On the train, I kept thinking about how much pain my feet are in and have been in this week specifically, and how, by the time I’m walking to my house, I sometimes find myself limping.
When I got off the train, I noticed a man walking down the sidewalk. My focus shifted from my own feet, my pain, and the other things I’ve been dealing with—and went to Him.
I don’t know this man’s story, and I was tempted to ask. But instead, as I watched him walk unsteadily, his hands sometimes moving uncontrollably, I simply said, “Thank You, Lord, for every step he takes.”
He had his backpack on, looked ahead, and kept moving with determination.
I don’t know what his journey looks like. And I was curious as to where he was headed. Lol, nosy much. But for a moment, God reminded me to look beyond my own pain and be grateful for the steps He allows and helps us all to take.
Sometimes the encouragement we need comes from simply watching someone else keep going.
Recently, someone blessed me in a way that deeply touched my heart. It reminded me that I am supported and have been from the start and throughout my journey.
I want to give a special shout-out to some of my Day 1s for their encouragement, love, and support.
From encouraging me, sharing my work and posts with others, buying my books for themselves or as gifts for others, and simply being part of my community on YouTube. I am truly grateful.
Thank you for believing in me and believing in my writing. From the depths of my heart, I sincerely thank you. I pray that you are blessed immensely for the kindness, love, and support you have shown me. 🙏🏽💜
Sometimes what people say sparks judgment… or it sparks reflection. Here’s what Ayesha Curry reminded me about fulfillment, identity, and walking with God through it all.
Ayesha Curry is being dragged online for saying she never wanted to be married or have children — that she wanted to be a “career girl.”
It made me think of these statements I heard before: that a curly-haired person often wants straight hair, and the one with straight hair often wants curls. The single woman may envy the married one, and the married woman may envy the single one. You get the point — so many of us wrestle with some kind of discontentment, and we never really know deep down what is going on with someone or what is happening behind the closed doors of their homes.
So, instead of joining the dragging, I felt led to turn this into a moment of reflection — and encouragement.
Ayesha isn’t the first woman to express this kind of longing or unfulfillment. But she must be careful about oversharing and processing deeply personal pain in public spaces. She’s mentioned going to therapy, which is good — but I hope she’s also doing the heart work with God. Because therapy is helpful, but true healing happens when we let Jesus into the process.
When I’ve had to face my own pain, I’ve asked God to show me the root causes — the “why” behind the hurt — and to lead me forward. Healing with Him hits differently.
Here are a few lessons I’ve learned that I think we as women — especially Christian women — can remember when we feel unfulfilled or lost:
1. Only God can fulfill you. No person, title, or situation can do what only the Creator can.
2. Nobody can keep you happy forever. Happiness is fleeting. True joy is rooted in God, not in circumstances.
3. Know who you are outside of your roles. You are more than your job, your family, or your church position.
4. Rediscover what lights you up. Don’t get lost in others’ expectations. Find your God-given passions and purpose.
5. Don’t make “the good girl,” “church girl,” or “career woman” your identity. Those are titles, not your essence.
Note: this is not saying go out and sin. It is not saying go out and be wordly. It is not saying that “good girl,” “church girl,” or “career woman,” are bad. But what it is saying is your identity should not be wrapped up in these titles, positions, etc. Your true identity is found in Christ. And if we fail to maintain perfection, some of us will be crushed under a false standard of perfection that can never be obtained. Instead aim to make right decisions, not forsake the assembling of ourselves with other believers, live life on purpose and in purpose. Aim to please God and not man. Aim to live a life that is full and enriched.
6. Embrace all of life’s seasons. The dull and hard ones often teach us the most about ourselves and about God.
7. Evolve and grow. You won’t be the same ten years from now as you are today. Let God continue shaping your heart to reflect His Son.
8. Reinvent yourself if you need to. If you know you want a simpler lifestyle or to grow more confident, take steps toward creating the life you need — one that also honors God. Maybe you want to freshen up your wardrobe, travel more, or step into your “rich auntie” era — do it! Just check your motives.
Are you doing it to seek validation only, prove something, or outshine someone? If so, pause and reflect. But if you’re doing it because you’re healing, growing, and wanting to live more fully, go for it.
And don’t allow people to box you in. You don’t have to stay stuck in who you used to be or in the image others have of you. Grow, evolve, and glow up — with God leading the way.
9. Develop a heart of gratitude. But don’t neglect the room for grieving the life you thought you should have had, or wanted, or have yet to experience within your healing journey. Sometimes we don’t know what we truly want when we’re younger. Grieving is natural and necessary, but there are things, some so small yet so monumental, to be grateful for.
10. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. And get back to living. Sometimes we need to hear our own pain. And sometimes we need to refrain from constantly rehearsing our pain and get back up and live — living the life that allows us to breathe again. Not perform. Not live in someone else’s image of us. Not constantly going and never stopping to rest and enjoy that which or who is around us.
So be encouraged, Ayesha — and to the rest of the ladies who may also feel lost, unfulfilled, or just need to get off the spinning wheel or out of the box of the world or others’ expectations.
These past few weeks, I have been reading the Word of God, praying, reading my devotional my colleague got me, writing down what the Holy Spirit has been uploading to my spirit. And doing my reflection, journaling, and planning in my CPR2 planner all consistently. These times have been so sweet and fulfilling. Thank You, God, for drawing me closer and being present. Thank You for also working with me. I am a work in progress and healing continually.
What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?
I will get straight to it. My daily habits that improve my quality of life are:
Making my bed every morning. It is a small discipline that makes a big impact. “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another”–William McRaven
Pray or acknowledge God. Let me be honest. I am not always stopping to pray in the morning but better believe by the end of the day, I have sat down with God in my heart to say thank you, share my heart, pray for my self or someone else. And I am learning to listen more because prayer with God is a dialogue and not a bringing of a list of wants. Yes, come to Him with what you need and even discuss your wants. To clarify, bring to Him every content of your heart (everything including fears, disappointments, goals, etc.) but make sure you learn to listen to what is in His because He knows what is best for us. His purposes always come to pass and His plans always succeed. Moreover, prayer is about getting to know God and inviting Him into every area of your life.
Read the Word of God. I don’t care if it is the YouVersion scripture of the day or a random chapter or a chapter or three of a God-led lesson I am currently studying, I read His Word. Have I missed a day or two or three? Honestly, yes, but it makes so much of a difference when I sit down to read and hear His Word.
Another daily habit of mine is making a list of things I am grateful for. This puts things in perspective and lifts my spirit as I list all of the things I am grateful for, no matter how small they may seem.
This isn’t daily but I go over my goals list. I have always been goal oriented and like to reflect on and assess my goals and where I am in accomplishing them.
I also journal or work in my planner. This helps me to sort out my thoughts, plan and stay organized.
Lastly, I make a daily habit of choosing to get up and choose peace and to better myself. Thank God for His grace to be able to do so.
Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner Available at Amazon.
My mentee just unboxed and reviewed my book. I am so humbled and honored!!!!! Go check it out (video link below) as well as subscribe to her YouTube and check out her jewelry, DesignzbyAriana-2.myshopify.com !!!!!!
Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner Available Now with Amazon.
I was asking God what is next year’s theme for 2023 and “position” is what I heard. Maybe it was my own self giving this answer or maybe it was God. I’m not sure. But I will take this theme and mission. When looking up what position means this is what I found: What is the biblical meaning of position? “Position” means abiding in Him and Christ’s words abiding in us (John 15:7). I also found as I googled– Topical Bible: Position (n.) The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position. And the regular definitions/synonyms for position are posture, stance, attitude, place, etc.
This year we learned to take one day at a time and that healing is continual and a journey. And to seek God like never before. Next year, we get into position. We abide in God as He abides in us. We stay steadfast and believe Him no matter how much doubt tries to creep in or gain control. We allow God to renew our minds. We allow God to place us and strengthen us where He leads us. We learn to be still and know that He is God. We stand knowing that God is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. We learn to surrender every area of our lives and get in position to know Him more, to receive His love, His wisdom, His promises and His manifested peace.
Make sure you start prepping for 2023 by getting Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner. Available on Amazon today. Let’s Take This One Day At A Time is a planner that not only helps you plan for each week, keep on top of your to-do lists, but be intentional with each day and continue your healing journey.
I am so proud to introduce my new book, Let’sTake This One Day At A Time Planner! Just in time for Christmas and the new year. And being released in a season where I have been going through a lot as well as feeling up and down. So, we pushing through and looking forward to a new year!
To continue with the theme of my book, Bring It To The Surface: Poetry & Journal, I want to further encourage others with a special planner. I discovered that healing is continuous and living must be intentional.
Take a look!
Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner helps you to be intentional in taking one day at a time. This planner helps you to not only plan your week and stay organized, but also continue your healing journey and growth by being intentional in five areas: prayer, goal setting, self-care, gratitude, and reflection.