![]() What is something, just as necessary as love, that a person should look for? Themselves. This topic that I will be diving into is one that I feel is difficult yet important, cringe-worthy yet life-altering, and sobering yet inebriating. This blog post is about entering, navigating, and existing in a period of singleness. I know my single readers were looking at the Is this Love? series like: This particular post is for you. More specifically, it is for us because a period of singleness is something that has been invited, avoided, and felt by me, you, and everyone else seeking to love and be loved while they live on this planet. Hi, my name is Olivia, and I was addicted to the idea of being in love + being in a relationship for years. For seven years, I was in and out of romantic relationships. Retrospectively speaking, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with perpetually dating and I didn’t think that I was restricting or debilitating myself in any way. It wasn’t until last year that I truly decided that I didn’t just want a break from romantic relationships, but I needed a break from dating + anything else that is associated with my idea of romantic relationships. During my period of singleness, I experienced a dramatic shift. It’s rather hard to describe exactly what it feels like. Imagine filling up a balloon with water, rolling it across a hot, even road and suddenly watching it inaudibly burst into a pool of liberation and transformation. My mind, body, and spirit have realigned in unsurmountable ways during this season in my life. My period of singleness has been absolutely instrumental to my journey to discovering my truth and I feel as though it is my duty to show you all a door to growth, freedom, and reaching your highest potential. In this post, I will be redefining what it means to be single, how to navigate this season and the benefits that come from experiencing a period of singleness. Whether you have been single for years or just a few days, I hope I can give you all a new perspective on this unrivaled territory. Redefining What it Means to be Single I named this blog post “Single-ish” because of the definition of “single” has been warped and distorted in mad ways. Nowadays, being single means not having a significant other but “talking” to someone. Not being tied down but having a “cuddle buddy” or thinking about the next person you are going to text and say “You up?”. Yikes. A gentle reminder that I am, in no way, trying to be critical because this was literally me 0.5 seconds ago. So, before we get into this I want to define what it means to be in a period of singleness. First of all, I want to make it clear that there is a major difference between being single and being in a period of singleness. You can be single and not be in a period of singleness. A period of singleness can look something like the following:
It will not be something that happens overnight. I sometimes think about how my period of singleness has been panning out like the Stages of Grief.
These stages will naturally look different from one person to the next, but I have bantered with a few friends (also in seasons of singleness) about how incredibly accurate these stages seem to be for all of us. I have repeated some of these stages more than I should’ve, but I eventually realized that there is no set rhythm or rhyme to a period of singleness. Your experience may not be like mine and you might find yourself wanting to redefine it to fit where you are in life. That is okay. Make it work FOR YOU. I decided that in order to be my greatest self, I needed to be single for some time. This is my truth and maybe yours, too, but our journeys do not have to look the same. The most important thing is that you understand what you might experience is different from society’s definition of “being single”. I am encouraging you all to break away from today’s sense of urgency, desire for instant gratification and disposable tendencies. Being “single”, dating, and living without boundaries can be fun, I am fully aware. But have you ever considered how fleeting + undernourishing this experience can be? Have you considered how that one person that’s keeping you company may be blocking your biggest blessing? This type of single requires great purposiveness, deep self-reflection, and purpose-driven maturity. How to Navigate a Period of Singleness When I first entered my period of singleness, I felt like a fish out of water. It was hard to find comfort and, more noticeably, that intimacy that comes with being in a relationship. At the time, I didn’t really have any friends who could really relate and give me advice. After a while, that cold pillow and my dry phone had me rethinking everything. But as time went on, I begin to feel more and more… leveled. I asked God for wisdom, and each day I learned sometime new about this period of singleness and how to make it work for my life. After about a month, I finally began to reap the benefits and barely struggled to exist in my own tempered bubble. Here are some of the things I learned to do in order to navigate my period of singleness.
The Benefits of a Period of Singleness The biggest question I receive about my period of singleness is “what has it done for you?”. This is such a loaded and multilayered question because this season in my life has been metamorphic. I have strengthened my signal with God. I have been afforded countless opportunities based on my changed prerogative. Here are some, but not all, of the benefits of being in a period of singleness.
What happens next? The amount of time you stay in your period of singleness is up to you and what you require. You know better than any person what you need, and this experience will develop you into a wise, mature person that will know when the season is changing. I have reached a point in my period of singleness where I do not necessarily have a desire to be in a relationship, but I have opened up my mind to meeting new people and dating again. Regardless if I get in a relationship or not, I will never lose the love that I have gained for myself during this time. The most significant thing that I have learned about a period of singleness is that when you think about the future and can visualize yourself irrevocably existing in a space of joy, purpose, and love--without the addition of a partner or someone else creating that space-- that is when you have mastered the art of loving yourself. I pray that you all find peace wherever you are in living, thriving, and loving. Remember to seek love first and always look within yourself for the truth. Truthfully, Liv
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![]() This two-part series, believe it or not, has been harder to conclude than I originally imagined. Part one was easy. The words + experiences + honesty were fresh. I didn’t have to reach too deep into the crevices of my heart and others to talk about what feels good to a human being’s spirit and what doesn’t. Writing part one was liberating. However, writing part two has been rather scary. Like I mentioned in the first chapter of “Is This Love?”, this advice not only comes from what I’ve seen but it also, more than anything, comes from what I have learned. It is hard to reflect on the mistakes that I have made with love. It is even harder to believe in my own credibility knowing that I hadn’t been the most effective vessel for love in the past. I found myself thinking, “Yup, Liv, you actually did that stupid mess too, don’t forget.” I was pretty freaking self-condemning, not even going to lie, and I had to catch myself quickly before my whole series on love was done in vain. I want to begin by encouraging you all to not make the mistake of condemnation as you venture on this journey of discovering true love. For a while, I retreated, I cried, I hesitated… but then I laughed, I smiled, and I congratulated myself because I realized that all of these experiences brought me to find some (not all) of the right ways to love and equipped me to share it with you all today. So, before I get into the last part of “Is This Love?”, I want to say that I am proud of each and every one of US for the experiences that we have been through on our quest for love. For those of you who have been vulnerable enough to share your experiences with me so that I can write this series, I would like to say thank you. Here are the last few things I have to say about love and how to date the right way. Don’t: Date thinking that you can “fix” someone I am just going to get it to you straight no chaser, if you date someone thinking that you can fix them, you are going to end up breaking yourself. If you have found yourself thinking or saying “they have potential” you need to RUN. Run fast because you are in the process of adopting Savior Syndrome. You are not God! Neither does/should your partner ask you to be a god. Helping someone be the best version of themselves is different from trying to fill a void that can only be filled by their mama + daddy + brother + sister and, more than all of these people, themselves and God. We are intricate beings, but sometimes we overestimate our abilities to change a person; we also have too much faith in a person to be willing to change. We desperately need to stop ignoring red flags because we have “chemistry” with a person. Trust me, I get it. It’s hard enough to find someone who understands you and who you click with easily. I am not saying that you should date a person that has zero flaws, but you shouldn’t date a person that makes loving them seem hard or painful. You shouldn’t date a person with a vision of what they could be, but rather who they are now. I implore you all to stop ignoring grossly large problems in your love life (because you think that focusing on a person’s few positive qualities will make it okay) and to begin asking yourself questions about how you really feel: Is this person feeding my spirit? What I am I tolerating/settling for that I shouldn’t? Am I the best version of myself in this relationship? Do: Be intentional Anyone who is close to me knows that my favorite word is intentionality. I probably use this word at least 20 times a day. I use it so much because intentionality is one of the greatest levels of love that you can show with some of the smallest acts. As we build relationships, we must remain cognizant of what we do, what we say, and how we interact with each other. Being intentional means making time for yourself to be alone. Making time for your friends and family when you have a significant other. It means making a point to talk about spirituality. Making sure you and your partner are reading the fine print. But, most importantly, being intentional means establishing a foundation that you and your partner can stand on without feeling afraid. Love is most successful when there is honestly, patience, forgiveness, and selflessness. There was once a guy that I was in a relationship with (pre-period of singleness lol). We had dated for a while, but he knew that I didn’t have time for a relationship and I knew that I doubted his commitment to the relationship more than I should’ve. One day he called me and said, “I think we should take some time apart because I know that I cannot give you the love that you require right now. You are the perfect girl for me, but just not right now.” Although he was breaking up with me, I felt the love in his words. What he said were some of the most intentional words that I have ever been told, and I will always hold respect for him and the relationship because of his intentionality that day. Whatever intentionality looks like to you, make it a point to exercise it as much as you can while you are dating. Your partner will thank you and you will also thank yourself. Love with intentionality, even when it is hard. Don’t: Lose yourself If you are reading this, this is one of the most important nuggets that I have to share with you. I urge each and every person reading this to stay focused on YOU and never give your entire self to one person while dating. It is so incredibly easy to lose yourself and get caught up in a relationship. The adrenaline, the lust, the passion; all of it is truly addicting… and blinding. At this stage in our lives, we are just discovering who we are, which makes us extremely susceptible to losing sight of ourselves when we are in love…. or in lust. Let’s talk about sex for a minute. Before you click out of this, I am not trying to say, “DON’T HAVE SEX”. I am only warning you of the things that accompany the act. Soul ties are very real, my friends, and they can sometimes be the biggest blinders in your life. If your relationship with someone involves sex, take a step back and think about how sex could possibly be clouding your vision and causing you to be caught up in a relationship that is unhealthy. I honestly implore you to keep sex out of your relationship for as long as you can, because it is a sacred and marital act for a reason (a.k.a. you don’t want those problems, big fella). My friends, the person that you are dating is NOT the end all be all. Stop making a human being the center of your life. The love + attention that a person can give you is finite, and one is essentially chasing the wind if they feel as though their partner will fill a void for intimacy, loneliness, and security that truly only God can fill. Do not feel as though you must do everything in your power to prove to someone that you love them. That is losing yourself. Do not let yourself think that you are only happy when your partner is around. That is losing yourself. Stop thinking that you will never find someone else that will love you like they do. That is losing yourself. Do not, by any means, put your partner on a pedestal in your life. That is losing yourself and, unfortunately, losing sight of God. Don’t lose yourself, love yourself. Do: Have fun! - I want to leave this list on a light note by telling you to let your hair down! Like I said in part one, if you aren’t married then stop acting like it. I’ve been around couples that just seem so tense... like sheesh, we are in our 20s. It is the time to live your BEST life, whether you are single or in a relationship. Go on a road trip, go see a drive-in movie, plan a picnic, go to a museum and, for Pete’s sake, PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN. I promise you will have more fun in your relationship without pulling out Snapchat or Instagram every time you get together. The best part about love is that you can relax, breathe, and enjoy life. It is senseless to convolute the experience with distractions, stress, and lack of freedom. Don’t be that partner who “feels some type of way” when their sig wants to hang out with their friends. You both have separate lives and that’s okay. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so give each other some space and learn how to have fun when you are not with each other! Love has so much of a higher potential than what you can even imagine. Don’t limit the number of times you smile, giggle, or feel alive while you are dating. Well, this concludes the last chapter of “Is This Love”. This series was super fun to do and I truly hope that you all enjoyed it as much as I did. I encourage you all to take my list of do’s and don’ts and make your own personalized list. I am just a messenger. I ain’t got all the answers, Sway. The truth lies within you. Ask yourself in all encounters, “is this love?” and take note of what your spirit tells you. I am praying that you encounter the greatest love story of your life, one day soon. And if you already are, Godspeed. Truthfully, Liv ![]() This goes without saying, but I am no expert on love + dating + marriage + quotables like “the heart wants what the heart wants”. Nah, I am actually here to tell you all that “the heart should want what the spirit needs” and it probably won’t be all sugary, fluffy, and sweet like the advice we see on Twitter. So, fair warning, this may or may not be everything anyone wants to hear. Like I say in most of my blog posts, I am here to share my truths (and your truth, if fitting). So, part of my truth is that I was in relationships for majority of my teenage years, and over the past few months I realized that it was time for me to be single for a while, i.e. I am living my best life please don’t talk to me. Just kidding (but not really). I could write a whole blog post on singleness, but what I will say is that being single allows you to step back, analyze, and learn. Think about it like this: To prepare for a game, a sports team usually spends time watching the footage from their past plays (and even the past plays of other teams). This is how the players learn, grow, and improve their game. Think about dating the same way. I mean, let’s face it, the game hasn’t changed much at all. During this period of singleness, I played back my past dating experiences, relationships that I have seen succeed, and other relationships that I have seen fail. The thing that I have realized about millennials is that we have a hard time with this little thing called commitment. Either there is a lack thereof or we find ourselves beating a dead horse. We live in a generation that treats everything like it’s disposable. I have discovered that our generation is full of too many people “talking” and too few people actually experiencing love for what it is. I have begun to ask myself: Do we truly know how to love one another? Do we even know what love is? These are such magical questions, and I have been on a quest, for quite some time now, to figure out the answers. Before I dive into this post, I want to make it COMPLETELY clear once again that I am not an expert on dating. Truthfully, I have made almost all of the exact mistakes that I will be telling you all about today. I have fallen in love and fallen out of it. I have experienced passion, desire and not-so-pretty heartbreaks. But, in the past year or so, I have also been able to experience the greatest love story of all (don’t worry, I will talk about that at the end of the series), which has fueled me to write this post about love today in the most honest and raw way that I possibly can. I am about to share with you all, in a simple format of “Do’s and Don’ts”, a few things I have learned about love and how to date right. Don’t: Treat your relationship like it is a marriage I understand that most people “date to marry” but no one ever said it was smart to “date like you are married”. I have grown to realize that this defeats the whole purpose of dating and honestly takes a large amount of fulfillment out of it. When I got to college, I realized that it was normalized for couples to spend every night with each other. It was normalized to share passwords, share locations, etc. Like…Wow. This is so counterproductive because we are essentially staging commitment without vows + a ring being involved. I’ve experienced and seen this lead to a world of trouble, heartbreak, and even abuse. There is a time and a place for EVERYTHING. Marriage is a form of commitment that will unfortunately, one day, take away from your time with yourself, your time doing what you love, and your time with God…being committed to one person is a beautiful thing, but why rush that? As young adults, we must fight to discover ourselves and the world. It is more rewarding when this is an independent process. What sort of longevity could be cultivated from fully committing yourself to someone who, most likely, still doesn’t understand themselves? I feel like we should take the whole word “commitment” out of dating. For those of you reading this and thinking that I am saying, “Oh, word? No commitment? I can rock with whoever I want, whenever I want?”, pump ya breaks. Instead of being in a committed relationship, you should be in a focused relationship. Focus on YOU, your morals, and your time. Greater commitment leads to greater access. Protect yourself. Do: Know what you want, don’t settle for less I feel like men do this better than anyone else, but it’s okay to date around and search until you find the right person for you. If you take the physical out of the equation, you might stop calling men dogs and start calling them smart. Girls, I know y’all are like “excuse me?”, but I am here to give you all the truth. Straight no chaser. I can say with conviction that most adult women know what they want. I know I personally have a list in my head (with deadlines) of the things that I want. However, the problem arises when we get to our 20’s and, rapidly, we feel rushed to settle down. Now, all of sudden, that list of things we want goes out the window and you stuck looking like this: To my girls, you deserve exactly what you want from a person. Act like it. Honestly, date like a man who doesn’t give two craps about settling down, and you will find yourself in more meaningful and focused relationships. To my men, be intentional. Be straightforward when dating, and be sure to tell women what you want and where your mind is at. And to my sisters and my brothers, do not settle for anyone or anything! Don’t settle for immaturity, infidelity, lack of communication, and lack of respect. Know what you want for yourself and take all the time you need to find that person. Don’t: Fall in love with the idea of someone Are you really in love or are you in love with the idea of being in a relationship? One of the reasons why I logged off twitter for so long was because everything I was seeing about love was, frankly, so meaningless, deprived, and malnourished. I distinctively remember a girl tweeting “issa husband” because her boyfriend bought her flowers, surprised her with dinner, and gave her a massage. NEWS FLASH! This is what your significant other is supposed to do! Similarly, if she would’ve surprised him with dinner and a massage; that is what is supposed to occur when you love someone. There is a stark difference between loving someone and being in love. We are called, as humans, to love everyone. However, it is quite easy to assume that you are in love with a person when you are actually just in love with the idea of them. Sometimes, we can get so obsessed with the idea of falling in love and being in a relationship that we often inaccurately ascribe normalcies as being extraordinary. Sometimes, this causes us to end up with the wrong person because we “think” we fell in love. How do you know when you are in love with someone? I am still struggling to understand that for myself, but I am convicted to say it’s deeper than good conversation and surprising someone with dinner. Instead of asking yourself if you are in love with a person, ask yourself this: “How is that person feeding my spirit?” Does that person match your energy? Do they know what makes your spirit happy? Do they know you to your core? As humans, the desires of our hearts are tasteless and malnourished, just like those tweets I mentioned earlier. So, stop listening to your heart and start listening to your spirit. Do: Date someone your tribe can vouch for Every time I have become interested in a guy, I ask my friends + mother + cousins what they think about him. I don’t necessarily introduce them, but I do give them the run-down about who I am potentially about to deal with. At the end of the day, your tribe (aka your people, shooters, riders 4 life), can often see things that you can’t see. They also may know something about that person that you don’t know. If you find yourself struggling to tell your tribe about who you are dating or if you find yourself omitting information, you might want to stop dating that person. 9/10 they aren’t the one. If they can’t be a part of your community, how can you happily exist together in the long run? Ask yourself these questions: Does this person have a good reputation? Do they care about people? What were they like in their past relationships? You should date someone with proven character. Don’t be afraid to get to know them through other people, and don’t be afraid to seek approval from the people who love you most. So, to conclude, I hope you all enjoyed the first post of this two-part series. Take the time to absorb, meditate, and give the heart what the spirit needs until I share part two. Truthfully, Olivia ![]() A couple of weeks ago my mother and I had lunch with one of my mentors/close friend of ours; our discussions usually start and end with great reflections, fresh perspectives, and a wealth of spiritual insight (along with many laughs and the occasional diva fan). This particular luncheon really stuck with me as she offered a perspective I had never really considered before: What if we brought God into everything that we do? She described the scene as such: What if, everywhere we went, we pulled up a seat (imaginary or real) and offered it to Him. What if we took him on long car rides with us? On our dinner dates and rendezvous? Or in the classroom while you learn about Newton’s Law of Inertia or took a test on the secular State in France? The possibilities of such an intentional placement of God really got my mind thinking. After meditating on this and trying this experience out for myself, I am eager to talk to you all about why we should offer God a seat at the table. Sometimes during our spiritual journeys, we can make the mistake of engaging with God from an afflicted and intimidated perspective. In our efforts to impress and prove to God that we are “good” and “worthy”, we develop this false image of God which is mad critical and unrealistically hard to please. Have you ever felt like, no matter what you did, you couldn’t make God happy? I’ve been there at one point, and it was at a time when I was trying to receive all of Him without realizing that I was not allowing Him to receive all of me. The scary yet beautiful truth of the matter that I had to realize is this: There is nothing that we can do to prove to God that we are perfect and worthy. We are the furthest thing from perfection and will always be. The perfectionist in me screams and shakes every time I profess and acknowledge this truth. The more I strived for perfectionism in my walk with Christ, the more I seemed to fail and feel defeated. It wasn’t until I realized this truth that I felt strong progress in my relationship with Him: No matter what I do, God has an unconditional love for me that will never die. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 Hard emphasis on “through him who loved us”. It is not about how much we do, how good we try to be, or how many verses we try to memorize. It is “through him who loved us” that we have the ability to be more than conquerors and be forever in the tender arms of our Father. God loved us before we even had to chance to think about loving him. HE AINT EVER GONNA STOP LOVING US. He wants to be our foundation, our ride or die, our greatest friend (with absolutely no catches) … so, why wouldn’t we offer Him a seat at the table? Instead of viewing God as this unreachable force that is intimidating, scary and impossible to please, we should view Him as a force that is so loving that He allowed His son to perish for the sake of our lives. A force that is so wise that He created the ocean that seamlessly stretches across the horizon, and the One already knows our thoughts before we even think them. Once I realized that God was the homie, I came to Him without shame and felt as though I could talk to Him with no reservations. I talked to Him about my weaknesses, my fears, and not-so-proud-of desires. I could literally talk to God about evangelism one moment and then talk about sex the next and not even blink an eye. I LOVE giving Him unrestrained and intentional access into my thoughts because that is when I really discover how to move according to His will and experience peace while doing so. And it’s not a condemning experience either. Bringing God along with you every day does not mean in the slightest bit that you are bringing condemnation and judgement along with you. Through our union with Christ Jesus, condemnation has been completely ruled out, and as believers we have to stop thinking God is just watching and waiting to strike us down. He doesn’t engage with us in that manner. God’s love is captivating, comforting, and true. Imagine having the most loving, honest and all-knowing presence sitting next to you when you take an important test. Or when you are thinking about cussing the guy who just cut you off on the highway. Or when you are trying to decide if the person that you are pursuing a relationship with is meant for you. Giving God a seat at the table opens up a world of possibilities and opportunities for God to shower us with His love and wisdom. He sometimes will give it to you straight no chaser (have your flesh feeling like: But it’ll be the best love and insight you will ever receive and experience.
There are times in life where we have to make some really hard decisions and there are storms that often feel impossible to escape from. Instead of making the wrong choices or drowning in our circumstances, let’s invite God to take the seat beside us so that He can guide us to peace, joy, and victory. It’s so dope to hang out with God. His company transforms decisions, actions, and fates in such a magnificent and inexpressible way. If you feeling lost + overwhelmed + shameful + even happy, invite Him into your space and experience the moment with Him. See how it feels. Try it for a day or an hour or even a few minutes. Know that He isn’t scary, condemning, or unreachable and don’t push Him away because your mind is telling you to handle life on your own. He is your friend. Your confidant. Your right hand. He deserves a seat at the table. ![]() For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV) I could talk about God all day long, but there is nothing like reading His word. Shamefully, when I was in high school, I barely picked up my bible unless my mother instructed me to. For someone who is an avid book reader, it was rather nonsensical of me to leave the bible, untouched, right beside my bed each night while it soon collected dust. I found myself trying to read it, but then either going to Instagram or going to sleep. I had always had the bible app, but only really glanced at it occasionally for the verse of the day. Either the bible stories I read didn’t make much sense to me, or I didn’t know where to start. Any of this sound relatable? Well, if it does, then it’s okay. It’s dope that you’re reading this, because that probably means you’re interested in making a change in your bible habit. Like I explained, I’ve been there and, honestly, the bible can be kind of (or very) intimidating. I mean, c’mon, there are almost 1,200 chapters in the whole thing. As followers of Christ, we are told to read the word and know the word... to be honest, Religion makes reading the bible seem way more like a procedure than an experience. However, what I had to realize that the bible is not something that you should just read through in a few sittings. It is not an task or an assignment. It is something that you must treat as water for the soil of your life. It is something that you must use as a guide. A tool. A weapon. It is something that you must crave and have a hunger for because it is the one thing that will never die and can never be defeated. It’s alive and powerful, and it is meant to facilitate a spiritual transformation within you. It’s top 5 (right next to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). It is important for me to share this with you on my blog because I would not be adequately able to share my truths without it. I’ve learned to make reading the bible spiritual food for my soul, rather than procedural knowledge for my head. The bible tells no lies. Whether you think the stories are metaphorical or actual occurrences, God just wants you to take the time to interpret it and realize that He DID DAT. Have you finishing a bible story like this: So, today I want to share a few tips on how to kickstart your daily bible habit. Strong emphasis on these just being “tips”, as I ask God to lead your hearts in a way that is most meaningful and enlightening for you each day. But, here are just a few things that have made reading the bible an erryday thing for me, and will hopefully help you experience His word more habitually, too. 1) Make a confession If you feel moved to increase your hunger for God’s word, the first thing you should do is make a confession to Him. Tell Him how you feel. Ask Him to acquire your taste for Him. The most important part of this journey is maintaining and cultivating your relationship with God. In return, He will do just what you asked for and the rest will follow: His word will make more sense, He will guide your heart to read what you need to read, and He will make this bible experience worth your while. 2) Do it out of love Always make love your motive when you are approaching The Word of God. “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 If you want get an authentic and life-changing experience of out reading the bible, shift your intentions from knowing The Word to knowing the Lord. Read the bible sheerly because you love Him and want to get to know Him better. Use His word to learn how to love others, yourself, and God more deeply. When you make reading the bible a religious ritual, you will get less fulfillment and traction out of it. If you approach the bible out of reverence and love for God, you will experience the greatest level of admiration and fullness as you read through His word. Love conquers all things. It will fuel your daily bible habit and it will transform your heart, mind, and soul as you engage in the digestion of God’s word. 3) Download/Explore the Bible app! There’s nothing like the good ole’ paperback, but with the growing use of technology, it’s totally fine to read the bible on your phone. If you have the Bible app already, then ayeee you on to something! But, there are some pretty dope features on the app that a lot of people may not know about. Start your bible streak! Now, the application keeps up with your “reading streak”, kind of like the streaks you have on Snapchat. It gets me hype when I see how many days I’ve been reading the bible, and I find the Bible being one of the first things I look at in the morning so that I don’t break my streak. If you’re an accountability or goal-setter, the use the streak feature to encourage you to read The Word more. Also, if you don’t know where to start reading, start by reading a plan! Personally, the plans were one of the main things that got me reading the Word everyday. You can find plans about pretty much everything like love + worry + grace + money + dating + sex. The bible plans usually include short devotionals and then follow with associated bible verses. So, find a plan that interests you or relates to your life at the time (I’ll also include some of my favorite bible plans at the end of this post). Not only do you get to read the word, but it is also broken down in a plan so that it makes sense and is relatable to you! With the streak feature and bible plans, you are able to set small goals for yourself. Tiny goals are important on this journey. Be proud of whatever amount of time dedicated to reading God’s word, He will appreciate every last bit of it and will love you all the more because of your willingness and humility. 5) Set aside a quiet place and time It’s really awesome to have the time to read the bible throughout the day, but it’s a even more beneficial to set aside some time to really give some undivided attention to His word. For those of you who know me, y’all know that I am not particularly social in the morning. Yeah, let’s put it like that :-) However, many of you may not know the exact reason why I am not a morning person. I don’t talk much when I wake up because the morning is my time to meditate and pray. So, now the morning is my time to meditate, pray, and read my bible. I like starting my mornings off with the Word, because it feels as though it has a strong impact on the course of my day. I am filled early, and it tends to spill into my actions and interactions with people. Whether it’s in the morning or at night, or for 15 minutes or for an hour… set aside some time where you can quiet your mind and focus on the Word. Establish just a moment of time to be present. Be thankful in this period of time. Be vulnerable and temporarily removed from the world that promotes self-defense and survival. Learn to depend on a full, daily dosage of God’s word. 5) Journal If you don’t want to forget what you read or if you are having a hard time grasping an idea, write it down! I like to write the things that I read in my own words so that I increase my understanding. Sometimes putting ideas to paper helps them to become more tactile and rememberable. It’s just like note-taking: if you’re professor says to the class “this is going to be on the test”, don’t you think you are going to want to write it down? God gives a WHOLE lot of test answers in the bible, just in case you didn’t know. If you come back and study something later, that’s when an idea truly becomes tacky on your heart and your mind. Also, another cool thing about the bible app is that you can make notes, bookmarks, and even images off of scriptures. It’s also good to write things down that you don’t necessarily understand, because a different time and mindset may grant an alternative understanding. Maybe God wants you to experience something before you understand what you have read. 6) Pray after you read Some things in the bible may leave you confused + convicted + joyful, but, no matter what you feel, you should pray about it. Like I said, the bible is not just a book that you read through and you’re done. It has a vast amount of dynamic functions, and one of them is being a prayer book. Prayer should be used for exceedingly more than just asking God to do this and to do that. Talk to God about His word. You should express your thankfulness if you feel particularly moved by a passage. Equally, you should express your doubts and confusion + pray for clarity when needed. This is EXACTLY how God wants you to muse over His word. I have discovered that when I pray through His Word, my prayers become indescribably more powerful and stimulated. I feel God’s presence and I hear His voice more clearly. I understand the bible more genuinely when I pray over what I read, and it makes me want to read His word even more. God is overwhelmingly flattered when you talk to Him or ask Him questions about His word. He’ll start doing things to your heart and mind that you never seen done before. 7) Share after you read! Don’t just keep in His word, let it spill out of your mouth and share what you’ve learned with others! Don’t be afraid, you don’t have to be a preacher in order to advance the Good News. There is sooo much power in your words, and it’s quite electric when one discusses His word with others. Remember that God never intended for you to keep His words to yourself. When you make time to read the bible, pray, and discuss His words with the people that you trust...that’s when we reach the truth, and the truth will set you free beyond measure. God calls each and every one of us to share His word so that His truth can propel to every end of the earth. Share what has encouraged you so that it may be an encouragement for others. Talk through passages with one another, and you might be able to gain a deeper, more engaged understanding from these conversations. Also, did I mention that you can also request to have friends on the Bible app? But, wait, there’s more: you can also complete plans with your friends! Doing a plan with a friend or family gives you the opportunity to discuss devotionals and scriptures with each other, fostering not only a deeper understanding of the Word, but also a deeper connection with those that you love. I do plans all the time with my friends and family. My mother and I complete a plan with each other every week, and now we talk about God with each other everyday! It’s truly beautiful, and will bring you closer to people as you draw closer towards God. So, to sum all of my words up: Read, pray, keep, and repeat. I pray for you all as you embark on your personal journey through His Word. Keep truth-seeking and keep loving. Truthfully, Olivia M Y F A V O R I T E D E V O T I O N A LS 1. The Way Back - Get Your Christian Life Back On Track (One of the first devotionals that got me back in track with my Bible habits and walk with Christ!) 2. Armor Of God 3. 10 Things To Abandon For Spiritual Growth 4. The End Of Me 5. Free Of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not All About You 6. 7 Laws Of Love 7. Knowing God’s Heart ![]() Today I want to share with you all my testimony. A testimony that led me to a series of truths, epiphanies, and blessings that changed my life and my peace forever. This is how I discovered the difference between losing someone and God removing someone for a reason. For a very long time, I believed that loss was a constant theme in my life. Whether it was with a loved one, a friendship, or relationship, I felt that I always lost the people that I cared about the most and this theme, unfortunately, felt like a truth for me. Most of us know what it feels like to lose a loved one once they die. However, I found myself mourning others who still walked on this earth. That, my friend, is a whole different level of pain. So, what did this pain do to me? It left me angry. Intolerant. Disconnected. Over time, these feelings festered and grew and (although I didn’t realize it truly until now) my heart had hardened. However, the very last time this occurred—when a person that I cared about was with me one day but then completely gone the next—there was a shift. I was alone in my room, listening to “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind” by Lauryn Hill, and I was meditating. I had been meditating all morning, but for some reason I still did not feel a sense of peace. There was a disconnect. A disconnect from God. When I meditate, I talk to God, but over the past few weeks I couldn’t hear Him. I know now that my mind was too clouded with the worries, pain, and distress from my heart that I couldn’t even feel connected to Him like I normally would (now, I wonder actually how long I was stuck in this period of disconnect). My mind was too ill + unhealthy + malnourished to hear from God while meditating…so what did I do? I began to write. I wrote to God, asking Him to give me peace, give me answers, and give me joy. I wrote feverously for the first time in a long time, letting my thoughts and prayers spill out onto the pages of my journal. I don’t remember how long I was writing for, but as I stopped to read the last sentence I wrote, I froze at what I saw. The first thought that came to my mind was, I didn’t write this. No matter how crazy this sounds, I did not write the last sentence in my journal. I may have written it down, but my mind did not conjure up those words. The last sentence read this: “Olivia, you did not lose this person, but I took them out of your life for a reason.” This sentence, which I believe was written by God, is the beginning of my testimony: You don’t lose people, sometimes God just removes them from your life. This lesson transformed the way I think, act, and grow. Now, I want to share with you all how I experienced this breakthrough and moved on from something that wasn’t meant for me. 1) Release In order to truly trust that God removes people out of your life for a reason, you must release them first. TD Jakes said this once before but y’all didn’t want to hear him. If someone can just walk out of your life, LET THEM GO. If a person loves you and cares about you, it is difficult (and sometimes impossible) for them to leave. I am incredibly sorry for being so blunt, but God didn’t create love for it to forsake you. If you release a person and they are meant to stay in your life, then they will stay. If you release a person and weren’t meant to stay any longer, then they will leave. This does not mean that the person did not love you, but it means that they can no longer be a part of the season in your life anymore. And that is okay. God wants you to release these individuals because He is doing a new thing in your life. Trust the process. Trust that God has a reason for whatever situation you are facing, and He will handle it. However, know that the purpose God has for you may include removing people along the way. I had a hard time releasing individuals from my life, and it was causing me a lot of stress, pain, and anxiety. When I finally decided to release, I was ten steps closer to peace and trusting that God was working and building upon my victory. So, let go and let God. 2) Spend Time with God All that God wants is for you to be completely and irrevocably in love with Him. I have to admit, for a long time I had lost sight of that. I was too busy giving all of my love to the people on this Earth (including the ones removed) that I was neglecting my love for God. So, in the weeks before I wrote in my journal that morning, I spent every moment I could with Him. I went to bible study with my girlfriends twice a week, I talked to God at every moment I could get throughout the day, and I even went on a cleanse from secular music. During that time, God was speaking to me left and right and even at times when I didn’t realize it. Each of the bible study lessons sounded like they were made for me!!! The gospel songs I was listening to brought me to my knees and hit me with waves of praise. Like I said before, God literally led my pen across a sheet of paper and wrote me a message. Wonderful things occur when you spend time with God. Your situations will start to make more sense and you’ll begin to understand the ways He speaks to you. Once you give all your love to God, everything (on HIS time) will begin to fall into place and you’ll look at your situation a lot differently. 3) Obedience God wanted me to release a person, so I let them go. God wanted me to spend time with Him and in His word, so I gave all of my love to Him. God gave me a message, and this time I listened and understood. Ultimately, God wanted me to trust Him, and when I obeyed, I can’t even begin to describe to you the glory in what happened next. I experienced a peace that I had never felt before. The peace of God. He revealed to me my passions, provided me with multiple career opportunities, and (even though I spend more time in fellowship with God than studying), I finished the last semester with all A’s. However, the most poignant part of this journey was that God rebuilt me. He gave me life. If God had not removed certain people from my life, I would not be able to experience the blessings He has bestowed upon me. And My heart has not worried and my life has not skipped a beat since that last person was removed from my life. It is so incredibly easy to allow your mind, body, and spirit be controlled by the things on this planet. It is even easier for us to become victim to our sick hearts and to live in a constant cycle of pain, stagnation, and disappointment. However, there is one thing (and one thing only) that cannot be changed, controlled, or marginalized: God’s undeniable love and plan for you. You may try to make sense of your life through what you feel in your heart, but the only truth that is truly viable lays in the hands of God. I realized who I was, a daughter of Christ, and the game changed. God’s truth set me free, and I hope my testimony can set you free from whatever you are holding onto in your life, as well. ![]() As we conclude this self-love series, I hope this process was just as transformative for you all as it was for me. As much as I wanted to write about more than ten things to do to re-affirm self-love, something told me that this was enough for now. One thing I know about love is that it is unique; you can practice it a million ways and still find a billion more. I think that’s why I enjoyed developing this series so much. Self-love is boundless, and that is just so dope. The version of me that wrote part one is a different version that has written part two. I have a different energy. I spend my time differently; I even talk to myself differently. I have watered myself with my own love, and so many new buds have grown within me. So, to whoever is reading this, I hope you have transformed. Even if your transformation was not guided by any of my words, I hope you have found a way to water yourself with a little more of your love than usual. 6) Surround yourself with loving and supporting people I have been following a woman named Kenya Raymer on Instagram for years, and I very much like to think of her as my best friend (in my head). She has offered me so much perspective on living in my truth, loving my journey, and loving myself. Nevertheless, she always emphasizes one concept about life that has drastically shaped the way I live today. Build your tribe. Sometimes we don’t notice the impact of who we surround ourselves with; even more often, we don’t realize that the company we keep influences who we are and how we live our lives. I’ve learned that I am happiest when I surround myself with people who are loving + supportive + kind + and have my best interest at heart. You really can’t let any and every one in your space. People may have good intentions at heart, but they may not have good intentions for you. I like to think about it this way: if they aren’t bringing you closer to God, why are they in your life? When I surround myself with people who foster love, I find that I am a lot happier with myself. I experience less drama, negativity, and heartache (and yes, your friends can break your heart, too). It is often hard to decipher who is in your life for a good time or who is in your life for a long time, but all you have to do is ask God to reveal who is for you and who isn’t. Trust me, the people who aren’t making you a better person, God isn’t going to let those people stay for long. So, build your tribe. Determine who you want to do this thing called “life” with. Surround yourself with people who have your best interest at heart, and get rid of the ones who don’t. This is self-love. 7) Develop new habits One of my good friends (and also one of the people in my tribe) recently offered me a new perspective about life. I was telling him how I felt stuck. I didn’t feel like I was developing or growing how I felt that I should, and it was starting to make me feel defeated. Defeat is a sneaky lil’ devil. It can quickly eat at the love that you have for yourself, and put you in a space. Yes, that space. When I went to my friend for advice, he simply said this: Develop new habits. I really hope that statement offers you the same epiphany that it gave me. We often get caught up doing the same things over and over and over, and we end up achieving little to no results. We must realize that, in order to grow, you have to do things differently. It is okay if the things you once did aren’t working anymore. Try something else. Get out of the rhythm of living in a rhythm. Breaking old, faulty habits is a form of self-love. If you have recently experienced loss + defeat + any sort of hurdle, pick yourself up and try something else. There are a million and one routes to happiness + growth + self-love. I can’t tell you what will work for you, as I can barely tell you what will work for me. But that’s the beauty of doing this thing called “life”. You have the power to determine how you live it. 8) Forgive yourself We all have made mistakes. Some larger than others. Some that have shaken our world and have pushed us one or two steps back. I have made some mistakes that felt as if they changed the course of my life, and I find myself constantly thinking about what I should’ve done. Living in the past can be irrevocably nauseating, and it is one of the hardest things to stop doing. It is easier to swim in pity than to pick yourself up and rebuild your happiness. What I’ve discovered is that living in the past reveals a lifestyle that fosters a lack of forgiveness…for yourself. All of the should’ve, could’ve, would’ves that fill our minds can grow into a chain of self-blame that prevent you from experiencing release. Forgiving yourself is easier said than done. But it is easier to accomplish once you realize one thing: God sacrificed His one and only son in order for you to let go of your past mistakes and transgressions. Once you accept that God, the most perfect entity that exists, can forgive you…it will be easier to forgive yourself. It’ll be easier to forgive yourself, forgive other people, and forgive your past. You will stop thinking about what you should’ve, could’ve, or would’ve done and you’ll start thinking about what you will do to grow. Often, it can seem like a debilitating process to forgive yourself, especially when you get reminded of your mistakes, but none of that will matter if the love of God remains in your heart. Starting today, release the lack of forgiveness from your life. Stop punishing yourself, stop punishing others, and stop punishing your FUTURE. Find solace in the love of God and release it. 9) Speak up for yourself Hey introverts! This is for us! I used to be so withdrawn to the point where I wouldn’t stand up for myself when I felt that I was being mistreated. I engaged only a few, stood up for myself to only a few, and enjoyed the presence of only a few. However, I believe that there is a healthy introvert and an unhealthy introvert. I was an unhealthy introvert for a period of time. I spent too much time alone, and not enough time interacting with people and establishing what I do and don’t like to do. I forgot that adequate, proper human interaction helps with how much you love yourself. Eventually, I realized that I must interact with the world in a healthier way. Today, I urge you all to learn how to say no, tell people what you like and don’t like, and cancel out whatever you feel like is getting in the way of your happiness. This doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you a smart person. It is still okay to be an introvert. BUT BUT BUT, you can be an introvert without letting the world step all over you. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you must always speak up for yourself—and speak with your chest when you do it. Sometimes you can be too nice and forget that it is okay to say no. Hold yourself up with high regard, and don’t let the world treat you any kind of way. 10) Live in the now I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks the days are getting away from me. Some days it feels like I’m running out of time… and, to some extent, we are. The next day, minute, or even the next second is not promised to us. We spend so much of our precious time laboring, stressing, worrying, and hating rather than treating each moment like it is our last. If you were to leave the Earth today, would you be satisfied with how you spent your last moments? Would you be content with the memories that you left behind? A big part of self-love is making the best of the time that you have. There have been days when I have been so consumed with stress to the point that I feel like I was just trying to make it to the end of the day. The reason why we struggle to make it through each day and why we feel like we are losing time is because we worry more about the past and worry less about the time we have left. It is easier said than done, but life is too short to be stressed or sad or mad. These emotions seem valid at the time, but when you start acknowledging that your life is a gift from God, none of those worldly feelings will claim your time anymore. Do something you love to do every day. Make time for laughter and make time for love. Stop living in the past, stop living in the future, and stop living in your feelings. Start living in the now, right now. ![]() If someone asked you to name all the things that you love, how long would it take for you to name yourself? It’s okay if it took you some time. If you weren’t the first or second or even the third thing you named, this does not mean that you don’t love yourself, only that you haven’t been loving yourself enough. Self-neglect happens more often and more craftily than we think. It’s often hard to recognize it until we reach that place. Yeah, you all know what place that I’m talking about. Sometimes, you don’t even have to reach this place. There have been times when I felt like I couldn’t even hear my own voice amongst my thoughts, because I let stress consume my mind and steal my center for happiness. My point is, whatever space that you are in at this very moment, it is never too early or late for self-improvement. Every aspect of your happiness can be improved by practicing self-love. Today, I would like to impart on you all what I have done to make sure I do not neglect myself, whether I am at my prime or at my lowest of low. This blog post will be shared in two parts as there are so many great, introspective things that I believe you can do to love yourself more. My first five pieces of advice will help you explore your mind, body, and spirit so that you can be the best version of yourself at any point in your life. 1) Learn how to love being alone Alone time. Just me, myself, and I. Human interaction is important, but we often forget to make time for solitude. Sometimes we even avoid it. Why do we avoid it? Because no one wants to be lonely. Ahhh there it is. We yearn love from each other so much that we tend to forget to yearn love for ourselves. Now, I am a person who loves me some alone time. Ask anyone. However, from the day I moved back onto campus, I felt that I hadn’t gotten more than a moment to myself and I felt myself slowly losing control. I had been on super-extrovert mode, but, more recently, God put me in a situation that forced me to spend time away from people. For the first time in my life, alone time honestly scared me to death. Why did it scare me? Not so much because I didn’t want to be lonely, but more so because I had gotten too comfortable. I didn’t want to deal with the thoughts and worries that I had been unconsciously pushing away. But what alone time makes you realize is that such isolation brings healing. God knew it would make me uncomfortable and weary, but I can feel my mind, soul, and spirit healing with every moment I spend alone or spend talking to Him. My friends, it is time to get rid of our fear of loneliness and solitude. Start making time for you and only you, and make it a habit. Turn your phone off, light a candle, and do whatever you need to do to escape from the world. We give too much of ourselves to the universe and the people within it, and we began to mistreat ourselves. Reclaim YOUR SPACE. Be selfish with your time. Fall in love with this form of healing. When you learn to love being alone, you become more aware. You start asking yourself hard questions and you began to treat yourself better. Alone time brings clarity, peace, and energy, and it is the first thing you should do to re-establish self-love. 2) Be your #1 fan Hey, you. Yeah, shorty with the gold hoops. You are pretty dope. Yes, I was looking in the mirror and talking to myself when I said that. Listen, ain’t nobody gonna love you like you love “you”. Did you know that no one has ever abused you more than you have abused yourself? Not only that, you won’t even let anyone abuse you more than you abuse yourself, but you’ll still tolerate a level of abuse that you have ironically drawn out for the world. Think about it. My point is the more you love yourself, the less internal and external abuse you will experience. You must accept yourself for who you are and acknowledge that self-love. Smile and wink at yourself in the mirror. Congratulate yourself for all that you have accomplished. Be mindful of how hard you are on yourself. We are our biggest critics. So, instead turn into your biggest fan.
3) Write a love letter…to you. Receiving a love letter is probably one of the top ten best feelings of all time. It’s so personable and thoughtful, and it’s probably the most intimate way to a capture person’s heart. Who said we couldn’t be romantic with ourselves? So, try to write yourself a love letter! Write down what makes you feel loved and tell yourself what you want to hear. The beauty of a love letter is that you can read it over and over again and relive all of those positive emotions. So, give yourself butterflies. Write yourself a love letter that would put the whole movie The Notebook to shame. 4) Love Yourself More than Anyone else. Have you ever been so in love with a person that you forget that anything else exists? This may sound romantic and even sound like “goals”, but, in actuality, it is the worst type of relationship that you want to have. If you forget that everything exists or matters, eventually everything will include YOURSELF, and that is when there is trouble in paradise. My friends, don’t give all your love to a person (or people) and then disregard leaving love for yourself. Not only are you not sending enough love to yourself, but you are also not sending enough love to the Big Man upstairs—and He actually deserves all the love that you have to offer (He’ll return it tenfold, unlike the worldly beings you are possibly neglecting yourself for). No person deserves to have all of your love, and they will unconsciously abuse it if you give it to them. Redirect your love to yourself and God, and watch how people respond. I bet you they will begin to love you in the way you deserve to be loved. When you stop exhausting your love and start saving it for yourself and God, you will see a drastic change in your relationships and interactions with people. You won’t have leaches disguised as people in your life. You won’t fall to pieces when a person doesn’t love you as much as you love them. You will interact with the world in a healthier way, and this will help prevent you from possibly losing sight of yourself while in a relationship. 5) Drink more water (with lemon) It is scientifically proven that water gives us life. Up to 60% of our bodies are made up of water, aka we need to give our bodies what they need to survive. Physical health is just as important as mental health when it comes to self-love. When I try to drink two liters of water a day, my skin glows, my mind can think more clearly, and I honestly just feel good. Also, you will notice that the more water you drink, the less toxicity your body craves. Eventually, you aren’t going to want to drink as much soda or eat that whole can of Pringles. I’m not a nutritionist or a doctor, and I am sure none of this is new information to most of you. However, it is a routine that we often forget or possibly put on the back burner. I simply want to remind you to make this choice a lifestyle, and start working on your self-love from the inside out. Oh, and throw a lemon in there, too, if you’re feeling a lil fancy (or if you want to alkaline your body, that’s pretty worth it too) :-) ![]() One of the most important books that I have ever picked up is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. In this book, Ruiz explains the knowledge of the Toltec and provides four principles to practice in order to establish love and happiness in your life. The teaching of the Toltec is not a religion, but while reading this book I understood it as a unified teaching across all spiritual platforms. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for everyone to read, and today I want to share with you all one of the four agreements that has drastically transformed my life. Although all the agreements are equally necessary and important, this one is a great place to start, particularly if you are looking for almost immediate results in reestablishing happiness (and when I say immediate, I really mean it). An agreement that every individual should decide to make in their life today is…. Don’t make assumptions. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, it actually isn’t. At all. The first problem with making assumptions is that, majority of the time, we don’t realize that we are doing it. We are wired so tightly to understand the world in whatever way we personally want to understand it. We hear what we want, see what we want, and believe what we want. However, our problem is that we believe that our assumptions are the truth. We don’t take the time to ask questions or gain clarity because, honestly, we don’t want to. It is a lot easier to believe your adapted form of the truth rather than to consider that there are other truths out there. So, instead of asking for clarity, we see a situation only through our eyes, we make an assumption, and we act on it. What happens after that? We take it personally. This is when things become scary and communication turns into arguments, anger, anxiety, and sadness. Every disagreement, failed relationship/friendship, and drama in your life has been caused by the act of making assumptions and taking it personally. If you are reading this, I am begging you to ingest this reality so that it can save you a lot of sadness and misfortune in the future. I, personally, had to sit down and examine how I think to realize that I was making assumptions 98% of the time. What stood out most for me in Ruiz’s novel was when he said: “Often we make the assumption that our partners know what we think and that we don’t have to say what we want.” (Excerpt From: Don Miguel Ruiz & Janet Mills. “The Four Agreements.” iBooks.) When I read this, I was like “YASSSS, READ ME SIR.” Often times in my relationships, I take my significant other’s actions personally and say, “They should have known.” Yes, I previously required full mind-reading capabilities and an impeccable emotional radar. Once I realized how toxic these assumptions were, I found myself asking questions like “How are you feeling?” or “What caused that to happen?” or even “Can I tell you how I am feeling?”. As soon as I started asking these questions, I almost immediately let go of what I believed was right and started considering what else could be correct. Once you step out of the mindset that things aren’t always how you see them, the energy that you are releasing does a 180 turn. You are happier, and the people in your space are happier, as well. So, please, STOP MAKING ASSUMPTIONS AND STOP TAKING THINGS PERSONALLY. The first step that you must make is realizing the problem and becoming aware of your toxic habits. You cannot assume that just because a person loves you that they should know what you require mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you continue to believe what you want, you will continue to assume you’re right, to the point where defending your opinion destroys all important friendships and relationships. Stop making assumptions and taking things personally and, I promise, your way of communicating will change completely. Your life will be transformed.
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Olivia McPhaulWriter. Christ enthusiast. Zealot of love. Offering my truth and sharing my imperfect journey in womanhood. Archives
May 2019
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