Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 95

There is No Overnight Success

Do what you came here to do. Stop making excuses. It’s not going to get easier tomorrow. In fact the longer you wait, it will probably get harder - Maryam Hasna
Overnight success, who came up with that term? As far as I know this phenomenon does not exist at all, people see the success, people talk about the success but the fact remains work was put in, mistakes were made, lessons were learnt, feelings were felt, then they live to tell the tale.
What I have learnt is that overnight success is a term made up by others who were not part of the journey!No such thing exists, do not be fooled into thinking that because someone or something went viral that it is an overnight successDo not be fooled that because the media "just found" someone Do not be discouraged.Do the workPlant the seedsBelieve in yourselfMake the movesFail ForwardPeace
Have you read any of Akosua's work?
What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self LoveNyabo (Madam) - Why Are You Here?Daily Lessons on the Journey - A Journal
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Are you Paying Attention to How Life is Speaking to You

Your life is always speaking to you - Oprah Winfrey


Your life is always telling you something. It may not be in words. We all know that communication may be without words. How many times do you get goosebumps totally out of the blue? That is life telling you something
How many times have you felt so peaceful in a strange space? That is life speaking to you
How many times have you had unexplained migranes, or some type of sickness? That  is your life speaking to you

There is an old saying "if you don't hear you will feel" Your life will throw up signs to you to get you to pay attention
When life wants your attention it will get it.
If you ignore life, it will continue to communicate with you.
Take the time to pay attention and listen to the signs.
Be a good listener
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
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Press Forward

Personal greatness, and your sense of emotional security, are not mutually inclusive . . . you must step away from comfort at times to achieve your personal greatness. Part of the landscape of these achievements, like learning to walk and talk, requires being very bad before becoming really good. Being bad at something before you’re good is embarrassing, and embarrassment presents an emotional risk . . . psychology says it’s life’s greatest fear. To press forward, steps beyond anything considered normal; steps beyond anything commonly considered emotionally comfortable, and stretches all of your preset limits. Guru Singh


The fear of failing. What am I defining as failing in this instance? Doing anything new that involves the public and their opinion terrifies me. If II have to plan and execute an event with me as the person who is supposed to draw the crowd, it scares me because I equate the number of people that come to the event as a direct reflection on me and my abilities. Doing anything new that involves exercise too, oh dear - blown out my comfort zone with a cannon.I am learning to embrace the discomfort as part of growthI am learning to embrace all the anxiety as part of the lessonsI am learning that when an idea comes to me either through divine download or through someone presenting it to me, and I feel a combination of excitement and nerves , that is a go. The fear is part of the packageIf the idea comes to me and I feel totally unease, I know to pause. Pausing can sometimes be as hard as pressing play, especially if the ego is involved, because the ego has lots to prove and wants to do it immediately.Discerning between the both means paying attention and being aware.It also means being willing to be embarrassed while new things are happening.And being comfortable with some discomfort.Press forward and remember that all things are lessons that God would have us learnPeace
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
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Rise

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise  Maya Angelo
    The past three days at the Rise TT Women' Conference was uplifting. The US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago in partnership with the Young Leaders of America and Dingole Limited hosted a three day workshop with young women and young entrepreneurs from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, sharing stories and learning techniques.    I have learnt that I thrive in these environments, I learn, I am with my tribe.   There is something powerful that happens when we get together authentically.   When we share our stories in an empowering way, when we listen with non judgemental ears we open up to access to our best selves.   I am supremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the village of Rise. I look on with anticipation of what happens next,and even if nothing happens I remain grateful that I was there for the start.
 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
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What are you Pouring Yourself Into?

  Be careful what, or whom, you pour yourself into - A Sign

Many of us women have been taught that we have a duty to our family, a duty to our husbands. A duty to whatever we have committed to. There are schools of thought that no matter what, women must endure through the situation at hand to either face it or handle it, with class, dignity and sometimes silence.
This approach has proven to be detrimental - literally! Some women, in fulfilling their duties, have not only harmed themselves, some has harmed others, some have literally died.
What are the boundaries of duty?
How do we define what our duties are?
As the Sign says - be careful what or whom you pour yourself into
You are connected to the Source of all things, when you are disconnected your ability to pour lessens.
If you are not healthy you cannot perform any tasks
If you are not at peace, your ability to perform your duties are also affected.
Chose who you are around carefully, chose your tasks, your friends, your career, your mate. As the women in Uganda would say "stand guard at the door f your mind"
Underneath all of this choice on who to pour yourself into is your ability to love and respect yourself
Without the feeling that you matter, that you are important, that you have a voice it can be easy to pour yourself into things that do not serve you.
Choose wisely!

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
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Be You

Do not throw away truth in favour of illusions - ACIM

I was listening to Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sessions yesterday, the topic was "Your Truth". I was quite enthralled with her story- I guess who isn't right? It's Oprah! What resonated with me was her story on how someone gave her the platform to be herself and it was for her the best advice she ever took. In her words, she made quite a lot of money being herself. She had a phenomenal life being herself.
How many times have we not been given permission to - just be your yourself?
How many times have we been asked to be a little more this or a little more that, or a little less this or a little less that?
How many people say change how you look to fit in, change how you speak, change what you wear!
Here is Ms Winfrey saying do you, be your best you, work it baby!
I was heartened by that advice because I am a total advocate being your best self.
Who can be you better than you?
No one!
Who do you have to pretend to be you?
No one!

Be you. Be all in.fall get up.learn.do it again.repeatPeace

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
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My Favourite Prayer

Where would you have me go?
What would you have me do?
What would you have me say?
And to whom?
–A Course in Miracles
This is my favourite prayer.
I love it for it's simplicity
I love it for it's openess
I love it because it resonates with my belief and lessons that I am a conduit through which the Universe operates for many of the tasks that I am involved in.
I say this prayer not only when I seek clarity, I also say it when I am making decisions
I wanted to share it with you today
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
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The Reaction of Others

The feedback is not so much the details of their opinions and the specific things they say in the moment. Rather, the real feedback lies in the gist of their reaction to us. That reaction can tell us if we are in ego mode, which is invaluable feedback for us . ACIM


We live our lives on this plane with others. Some of us live our lives more publicly than others - some by choice and others by purpose.
Whichever it is, there will be feedback involved. Some feedback we ask for and some we don't. Some feedback we like and some we don't.
I have learnt that all feedback is useful and  involves some type of lesson. The Course in Miracles says that our response to feedback determines if it comes from a place of fear or not.
As soon as we start getting defensive we know, fear has stepped in.
As soon as we want to justify, make excuses, sometimes even fight, rest assured that those are fear based responses.
We know the difference between the unwarranted attacks and feedback. We really do despite what we think or say. 
Social media has opened us up for unwarranted feedback - how do we handle this?
Being in the public domain is also a place where unwarranted feedback is par for the course.
Stand firm in yourself and know that when  the feedback comes to you, it comes for a reason. It may be to set boundaries, it may be to grow, it may be to cut someone off, it may be to believe in yourself and stop seeking external validation, it may be for you to grow and get better. 
What I do know is, feedback can be useful. Especially when received with a willing spirit and an open mind.
And one has to be prepared for it, whether you are a so called public figure or not.
Being prepared for it comes down simply to knowing who you are and having a willingness to grow, to listen and to learn.

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
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Clarity will give you the guidance when to speak up and when to shut up

Your Silence Will Not Protect You - Audre Lorde

There is power in your story. Your Power
Your story may irritate some,  piss some off, make others uncomfortable, people will call you names like emotional, high strung, opinionated, arrogant, even bitchy.
So what's the alternative?
Stay silent?
Change to suit each name?
Nah. For what?
Because the world will not end if people call you names
The way you tell your story may free you, it may free others
it may alter your world - inside and outside
it will bring you wings, it will bring you clarity
And clarity will keep you open to what life wants to give you
Life usually has something better in store than you've "listed"
Clarity will give you the guidance when to speak up and when to shut up
When to share your story
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

Your Needs Are Important

Complaints are often doorways to unmet wants and needs. Mastin Kipp



When our needs are met, we are content. When our needs are unmet, we are fitful and we tend to complain.
Somehow, people have difficulty in sharing what their needs are, especially the people pleasers
There are times when people express their needs and they are scolded, dismissed, ignored or denied. Over time these actions convert into not asking for what you need, ignoring our own needs because of the false belief that it is not important, feeling guilty about our needs and justifying not having our needs met.
Lovies, your needs are important, your needs are important!
And it starts with you.
You meet your own needs then it paves the way of how others interact with you.
When we believe that we are unable to express our needs, resentment grows, and complaining starts
Find the courage to speak up about your needs
Find the courage to meet your own needs
Find the courage to accept that not everyone would be either able to meet your needs or even want to
Acceptance leads to making a firm decision on a way forward
It builds self respect, it contributes to self love.
This has been a huge lesson for me, I have been practising both speaking up about my needs and accepting the consequences. The magic lies in the courage



Remember - your needs are important!
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