Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 5

Entering June: A Celebration of the Unknown and Endless Possibilities

 "As the illusion of Control As Safety falls, I’m finding myself more and more drawn to finding safety right inside of the storm, right in the middle of the mystery, right alongside the sheer unpredictability of everything." Lisa Olivera

June always arrives to me  like a doorway, standing between the past and the future, inviting me to pause, reflect, and embrace the unfolding road ahead. Six months behind us, six months stretching forward.

This year, I find myself standing at a crossroads, personally, professionally, and otherwise. The steady ground I once depended on has shifted, the familiar markers have faded, and certainty no longer holds the same weight. And yet, as Lisa Olivera beautifully describes, there is safety not just in control, but in surrendering to the mystery—standing right inside the storm rather than resisting it.  

Endless possibility.

Rather than fearing uncertainty, I am choosing to welcome it. The removal of the grants for the Nina program, the lack of a steady income since the end of April— I am shifting my mindset to view them not as obstacles but invitations. They push me to lean into faith, creativity, and resilience, reminding me that I have the power to carve my own path. The days of doubt will come, but they, too, are part of the journey.  

So, as I step into June, I carry this belief: The unknown is not a void, but a canvas. Every twist, every unexpected shift, holds the potential for something new, something beautiful, something meant for me.  

May we all find ways to embrace uncertainty, trust in possibility, and walk forward knowing that we are capable, worthy, and ever-evolving.  

Peace and Blessings

Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.

The Shift from Over-Giving to Self-Respect

 

"When your safety once depended on being useful, agreeable, or invisible, you internalized harmful ideas, like: 'Don’t rock the boat.' 'Be grateful for any opportunity.' 'Give your best without expecting anything in return."— Dr. Mariel Burque  

This quote stopped me in my tracks. Not because it was new information, but because it voiced an inner dialogue I’ve wrestled with for years.  

As I transitioned into speaking, coaching, and providing online courses, the opportunities came fast. I found myself on TV interviews, podcasts, speaking panels—sharing my expertise with eager audiences. It felt like momentum. It felt validating. But something was missing.  

While my calendar filled up, my bank account remained stagnant. The responses were familiar: "There’s no budget for speakers." 

"It’s great exposure." And at first, I accepted it. Exposure was currency, or so I thought. Until the moment I asked myself—"what now?"  

The Fear Beneath the Silence 

When a learned colleague pointed out something I hadn’t fully acknowledged—I don’t ask because I fear rejection, and I don’t say no because I fear losing opportunities—it landed hard. I had to sit with that. And after sitting with it, I had to ask the next question: How do I move forward in a way that honors myself while still serving others?  

Shifting the Narrative

Here’s what I’ve learned in this journey:  

- Generosity should not cost self-respect. Giving back is beautiful, but it should be intentional, not assumed.  

- Value requires boundaries. If organizations and platforms want my expertise, they should recognize its worth. Exposure alone doesn’t pay rent.  

- Speaking up is not arrogance; it’s advocacy. Asking for compensation is not self-serving—it’s reinforcing the truth that labor and knowledge have value.  

Moving forward, I am setting boundaries. I am establishing a framework where my work is respected, compensated, and honored. And when I choose to give freely, it will be from a place of empowerment—not expectation.  

If you’ve ever felt the weight of over-giving, I invite you to reflect: Are you erasing yourself in the name of generosity? Or are you standing firm in the worth of your work?

Peace and Blessings

  Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.

Reflections on the Nina Young Women's Leadership Program Retreat: A Rite of Passage in Tobago

Over the weekend, I had the profound honor of witnessing and participating in a truly transformative experience—a Rite of Passage retreat with the inspiring young women of the Nina Young Women's Leadership Program. For the first time since leaving State care, these incredible ladies spent the night away, surrounded by the beauty of Tobago, embracing a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.  

The retreat centered around *Roots and Wings*—a conversation about claiming our strengths and designing our flight paths. We explored what it means to stand firmly in our personal power and how to create a future shaped by intention and courage. We spoke of *Personal Hero stories*, reflecting on resilience, identity, and the narratives we choose to author for ourselves.  

Beyond words, the weekend was an embodiment of freedom and connection. We walked horses to the ocean and stepped into the water with them, a moment symbolic of trust and surrender to the tides of change. We cooked together, sang our hearts out during karaoke, and laughed deep into the night. There was an overwhelming sense of camaraderie—of sisterhood strengthened by shared joy, vulnerability, and celebration.  

It truly is the *simple* things that become the *significant* things. To witness these young women embrace their power, their voices, and their dreams in an environment of love and affirmation was nothing short of extraordinary.  

This gathering wasn’t just an event—it was a homecoming. A family formed through shared stories, courage, and the unwavering belief that each of us holds the ability to rise, to soar.

Peace and Blessings

  Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.

The Psychology of a Daily Routine

You must learn to let your conscious decisions dictate your day - not your fears or impulses - Brianna Wiest

Routine. The word alone tends to conjure images of monotony, predictability, and the opposite of spontaneity—the very things we’re told make up a “good life.” But what if the beauty of routine isn’t found in rigid repetition, but in the consistency of our commitment to it? What if our routines aren’t confining, but instead, liberating?

Brianna Wiest once wrote, “Your habits create your mood, and your mood is a filter through which you experience your life.” That single thought has stayed with me, reshaping how I view the patterns I follow, the rhythms I create, and the impact they have on my mind, body, and spirit.

My Routine, My CompassFor me, routine is a sanctuary. I meditate daily, allowing silence to hold space for my thoughts. Three times a week, I lace up my gloves and let boxing teach me discipline through movement. Every Saturday, the ocean calls me, and I answer—letting the saltwater strip away the weight of the week. Sundays are for the woods, for the river, for the reminder that life is both vast and intimate. I begin each morning with fruit, feeding my body with something simple, fresh, and alive.Some may call it predictable, even boring. But this routine has given me more than repetition—it has given me restoration. It has carried me through healing after the turbulence of 2023. It has built trust with myself, teaching me that discipline and devotion to my own well-being are not chains, but wings.
The Comfort and Challenge of HabitRoutine provides comfort, and perhaps that’s why change feels so difficult for us humans. We slip into the rhythms of habit, finding safety in their structure. But habits do more than reassure us—they are the architects of our lives. The small choices we make each day become the foundation upon which we build our futures.
I have come to see my routine not as limitation, but as intention. I am not trapped in predictability; I am actively designing the life I want to live. Whether your routine is structured or fluid, whether it holds rigid consistency or a pattern of spontaneity, the key is not in what it looks like—it’s in how it serves you.
The Art of a Well-Crafted LifeA good life is not built in grand gestures, but in the quiet, steady commitment to what brings us clarity and joy. It is found in our choices, in the care we give to ourselves, in the trust we develop through steady discipline. Routine is not the opposite of adventure—it is the foundation upon which adventure is possible.So whether you find yourself craving structure or resisting it, ask yourself: What habits shape the way I experience my life? What routines help me heal? What disciplines allow me to trust myself?The answers may surprise you. And perhaps, in them, you’ll find the blueprint for a life that feels uniquely, beautifully, yours.
Peace and Blessings

Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.

My new Definition of Devotion: A Daily Communion with Self and the Divine

Devotion begins at home, inside your own awareness. Debbie Ford

Growing up, the word “devotion” carried a very specific meaning—church services, prayers, scripture reading, and acts of faith performed in a church setting. It was structured, expected, and outwardly expressed. But as my  life unfolded, I learnt that  devotion is something far deeper and more intimate than physically going to a church to sit, pray, sing and praise.

Devotion is the choice to be in full relationship with our own incarnation. It is the willingness to meet ourselves in every season, every lesson, every transformation. It is staying present—not just when life is clear and expansive, but also in moments of stillness, confusion, and contraction.

To be devoted is to surrender—not in weakness, but in strength. It is the conscious decision to trust the unfolding, to listen to the inner guidance that calls us toward our soul’s purpose, and to accept life as it is, knowing that whatever comes, we will be okay.

So I have been asking myself, what am I devoted to? This question sits with me like a quiet pulse, urging reflection, asking for truth. Devotion is not just belief—it is choice, daily practice, unwavering faith.

I choose to be devoted to growth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

I choose to commune with myself and The Most High, understanding that spirituality is not confined to walls but resides in my breath, my thoughts, my actions.

I choose faith, not only in a higher power but in myself—in my ability to navigate, to create, to evolve.

I choose acceptance—not passively, but powerfully, embracing life’s ebbs and flows without needing to force control.

Devotion is not a destination. It is not something to be achieved, perfected, or completed. It is a lived experience, an ongoing dialogue, a sacred dance between self and spirit. And perhaps, above all else, it is the unwavering truth that we are never alone in it.

What are you devoted to?

Peace and Blessings

VOTE FOR ME  NOMINATED TO THE EMPOWERMENT IN ACTION AWARD

I’m incredibly honored to share that I’ve been nominated for the Caribbean POSH ICON Woman Award 2025 in the category of EMPOWERMENT IN ACTION

Someone took the time to recognize my journey, and for that, I am truly grateful. This nomination reminds me that every step we take—big or small—deserves to be celebrated. 

Across the Caribbean and the diaspora, women are doing amazing, impactful work, and I’m proud to stand among this powerful community of trailblazers who continue to inspire, lead, and uplift. 

This year’s theme, “Embrace the Power, Live the Dream,” is the perfect reminder of what’s possible when we walk boldly in our purpose. I would be honored to have your support—cast your vote today and help me bring this recognition home.

Vote here: https://caribbeanposh.com/wkd/caribbean-posh-icon-woman-awards/

The Price of Perspective

 "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." – Wayne Dyer

How I  see the world is shaped has been shaped by my experiences and mindset at any given moment. But what I have been learning lately is that sometimes  life calls for us to shift that perspective—to see beyond our current beliefs and expand into new ways of thinking. It’s never easy, and it often comes at a cost.

Growth doesn’t just challenge our own inner narratives—it challenges the expectations others have for us. When we evolve, some people will resist, insisting, “You’ve changed,” as if change is a betrayal rather than a natural part of life. Some will see our transformation as an act of superiority rather than self-discovery. And that can be hard.

But staying the same simply to keep others comfortable isn’t growth—it’s stagnation. And sometimes, the price of evolution is releasing relationships, expectations, and old versions of ourselves that no longer align with who we are becoming.

The greatest challenge isn’t just the external resistance—it’s the internal battle. We tell ourselves stories that may not be true, shaping our actions based on limiting beliefs rather than reality. We accept distorted truths because they feel safer than the unknown.

But choosing growth means questioning those narratives. Asking: Is this story serving me? Is it helping me heal, expand, and rise? If not, it’s time to rewrite the script.

Ultimately, our journey is ours alone. It’s not about how others perceive us or whether they approve—it’s about stepping fully into our own truth. Healing, learning, and evolving require focus on our own path rather than worrying about how others are walking theirs.

Every shift in perspective brings discomfort, but also clarity. The price of growth is high, but the reward—living in alignment with who you truly are—is worth it.

Peace and Blessings
VOTE FOR ME  NOMINATED TO THE EMPOWERMENT IN ACTION AWARD

I’m incredibly honored to share that I’ve been nominated for the Caribbean POSH ICON Woman Award 2025 in the category of EMPOWERMENT IN ACTION

Someone took the time to recognize my journey, and for that, I am truly grateful. This nomination reminds me that every step we take—big or small—deserves to be celebrated. 

Across the Caribbean and the diaspora, women are doing amazing, impactful work, and I’m proud to stand among this powerful community of trailblazers who continue to inspire, lead, and uplift. 

This year’s theme, “Embrace the Power, Live the Dream,” is the perfect reminder of what’s possible when we walk boldly in our purpose. I would be honored to have your support—cast your vote today and help me bring this recognition home.

Vote here: https://caribbeanposh.com/wkd/caribbean-posh-icon-woman-awards/

Lessons from a Hike and the Power of Anger

Even people who have done great work on themselves will not be able to show up as the best version of themselves every hour of every single day. Stacey Hererra 

Yesterday, I set out on a hike with one goal in mind: reaching the waterfall. I was prepared, determined, and excited. Step by step, I made my way up the trail, pushing through fatigue and undulating terrain. And then, near the top, just shy of the falls, I stopped.

The rocks were slippery. I was alone. I considered taking the final steps but hesitated. Was I willing to take the risk?

I sat there, surrounded by nature’s beauty, yet filled with disappointment. I judged myself—harshly. Thoughts of failure crept in: I should have pushed through. I should have made it. But then, something shifted. I looked around and saw the breathtaking view from where I was. I realized that there was beauty in this moment, too. My journey still mattered, even if I didn’t reach the final destination. Sometimes, arriving at a certain point and choosing not to go further is a victory in itself.

As I reflected on the hike, another realization surfaced—one about anger.For a long time, I believed anger was something to suppress, a flaw that had no place in a spiritual life. But yesterday, I experienced anger in a new way. Instead of seeing it as something negative, I recognized its power. Used wisely, anger moves us. It pushes us to act, to set boundaries, and to choose ourselves.Anger isn’t the enemy—it’s an energy that, when harnessed, can lead to growth and change.One Day at a TimeThis journey—both physically and emotionally—reminded me that growth isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about learning the lessons along the way and showing up with pure intentions, even when we don’t feel like the best version of ourselves.And maybe, just maybe, the best version of ourselves isn’t the one who achieves every goal flawlessly—but the one who knows when to pause, reflect, and embrace the moment.

Peace and Blessings

Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.

Unfolding Waters: Learning, Unlearning, and Moving Forward

 This life holds so much. May we hold ourselves and each other gently. And may the miracles keep revealing themselves; may we keep finding them amid it all. Lisa Olivera 

Life, like a river, is ever-changing—never the same from one moment to the next. As we navigate the currents of uncertainty, we are invited to embrace the process of learning and unlearning, becoming and unbecoming, facing and feeling. It is not always easy. The water can be choppy, disorienting, overwhelming. Yet, just as a river has banks to lean on and rails to guide its flow, so too do we have sources of steadiness to turn to in times of transition.

Over the past few years, I have witnessed this continuous ebb and flow—through jobs, relationships, and friendships that have mirrored back to me the undeniable truth that change is inevitable. The movement of the river does not stop for our doubts or fears. It finds its way around the rocks we place in its path: stubbornness, hesitation, resistance. And sometimes, when we least expect it, the water floods, disrupting our sense of stability and calling our attention to what must shift.

But amid the uncertainty, there is grounding. Community, rest, prayer, meditation—the banks that hold us steady. Family, friends, and the deep knowing of who we are—the rails that help us move forward. The river does not ask us to control it; it asks us to trust its flow. To surrender, to listen, to allow.

Becoming and unbecoming will never cease. It is one of life’s great constants. But the choice to embrace the movement—to step into the stream rather than resist it—is ours. And in that choice, we find the beauty of unaloneness in the all-ness, the reassurance that no matter how the waters change, we are equipped to move with them.

Peace and Blessings

Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.

Am I Enough? The Question that no longer serves me

Make yourself a door through which to be hospitable, even to the stranger in you. Even to the one who still questions if you’ll ever feel okay, the one who still finds it hard to let okayness in when it’s here, the one who still needs your very own hand to hold it.  Lisa Olivera

For years, I’ve asked myself the same haunting question: Is this enough? Am I enough? What is enough?

It followed me through every challenge, every heartbreak, every moment that forced change upon me. Losing a job—Am I enough? Divorce—Am I enough? Rejection, new beginnings, stepping into the unknown—Am I enough?

Every time I searched for the answer outside of myself, I ended up right back where I started. Exhausted. Worn down, Questioning my worth. Trying to prove something that was never in question to begin with.

Enoughness isn’t found in achievement. It’s not measured by approval or success. It doesn’t live in external validation. It is, and always has been, within me. I was born enough.

So, today, I am making a shift. No more seeking, no more proving. Instead, I ask:

Did I show up? Did I love? Did I laugh?

Because enoughness isn't a checklist—it’s presence, authenticity, compassion. It’s living fully, without the weight of proving worthiness.

When I forget this truth, I deny myself. I betray myself. I contort into something I am not. That ends today.

I have nothing to prove. Nothing to lose. Nothing to earn.

I am here. I am whole. I am enough.

And so are you.

Peace and Blessings

Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.

The Art of Growth

We tend to think of intuition as a tool for answering practical questions: Should I take this job? Is this the right decision? We frame it as if it serves the rational world. But intuition is not a rational skill. When you treat it as one, you’re already misunderstanding it. Intuition is, in truth, a mystical capacity—one that calls for a different kind of listening, a different kind of knowing. Carolynn Myss 

Carolyn Myss once said, "The only way to hold onto something is to give it a false value." This quote hit me differently when I realized how much I had been clinging to comfort—attaching meaning to people, places, and things in ways that kept me from moving forward. 

I had been hesitant to do the work, stuck in doubt and fear, ignoring my intuition. But life has a way of pushing us forward, whether we're ready or not. Now, I find myself in a place where I must change: I must find another source of income. I must elevate the Nina program. I must grow.

We hold onto things—relationships, routines, habits—not because they truly define us, but because they feel safe. In my own life, I see now how staying comfortable was its own form of resistance. I convinced myself that stability meant success, that familiarity meant security. But in reality, comfort kept me in place. And when life called for me to level up, I wasn’t prepared.
I used to think that letting go meant loss, but now I understand it as transformation. Life wants us to move. It nudges us, sometimes forcefully, toward change because growth isn’t meant to be stagnant. Every moment, every shift, every challenge holds potential. Instead of fearing what’s leaving, I’m learning to embrace what’s arriving.
Why Do We Fear Change?Because change demands courage. It asks us to trust ourselves before we have proof that things will work out. I know this deeply because I’ve been hesitant to act—hesitant to step into the unknown, hesitant to give myself permission to pursue something greater. Doubt and fear had me stuck, whispering that it’s safer to hold onto what I know. But safety isn’t the same as fulfillment.
Listening to Intuition & Divine GuidanceFor too long, I ignored my intuition. I felt its pull, but I silenced it with rationalizations, excuses, distractions. I convinced myself that staying put made sense, even when something inside me kept nudging me toward more. But when I finally started listening, I realized that my intuition wasn’t leading me astray—it was guiding me toward the expansion I had been avoiding.The Courage to ActNow, I have no choice but to act. The universe has set me on a path where staying the same isn’t an option. I must step forward, elevate my work, take ownership of my growth. And though the unknown still feels intimidating, I know that transformation isn’t about waiting for the fear to disappear—it’s about moving forward despite it.
I am stepping into this season of transition with an open heart, trusting that discomfort is just the doorway to something greater.

Are you ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start embracing your own wisdom? Change is inevitable, but fear doesn’t have to hold you back. If you're navigating uncertainty and want support in strengthening your self-trust, I’d love to guide you through the process.

Through coaching, you’ll gain the confidence to act despite doubt, find balance between intuition and ego, and step into the life you truly want.

🔹 Let’s work together! Book a session today and take the first step toward a more empowered, aligned version of yourself.