How to encourage yourself!

Well, well, well...everyday, when God allows us to open our eyes, get out of bed, and move, we have to challenge ourselves. Why? To do what needs to be done...to do what has to be done! Sometimes, when I wake up there are so many thoughts running through my head until I have to say...damn! What is my name? What am I supposed to do today? HUH?

Not to mention the days that I feel sooooooooo depressed. Say what? Don't even try to say that you don't have those days! When you feel that no one loves you...what to do with your life...your accomplishments or the lack thereof, and the list goes on and on and on! Your kids get on your damn nerves. Your mate gets on your damn nerves and your friends get on your last nerve! What the hell am I going to do? What the hell are you going to do?

A friend of mine says...FEAR NOT, JUST DO THE DAMN THING! But doing it, is a whole other matter.

I encourage myself by thinking of all those who have come before me. Things are quite difficult in this racist, mean ass world that we live in. But many have endured worse times. Their stories of resilience, courage and bravery are uplifting to say the least! Sometimes we are so mired in our own muck that we forget things like that. Which is relatively easy to do when your own life is cluttered with so many obstacles.

From the time we wake up in the morning, until we sleep at night we are bombarded with negativity. Television, music, maybe where we live or who we converse with increases stress. Many images of what we should be are thrown into our face daily. For black people, there is the white is right syndrome. Black women are stereotyped and stigmatized daily. Society says that the most beautiful person is the white woman, who we are supposed to strive to be like. Really? Well, why is it that so many white woman want big breasts, tans, and big beautiful apple shaped asses? They may spend loads of money on butt lifting, lip plumping surgeries and products that advertise to do the same. ( HA-HA)!!!!

And, our men are stereotyped and stigmatized as dick swinging baby daddies with no education. Pants hanging down with dirty underwear showing, speaking Ebonics, rappin niggas standing on the corner selling drugs and pointing guns. (Whew, that was a run-on sentence)!

The truth is, and I know that you have heard it before, they person who is most effective in encouraging you is....(drum roll)...YOU!

We have to believe and walk by faith and not by sight! (Preach Guuurrllll!) I make a list of my strong points and not concentrate on the negative. I make a "things to do today" list and check them off one by one. Everything that is not done today, can be done tomorrow. That relieves stress because you get to SEE your accomplishments. Not just think about them.

Try these words of self encouragement...

I am what God intended for me to be.

I am the best at being who I am.

I am beautiuful.

I am perserverant.

I am persistant.

I am not afraid.

I am not afraid of tomorrow.

I am first in my mind and body. ( Except God)

I am the epitome of intelligence.

I am what I am destined to be.

I look great in my clothes.

I smell good.

I uplift others.

I am who I am so that I can become the fulfillment of myself. ( Deep ain't it)!

I'm never ever, ever, ever, broke! ( Maybe between blessings though).

I AM ROYALTY.

Of course, these are my words of encouragement. Make yourself a list. Put it on the walls, on your mirrors, on your purse, in your head...whatever works for you. The hand who uplifts you the most is your own! So, JUST DO THE DAMN THING! And you will be alright!

Until next time, take care of yourself, each other, and remember to RESIST!!!