Say YES to Yourself!

Have you put yourself on your daily list?  Life responsibilities like work, family, and the commitments we make, tend to take precedence over our personal well-being.  We have been taught that it is better to sacrifice oneself in service of another.  Yet, If we cannot shine our own light by giving to self each day, we cannot bring our whole self to this world.

Saying yes to ourselves is a conscious choice we need to make every day.  We are taught since we are young that giving to self first is selfish, but the opposite is true. Giving to others at the expense of ourselves leads to feelings of frustration and resentment, and so we give to ourselves what we have left.  If we give to ourselves first, we feel full and enriched within, and can then give to others with ease.  With a full cup, we can give of ourselves more powerfully.

Say yes to yourself by:
  • Giving yourself at least 10 to 15 minutes a day of focused time.  This time is yours to be still, go within, meditate, pray and connect with Source/God/Goddess/Universe.  It creates a space to get connection, clarity and peace.

    Say Yes to yourself blog 4 Jan 2024

  • Taking one action a day towards your dream future.  Whether it is reading a few pages of a book, listening to a training video, or doing research on a dream, consistent, small steps daily create huge leaps forward.

  • Going forward without looking back.  We all have moments in our past that we wish we could change, choices that we would like to undo. Focusing on the past and what was, keeps you there.  Say yes to your future by choosing to create each day from the present moment.  Every single moment of every day, we get to renew our mindset and the feelings we choose to live with. You cannot change the past, so why dwell on it?  Rather choose what you want this moment to be.  If you find those past thoughts creeping up, use one of the tools you have in your toolbox to refocus yourself to the present moment.

  • Choosing your tribe.  The people you choose to spend your precious time with have a great impact on the way you view the world.  If they are negative and unsupportive, your life begins to look impossible and you may forget about having more.  But if you select your tribe with the same care you would  show when making a large investment such as buying a car, you find yourself surrounded with people who uplift and support you.  They want you to succeed, they will cheer for you, and connect and support you in whatever way they can.   It may be tough at first to let go of the known community, but if they are not helping you thrive, you will remain stuck where you are.

Say yes to yourself with the same love, care and kindness with which you would support a dear friend.  Honor the commitment of giving yourself at least one thing each day.  Every time you do so, you are choosing yourself, and the energy of that action has a ripple effect on your life.

What are you adding to your daily list for yourself today? 

Many Blessings,
Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022