Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 183

Are you begging for it!

We’re all going to try and play cool at some point. Not always because we want other people’s validation. But because we’re making up for what we don’t feel for ourselves. And you know—boyyyy do you know—every single time you’re playing the I’m cool please like me game. You know it. Sometimes it pops up out of no where. Just tumbles out of your mouth. Your coolness, begging for airtime. Maxie Mc Coy
During a meeting today, someone I respect, I mean highly respect, said to me " you're one of those down to earth types who really don't give much credence to what people wear, look like or their image" I paused. I then said " I will take that as a compliment and say thank you" She said " you ought to, I mean to say that you really try to focus on the person and not their image as opposed to being one of those people who are fixated on that and it clouds their judgement" Listen, at that moment I said to myself, "self, you are now clear that what you believe and feel in your heart and mind, you don't have to say out loud, shout it out or make a statement, it pours out of me in what I do, my actions" and I said that because I did make a conscious effort to see the person, to see them, not what they wear or pretend to be, and sometimes I get it twisted, sometimes I get judgmental I forgive myself earlier now and move onYour actions show who you are and yes image plays a part but putting paper over the cracks, sometimes people can see the cracks and what do you do? Don't hide the cracks, make excuses for it, blame other people for them, light comes in there too and so does air and when we admit and know they are there we get to make a choice, a conscious choice about them.Peace

Question it

You have to be clear and separate what you think and what you have been told to think - Rev Deborah Johnson

Have you ever questioned any of your core beliefs?
The things that people told you and you believed
I was told for most of my life that I have sinus problems and should stay away from certain things and places and foods. I repeated that for quite a while until I realised wait, what bloody sinus problems do I have? none at all, been restricting myself based on what my folks told me mind you I did have it as a child but just an example of how we keep holding on to things that may not necessarily be true or does not serve us.
Question your beliefs, what you have been told
Shape your own mind
Look at the things that you think about and see if they are really true for you
And the ones that you were told not to believe as well, they may also hold some home truths for you
And then make a decision in your own best interest
Peace

I release

confusion and struggle are not feelings. They are both conditions of the mind. It is possible that you are bumping into a resistant belief. Once you identify what you feel, choose what you desire to feel and claim it - I choose to be and feel . . . I now release confusion and struggle. When or should those thoughts surface again simply declare - I RELEASE! Iyanla

You can’t wait for permission.You can’t wait for other people to value youYou can’t wait to see yourself through the eyes of other peopleThere is something within you that has to say I AM and that’s enough, let that be enoughDon’t look on the outside, claim it on the insideWe all have creativity, genius, desire, passion, talent with all kind of things that are awesomeDare!Dare to believeGet off the bell curve- where the majority go to clusterThe pioneers and the miracles are not in the middleSee the possibility, dare to live itLet people catch upDon’t you go out to the naysayersYou do you and let the naysayers come to you
Just say yesPeace

Grasp the reality on what matters

that there are times and situations when we become so focused on things and people that do not serve us that we lose our grasp on what really matters. Iyanla

Make a list. Take out a piece of paper and pen right now, or perhaps your smart phone or tablet and list right now what really matters to you, no filter, no judgement. Then look at your actions and see if there is a gap, are you doing anything in your life that really really matters to you? And if not, why not?The first time I did this exercise I paused. I looked at my life with the most non judgmental and willing point of view and made the shift, doing things that mattered TO ME and to MY LIFE and MY VISION. not to the things that do not serve them and yes I slip sometimes but I am more aware now and take a shorter time to regroup and recover
So what are you focused on and why?And is it serving you? Is it serving your vision, (do you even have a vision for yourself?)Are you focused on things and people that do not serve you?Peace

Every act is an act of self definition

Every act is an act of self definition - Neale Donald Walsh

Taking 100% responsibility for our lives is sobering. It wakes you the hell up and many of us are afraid of that wake up call and continue to remain asleep
I know, I was asleep for quite a long time myself and ever so often the alarm goes off when I fall back into slumber
This week was one of the most challenging weeks for me in a long long time, the alarm bells went off like a siren on Thursday and I had to pay attention

I have to renew my passport and proceeded to do so this week. I duly completed the relevant forms and happily took it to the officer, she asked me for my divorce documents. Hmmm I never received them, I had no clue about anything about the process all I know was that I was officially divorced. So I proceeded to the Family Court to apply for the documents, they had some small difficulty in locating it but in the end I received it. As I opened the envelope I looked at the date, it startled me, It was clear and final and in black and white the date of the end of the union. My mind went blank for a minute because firstly I did not know the date before then and I also did not accept that so much time had passed, I just could not remember the process at all
Anyways, papers in hand I took them back to the passport office, the officer looked at it and said " You have made a false declaration on your form at your last application and will be subject to an investigation this may involve jail or a fine" I was literally speechless, the color from my face got up and ran to the corner and stayed there!
"Excuse me?"
" You must go through the process, your records indicate that you have been divorced before you applied for your last passport and ignorance is no excuse"

My denial, lack of responsibility and all round slumber found me here
As I sat there, I was asking myself what is the lesson over and over again
I asked the officer how can we resolve this? What is the process of making it right? It stopped her in her tracks for a minute, she told me that she did not know
I asked the question in another way, "What is the process to allow me to atone for this and most importantly get my passport?"
She thought for a minute and rattled off what she thinks I would need to do, gave me back my documents and told me as at now you are not entitled to receive a passport until the investigation has been completed
I got up from the chair, felt the feelings and shifted into solution mode
stay tuned
take responsibility
wake up
accept
Peace!

Sometimes just know

Sometimes….Just know that you know…. And let that be enough you do not need anyone to validate or co-sign what you know   Iyanla
One of my favorite lessons on the journey is "Act like you Know" it is the philosophy that once we become aware of a situation our behavior must reflect that new information. The action after knowing ought to reflect the new knowledge, if that action is not carried out then one cannot say that they know! And then I bumped into the Boss Iyanla's reading this morning and it took this lesson a little bit further "I do not need anyone to validate what I know"Oh bells and whistles!!! How many times have I sought out validation for what I know for sure only to get a different perspective follow it and shit hit the fan? Oh too many timesHow many times do I want people to agree with me because "I know!" and when that did not happen I am, as they say in my country, blue vex! Yes people - just know that you know and let that be enough for you to act, to believe, to move, to trust, to cry, to live.No need for it to be co-signed. Start from there...That is where I will be starting today
Peace

Deceive yourself no longer

This is the only thing that you need do for vision, happiness, release from pain and the complete escape from sin, all to be given you. Say only this, but mean it with no reservations, for here the power of salvation lies: I am responsible for what I see. I choose the [thoughts and] feelings I experience, and I decide upon the goal I would achieve. And everything that seems to happen to me I ask for, and receive as I have asked. Deceive yourself no longer that you are helpless in the face of what is done to you. Acknowledge but that you have been mistaken, and all effects of your mistakes will disappear 
ACIM
I am responsible for what I see. Revolutionary statement! I - Me, me alone, no one elseI AM - what follows your I AM - you become and so one has to be careful what you attach your I AM toResponsible - the ability to respond, we have the ability, we are able to respond.
So be willing to take this course - say to yourselfI am responsible for this and this is my life, I can change my thoughts, change my mind and no one else but me has this power
Believe with all your might that you have the power to change your mind, change your life and then take bold massive action based on this belief 
Let me know how it goesPeace

My prayer - Focus and Consistency

Today I just wanted to share one of my daily readings with you, I use this reading very often as an affirmation of what is possibleBe BlessedPeace


God, I affirm, that all I need to succeed at anything I set out to accomplish, has already been made available to me. 
I affirm, that I know and stand in full awareness of my calling and purpose. 
I confess that until today, the focus, discipline and consistency required to co-create the life I desire to experience, has been deficient. 
I now ask to receive a full measure of supernatural focus, discipline and consistency, to bring completion to all incomplete cycles of action in my life. 
I am committed to making better choices in how I manage my time and energy.  
I am committed to practicing compassionate self-care and self-forgiveness.
I am committed to seizing the time and maximizing the moments I have been given, to co-create and manifest unlimit- ed possibilities for my life. 
I see myself focused!  I see myself disciplined!  I see myself practicing consis- tency! I see myself embodying fullness of energy and commitment to my passions and purpose!I see myself winning!
I forgive myself for judging myself so harshly.  I forgive myself, for not fully utilizing and maximizing the grace of time, talent and skill that has been gifted into my hands. I forgive myself for playing small and not stepping up as a star player in the game of life.
I stand grateful, that You, God, are the Universal Coach, whom has given me full access, rights and permission, to get off the bench and get back into the game of my life again!
Yes.  I accept.  Thank You. Rev. Manazerine Olujimi Baptiste
And so it is!

True Healing is not a Band Aid Approach

Because humanity is accustomed to instant gratification, we are oftentimes resistant to the process of healing and spiritual purification. We like to pop a pill and make the pain go away but the pill never truly heals the pain – it simply masks the pain for a short while and then returns again. True healing, which is spiritual healing, or the healing of the soul is not a band-aid approach. True healing requires us to get to the root cause of our distortions so they can be unearthed within the depths of our being and brought to the surface for our higher spiritual light and consciousness to shine down on them so they can be cleared from our energy. (Raise Your Vibration)
Healing is a process, a process can be defined as a series or actions of steps to achieve a particular end. It is not a one off event, steps are required and inside there a little bit of courage and willingness and healing is not only when one is "sick" Healing is defined as the process of becoming sound, becoming whole, becoming healthy.So what is the process? Do you know the process? And most importantly are you willing to go through the process? A process takes time and a level of commitment and guts!
Get to the root, and take it from thereCause and effect Deal with the cause not the effectPeace!.

Problems are Messages

Problems are messages, if there are problems in your life, the Universe is trying to get your attention. It's saying "hey, there is something you need to be aware of, there is something that needs to be changed here" Marianne Williamson


Keep doing the same thing and you will get the same results. That I am almost sure you have heard before.
Take a survey of your life, Spiritually.Emotionally.Financially. Socially. Relational,Physically. Vocationally. Take a closer look at each of these areas, are there signs and messages there that is saying pay attention, take a closer look? Be honest, no excuses, no justifications, no judgments
Sometimes the messages are clear and sometimes they are subtle - you must be paying attention and be willing to admit that there is something that needs to be shifted.

And listen, I get caught up in it as well, wanting things the way I want things even with the messages, the signs, but we don't know everything, we cannot see everything and there are times to pay attention, become aware and be very very brutally honest with ourselves.

Do you see how you have settled, you have put up a hammock there and thought is was the beach, you have settled, you just made yourself comfortable and decided that this was your lot in life. You alone have to decide that this is not your lot in life
There are somethings you just have to say no to
There are some places that you absolutely must not go

But this involves being honest, letting go of the making excuses, being defensive, escapism, it's a decision you alone must make
The moment I made that decision my life began to change, decide and act, it took me making that choice and becoming willing to be emptied so that I can be refilled
I was now ready to see beyond the circumstances, the present and know and believe that there is more to life than these feelings
So, over to you...
You are worth it
Claim it
Peace