5 points of wisdom from my life to yours...

I remember taking this photo, many years ago. I was NOT confident. I was afraid to speak. I doubted my intellectual abilities. I hid in the background. I had SO much fear in me. I didn't understand my purpose fully. I was battling the spirit of rejection. I lived my life as others thought I should or in line with their misperception of me. 

 

Look at my photo again and remember - for the rest of your life - to not judge a person by their smile, eyes, cheeks, how they dress, or their possessions or a lack thereof. People have a soul, spirit and mind, it is within these realms of their existence that you discover who they really are, what makes them feel how they feel and what makes them do what they do. Take time to get to know people on an intimate level. 

That is wisdom point 1.

 It is important to be mindful of your time. Understand that God gives us 24 hours in a day and we must use this time wisely. Every day that I wake up, I ask God for His agenda for my day. He knows EVERYTHING about my life, He wrote my story. I am only walking it out day by day as He tarries. 

That is wisdom point 2.

 It is interesting to me how people who are no longer with us can speak words into your life and at different intervals, those words will pop up into my mind and bring me to a state of awareness that causes me to be super attentive to my decisions. One such word came from a dear friend who told me to, "always weigh your intentions." I honestly laughed when these four words were given to me, but the weight of them serves as a demarcation between my thoughts and decisions to act on certain opportunities. Always ask yourself why you are doing or about to do what you are getting ready to do. Will it add value or take away value from you? There is no middle. 

That is wisdom point 3.

Comfort zones are immobilizing. If you opened a map of the world, there are so many places that you could visit. In those places, there are so many people, culture, foods, and unique experiences to be had. Do not limit yourself, do not be comfortable in the box, and do not restrict yourself to one position, place or posture in life. Be open to try NEW things. You can read a book and it will give your perspective of a nation. You can tour an online museum and it will give you new insight. You can hike a mountain and learn more about your endurance. You can meet a new person and learn about their life and incorporate some of their likes into your routine. You can take a class to elevate your mind. You can buy an international cookbook, shop at an international market and enjoy the experience of cooking from abroad, right in your own home. It's fun. I love cooking new and interesting dishes.

That is wisdom point 4.

Encouragement. I remember being a little girl and ALWAYS having something nice to say to someone. It was like water from a faucet. It started as a drip and then it flowed. Encouragement gives life. Encouragement means, TO GIVE COURAGE. I always knew and felt this FEELING in me, but there were times when situations of life, overshadowed that FEELING. FEAR and REJECTION kept me silent for a long time, however, the FEELING to ACT or to GIVE COURAGE to others, even when I didn't know them or felt a little fearful - never went away. As I grew older, I understood, that God made me an ENCOURAGER. He rooted it down within me, underpinned it and secured it with His love so much so that nothing or no one could take it away from me. That's why I do what I do. I GIVE COURAGE to others, it's a gift, fueled by God. Encourage others. When I encourage others, I am encouraged. Try it. Try it daily. People need it.

That is wisdom point 4.

 Be free,

Tanika