Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 25

What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on June 17, 2023 16:38

Is Asking and Receiving Hard for you?

For many of us, asking for and receiving support is a path littered with the debris of the past. Hiro Boga

I can say now without fear, that asking for help has been a challenge for me for a very long time. Becoming self aware has taught me that giving and receiving are all in the same, what we give we receive and vice versa.

If we are unable to receive, then we must ask ourselves, what is the intention behind our giving.

I associated asking for help with being weak, with being seen as a loser, not on top of my game, as lazy- all of the negative vibes. I am not even sure where I got these ideas from but they formed a huge part of the belief system that I held.

Becoming more and more aware of self I have learnt that we are not meant to do this thing called life alone, that many of those beliefs stem from a place of fear and control and just as we find joy in giving, there is joy in other people giving as well.

Additionally, when resentment hits in, I know that my giving and not asking for what I need is coming from a place of fear. Fear of failure, of not being liked and looking a particular way- all stories I made up.

Learning to ask and receive also sharpens up our intuition and courage - two very important qualities on the Journey of Life

Start small, start asking for what you want to yourself!

Peace and Blessings

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What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on June 12, 2023 10:41

Choices add up and make your life

You have to wake up & chose positivity & prayer! J

The choices that we make- both consciously and unconsciously - determine the life that we live. Choices create. There are so many situations that we encounter where we have little or no control What we are faced with in that moment is to make a choice - remembering that not making a definitive decision is also a choice to live by default.

What we do in the morning is a choice. Lately I have been choosing a routine - wake up mediate, move, pray. watch my self talk.

What we do during the day is a choice - we have responsibilities yes, we also have the ability to make choices.

What we do in the evening time is a choice.

All of the choices we make on a daily basis add up to the life we live:

What we eat

What we read

What we think

Who we spend time with

What we speak

How we respond to challenges and setbacks

All are choices that we make - will reflect itself in how we live.

Remembering that everyday helps me to stay in the moment so that I can make conscious choices and when I don't I can make another choice.

Peace and Blessings

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What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on June 09, 2023 07:55

Nature Answers Our Questions

God and nature first made us what we are, and then out of our creative genius, we made ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law: Let the sky and God be our limit and eternity our measurement. – Marcus Garvey

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Hello Lovies

I have been deliberately off the grid for a few days. There are two times I choose to come off the grid intentionally. June and December - both times I believe I am being reborn. One is I celebrate a birthday and he second one is end of a year, start of another one.

This week, I stayed off the grid as I celebrated a birthday in Grenada , totally spontaneous. The plane ride is 30 minutes, I hoped on did an entire day of hiking and exploring and left. It was time well spent, in nature, reconnecting with the Earth and myself. There is a language that only exists in nature, a tone that heals and embraces the mind in a particularly kind yet impersonal way.

Why? Because in the day to day being in this world, there can be times where we forget to reconnect with ourselves, it has to be intentional. There are merits in slowing down, in resting, in silence. I can hear my intuition clearer in nature, I am able to see how everything is connected and so it pushes me to take less for granted, to judge others less, to know I need only look to the Most High as the only Source - nature definitely reminds me of that. My greatest teacher of sufficiency is nature and the natural laws of the earth—laws that have no amendments, when I feel there is not enough or I am not enough - nature reminds me that I am making up stories! Worry, anxiety & fear do not concern the laws of nature and because I am part of the whole, it ought not to concern me as well.

What are your rituals? Do you have any?

Peace and Blessings

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What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on June 07, 2023 13:21

June is the Journey to Contentment

In the end of all seeking, you must look into the mirror and decide to be the one who heals yourself. You are the one who decides, from infinite freedom, how to use the power of your mind in each moment. The Way of Mastery

Hello Lovies

June is here, and a particularly special month for me. June is the month I celebrate a birthday. My grandma told me as soon as I could have understood her, that the birthday of a Queen is declared a holiday and we are Queens so act like one and make the day special. I began a tradition of spending time in nature, to reset, to regroup, to even challenge myself to do a new thing. For many years I would take a guide and we would walk or hike to rivers, waterfalls, into forests. For the last three years I invited friends to accompany me, special friends and beloveds which was a beautiful experience. This year, I am back to the solo runs and I am taking it on the road - falling back in love with myself with a mindset of gratitude and contentment, remembering the Queen that my grandmother reminded me that I am.

Journeying to Contentment in June. This is a journey of faith and trust - first of Self - when we trust and believe in ourselves, it becomes so much easier to navigate our relationships with others. Building faith and trust of Self starts with keeping our word to ourselves and then to others, it includes building the courage to face challenges and take full responsibility for our choices and consequences.

This is a journey of being FULLY present in the moment. No grasping, no stories, no judgement, no comparison,. A radical acceptance of each moment as it arises with integrity, love, self respect and self honor.

We have a tendency to look, search, seek - many times outside of ourselves for something, for someone, for that thing that will make us feel useful, loved, like we matter. We may even destroy the present moment to get to that thing we believe that we must have. The journey to contentment is to a peace of mind and gratitude for the moment, knowing that we cannot find anything outside of ourselves to make us whole and complete especially when it dishonors us and others.

That thing we are looking for, the next job, the next high, the next love, the next opportunity, the next relationship, the next good time ignores the present moment. The Universe is asking us to be authentic, respectful, gracious and our absolute best selves in the moment. To look within and find that space where we can say, I am content with me, with who I am and what comes into my life in the next moment will align with who I am, with my level of content. Anything other than that is drama and confusion, empty words, avoidance. We get chances and opportunities to choose again. Life loves us that much. The Universe pays attention to how you treat each moment and with what you do in front of you. We have free will to choose. Will we choose to be content? (have a level of faith, trust, self respect and self honor) or will we choose to look for the next exciting moment, the next moment that boosts our ego, to avoid, deny, be busy, to stay comfortable in our habits?

The Journey to Contentment starts with being fully present in the moment, honouring it, accepting it, It is facing head on what is in front of you rather than avoiding, denying, being inauthentic running away, justifying actions which dishonour yourself and others - knowing that the present moment is what you need to get you to the next moment. The Journey to Contentment is about facing yourSELF wholly, holy and true.It starts with honoring yourself, even when others disagree, get hurt, or move on. The Journey starts with a recognition that busyness, looking for validation outside of Self is a temporary fix, a band aid for a deep cut. The Journey leads to a knowing that you are enough, that there is nothing, NO -THING outside of you that will make you feel good about yourself if you don't sit still and decide who am I going to be in this present moment.

Peace and Blessings on the Journey to Contentment Happy Birthday to me.

Since its my birthday you get a gift! A free copy of Nyabo(Madam) Why Are You Here?

First come First Served- offer available until 6th June 2023

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Published on June 01, 2023 10:19

Gratitude is a Prayer

It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was exactly what I needed. Ebonee Davis

Today on my early morning walk, I listened to a conversation between Oprah and Lady Gaga. All I knew about Lady Gaga before listening to the conversation was that she was a mega superstar artist who leaned towards the outrageous. I kept seeing the conversation popping up on Spotify and I continued to completely ignore it. What would interest me about Lady Gaga I asked - the answer I would give myself is nothing! Well let me tell you, I was way off, I decided to listen to the conversation and was riveted. Why? Her story spoke of resilience, discipline, using her platform to impact others in a positive way and overcoming setbacks resonated with me in an immense way.

What I took away from the conversation:

1. When our passion is partnered with discipline we become unstoppable.

2. Radical acceptance is the beginning of changing your life - this has been what I have been focusing on in 2023. Accepting what is in front of me rather than denying it, wanting to fix, change, control it. Just plain on accepting that this is what it is!

3. No one is exempt from the challenges, lessons and disappointments of life. Despite fame, fortune and the likes, we all have them and there is no one who can go through them for you,

4. Gratitude is a prayer - if all you can say is thank you, the Most High will respond. Practice gratitude.

5. No one can do life alone - find a village, find a tribe and cherish them.

Peace and Blessings

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What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on May 30, 2023 16:24

Perceptions become Reality

You understand how your own perception impacts your reactions and mood. Blaming all your emotions on events and people outside of you creates a situation where you are constantly giving your power away. Taking responsibility for your mindset not only helps you grow, it widens your opportunity for happiness. Yung Pueblo

Perception is defined as the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted. You may understand, interpret or regard a similar situation in which faced with someone in a completely different way.

You may have had the experience of being in the same place at the same time with someone and you both tell a completely different story. I have learnt that our perceptions are clouded by our experiences, our beliefs and even our physical abilities.

I was having a conversation with a group of people who all volunteer for The Nina Young Women's Leadership Program on what my perception of the organization was. It was startling that the perceptions were all different. We see the world through our perceptions, we make decisions based on our perceptions and I truly believe that many of our perceptions become the reality for us.

Byron Katie's work has helped me in a lot of ways where this is concerned - she asks the question "is this true, is this really true" not only does the question put a pause on my actions, it guides me towards distinguishing whether I am making a decision based on me making up a story, sometimes I even ask a question (if I feel brave enough- you get the lesson here right? paying attention to our perceptions promotes courage)

Our interpretation of events comes from past experiences, biases, beliefs, values, assumptions, and expectations.

Life will give you a nudge or a sign when to pay attention to your perception and interpretation of events when they no longer serve you living to your fullest potential. Our role is to pay attention.

Peace and Blessings

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What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on May 27, 2023 12:42

Your Life, Your Choice

So when things are beautiful in your life remember They. Are. Yours. This is your life.And when things are awful, they’re also yours. But if your problems aren’t getting you clYour oser to a life you want to be living…Then you have choices to make. Maxi

This weekend I completed a retreat with a team of wonderful ladies that volunteer for the NGO that I founded The Nina Young Women's Leadership Program

We were at a beautiful home on the North Cost of the island close to the beach, in a small village with the sounds of birds and nature. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises featured daily in our experience. The yellows and oranges of the sky soothed us as we closed off the day of meetings and interventions with the ladies present.

For those few days, that was my life.

According to Maxi, We have a tendency to brush good things off. Whether we’re staying in a beautiful spot for the weekend, or an incredible opportunity comes our way, or someone wonderful walks into our life…we explain it away. We talk about how it’s temporary. Or not ours. Or borrowed. Or only because x, y, or z happened.

Get into the practice of accepting what is in the moment. Moments make up our lives. Our words, our thoughts sends a signal to the Universe of what we want, what we are grateful for and what we are focused on.

Life is unpredictable and has its ups and downs,. I have learnt that the ups come to balance out the downs. And it is all part of the grand experience. Paying attention and being present in all the moments help in navigating this adventure called life. How you perceive your life is so very important when navigating through both the ups and the downs.

Practice building your life with the choices that you make, the words that you speak and the thoughts that you hold on to. There may be hard choices, there may be difficult moments - they all prepare you for the Flipside of what you will call MY LIFE.

Peace and Blessings

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What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on May 25, 2023 12:51

The Flipside of Avoidance

You will avoid negative things that threaten your identity like failure, loss, and rejection. But you will also avoid positive things that threaten your identity—even things like success, love, and happiness. Marc Manson

Avoiding the bad, the negative, the reality of what is in front of us does not make it go away. This is a lesson that I can say that I have learnt over the years.

Confessions on the journey - I want always to be in my happy feely space, I want little or no disruptions to my existence- well I can tell you without a doubt that life does not work this way. Life delights in surprises and unexpected twists and turns to teach us, to guide us, to protect us. Free will means, we have to pay attention to the signs and to be obedient to the nudges. I would beat up myself when things are going off course because my underlying beliefs have been if I was "good" and "right" nothing "bad" should happen to me! This thinking s for the birds! Life happens and we have the tools and guidance available to us, we have the signs. It is up to us to take heed.

Life loves me is a mantra I use- especially in 2023. Life loves me enough to give me a heads up, to send the people to course correct, to reflect back to me situations I need to pay attention to, to learn the lessons.

Life wants us to be present, in the moment, to pay attention, to choose. Life prefers if there is no avoidance.

Experiment with facing what is in front of you for this week, knowing that its a guide, its a sign post, a lesson.

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What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

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Published on May 23, 2023 10:57

When does Discernment Kick in?

“One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages.” Paulo Coelho

Hello my friends, I have been travelling over the past week. It feels great to be back at base.

Over the past week while travelling, I paid particular attention to being discerning- how do I define discernment? I would say that discernment is the ability to see beyond what is front of us, using truth, trust and intuition. The ability to detect the truth and divinity from a situation which may appear normal to the majority or perhaps chaotic,

When you are placed in a situation, looking through the lens of trust and truth, takes courage, it take a level of knowing. Deciding in the moment, what to do and how to be requires us not only to pay attention, it also requires us to trust ourselves. And this is where we may require some self reflection.

Building trust of ourselves.

How do you build self trust?

By doing what you say you will do - to yourself firstBy pausing and being stillBy saying yes when you mean yes and no when you mean noBy listening and following to your intuition without doubtBe presentWhen your self trust is built, discernment happens easierCome practice with mePeace

Akosua's Books

What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love