Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 89

First thing to Remember is...

First thing to remember is... you ARE the one - Louise Hazel


My grandma said last night " be number one in your world, be your own hero, be your love" that resonated with me.
It resonated because so many times we look on the outside for our number one's, for the most important thing in our lives, and here it is, right there, we are the the ones we look for
It resonated with me because this thinking will not let me off the hook by looking outside of myself and blaming others for answers to the questions that I know
It resonated with me because it simply is the truth - it is the truth for all of us, we are the hero's in our own story. We are all the lead actors
Peace


Check out the We Lead PowHerful Conference - I will be there
https://welead.21qcaribbean.com/
Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

To Teach is to Demonstrate

If you don’t know where your boundaries are, let me show you mine - Emma Magenta

A Course in Miracles says to teach is to demonstrate. To teach is to show yourself and those around you by your actions, by what you do.
Many times we talk with no actions, we say we want to do something and make zero movements towards it.
Newsflash there are zero brownie points for only talking about what you want to do
It is a commendable first step, however the magic lies from the action beyond the talk.

Talking about it alone will not bring it about.
How many times have we talked ourselves out of doing a thing? How many times do we find reasons, rationales. justifications and excuses for not doing something that is a burning desire because of fear and that lovely place called the comfort zone?
How many times have we talked ourselves out rather than talk ourselves into?

Pay attention to when your self talk heads in the direction of talking yourself out of your deep seated desires because of fear.
Pay attention to it because when it is something that you really must do, or is called to do, the consequences later will be far greater.

Peace
Check out the We Lead PowHerful Conference - I will be there
https://welead.21qcaribbean.com/
Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

Self Talk

The way you talk to yourself can really impact your confidence. The effect can be good or bad depending on whether your self-talk is positive or negative - Reach Out.Com


So I forgot the speech! I got on the stage, saw the crowd and froze, it was truly a moment, my mind started racing, I started thinking of scenarios to save myself.
Breathing was the first thing that came to mind
so I did that
I talked myself out of being disappointed that my very wonderful speech could not be delivered, how I wasted an entire two days, how I can bomb right here on this stage.
I pulled myself together and decided to just talk about what I know and relate it to the theme.
That seemed to work
So I learnt that the self talk in a tough situation is important, it guides us subconsciously to act. If the talk is positive and non judgemental, the results follow
If the self talk is judgemental and negative, the fear sets in!

So in the end, I spoke the gibberish for a few minutes then I spoke from the heart.
It turned out well!
Peace

Check out the We Lead PowHerful Conference - I will be there
https://welead.21qcaribbean.com/
Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

We Look Straight into the Present

We look neither ahead nor backwards. We look straight into the present. And we give our trust to the experience we ask for now. ACIM

Today is the first of July, in this world order, the year is in its second part, second phase. I like to review where I am at the present moment. How I feel as I chart the way forward to end of the year. As I reflect upon it this moment I realised that my clarity in my intentions have brought me here. 

This morning I have the opportunity to deliver the motivational message at a company's 15th Anniversary Celebrations

Confessions on the Journey - I am nervous, it's a different type of company and they asked for a specific type of message. So it is totally out of my comfort zone of showing up and sharing some of my story. At the same time, I am excited because this is a manifestation of what happens when we get what we asked for with a clear intention and the proper support.

I locked myself away this weekend to prepare for this, and I am still nervous as hell! I know that to get the things that I asked for I have to develop the qualities required to roll it out.
Discipline
Courage
Self Belief
Release of Ego and Release of Judgement
to name a few
And if this is what it takes to be the best me, I am all for it.
This morning I intend to look straight into the present moment, to be fully in the mix so that I can learn while having fun.
Send me some good vibes, I need it!
Peace
Check out the We Lead PowHerful Conference - I will be there
https://welead.21qcaribbean.com/
Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

Are You Playing Small?

negative self-talk is playing small.
giving into fear is playing small.
saying "i'll do it tomorrow" is playing small.
comparing yourself to another is playing small.
creating narratives of false impending dooms is playing small.
restricting your possibilities by perpetuating old cycles is playing small . Olivia Jade

Why do you play small?Marianne Williamson says it is our greatness that scares us more than anything else.To become "great" means becoming a great person. That means we cannot skip the process, we cannot skip the lessons.My definition of greatness is living on purpose with purpose, living in peace and faith despite the challenges and situations we find ourselves inThe great ones, had to go through the process, to do the workThe disciplineThe faithThe consistencyThe patienceThe self beliefThe showing upThe questioning of the beliefsThe pissing people offThe self careNot willing to any of those things?Then you may just be playing smallWhy?You were born for a purpose no one else can fillYou are magnificentCatch thatPeace
Check out the We Lead PowHerful Conference - I will be there
https://welead.21qcaribbean.com/
Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

Blame or Responsibility?

Quite often we confuse accepting responsibility for bearing the blam e - Iyanla Vanzant

Accepting responsibility leads to self acceptance, self discovery, self correction
Blame leads to looking for some punishment

Accepting responsibility  leads to choices, choices have consequences
Blame leads to punishment

Accepting responsibility leads to self evaluation
Blame leads to punishment

Accepting responsibility leads to lessons on the journey
Blame leads to pointing fingers and speaking about others

Which one would you choose?
Peace

Check out the We Lead PowHerful Conference - I will be there

https://welead.21qcaribbean.com/

Have you read any of Akosua's work?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

The A in Self Love

My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you I the best place for the next moment.Oprah Winfrey

The A in self-loveWhat happens after you have reached a point of unconditional self love? does life just run smoothly? is there continual bliss? are all your problems magically solved?Well i would say noUnconditional self-love is not the answer to allIt really isn’tUnconditional self-love offers hope The hope for confidence to deal with the challenges one will inevitably face on this journey called lifeDo not be fooled into thinking finding unconditional self-love is the ultimate fixerWhat this love does is, it holds you accountable, it makes you more responsible and it leads to making more hopeful and loving decisions both for you and othersIt does not give you a pass to be a jerk to others in the name of “i love myself”It does not give you the reason to blame anyone or anything on “for the love”Unconditional self-love is the foundationWithout a solid foundation everything all falls downAccountability looks like owning your stuffIt looks like showing upIt looks like keeping your wordIt looks like forgivenessIt looks like empathy and compassionIt looks like boundariesAccountability leads to making better choices and decisionsThere is no self-love without accountability and without accountability hope is lostHere’s the thing, we get to the point of unconditional self-love and beyond by holding ourselves accountable, by holding others accountableThe a in love is accountability
Peace
https://welead.21qcaribbean.com/

The WeLead Caribbean Conference, happening in Guyana in September 2019

Speak of the Possibilities

Gratitude is the Cure - Gary Vaynerchuk

Confessions on the Journey!
I really really wanted to be selected for a particular book festival, and I have not been, was not the first choice. I was salty, downright salty and sad.
I felt rejected.
Then the penny dropped, the virtual AHA moment
This was a reflection. A mirror back to me of how I think about myself and my abilities, the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow

I never considered myself to be an author and a writer, I just happened to write a book.
So if I feel like that about myself, it will manifest itself outwardly.And there it was
I wanted to be a part of a book festival as an author and that did not happen. It is clear now why

Many times we harbour thoughts, feelings and doubt in our minds and they reflect back to us with what people do and say about us, we get pissed off because no one is supposed to know it, we get to see it in living colour what we had in our minds.
Imagine what can happen if we focus on the possibilities?
Where are the thoughts about the possibilities?
What about the self belief?
What I have learnt is we have to own our stuff, feel it and ask ourselves if we are making up a story about our limitations rather than being grateful for where we are on the Journey.
If we want to make up a story, why not make up one on possibilities?
Peace

 Have you read any of Akosua's work?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

Who Are Your People?

  if they are not growing you, pushing and elevating you, feeding you (and, vice versa) what purpose are they/you really serving? Nah! J. Leon
Who are the people in your circle?Who are your people?Who are the ones that keep it real with you?The ones that call you out?The ones that let you know that you are being a jerk- all with loveThe ones that celebrate your wins and mourn your losses?Do you know who your people are?Do you even care?Listen to your body when you are around your "people"How do you feel? do you honour the feelings, listen to them? Let them guide you?This requires awareness, courage, honesty, vulnerability and work.You have to do the work!There are people who are around us because of time, history, and comfort. This works well when they are the ones who are around you who are honest, authentic and fanning your flames. If they do not, then its a drain on your own soul.There is fall out to choosing the people in your life intentionally. People may take it personally, you may have to grieve the ending of somethings but its all part of the lessons on the journey.I have been blessed to have a circle of people around me who "keeps it real", they call me out, they celebrate the wins and support the journey. I do my best to do the same for them.Some people will fall out of your life and it will hurt, you may not even know why, they may never tell you. Trust in that and seek the lessons.It took work building my circle! It took being present on the Journey and I am so much better for it. I am still learning to let go of some of the people who in fact let me go, and learning to deal with my own feelings of guilt in letting others go.My friend in South Africa, bless her, greets me every time - "Hello My People" because we are each other's people!Who are your People?PeaceHave you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook

Readiness Starts With A Choice

Readiness is only the prerequisite for accomplishment. ACIM

"When I am ready I will do it" - How many times have I said that in a most genuine way?
"It will happen when its good and ready" - what about that one, have you heard or said that?
Readiness is a decision, it takes action and a will.
Readiness is not a state of just waiting for the best and right moment to move or to take action.
Readiness starts with a choice.

How do you know if you are ready? You decide.- it's that simple!

When you find resistance strong and dedication weak, you are not ready, do not fight yourself.

Readiness requires discipline. The ability to discipline yourself to do what is required.

I have now decided that I am ready to face the state of finances. I have decided that it is time to be disciplined, to take action and have the will to start budgeting, to start saving, to pay off my debts, to catch up on my taxes and tie up all the loose ends left hanging after getting divorced and moving around the world.

After following all the rules that I was taught that made for a secure financial future. This included saving 10% of my income, investing a portion, paying all the taxes , having a pension plan and whatever I was taught in business school. Life happened, I went through a divorce which left me reeling and seething. I moved to 2 different countries, one in which I literally volunteered instead of having a "proper job"and I was done! I did not  care anymore what happened. 
After following all that advice and instructions, I was angry and disappointed that I was left with "nothing" to show for it, all the accumulated things were gone. I lived with this anger and disappointment, I have been living with it, not knowing that I have turned my own self into a victim.
I was blaming others for the spot that I found myself in. Blaming is, for me, not taking responsibility for my own actions. I wanted someone to say to me "sorry" - but newsflash, that was not coming!
I wanted to just go back to where I was before - second newsflash - that was not coming either.
I wanted to take out my anger on something- I took it out on myself. This resulted in under valuing my own worth, making poor decisions or no decisions at all and making random and frankly poor decisions which manifested itself in more and more debt and living hand to mouth.
Now, I am ready. My life is my responsibility.
My mindset is my responsibility
No amount of rationale, justifications, reasons, and blaming will bring back the past or change my now
It must come from a place of readiness.
And I am ready
Peace


Have you read any of Akosua's work?What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love
Nyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
Follow Akosua onTwitterInstagramFacebook