Better

God wants us to be better. God wants us to do better. God wants our best. God wants to give us His best. Most of us settle at good. Good is better than before, so we find contentment in mediocrity. We settle for less. We stop striving. We stop thriving because things are better. Better is not the destination. It's just a pitstop on the road to God's best.

Victor

I'm fresh off the Heart 2 Heart Women's Retreat, and one of the things that stuck with me the most was that, "we have to choose to be a victor instead of the victim." A lot of us have been through unspeakable things. We have endured hardships at the hands of family and loved ones, and we just grin and bear it. As women, we carry the world on our shoulders. We don't take the time to take of ourselves. We just keep it moving, to our own detriment. We have got to do better. How? We have to learn how to process our pain. For some of us, that might mean seeking professional help. For others, that might mean taking the time to acknowledge the pain, and releasing it. I encourage you all to make the first steps from being a victim to a victor. It will ultimately make you better instead of bitter.

Better

Better usually comes after you have endured the worst. You don't really appreciate the sunshine until it rains. Life is full of constant dichotomies of better and worse, good and bad. We can not ignore the ebb and flow of it all. Struggle has a purpose. Pain is a part of the process, and you will be better for it. The goal is to come out better. Anything of value is refined. Gold is purified. Oil is pressed. Pain is one of the tools that produces passion. Stop fighting the process. You're being refined. So, you can be better, not bitter. 

Convergence

It's all coming together. You are standing on the precipice of promise. The terrain is rough. The sky looks grey. Storms are looming, but in the distance the sun is breaking through the clouds. Admire the view. Appreciate what you've been  through. Remember the lessons. Celebrate the new beginning. Life is a convergence of circumstances and opportunities. It is full of intersections of purpose and provision, and of desperation and hope. Don't give up! Things are happening. You're moving in the right direction. You're on the cusp of something great.

Surmise

“I see that mankind still survives after all its attempts to destroy itself and so I surmise that it is the law of love that rules mankind.”- David Richo

There are several things in this quote that resonate with me. "Mankind still survives," speaks to our existence as a species. "Attempts to destroy itself," speaks to our violent nature. "Law of love," is the exception that ensures the survival of our species. Procreation is necessary to the survival of any species. Many of us were not conceived in love. We were conceived in confusion, fear, and doubt. This is just one of the reasons, we have a violent nature. Our environments were breeding grounds that instilled insecurity and hate towards ourselves and others. But, the exception to the rule was the "law of love." The law of love is the ability to love in spite of our innate nature and our environment. It is when you look at yourself in the mirror and surmise that you will be better than the previous generation. It is when you look at your neighborhood and make up your mind that you will be an asset to your community instead of a detriment. Wake up everyday and surmise that today will be better than yesterday. Surmise that you will be a better you today than you were yesterday.
 

Epiphany

What happens when you realize you deserve more? What will you do when you accept that you were created for more? Who will you become when you recognize you were destined for greatness? Will you stay on that job you hate? Will you leave that toxic relationship? Will you try that thing you always wanted to do, but was too afraid to try? Will you not just knock on the door of opportunity, but actually walk through it? You deserve it. You were created for more. You are destined for greatness. Now, is the time. This is your epiphany. You know better. So, do better. Overcome your fears. Step out. Do it! No more excuses.