“And so here I am worried about feeling confused and the God who knows the precise number of hairs on my head is prob like ‘Hey Silly Billy, I got you! Haven’t I always?’ To which I respond, ‘Uummm yeah, buuut can You get me sooner?!’ I’m not trying to rush You or anything but if You wanted to do exactly what I had wanted You to do for me quicker, that’d be real cool, too!”
My neurodivergence is one of my many superpowers. It gifts me the opportunity to think at lightening speed, moving as quickly as a bullet train. So fast that sometimes I can’t keep up. I’ve mostly stopped asking myself, ‘How did I get here? How did I arrive at this final place?’ Like a passenger on the bullet train, I have come to enjoy the ride of my own thoughts. To see where my thoughts will go, where they will take me. And it’s different now. So different! Now I direct my thoughts. I no longer let my thoughts direct me and determine my feelings. I have trained myself to think like God thinks. I have trained myself to speak to myself like how God speaks about me.
Among a group of people I don’t even know and had just met, I heard myself say, ‘You’re standing among divinity. Yes, we are all divinity personified, but ya’ll, I’m amazing! I am divine!’ I wasn’t arrogant. It wasn’t cocky. It was a kernel of truth. The words flew out of my mouth like water flows from a waterfall—organic, natural, supremely true. This confidence, I’m sure, comes from the affirmations I’ve been writing and saying and singing and praying.
“Hi, my name is Joval.” Now, I rarely share the name story at work with my clients because it feels too personal, so I repeat my name or I spell it for my clients. And each and every one of my clients—100%, 10/10, all of them have remembered my name and the correct, accurate, precise pronunciation. Not only do they remember my name, but they pronounce it correctly, too! There’s this special love that exists in this sacred space where I work. My clients see me, respect me, and even tell me they love me. This space has shown me the profound impact of embracing my identity and the power of a name.
Between my full-time job as an addictions nurse and attending 12 Step Meetings to surrender my sinful behaviors to God, I am exhausted. Tired. Weary. Social media’s relentless push for change and self-improvement only adds to the overwhelm. But amidst the chaos, I’ve had yet another a profound spiritual awakening. By embracing my divinity, I’ve discovered inner peace and strength. This thing called life isn’t only about recovery and transformation; it’s about truly living and *being*. Join me as I explore the powerful transformation from addiction to spiritual wholeness.
Are you struggling to find hope in tough times? In this piece, I explore the powerful metaphor of drought and rain, illustrating how life’s challenges can lead to incredible growth and resilience. Through personal reflections and spiritual insights, we’ll journey together to discover how embracing life’s seasons helps us find hope and bring about the profound transformation we will inevitably find when we seek. Uncover the hidden blessings in droughts and rain, and find the strength to thrive no matter the circumstances.
Life is Not Meant to be Lived in Apology We are all taught to hate ourselves in one way or another. We—Black women, immigrants, divergent …
Courage is funny. We want to be courageous, but in the light of truth, how often are we really? Reflecting on Psalm 23:4, I discovered that even in the shadows, light exists—if we choose to see it. Shadows exist only when light is present, reminding us that where there is fear, courage can also be found. Join me in a journey through valleys and shadows, finding courage one step at a time.
“When I say ‘I think’ I mean ‘I know’ and I’m downplaying what I know because… Because that’s what women are taught to do! But I don’t want to downplay myself when I know with strong confidence and absolute certainty that what I am saying is true. No longer will I hide my knowing in doubt. No longer will I shroud it in doubt like a bride covered by her veil. No, I want to be seen. I want to shine!
This post uncovers the truth behind the façade of fearlessness, revealing my personal struggles with fear, self-doubt, and “imposter syndrome” as a Black woman and registered nurse. It captures the essence of overcoming deep-seated fears through faith and small, consistent steps, illustrating how these challenges have shaped my transformative journey. Discover how embracing vulnerability and acknowledging challenges lead to profound personal, professional, and spiritual growth. Explore the journey of becoming who we are meant to be, armed with courage and authenticity.
