As I continue to learn about myself, I am learning to embrace allowing myself to be, unapologetically me.

Some days I’m super excited and other days, I’m like girl pass me a glass of wine.? Excuse me, I meant to say the bottle please. Lol.
Some days I’m dressed up really cute and fashion forward. Other days I have on a house dress with a bonnet. #fashionfail ??‍♂️????
Sidenote: This house dress is worn on my work from home days only. #dontjudgeme

No matter the day I’m experiencing, whether good or bad, fashionable or a fashion mess, I allow myself to be me. I embrace who I am in that moment.

I have moments like everyone else, in which I reflect and think that I should:
A. Be further ahead in life.
B. Have more accomplished and…
C. Definitely desire a few more zeros, in my account.
Hey, you have to secure the bag sis!!! ??‍?

So let me define my definition of a moment.
***Note, this is my definition, my readers and Webster dictionary may define it differently, and that’s okay.***

Moment- taking time to reflect on whatever I’m thinking about and process my emotions

During my moments I cry, pray, journal, dance, etc… to express my emotions, depending on how I’m feeling at the moment.

Sometimes my moments may include:
– logging out of social media
– having chill time with myself
– reading a book
– putting my phone on do not disturb
– or doing absolutely nothing.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t come with a set of instructions to tell you what to do on a day to day basis. If it did, I would definitely flip to the end of my book to see what day I’m going to become rich. I’m trying to retire early early. Like tomorrow! Lol?

The main thing is to acknowledge that when you need a moment, don’t be afraid to seize the moment. Take that time to clear your head and get yourself together. Afterwards, come back refreshed and rejuvenated. Once your moment is over, remind yourself that you are exactly where God wants you on this day at this time.

Romans 12:2

I received this as a topic request and I think it is a topic that is relevant in society.

Stress is one of those “things” that is inevitable. Although, stress will happen we can find ways to manage it, without allowing it to manage us.

Storytime: I had a prior job working in management, that was highly stressful. I would cringe sometimes when I opened my e-mails in fear of what error I would have to fix, or coaching opportunity I needed to have with an employee. At that time, I had no idea how to embrace what was going on in my work environment and I didn’t utilize it as an opportunity for growth and development, so I left the position. ✌?

Sidenote: From the story above I didn’t quit my job, I found another position within the company.

As much as I would love to say the key to reducing stress is to quit our job. For many of us, including me it isn’t feasible. Quitting a job for some may reduce stress, but for me it would cause even more stress with the burden of thinking about bills, shelter and food. Basic things needed for survival. Ever heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? Lol. Therefore, I’ll pass on option A, because it isn’t an option for me bruh. ??

Good Ol Maslow

Fast forward a few years later and hopefully I’m a tad bit wiser, there are a few things I would do differently if I’m put in that situation now. I will share some practical tips that I use to help reduce stress at work.

How to Reduce Stress at Work

1. Seek advice from a mentor within the organization and one outside of your organization. A mentor may have already been through what we are going through and can provide some encouraging words of wisdom.

2. Look for solutions instead of focusing on the problems. While working in corporate America it is easy for us to identify problems, however we may have the answer to a solution to eliminate a problem or lower stress.

3. Take breaks. Whenever it is busy at work, I often skip lunch or break and eat at my desk. However, on my stressful days, I will take a 15 or 20 minute lunch just to relax. Sometimes it helps to remove yourself from that environment and take a quick walk or rest your eyes by not looking at the computer screen.
Sidenote: my computer is on its last leg anyway ??‍♂️

A break is a great way to press reset on the day.

4. Listen to positive or calming music on the way to work or even while you are working if you can.?

5. Work out. Exercising helps release stress and tension after a long day.??‍♀️

6. Read Devotions. I start everyday with a devotion. There are tons of free sites for devotions. ?

7. Take a vacation if possible. Im the queen of work hard, but play even harder. Even if you have limited vacation time, take an extended weekend by taking off on a Monday or Friday. One extra day helps. The work is going to be there when you get there tomorrow, so enjoy your time off.?

8. Yell or scream. I like to do silent screams at my desk, it looks like I’m stretching, but lowkey I’m yelling. ??

9. Talk to your management department if possible and bring suggestions that can help in your current role.

10. Go to bed. A well rested brain helps. Remember on standardized test days they would say go to bed early, well that’s still applicable today. On days you expect to be longer in the office, get a good night’s rest. ?

11. If the job is really stressful, start applying for other positions within or outside of your company. We spend way too much time at work not to be happy and once you realize life is extremely short, find as many ways as possible to enjoy it. So, come up with a plan to make an exit, I didn’t say just exit. Lol

Im interested to hear how do you reduce stress at work? Or in life in general? I love reading your comments!

Scripture of the Day: Col 3:23

Story time: When I was younger I used to constantly remind my mom of what she said before. Mama remember you said we can go to Chuckie Cheese or remember you said you would give me $5.

Sidenote: $5 was the maximum I could ask for as a kid unless it was for a field trip. Anything above that would get me a blank side glance with no response. In her defense, it was too many of us. I have 6 sisters and 1 brother. So, if all of us needed $5 the same week, that could have been a whole water bill that was easily dispersed!

Any who, back to my story.

Because we are constantly reminding people of what they said or didn’t say to get them to do something for us. The reminders could be because we did something for them in the past and now we feel they owe us a favor or because we really do need something from them at that moment.

I was praying for a friend the other day and was reminded that sometimes we have to remind God of what he said.

Does God owe us anything?
Nope, absolutely not. He clearly paid it all for us in full when he sent his son to die on the cross for our sins. So, nah I think his debt is paid in full, forever, ever!!!

However, because we are his children he likes for us to come to him humbly in prayer and ask for what we need. We can basically quote God to God.

How do you quote God to God?
Remind him of what he said in his word, aka The Bible.

My reminder prayer would go something like this:

Dear heavenly father, forgive me for all of my sins. (Sidenote: I always ask for forgiveness just in case.)

Then I would say, remember you said:

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Or remember you said:

” If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

I can hear you right now, I don’t know any scriptures by memory. That’s perfectly okay. Most of us have a whole phone  with internet access that we can google, scriptures about healing, love, peace and joy. Or even if we don’t know the scripture in its’ entirety, we can Google what we do know and search for that text and it may pop up. #teamnoexcuses

Therefore, once we have asked for forgiveness, we can call to remembrance anything that God said…because most importantly he said:

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

One more thing…

Because he said it, it doesn’t mean he is going to do it immediately. He does stuff that is in his will on his own time, but that’s another blog, for another day!!!

Be blessed!!!

Scripture references are listed in the order they are quoted.

Matthew 18:20

John 14:14

Numbers 23:19