought of failing no longer sends me into a tail spin of depression and comparison. It's just life, how absolutely freeing! It's freedom I tell you
Me re framing the idea that in giving my all to something with faith and hard work and it turns out differently made ME a failure! Its only feedback saying do something else, do something different, check the lessons and be fully present.
But we want to prove people and maybe ourselves right, we misinterpret perseverance and persistence with proving people wrong and being embarrassed and "shame"
No shame in my game when I pay attention to the signs and to the feedback
The whole perfection thing, totally overrated and stressful
No judgments, no guilt, only full responsibility
Peace
March 4, 2017
Learn to see people how they are
People are who they are and do what they do whether you like it or agree with them
We all have different lessons to learn
We each take a different path to our lessons
There are times when someone's path will cross your path and cause you to stumble and fall
That does not make them wrong.
That does not make you right
The only thing a judgement does is distract you from what it is you must do yourself- Until Today
I like to have my own way- My mother used to say to me growing up "Chile you too own way" which meant I always wanted things my way, or I would sulk and be quite unpleasant
Now that I am grown I realized that I am not unique in this regard seems to me that, everyone wants what they want when they want it! The trick is how do we handle the differences
I have learnt that judging other people by saying what they "SHOULD" be doing - it does not work! Who are we to should on people? We don't know the full story! Acceptance is a hell of a thing though!
The other thing I have learnt is disagreements can be handled with respect, grace and an open mind, when this happens new opportunities, lessons and experiences emerge
When the disrespect creeps in well all hell breaks loose!
When the judgement creeps in well, it's all over
And when the ego jumps in there can literally be wars!
Learn to see people how they are and find a way to be okay with yourself and others
Acceptance does not mean you like it, it means you are willing to make decisions that are in your best interests and sometimes that means walking away
Peace
We all have different lessons to learn
We each take a different path to our lessons
There are times when someone's path will cross your path and cause you to stumble and fall
That does not make them wrong.
That does not make you right
The only thing a judgement does is distract you from what it is you must do yourself- Until Today
I like to have my own way- My mother used to say to me growing up "Chile you too own way" which meant I always wanted things my way, or I would sulk and be quite unpleasant
Now that I am grown I realized that I am not unique in this regard seems to me that, everyone wants what they want when they want it! The trick is how do we handle the differences
I have learnt that judging other people by saying what they "SHOULD" be doing - it does not work! Who are we to should on people? We don't know the full story! Acceptance is a hell of a thing though!
The other thing I have learnt is disagreements can be handled with respect, grace and an open mind, when this happens new opportunities, lessons and experiences emerge
When the disrespect creeps in well all hell breaks loose!
When the judgement creeps in well, it's all over
And when the ego jumps in there can literally be wars!
Learn to see people how they are and find a way to be okay with yourself and others
Acceptance does not mean you like it, it means you are willing to make decisions that are in your best interests and sometimes that means walking away
Peace
March 3, 2017
Get it Together
One shot to your heart without breaking your skin
No one has the power to hurt you like your kin
Kept it inside, didn't tell no one else
Didn't even wanna admit it to yourself
And now your chest burns and your back aches
From 15 years of holding the pain
And now you only have yourself to blame
If you continue to live this way
Get it together
You wanna heal your body
You have to heal your heart
Whatsoever you sow you will reap
Get it together
India Arie
What I absolutely love about me taking responsibility for my life is that I get to choose how to move forward, I need not depend on anyone to make that choice. This is not to say that I will not require support and a village, it just says that I don't have to outsource my happiness, and my own choices
You see, outsourcing it allows for blame, and blame takes away accountability and responsibility.
Own it
Live it
Feel it
Be responsible and do the work
Watch how your body heals,watch how your relationships heal, watch how you trust in the process rather than trying to control it when you do this simple formula
Peace
No one has the power to hurt you like your kin
Kept it inside, didn't tell no one else
Didn't even wanna admit it to yourself
And now your chest burns and your back aches
From 15 years of holding the pain
And now you only have yourself to blame
If you continue to live this way
Get it together
You wanna heal your body
You have to heal your heart
Whatsoever you sow you will reap
Get it together
India Arie
What I absolutely love about me taking responsibility for my life is that I get to choose how to move forward, I need not depend on anyone to make that choice. This is not to say that I will not require support and a village, it just says that I don't have to outsource my happiness, and my own choices
You see, outsourcing it allows for blame, and blame takes away accountability and responsibility.
Own it
Live it
Feel it
Be responsible and do the work
Watch how your body heals,watch how your relationships heal, watch how you trust in the process rather than trying to control it when you do this simple formula
Peace
March 2, 2017
How do you use your voice
Truthing
isn’t necessarily easier to do, but it brings incredible ease to your life. And the more you do it, the easier it becomes. The courage, the classy delivery, the compassionate humour, it all becomes more accessible when you’re using your voice everyday
. Danielle LaPorte
What do you use your voice for? How do you use your voice? Do you see or believe that your voice is of any use at all? Does it even matter?I am always told that I don't talk much (well except when I am on a stage doing ma thang!) I internalized that and sometimes I would remain quiet for fear of pissing people off or perhaps saying the wrong thing and they wouldn't like me, I grew up thinking that, then I was introduced to books by Maya Angelou who did not speak for years, many years, believing that her voice caused the death of a person, when she did realize that the voice is powerful and a gift well the rest as they say is history.
Most of us have the gift, what do we do with it?What do we do with all the power that we were givenSo many of us have people around us who value and listen to usWhat are we saying to them? What are we using our voice to promote?
Think about itHow do you use your voice?Peace
What do you use your voice for? How do you use your voice? Do you see or believe that your voice is of any use at all? Does it even matter?I am always told that I don't talk much (well except when I am on a stage doing ma thang!) I internalized that and sometimes I would remain quiet for fear of pissing people off or perhaps saying the wrong thing and they wouldn't like me, I grew up thinking that, then I was introduced to books by Maya Angelou who did not speak for years, many years, believing that her voice caused the death of a person, when she did realize that the voice is powerful and a gift well the rest as they say is history.
Most of us have the gift, what do we do with it?What do we do with all the power that we were givenSo many of us have people around us who value and listen to usWhat are we saying to them? What are we using our voice to promote?
Think about itHow do you use your voice?Peace
March 1, 2017
Ask Yourself if you really mean it
Personal change cannot be accomplished by technology. It requires commitment, persistence, determination and PATIENCE!
Inner Visions Institute
Today I want to share an exercise which I did at the beginning of the year. I realized that I had to make some adjustments and it was really up to me to undo since I did it in the first place, it was my responsibilityThis exercise is taken from Louise Hay's absolutely must read book called "You Can Heal Your Life"
"Think of a moment about something in your life you want to change.Go to the mirror and look into your eyes and say out loud - I Have Created This Condition and I am Now Willing to Release The Patters in My Consciousness that is Responsible for This Condition Say it several times with feelingAsk yourself if you really mean itConvince yourself in the mirror that this time you are ready to step out of the knowledge of the past"One of the great things is that we do not have to know HOWAll we need to do is be WillingThe Universal Intelligence or your subconscious mind will figure out the hw'sPeaceWatch Akosua's Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1K7... Akosua's Books : www.akosuadardaineedwards.com/publica...
Today I want to share an exercise which I did at the beginning of the year. I realized that I had to make some adjustments and it was really up to me to undo since I did it in the first place, it was my responsibilityThis exercise is taken from Louise Hay's absolutely must read book called "You Can Heal Your Life"
"Think of a moment about something in your life you want to change.Go to the mirror and look into your eyes and say out loud - I Have Created This Condition and I am Now Willing to Release The Patters in My Consciousness that is Responsible for This Condition Say it several times with feelingAsk yourself if you really mean itConvince yourself in the mirror that this time you are ready to step out of the knowledge of the past"One of the great things is that we do not have to know HOWAll we need to do is be WillingThe Universal Intelligence or your subconscious mind will figure out the hw'sPeaceWatch Akosua's Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1K7... Akosua's Books : www.akosuadardaineedwards.com/publica...
February 28, 2017
Give Shedding a Go
Shedding will require you to ask questions. It'll require you to rediscover. To let go. To undo. To rewind. But like the butterfly, you can exit the chrysalis of your own limits where you'll discover that the very best version of yourself exists in the shedding. Maxi McCoy
Letting go is hard. We humans love what we know, what we can see, what we can control, what is in front of us. Letting go brings us into the unknown, with little or no perception of control and yes that can be scary for some. Letting go also makes room for new, for exciting, for change, for growth, it frees up the channels.Hoarders, bless em, hold on to things just in case, just in case they may be able to use it, to revive it, to bring back the memory. Maybe, it happens and that 's wonderful I think about if the place is full where is the room for more? Where will you fit in the next piece of magnificence?Give shedding a go, you never had control over it anyway!Peace
Ted Talk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1K7...
Publications: www.akosuadardaineedwards.com/publica...
Letting go is hard. We humans love what we know, what we can see, what we can control, what is in front of us. Letting go brings us into the unknown, with little or no perception of control and yes that can be scary for some. Letting go also makes room for new, for exciting, for change, for growth, it frees up the channels.Hoarders, bless em, hold on to things just in case, just in case they may be able to use it, to revive it, to bring back the memory. Maybe, it happens and that 's wonderful I think about if the place is full where is the room for more? Where will you fit in the next piece of magnificence?Give shedding a go, you never had control over it anyway!Peace
Ted Talk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1K7...
Publications: www.akosuadardaineedwards.com/publica...
February 27, 2017
Give the Self Love a Go
Most bad feelings are the result of conflict. The conflict may be the result of not getting what you want or believe you can have. The conflict could come from the feeling that you are losing control of yourself and your life. At the core of all bad feelings there is an absence of one essential thing - Love - Until Today
Do something you love today. Something fun, healthy and wholesome. Do something to make you smile, to life your spirits, you don't need anyone to "help" you do that- pour some love on it
Have you ever noticed when you depend on others to "complete" you and you get it it is a short term fleeting feeling? Yeah! that's usually because the sustaining feeling comes from inside you.
There is no one who can "complete" you. Newsflash- you are already complete so its really a wild goose chase you are on looking for that- just thought I would save you some time and effort!
The secret is in loving yourself and that comes from accepting all that you are, not that there is no room for improvement but just starting from a point of I love me now, just as I am and moving along from that place
Give it a go
Peace
Do something you love today. Something fun, healthy and wholesome. Do something to make you smile, to life your spirits, you don't need anyone to "help" you do that- pour some love on it
Have you ever noticed when you depend on others to "complete" you and you get it it is a short term fleeting feeling? Yeah! that's usually because the sustaining feeling comes from inside you.
There is no one who can "complete" you. Newsflash- you are already complete so its really a wild goose chase you are on looking for that- just thought I would save you some time and effort!
The secret is in loving yourself and that comes from accepting all that you are, not that there is no room for improvement but just starting from a point of I love me now, just as I am and moving along from that place
Give it a go
Peace
February 25, 2017
Create Anything
Creativity demands that you step to the plate to offer your truth. It asks that you sit down and do something, anything, even if you’re not feeling it. Creativity asks that you don’t judge what comes out. And that you understand some creations will be gold and others shit. Creativity is the process, not the outcome.
Creative people? They show up. They create. So, if you want to be more creative that’s all you really have to do. Quiet the resistance in your mind and step up and start creating anything. Maxie McCoy
This weekend, Trinidad and Tobago celebrates their annual Carnival celebrations, the place is pumped and hyped with activities, parties, shows, fun, laughter and dancing. Many people do not participate as they believe its a time for indecent revellery I see it differently I see a country creating, one that is making happiness out of nothing and it is pretty beautiful in my sight
It teaches me that the world is how we view it, if we view it with love, we see love and vice versa
no matter what
It is a weekend were friends meet, little or no sleep and all that goes along with it
I love this time of year, everyone is involved, children, elderly folks, mummies, daddies, grannies. We create - building a bridge from nothing to something
Whereever I am in the world I find myself back here for this season
Give thanks
Peace
Creative people? They show up. They create. So, if you want to be more creative that’s all you really have to do. Quiet the resistance in your mind and step up and start creating anything. Maxie McCoy
This weekend, Trinidad and Tobago celebrates their annual Carnival celebrations, the place is pumped and hyped with activities, parties, shows, fun, laughter and dancing. Many people do not participate as they believe its a time for indecent revellery I see it differently I see a country creating, one that is making happiness out of nothing and it is pretty beautiful in my sight
It teaches me that the world is how we view it, if we view it with love, we see love and vice versa
no matter what
It is a weekend were friends meet, little or no sleep and all that goes along with it
I love this time of year, everyone is involved, children, elderly folks, mummies, daddies, grannies. We create - building a bridge from nothing to something
Whereever I am in the world I find myself back here for this season
Give thanks
Peace
