Rip Me Out the Plastic: 7 Steps to Achieve a Fresh Start this Season

This article encourages women to find inspiration and guidance from the Word of God and to commit to carrying out their goals. As we approach a new season, it is important to go in with fresh eyes, a fresh mindset, fresh ideas, and fresh habits to avoid getting caught in the mental traps and debilitating behaviors of the past that hinder growth. To embrace growth, we need to be intentional, reconcile past hurts, persevere through change, and avoid stagnancy and complacency. This article provides 7 steps to help you achieve a fresh start and push through to new levels of growth and success. Whether it’s a small goal or a big goal, these suggestions will help you make the most of this new beginning and take the plastic off that’s suffocating you to breathe fresh air and start acting brand new in the life intended for you. So go ahead…Rip the plastic towards a fresh start.

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Dawn Charleston-Green

Your Encounter is Closer Than You Think

Friend, whatever you are called and purposed to do, do it with God’s strength and leading. Don’t compromise it no matter how bright the lights might be, or how significant the dividends. We cannot pray and ask God to enlarge our territory, and then turn around and let down the borders of our faith; turning our focus to success and popularity. It’s the boundaries of our faith and the wisdom that comes from it that keeps us safe emotionally, mentally, financially, and spiritually.  Though it might seem like such an easy edit, just like with my book, deleting God will not help you become the best version of yourself. Even when it’s tempting, Sis…Trust God anyway. You’ll never be disappointed. 

To my fellow sisters who may be feeling discouraged, remember to pause and appreciate the encounters with God’s blessings that are all around us. They are always present, even in the uncertainties and chaos of life. Let’s be diligent in becoming more aware of the new encounters God is divinely orchestrating for us. However, do not forget, it’s not the encounter that happens that is the best part…it’s the encounter with Him that makes the difference.

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Who Moved the Start and Finish Line?

…because I can’t see what life looks like moving forward. However, because of the determined soldier within me, who knows that there is still more ahead and that my calling and purpose depend on me continuing to go forward; I know that I have to keep running. Everything that lies ahead for me is contingent upon it. But that doesn’t make it easier or make feel any better.

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Satisfaction

DON’T FORGO SATISFACTION FOR GLITTER

Listen. I’ve decided, whether it be my nails, my car, my relationships, my hair, my faith…if it doesn’t serve me, consider me, advance me, or enhance me…it cannot retain my loyalty by default.
I will no longer settle for MEDIOCRITY from someone else TOWARDS ME to make them appear EXCEPTIONAL to OTHERS. When we continue to give service and honor to establishments, organizations, and people who don’t reciprocate the appreciation, we are ultimately giving an inaccurate reference or stamp of approval for others on the outside.

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Forgive

F______ THAT! (Forgive)

I know sometimes as we face certain obstacles and frustrations in life, our defenses tell us to “F it” or forget it. But that’s only in theory. Those offenses or emotions that we put out of our mind, on the backburner, or that we suppress…are only lying dormant. They’re not gone. They’re just waiting for the right time to resurface. And by right time I mean a time where we’re forced to bring those offenses up or to face them.

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The Valley Has Lights

Embracing Your Wilderness: The Valley Has Lights

Embracing your “wilderness” might seem hard to fathom; especially when you’re right in the middle of it, or when it also feels like your wilderness is in the depths of the valley – your lowest point.
These two (the wilderness and the valley) don’t always take place together, but the uncertainty that is felt with either, sometimes makes them feel interchangeable or interwoven.
It’s seemingly difficult to imagine all the purpose which is actually manifesting itself out of the experiences of the unknown. But honestly, it’s actually more likely to happen that way than you think. In fact, I would argue that the wilderness and valley are necessary elements in discovering your place of purpose…

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Empty Picnic table setting

Bring LOVE to the Table

As we began to talk, we first started with the question of why people (mostly women) continue to stay “at the table” (or in relationships) longer than we should. The question was asked,” How will we know when it’s time to get up?

So, you would have thought we would discuss mistreatment or incongruency in relationships; lack of support and compassion; being unequally yoked (whether talking about an intimate love relationship or any other relationship/friendship). But the conversation took a turn.

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Shift Happens

Shift Happens

When shift happens it’s usually beyond our control and with no pre-warnings. One day we just wake up and we’re in the middle of SHIFT. And because we could never quite have expected it, in those early moments, SHIFT feels like sh^t. But do not categorize them in the same way. Sh^t is meant to hurt and draw attention to the despair of where you are. Shift comes to help you evolve to the next level of yourself and get you closer to where you were purposed to be.

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