arise and shine
“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson
Our mind has a posture, a demeanor, a bearing, and an attitude. I discovered mine when I started to listen to what I am saying and when I looked at my behavior and attitude. It was not a pretty sight. My mind was full of with self-doubt, fear, and anxiety and it showed in the way I carried myself. I was timid, insecure, self-conscious, inhibited, and lacked self-confidence. I had difficulty interacting with people preferring to hide behind books where I felt safe. In the world of make-believe, I can engage with the characters without being judged. I learned the art of people watching. I took note of people’s body language, the tone of their voice, and their facial expressions. For what? So I know when to run and hide before things get nasty. I had what psychologists call an “inferiority complex,” an unrealistic feeling of inadequacy. I don’t measure up to standards. I am not pretty enough. I am not intelligent enough. I am not attractive enough. I am not smart enough. In other words, I am not good enough. And because I am not good enough, people will not accept me nor love me. So I tried to make up for the inadequacy. I did what Alfred Adler, the psychologist who coined the term “inferiority complex,” said that people like me would do – strive for superiority. I believed that I needed to do more and be better. I became a perfectionist and a control freak to my own detriment. Until one day, I had enough.
I told myself that if I am going to be the woman that I am meant to be, I need to change my behavior which means changing the way I think. Determined, I declared war on the life-stealing words and thoughts that I have allowed to shape who I am. It was a tough journey filled with days of crying as I begin to tear down the walls that I have built around me. The battle was intense and vicious. The life-stealing words and thoughts brought all their ammunition to keep their reign over my mind. They fought hard, but the VICTORY is mine!
As you read my stories and those of others, I hope that you will get on the bus and join us on the journey. It is a journey of filling our minds and meditating on things that are true, honorable, reputable, authentic, pure, compelling, gracious, lovely and admirable. It is not an easy one. It would get bumpy at times, but as long as we stay on the bus, you and I will be fine. But of this I am confident, it is a journey you would want to be on for the rest of your life. No getting off on this one!
Our journey
Maya Angelou, a renowned American author, poet and civil-rights activist once said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” We all have stories. Some stories we would be proud to share but there are those that we would say, “Nah! Too embarrassing to share.” We would find excuses not to share our stories for fear that people would judge us. But you know what? They can judge all they want. It is my story. It is your story. It is you and I who lived through that moment of weakness, heartbreak, failure, and success so that we can tell others down the road our story of victory.
Here you will find our stories and yes, even the embarrassing and sensitive ones. We are trying to be brave! It is our hope that you would also be encouraged and inspired to share your stories.
Glean from our journey to self-understanding and personal growth. Let us both be brave together and learn how to think better and live life intentionally and purposefully.
Disclaimer
Our intent in sharing our stories is to inspire, motivate, and encourage you. As such, the lessons that you will glean from our stories should not be taken as professional advice. Please seek professional care if you believe that you may have a condition.