Hey you!

It's me again! I'm checking in with you to make sure that you are good. My last blog post was talking about self-care and the importance of it.

The importance of Self-care - Teneille's Inspirations (teneillesinspirations.com)

I would also like to add that your emotions and heart posture need to be tended to as well. As women, we have allowed some people to come into our life and break our hearts beyond repair. Honestly, we do not know how to fix our hearts because we have allowed that brokenness to turn into bitterness. A bitter heart can't stand to see the person who hurt them because deep inside they are holding a grudge against them. It is difficult for them to forgive so they rehearse the offense which can cause them to be triggered more often than none. A bitter heart cannot be a better heart unless true forgiveness takes place. We do not have to hang out in that person’s physical presence to offer forgiveness. Our responsibility is to remove that person from our spirit man.

When you are triggered, what are some of the thoughts that go through your mind? I can guarantee those thoughts are not positive thoughts. There is this verse in the Bible that may help you change your thought pattern. Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

We make attempts on our own to work on being better and not bitter, but the catch is we really need God’s assistance. When we learn to release what is and has hurt us, we open ourselves up to a whole new world. We allow God to do his most perfect work inside of our hearts so that we can heal, be whole, and love again. 

If you need help forgiving someone whether it happened recently or 20 years ago, choose not to be broken and bitter by letting God change the narrative.

Hey you!

It's about that time to check in with you to make sure you have been doing right by you. You may ask me what does doing right by you look like. I'll tell you as much as I can while I can. Before we get into the topic, I would like to start with some interaction between us. Please comment below whether you are working in any capacity. That could be either an 8-5 or your own business. After you provide the answer, I would like you to get a notebook and pen/pencil please. The subject is very important to me and may just save someone's life so get ready to take some good notes. 

As a woman, you may look at self-care as superficial and cosmetic faculties that will not last such as getting our hair done, nails done, shopping, or a massage. However, self-care is deeper and more intrinsic than that. Girl, it's more than that fingernail polish that will eventually come off from that manicure (lol). Self-care is removing the external piece and focusing in on the internal such as your mental health. It is taking the initiative in saying, "You know, I'm not okay today." Whether you are perceived as the strong one or not, you too must let others know that you are a real human. When practicing self-care, please expect others to get upset as they will not know how to act or react when you tell them "No". There are moments when you need to be alone in order to breathe.

Self-care can also mean speaking up for yourself. When others know that you are nice, sweet, and kind, they will manipulate certain situations to get what they want. So, what do you have to start doing? It's a must that you advocate for you. Do you find yourself getting mad at you when someone has overstepped their boundary in your life, and you sit there without doing anything? There is a time and place for everything. At times, I have struggled with commanding respect from others, and it hurts me in the end. If people can get away with not treating you right and you let them, they will continue to do it. All these examples relate to self-care.

List 2 things that I did not place in this blog post that you will or can do to practice self-care. When you learn the importance of inner work, other things will fall into place.

Hey You!

Have you ever prayed to God, but it seemed as if he didn't hear you cry out to him? This is very normal whether you know it or not. It could be that your faith is being tested. I love to pray, but I don't like to when I feel as if he isn't talking back to me. What do you do when this occurs in your life? Type your answers in the comments below.

There were times in the Bible where Job cried out to God, and he had these same exact feelings that his God wasn't responding. However, that did not stop him from crying out. He was relentless, and he did not let up. Read chapters 30 and 31 of Job when you have time.

Here are some actions to take when you can't hear him:

1) Ask God for forgiveness for the things you have thought, said, spoke that you know does not please him.

2) Forgive those you are holding hostage in your mind because you have not released what they have done to you.

3) Read his word without any electronics on for 15 minutes.

4) Be resilient enough to continue to pray. 

Then, may your ears be filled with God's voice very soon. Keep praying and don't stop.