Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 207

Good Enoughness

Truth does not vacillate; it is always true ACIM (A Course in Miracles)


There are some of us who are recovered "I'm not good enough" addicts, and some of us who are still recovering. As addicts we think not good enough, feel not good enough,drink not good enough, eat not good enough and shoot ourselves up with a daily does of not good enough.

Sometimes we expend  great deal of time and energy chasing things and people that are not good enough for us. Often, to get these not good enough people, we will sleep with them, only to discover they are not worth the time and energy we spent trying to get them.

When you are a not good enough addict, you can't do the right thing because you are not good enough. However, you will beat yourself up because you are not good enough to do what you need to do.

The truth is,as long as you believe  you are not good enough, you will never feel good enough. And as long as you are not good enough, you cannot, will not, take responsibility for the truth of who you are.

Hey, just for the record, accept it, you are good enough to handle it!

Peace
Adapted from Until Today

Each moment is just what it is

“Each moment is just what it is. It might be the only moment of our life; it might be the only strawberry we’ll ever eat. We could get depressed about it, or we could finally appreciate it and delight in the preciousness of every single moment of our life.” Pema Chodron
I was sitting at my computer and as my friend says "over thinking" Really wracking my brain and retracing my steps on what missteps I made with a situation and getting more and more frustrated. 

At that moment I decided to get up and read, take a break from my own overthinking and boom Pema Chodron was my choice.  I read the quote above I was literally screaming OMG, you do it every time Universe, ok I hear ya! Lead me straight to what I needed. 

It's about the moment, everything is about the moment so why do I keep fighting to prolong the past and the moment? Just enjoy the moment and know that each one, each moment will be different. Focus on that rather than trying to recreate the moment that just passed, it is gone a new one is here that I am not only missing it by thinking about what has gone but missing its magic and beauty in attempting to manipulate it to be like the past! Wow, talk about an AhA moment! Moment by moment Moment by momentAnd when the moments add up it becomes a life time.Am I going to be present in the moment and accept it for what it is or keep looking back trying to manipulate the present?- straight case of lunacy I say! According to Byron Katie, when you argue with reality you suffer.There are things I need to leave well enough alone, the moment is gone, recreating it is wasting time, pay attention to the present and make the most of that. Pay attention to the signs and take the good memories into the next moment.I wish today that you enjoy, be present, learn and cherish every single moment!
Peace!

Take the limits off

We’re all scared of the new. Shy and reverent. Reverently shy. But jump. Fall in. Danielle La Porte

Dear Akosua
I know that you
You have hopes and dreams
Oh yes you do.
And you have goals, that you want to achieve.
And I hope that you,
I hope you know by now 
That you can have everything you want.
Everything you need
If you take the limits off of me.
There is no limit to, what I can do.
I'm trying to get through to you.
Say IT, without doubt
And have faith in me.

Because there's nothing
Impossible to believe

If only you would learn to put
Your trust in me.
Put all fear aside
And you will see.

Signed, and your's always God (Universe, Buddha- call me what you want)

Peace!!

What's in your soup of life?

There are three serious poisons in the soup of life - Anger, Greed and Ignorance  - Angel Kyodo Williams


Angel Kyodo Williams' work is an eye opener! She introduces what some may call some radical concepts in her work as the founder of the Transformative Institute. I have been inspired by her philosophy and teachings and have been keeping an open mind to them over the past couple of months. Her work to me resonated because she talks about transformation being an inside job! It starts with me. Living from a heart centered place rather than an ego centered one.

Today I worked with the awesome rural community group in Brasso Seco, The drive from town is roughly two hours to the first point and today a driver was appointed to take me as there was more driving to do once we got there. The driver asked me a few questions about what we were doing in the rural communities and the impact and results. Seemed a pretty simple set of questions. Then he proceeded to preach to me about the importance of the christian religion by tearing down every other one, why I need to be morally and spiritually responsible and remember that people are full of sin and evil! I started getting hot, sweat started pouring from under my arms. I said to him, fear and ignorance are two main reasons for many of the ways people act and think and at this point my view is that people are fundamentally good including you so let's try to look at a new way of viewing our fellow brothers and sisters! If we think people are fundamentally full of sin and evil and that shapes our actions then boy oh boy, that explains a lot of things that are happening in the world! I choose to give people the benefit of the doubt and I know that I know that I know that good never runs out, it may just change form

Peace!

Do not waste your failures

  A come back is not a go back - Tim Storey


News flash! You cannot go back and fix things! You just can't! Life is always in session. Many times situations come to you as feedback, as communication as guidance as to what you might need to do, change or move. I will admit, I am a recovering "fixer"Boy oh boy, I wanted to fix things, as soon as something came up my mind would be racing how can I fix this? Many times it would involve going back! But I have learnt that I cannot go back! Forward, onward and upward. When you feel the need to fix ask yourself is this fear based? Am I ignoring the signs? What exactly do I want to fix?
Any and every successful person knows that challenges and failures come as part of the package and the decision is really how do I learn from this to take me forward
One of my best best lessons is that learning only takes place when my behavior changes! If I am still doing the same ole shit honey I haven't learnt a thing and class remains in session!

So, I have stopped my fix it mode, I look at the situation and ask what are you here to teach me? How can I use this to take me forward then I let go, trust, have faith and hope that I don't have to repeat the class! Surrender sounds like ahhhhhhhhh....

Peace!

Almost doesn't count

Don’t get stuck in an “almost” life Tim Storey

This morning after running I thought about heading to the beach as it was early I thought it would be a good time to sit by the water and chat with Mother Nature a bit and then the little voice in my head started chattering, you're tired, stay home and eat, or even better go back to sleep! Then another voice,very quietly reminded me of what Tim Storey talked about living an "almost" life and it starts with the little things and the little things turn in to big things, so I jumped in the car and headed down to the beach, what a great decision it was, I felt relaxed and had a very lovely chat with Mother Nature. As I heading back to the car, I saw one of my favorite elder teachers, I call her Mumzy! Haven't seen her in a hot minute and we sat and chatted, which is always lovely because she downloads a lot of wisdom!What did I learn today? Almost doesn't count, do it or shut it! How lame is it to say I almost went to the beach, or I almost went to run or I almost lived my dreams! Almost is an excuse when you know you can just get up and do it!Peace

Having the best things is no substitute for having the best life

"Many times we insist on having all the best things because that's the only way we can ensure "quality of life" for ourselves. I can neglect myself in every other way, but if I have the best watch or the best pocketbook or car or square footage, I get to tell myself I'm the best and how much I deserve to have even more of the best. 
What I know for sure: Having the best THINGS is no substitute for having the best LIFE. When you can let go of the desire to aquire, you know you are really on your way" Oprah Winfrey


Having had a lot of "things" and having lost them, having lived in countries where quite a number of  those same "things" do not matter one little bit now plays a tremendous part in the choices that I make and many times these are unconscious choices. I have lost my desire to buy and get things, I sometimes do not even think about it, the downside of that is there are times I make decisions that seem crazy and maybe they are. I was thinking about it this morning how things play a huge part in the lives we lead to prove to the world that we are fine, that we are okay. and get me, I am not knocking nice things, I love nice things. I am saying that at what cost do we acquire the things, do we use the things to validate us yet we are crying or dying inside! One of my teachers asked me can you kiss the certificate you have? can it give you a hug? So yes, the certificate is important however put it in context! Use the certificate to assist you in having the best life and acquiring things will not equate to you having the best life

Peace!

What is the quality of your intent?

If its Spiritual, factual, beautiful, political, something to roll to, let it be, whatever it is let it be, let it be, let it!
Maybe I’ve been trying to be what they need of me, Be. When I should’ve just been me. Why? Whatever it is let it be, let it be, let it!  Jill Scott

I wanted to know more about what an intention is. Mainly because a number of the teachers I met on the way spoke to me about setting intentions and I was a little unclear, then I was talking to my cousin, who is really more like my sister as we grew up together in the same house and she said to me " You know Kos, my word for 2015 is intention" so  I decided to do some research and came up with this definition from Malika Chopra who is doing some excellent work on spreading the word adn meaning of intentions, she says, " Intents come from your soul – they are who and what we aspire for in our life. Intentions reflect ones purpose, what gives us meaning or significance. Intentions come from a place of mindfulness, of knowing what will give us happiness and peace. An intent is any goal you plan on accomplishing to achieve that happiness and peace."
Awesome stuff and some key things there that spoke to me:1. it comes from your soul - that place of infinite possibility2. it reflects one's purpose - so basically I need to be clear on what my purpose is3. What gives me meaning and significance- do I know, have I spent the time to connect and know what it is?4. It comes from a place of mindfulness and therefore suggest to me that it is not random.5. Happiness and peace - your intent ought to bring you happiness and peace ultimately!!
So, my intentions how I set them are extremely important and setting an intention paves a path for me to act in a way which promotes happiness and peace and coming from that place its all good!
Simply start with the phrase “I intend to” and fill in the rest with what your heart wants most
Peace!

Focus on the good

If you pay more attention to what's wrong than what's good, you will lose out on a lot of goodness. Terry McMillan
What you focus on grows, that is  a Universal Law. Choose to focus on the good! That is not to say to ignore danger and be a walkover doormat! That is to say look for the good and focus on it, there is good everywhere I strongly believe that. People do their best with what they have, information, knowledge and upbringing. The thing is when you know better you do better! 
Have you ever noticed how you feel when you are around people who moan all the time? It's like they stick a pin in your balloon and drain out the air! It is a call from them unconsciously for love and light! (You can send love and light from afar!) 
I have been absolutely privileged to meet and work with women who despite the odds chose to see the good and guess what it even feels good to see the good.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to give an address at the UNESCO Programme Building Female Leaders in the 21st Century and it reconfirmed to me that there is so much good out there and what I choose to focus on will grow! I like "goodness"!So here's to you having a good day!Peace!

Success comes from being willing to move into Uncharted territory

Never be afraid to "try your hand" because you don't want to might make a mistake or not do something "right." Success in life comes from being willing to move
into Uncharted Territory. Neale Donald Walsh
What do you want to do right now in your life that you have been avoiding because of fear?, you have been making excuses and excuses and excuses, which is only a form of fear and denial.What have you been avoiding in the name of fear or maybe you convinced yourself that you are avoiding it to keep the peace?
What have you been procrastinating about?
What are some of the unfinished businesses you have "somewhere out there?"
Everyone has something they started but did not finish. This does not refer to those things you are in the process of completing. It refers to those things you have shoved to the side and keep telling yourself you will get back to it someday but that day never seems to come.This is what I have learnt in order to fully realize and utilize our Personal Power, we must eliminate the weight of Incomplete Cycles of Action. Whether they are created by the habit of procrastination, loss of interest, lack of time or, just plain old laziness, you will be challenged in the process of creating what you desire when you are carrying the weight of what you have not completed. For the purposes of moving forward, there is an important distinction that must be made between finishing what you start and, being complete with it.
An incomplete cycle of action is created when we hold on to an idea, responsibility or obligation of finishing something, whether or not that thing still has meaning for us. The learning opportunity is to recognize that while you may not “finish” something, you can be “complete” with it. When you are complete you stop telling yourself you need to, want to or, are going to get back to it. Once you are complete with a thing, you must release it from your mind. When you hold on to it in any form, it takes up value space in consciousness.
Right now, my incomplete cycle of action is completing the  PhD programme that I started. I have my thesis to complete and its been taking up space in my consciousness, so I woke up this morning and thought, let me close this cycle, it will take some doing, and that could mean putting it on pause in my mind so that my mind is left free to deal with what is in front of me right now! Food for thought!
Peace!!