Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 233

Change is not linear

You cannot force, coerce and demand change. Change is a process that unfolds when the individual mind comes into alignment and cooperation with the flow of life, the universe at large. Change is a journey. Change is not linear, meaning do this and that will happen. Change is uncertain and uncertainty gives rise to fear. Change requires vision and strategic planning. Changes requires that we work from the top down (from the mind to the heart) and from the bottom up (from the experience to the cause of the experience) at the same time. Change often creates problems in our environment. Fear not! Problems are our friends! Without problems we cannot learn. Without problems we have no idea of the depth of the change that is required of us. Iyanla VanzantI am working on a change management process for the next two weeks with an organisation and each day I sit with the executives of the organisation and we talk about the change and the process and let me tell you I smell their fear, I see it oozing from their pores! I sit there and think yea I get you but my big lesson from all this is how much we depend on people and things to make us "safe and secure" and truly truly truly it comes from within. We always have a choice! It's one of the greatest gift given to us, free will! we can do whatever we choose with all that has been bestowed upon us by this Universe! I admit, I too fear change because I like to avoid pain, I know  I like to avoid pain, I see it even when I am exercising! But the question is, avoiding pain or being happy, being free, being true to yourself, is avoiding pain really safer? And then what happens is that life pushes you in a direction where you now have to make a drastic decision because you were avoiding it all the time, be like the buffalo in the storm, run through it and know its just some hard rain which will stop! The pain is temporary, as they say .....and this too shall pass!!

I am still learning myself but I have gotten better at dealing with uncomfortable situations, and shifts and changes, and this assignment is really right on time for me to walk the talk, to practice what I preach and to know like I know like I know that I will always always always be AOK! and so will you! Peace!!

Massive Action!

"Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all." - Norman Vincent PealeSo I was booked to do a radio interview and talk show on Tuesday, I was so excited and pumped up! I thought I was ready! And guess what? I missed it, I had to call in to the show and couldn't get through, they sent me a message and said you missed it sorry! I sat there thinking about it, what is the lesson because you know that is my standard question when things are kicking off!! What is the lesson? I believed that I did everything possible to get on the show, what were my thoughts? what were my underlying feelings? I took some action and contacted the producers, they told me ok we shall book you on tomorrow. I was happy to have another shot, got ready and guess what? same thing, I missed t again! Well well what's the lesson? I must admit I was feeling really down after missing this both times! But hey, I asked again if they would have me on, haven't heard from them yet!

On to another lesson! I will continue to learn as I go along and take responsibility for my actions, I know what is for me is for me and when I give and do all that I can and it doesn't work as I think it should to trust the process, will let you know how it goes
Peace!!
 

Guest writing on the nextwomen Magazine today!

Check it out!! Peace!!

http://www.thenextwomen.com/2014/04/21/captain-sustainability-interview-melanie-richards-founder-csr-solutions

Getting readey for the Michael Dresser Show today

I acknowledge the progress in my life and being, through the support and grace of God, my ancestors, elders, teachers, spiritual guides, sisters and brothers. Rev. Manazerine Olujimi Baptiste

Today I am being interviewed for the Michael Dresser radio show! This will be my first time on US Radio! I'm pretty excited and a little bit nervous too! I am super grateful as well to have an opportunity to be living my purpose! It's a scary thing to take that leap of faith but it is so worth it and yea I do have times when I am like as they say shitting bricks wondering about what's next, where will the cash come from and then I get the sign to be quiet have faith and keep working it's not only about the money its about knowing that you will always be taken care of no matter what! Anyways I digress, tune in if you got the time, you can listen online as well, Michael Dressler show 4.19ET
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michaeldressershow
Peace!

Sharing a post today

Happy Easter to all, sharing a post today that I liked a whole lot! Hope that you enjoy
Peace!!

http://buddhistthings.blogspot.com.es/2014/04/20-things-to-start-doing-in-your.html

Does it have to do with truth?

An attachment is something we have a strong emotional connection to that has nothing to do with our survival or even our truth. We may think releasing this attachment will destroy us....but will it really? Releasing our attachments may create change, but it can not destroy us, nothing can! We are Eternal Spirit . Sabrine RuerThis is my first time doing an intervention! I was asked to assist in carrying out this task for a large organisation, what struck me is how we are attached to things and the fear of us losing them! I mean like car, house, status, job title and phone! Nothing said about internal qualities or even friends! And why I recognized this is because I been there!! We hold on and hold on and hold on when we know and know and know its time to let go because of fear!!! So here's my lesson, here is what I have learnt we must be WILLING to let go of what we have, everything to gain everything, lose it all to gain it all. Be WILLING!!!! I get that!! And I get that there is fear involved! Once we recognize the fear is feel the fear and do it anyway!!

Are you willing to lose it all to gain it all?
Peace!!

Sleeping through it

Sharing this post from Carol Fant!
Peace!!

I’ve spent a good part of the past weekend napping.  It’s the kind of thing I rarely do – but when the sh*% hits the fan, I hit the couch.
Napping used to be a defense mechanism, a way to hide completely from the world until I could convince myself that whatever was happening wasn’t real, that I really didn’t need to deal with it, not right then – maybe not ever.  Napping as in “sleeping so I don’t have to think.”  That sort of complete cop-out slumber.
That sort of hiding made me really sick, made me find all sorts of unhealthy ways to deal (well, really, not deal) with my emotions.  Anything that could make me quit thinking and feeling were fair game, whether they came in the form of pills, liquids, herbs or powders – or something shiny and new that I couldn’t afford – or any combination of other people, places or things.  I ran.  That sort of running is exhausting.  So I slept.  I slept through, oh, maybe 15 years of my life.
Then I learned to show my ass.  Or maybe it’s more honest to say I was forced to show my ass.  All that running and hiding and ducking and dodging catches up with you sooner or later.  Life tends to pile up.  Those emotions you thought you were avoiding have a way of erupting one way or another.  Relationships fall apart.  Your stomach goes on permanent strike.  Your nerves fray to the point of no return.  And all those “tools” you used to not think or feel?  They quit working.   And then it’s up to you to make a decision:  learn to live another way, or just give up and let the landslide bury you for good.
I’m happy to say I chose the former, but only after I was literally halfway down the mountain under a ton of emotional snow and debris.  Learning to live another way for me meant learning to show my ass.  Talk.  Feel.  Be honest, no matter what.  Take risks that the people who love you will still love you after you tell them all the insane thoughts, emotions and horror stories that run around in your brain.  Someone told me once that feelings were just feelings, they wouldn’t kill me.  And I’m living proof that’s a true statement.
Showing your ass is looking directly into life’s face and screaming “BRING IT.”  It’s finding someone you trust, and just letting it all hang out.  It’s opening your mouth and letting your heart and soul and brain find a way to deal with a raw emotional state.
And that’s exactly where I’ve been lately – in a raw emotional state.  Dealing with THE BIG UGLY of life. I tried my old way first – I clammed up and played super hero.  I donned my rose colored mask and my I can handle it all by myself cape.  I didn’t talk.  I tried not to feel.  But my insides told a different story:  I had stomach cramps, and headaches, and I ate far too much chocolate.  Then my outsides joined in:  I had bursts of anger at the strangest times, like anytime the word “forgiveness” was mentioned.
I knew if I was going to survive, I’d have to show my ass.   So I did.  Just a little at first – - I texted two of my closest friends.  Because texting doesn’t involve talking.  That went well, so I talked.  I started with the easiest person – my partner. Someone I knew loved me no matter what.  Someone who already knew about the big ugly, just not how much crazy I’d built up around it.  Then I talked to my therapist, also easy because she’s paid to listen to me.  Besides, I’ve been talking to her for eons and I trust her.
Then I tried harder people — my mentor, a person who’s new in my life and who I really want to like me.  That was tough, because what if she never wanted to talk to me again?  I really didn’t want to show my ass to her.  But I’m working with her to overcome barriers and become a better, more productive person, so how honest would it be if I didn’t tell her what was completely shutting me down? So I did, and she gave me new tools to use, and she still likes me.
Then I talked to another trusted friend, a sort of spiritual adviser.   For some reason, I always want her to think I automatically take the high road, even though I know she knows that’s crap.  So I confessed what a complete mess I’d been, and we talked and laughed and drank coffee and I left there feeling real.
I was living that adage: from action I get relief.  Each time I felt lighter, cleansed, freer – but completely exhausted.
So I napped the nap of the ass shower: a healthy, I’m only going to rest until I can get up off my ass nap. An emotional and spiritual power nap.  Napping as in “sleeping to restore myself.”  This new sort of slumber is healing.  It’s the very antithesis of a cop-out nap.
Sometimes I don’t actually nap horizontally, but I rest nonetheless.  I sit and stare.  I watch reruns of The Andy Griffin Show.  I watch one of the Twilight movies and confess to no one how much I like it.  I give myself permission to do nothing.  I eat cereal for dinner.  I read fun fiction.  I shut off my mind in healthy ways.
It’s all healing.  And healing is what I need when life is handing it to me.
Healing is what happens when I open my mouth and let others visit that scary neighborhood that is my brain.  It’s not so scary with other people standing by you, cheering you on — telling you you can do it — that you’re beautiful, you’re strong, you’re worthy, you’re brave.  I don’t want to cheat myself out of that kind of love and friendship and emotional well-being ever again.  I can do anything with my tribe around me.  So can you.
After a solid week of ass showing, and resting, I’m starting to be me again.  Which means I have energy.  I’m happy, at least as happy as I’m going to be with life’s big ugly staring me in the face.   I feel hopeful.  I can actually say “this too shall pass” without wanting to puke. I don’t feel controlled by my outside circumstances, because I’ve taken control of my insides.  And by taking control I mean showing my ass.
Are you holding onto something that’s weighing you down, that’s creating a spiritual and emotional dam? Wouldn’t it be easier just to show your ass, even a little?  Don’t be afraid.  Start small.  Let one trusted friend in.  If it makes you feel better, warn them in advance:  prepare yourself, I’m about to show my ass.  And if this is brand new to you, if it all feels like too much too soon – write it down.  Get it out of your head and onto paper at least.  From action you get relief.  And relief is such a beautiful thing.  So is a nap.  You deserve both
 

Lessons and Blessings from Brasso

I give thanks constantly. For it go how it has to go, it has to and of course nothing happens exactly as it did before, but happen they do and over and over again the many become the few until the old is forgotten by the new but they will remember they always do - Natalie Stewart
Yesterday I was out on the North Coast of Trinidad doing a project with a community group! What struck me about this group is their unrelenting optimism and dedication to the improvement of the community! They could complain about the neglect of the authorities, as many many people do here but they don't ! They tell me that they live in such a beautiful place with rivers, beaches, hiking trails, cocoa and coffee that they will use what they have to ensure that their children can live there in the future! I asked them how things have changed over the years, they told me in the last ten years they got running water, electricity, telephone and now working on getting Internet access and this didn’t come just because the authorities liked them, they had to fight for it all! And they found a way! So we sat at the Village facility and the kids were there learning how to grind coffee,  talking about how to make chocolate bars and run a business! They were chatting with me about how to make this a viable entity for their community! I just sat there and gave thanks for the opportunity to learn from these lovely Brasso Seco villagers! Each time I go or leave I hear "Blessings from Brasso"
How many of us complain? How many of us are always looking at what we don’t have and focusing on what we don't want? How many of us wake up daily with a consciousness of making where we live a better place for our children even though we may not live to see it? Not what mark they make in exams or which car they go to school in today. Lasting change, making a way and showing love, discipline, faith and community? How many of us depend on the Government to “do something?” whilst  we do nothing! I learnt yesterday to give thanks and do what you can with what you have!, to give back to your community and forget looking for a reward, the reward is in the giving! Thank you Brasso!!
Peace!!

Jourrney to Authenticity

EXCERPT FROM "What did I learn today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Love"
Authenticity is about returning and magnifying who you are, instead of trying to become someone who you think you should be. It’s about peeling off the false adornments and standing wholly, holy, and true.
You have to question your motives. Is your motive to be comfortable? Is it to be liked? Is it to be accepted? Is it to be rescued? I will bet my last dollar that for many of us, there is at least one “yes” in there
True friends—those that want nothing for you but peace, harmony, and joy—sometimes more than you want it for yourself—will rise to the surface. Those are the ones to listen to and commune with. You will know their voice because it’s authentic as well, and it speaks with no ulterior motives or projections. It may not tell you pretty things, but it will always speak in love.

Sharing thoughts on my favourite author

"When you give to others to the degree that you sacrifice yourself, you make the other person a thief." —Iyanla Vanzant, paraphrasing A Course in Miracles



Pearl Cleage is my absolute favourite author, I love her work! I love the authenticity, the realness, the vivid pictures she paints, the stories and issues that she touches! I remember discovering her work one random day in New Orleans walked into a bookstore and they had her as the featured author with readings and specials on her book  "What looks like crazy on an Ordinary Day", I picked up the book and opened it and as they say the rest was history! I have followed her work ever since!

So much to my delight she has penned another book, her story, authentic and business all out there for the world to see "Things I should have told my Daughter", awesome, awesome and more awesome. These are the thoughts of one reviewer
"I also feel this book a reminder for all women to openly communicate and document our thoughts and feelings so that our future generation of children will understand how far we had to go in order to overcome life's challenges."
Made me feel even better writing mine!
I'm reading Pear Cleage all weekend!
Peace!!