Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 24
July 18, 2023
Everything is not for Everyone
There will be many people who you cross paths with who will not be able to see your vision. This may make you doubt yourself or reconsider if what you are putting energy into is even worth it. The important thing is to realize that everything is not for everyone. Yung Pueblo
A very important part of this journey called life is the ability to tune in, listen and follow the guidance from our intuition. When we have an idea, a vision, a dream we cannot do it alone. Trust plays a huge part on the Journey. Trusting ourselves is part of honoring that inner voice called the gut, the intuition. Our vision, our dream requires not just communication to others, a disciplined work ethic but also trust of self and the inner guidance.
Part of this process is remembering that everything is not for everybody - not everyone will share in your vision or continue along on your journey however, when we are divinely guided we can rest assured that we are making the best decision in the moment.
My challenge has always been waiting too long to put the divine guidance into action due to people pleasing and fear I want people to like me, see me as cool. I want to avoid conflict. So if it an uncomfortable situation I procrastinate and avoid until the proverbial shit hits the fan. Rather than face the music I hide. Its been a process to unlearn habits and believe that the inner guidance is always right on time.
In the process of unlearning, I am also learning - trusting self, believing in self and not personalizing it all including the people who have not continued on the journey and those I have asked to come off the path that I have chosen.
Peace and Blessings
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
July 17, 2023
Celebrating the Small Wins
It's time to shine a spotlight on the incredible wins, breakthroughs, and milestones that each of you has accomplished.Often, we find ourselves focusing on the challenges and setbacks we face.While it's crucial to address those hurdles and learn from them, it's equally essential to recognize and acknowledge the triumphs along the way. Harness Magazine
If you are anything like me and the people that I know, you are ambitious, you want to do better, you strive for more, sometimes even perfection. In that striving, we focus on what can be improved, we focus on what was done and then we move on to another. We hardly ever focus on what we did well for more than a minute. What I have learnt is that there are lessons in what we did well, and there is a purpose for celebrating the small wins.
This is a gentle reminder to celebrate the small wins, celebrate your accomplishments, celebrate YOU.
Celebrating YOU is reflecting to the Universe a feeling of gratitude. A feeling of worthiness, A feeling of willingness to receive more.
The other lesson I have learnt is....there is a pause in the celebration. We have a tendency to move from project to project, job to job, act to act- because we believe the pause will slow us down and life has to be lived with its responsibilities and expectations so we press on/ The celebration gives us a moment to pause and reflect.
Its time for you to shine! to recognize the triumphs and give yourself some love
Shine on
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
July 10, 2023
Journeying to Courage via The North Coast
“I always forget how important the empty days are, how important it may be sometimes not to expect to produce anything, even a few lines in a journal. A day when one has not pushed oneself to the limit seems a damaged, damaging day, a sinful day. Not so! The most valuable thing one can do for the psyche, occasionally, is to let it rest, wander, live in the changing light of a room.” ― May Sarton
Last week, I took the opportunity to go off grid for a few days. For July's journey to courage, I set an intention to do more activities that I either make up stories about being hard, feel fearful of doing, or are completely new.
Petit Tacaribe is a slice of Paradise on the North Coast of Trinidad. The journey takes you via road through the long and windy roads of the North Coast past the famous Maracas Bay Beach, the lesser known Tyrico Bay, Las Cuevas (my weekly Saturday healing meditation spot) and Damian's Bay Blanchicheusse - all beaches with long shorelines kissed by high mountains of green and hills.
Following the drive past the beaches, you take a small boat for about thirty minutes down the bay with rock formations that all look like portals to another realm. Within that time you arrive at a cove where Lester - an old friend - who has lived off the grid for over fifteen years. Lester has made his home on a hill overlooking Petit Tacaribe - off the grid - there is no electricity lest a few lights powered by Solar, no phone reception, no cars (no roads0. Lester has two gardens where he grows his own food, he catches fish and lives the simplest of lives. The other option to get to Lester's spot is a 4 to 5 hour hike through the forest- I decided to return via the hike.
Boats and I have never been friends - not only am I scared because I cannot swim, I puke my guts out when I am on them for any length of time. So with that in mind - I decide to get on this boat - doing something that scares me!
The result was a blissful few days on the beach (minus feeling sick!), eating clean, and be-ing with me! Falling back in love with myself, patching my soul back into something that I am proud of.
I actually went into the ocean - another thing I don't usually do, I woke up each morning, watched the sun rise, walked, learnt to make coconut oil from scratch - from gathering the nuts to the finished product. The hike back was HARD - I literally fell over with the bag on my back, got off dusted myself and pressed on.
What are some of the stories that you tell your self you cannot do, you will not do because...
Its my personality
I don't like it
I get sick
many of which are laced with fear or lack of consciousness?
This is why I push myself to do new things - to show myself that I can! I have it all inside - its all in inside job right?
On this Journey to Courage, I continue to live out the intentions to fall in love with myself which will lead to loving others better . I continue to question the fears that raise its head telling me that it is ok to justify nonsense, ok to deny Self, ok to make excuses . I continue to recognize that courage is not the absence of faith but the presence of faith.
Peace and Blessings
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
July 7, 2023
Simple-isms
Expertise makes something complex appear simple and intelligible. Bullshit makes something simple appear unnecessarily complex and unintelligible.
Expertise creates value for people who don’t know better. Bullshit extracts value from people who don’t know better. Mark Manson
I love simple, I love simplicity, I love the simple life. I have learnt that simple ain't easy but its oh so worth it.
My intention is to live my life simply, to embody a simplicity mindset and actions
What does that mean?
1.Keep it simple by refusing to complicate things by over thinking, over explaining, over questioning.
2. Trust the process
3. Let go of the need to control everything and know everything - this is wasted energy
4. Practice your craft, prepare well
5. Believe in yourself
Peace and Blessings
Akosua
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
July 4, 2023
What Are You Telling Yourself?
If you are telling yourself that you are stuck, maybe you think you made a poor decision, or you just don't feel you belong where you are, then pause. Don't ask, "Where should I go?" Or "What should I do?" Instead, ask, "What do I need to thrive?" Make a list. It should have at least twenty items on it! Alicia Rodriguez
What do I need to thrive? What's on my list?
1. Healthy Food that nourish my body
2. A safe space both physically and emotionally
3. Health
4. Connection with friends and family
5. Beach, Rivers, Oceans, Nature
6. Spirituality and a consistent Spiritual practice
7. Technology to support the work that I do
8. Purpose driven work
9. Travel to new and different places
10. Laughter
11. Self Belief
12. Self Trust
13. Music - Live Music
14. Long walks
15. Therapy
16. Reading
17. Writing daily in a journal
18. Learning new things
19. Massages
20. Self Love
What's on your list
Peace and Blessings
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
July 2, 2023
July is the Journey to Courage
Courage – beingloyal to yourself, your intuition, your heart, honoring yourself and yourguidance over pleasing others and fear, It is not about overcoming fear, it isabout honouring the loyalty.
For July, the intention is to view courage more than the absence of fear, but the presence of faith.
For July, the intention is to view courage as a test of character - can I tap into that space inside of me to do the thing that would make me proud, that thing that I chose intentionally with integrity, faith, trust and authenticity especially when it is uncomfortable, goes beyond the habits that I have cultivated and when no one is looking.
So many times we chose what feels good in the moment, or we chose to avoid the difficult or uncomfortable conversations and situations. There are times we chose unconsciously out of habit and familiarity and justify it in many ways. The consequences of these actions reflect in our lives with little or large messes to clean up which we could have avoided if we tapped into that well of courage that we are all born with.
In July, the journey is to move away from unconscious, inauthentic decisions and choices, to remember who we are and bring all of the other lessons into play such as acceptance, self respect and authenticity,
Here is to having the:
Courage to speak the truth.
Courage to live the truth.
Courage to take a stand.
Courage to trust Self.
Courage to Show Up…Real
Courage to Listen.
Courage to Empathize.
Courage to Learn New Things.
Courage to Share.
Courage to Love.
Let's do this. I am ready
Peace and Blessings
Akosua
June 27, 2023
The Brain and its Stories
when the brain doesn't have enough information. It fills in the blanks —it creates a story. Stacey Herera
I have been reading The Way of Mastery over the past few week. A particular chapter as part of the Way of Transformation has been on my mind and I thought that I would share.
An important part of transformation is what we do with our thoughts - be ye transformed by the renewing of our minds.
What are the thoughts that we are giving attention to and if there are missing parts do we make up stories, do we ask for clarity, what do we do?
Since I have been paying attention to my thoughts I have learned that it is so easy to fill my mind with thoughts of fear, and what I don't want - universal laws says -what we focus on grows. I have also realized how many stories I make up to fill in the gaps- half of which are not true and the other half is filled with fear of what if's.
The way of transformation requires us to pay attention to our thoughts, to remember and recognize how powerful our thoughts are.
The first step has ben recognizing what I am thinking? Awareness puts the thoughts on pause. When I recognize what are these thoughts I get curious. Oh, is that what I am thinking? I ask more questions or I recite a mantra - is this what I want to focus on? what I focus on grows. Takes practice.
Our minds are powerful. How we uses it can transform our lives.
Starts with a thought.
Peace and Blessings
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
June 24, 2023
Every change is a death and a rebirth
Every change is a death and a rebirth. Every decision moves us toward something and away from something else. Alicia Gonzales
Confessions on the Journey - changes in life scare me- particularly the ones that I believe that I have zero control over. I would purposefully do events and go places where I had to come out of my comfort zone in order to learn how to let go of control and trust the process. It really has helped, practising to do new things, and going to new places. This is why I love Alicia's quote which perceives change as both a beginning and an end at the same time. I have tended to focus on the end, the discomfort, the inconvenience - all of which are part of birthing a new process - the trick is- what do you focus on?
I love going to beach on the North coast to watch the sun rise. I would either wait for someone to take me - there are no taxi's there at that time of day- or I would ask a good friend to drive me. Many opt out because waking up at 430am is not always pretty! The fear of driving on the long windy narrow roads - a change from the highways and byways for me- stopped me from going.
I decided that in 2023 I would do the drive - at 5am there are less cars on the road so I could relax and take my time.
I have now been watching the sunrise on a Saturday morning - its been healing and heavenly. I am so happy that I decided to embrace change and do something new.
As change happens, I am now focusing on the rebirth!
Peace and Blessings
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
June 22, 2023
The beauty of intuition is that, if you listen, it will push you to grow
The beauty of intuition is that, if you listen, it will push you to grow. In my experience, following what was clear in my gut made me address deeper and deeper levels of fear. It also pushed me to finally address my aversion to accepting help from loved ones. It taught me to have faith in the process, even though the plan was not crystal clear. Yung Pueblo
Intuition, gut feeling, divine guidance, something in me - whatever name you call it. There is an unseen and untouched voice inside of us that pops up while we are alive.
I am not talking about your monkey mind - the ego chatting to you, berating you and scaring you. I am talking about a still, consistent voice that accompanies you in times where you are at a crossroad and making serious life decisions.
I call it Divine Guidance - it is always right on time, guiding with love - and sometimes the loving response is no.
The challenge is ,we will not hear or follow this voice when we are ALWAYS choosing to be busy, we will not hear or follow the voice when we do not acknowledge and feel or feelings, we will not hear or follow the voice when we are focused on distractions. The voice becomes stronger in silence and stillness. The voice becomes stronger when we feel or feelings, when we are less distracted, when we accept ourselves - our innate power.
Your intuitive power, according to Ann Marie Marron, helps us to gain insights, guidance, and information that are often beyond what the conceptual, logical mind. It requires slowing down, and opening into a depth of listening. Listening to your intuition takes courage, it takes slowing down, it takes authenticity and feeling our feelings, trust and faith. Many of us want evidence, we want to analyze, we want proof. Following with our intuition is not for the faint hearted. The doubt will come up, the fear, the questioning - intuition says - trust me! Its tough to trust the "unknown"
It is a gift!
Lessons on the Journey
Peace and Blessings
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
June 19, 2023
Love shows up with open hands
Intuition is our life's compass – we can trust our instincts… and, with more and more divine headedness, our purpose calls… it finds us. Pamela Anderson
I was listening to a podcast featuring Dr Thema over the weekend, she was talking about balancing success, how success in one area of our lives, particularly the part we spend the most time on, can mask other areas of our lives that require attention.
For career women, successful women, many times they are goal oriented, achieving whatever they put their minds to with consistency and persistence. When it comes to personal relationships, they view the situation with the same lens. They view it as if it is not working all that is required is to approach it like achieving a goal, more time, more persistence and more strategy. Dr Thema pointed out that using this formula for relationships does not always work. Relationships require trust, reciprocity, it requires others to do their inner work- we cannot always do the work for others, love more, give more until it works out. Success in a relationship is not measured by the length of it.
Success in a relationship is about growth, reciprocity, trust, willingness to forgive- if these qualities are absent, and the other person is not showing up as they ought to be- time will not fill that gap.
We cannot strategize our way to success in a relationship on our own. Love does not include convincing. Convincing is different from accountability.
This was a game changer for me. Define success in a relationship which provides us with the emotional support, growth and love rather than time, and ticking a box. Use your intuition to guide, use your body to feel the energy and be honest about what is facing you.
How do you define a Successful Relationship?
Akosua's Books
Nyabo (Madam) Why Are You Here?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
