My heart broke when I recently heard my friend say she was staying in a toxic and unhappy relationship because she was “so financially tied to him” she “didn’t have a choice.” I was saddened because she felt she had already weighed the pros and cons and wanted to get out, but she felt she had no choice. She was making a conscious choice to be a victim and to not believe in herself that if she left she would be able to support and provide for herself financially. Can you see the self-imposed bondage she is living in?
This article is not to debate the religious world-views of whether or not divorce is considered a sin and is right or wrong. Personally I believe that God wants all of us to experience joy and freedom and love, and if we need to remove ourselves of oppressive situations, I feel that is the liberating and self-loving choice we should make.
The question I’m posing is are you willing to look at yourself through a new perspective to examine if you are in toxic environments that are not helpful physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually for you?
Unfortunately many of us are surrounded by multiple toxic influences on a daily basis, both intentionally and not.
What is the harm of staying around toxic influences?
Whether we choose to admit it or not, these negative energies eat away at the freedom and joy of our Spirit little by little each day. They infiltrate our mind into believing lies about our true value, our self-worth, our abilities and our attainment and worthiness of love and freedom.
They tell us we’re not good enough, not smart enough, not strong enough, not capable enough, not worthy enough, not loveable enough. They stifle our true gifts, passions, callings and talents to a place that doesn’t even recognize them or even believe they exist any more.
They erode and kill your joy.
May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
How can you know if something or someone is toxic for you?
Examine your feelings – Do you feel a sense of happiness, comfort, love, safety and joy in that situation or around that person? Or do you feel fearful, uneasy, tense, depressed or a whole host of other negative emotions?
>> Our emotions are the best indicator of how our soul feels.
Your soul is alive inside of you and holds the keys to your true purpose, passion and value of who you are and were fully created to be.
After awhile of shunning our soul’s callings and stuffing them down because we don’t think (or we’ve been told) they’re not of value or worth, we begin to get numb to their call. But our emotions give us clues.
How to tap into who you really are. Into what brings you joy and fulfillment.
- I encourage you to make a list of what your soul is calling you to do, be or experience. What are the deeper callings, pursuits, passions, interests, gifts and talents that are unique to you. Not what you think are acceptable or socially appropriate choices. Take any limitations off as you do this activity. See what comes out from the inside. This is your Soul List.
- Next look over this list and write as many things or people that you’re involved with that meet the criteria of exploring, supporting or furthering these things.
- Now write a list of things or people you’re involved with that lead you away from pursuing, living or experiencing items on your Soul List.
Next comes the hard part.
The awareness has now been created. So what are you going to do about it?
It’s once our eyes are opened that we need to make a change, we now have to grapple with what that means. Do we need to exit a relationship? Do we need to change jobs? Do we need to stop participating in a certain social scene or group? Do we need to add or create ways to pursue our dreams? Do we need to take further action to support our health and vitality? If so, what, when, how, where?
Write down the action items that come to mind and start putting them into place as soon as possible!
But I’ll warn you, this is where fear sets in with it’s goal of keeping you in bondage. But don’t give into it. There is FREEDOM on the other side!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
Do you realize that once your eyes have been opened and you have allowed your Spirit to find it’s voice again, you then have the choice of freedom or continued slavery and bondage.
Your soul craves freedom and was designed to help you live a beautiful and exciting joy-filled life because it’s expressing who you really are! Do not let the lies, oppression or influence of others dictate who God made you to be.
I pray today that you will step forward in faith, moving in the direction of freedom, even one step at a time, to liberate your soul and let your light shine.
Do not believe the lies that you cannot support yourself if you were to leave, that you do not have value to offer others, that you could not be helpful or of use to someone else, that you are not worthy or deserving of love by anyone else.
YOU have already been given the value, worth and love that the Creator of the Universe bestows upon you, simply because He has created you. Step into that beautiful light, past the fear, over the uncertainty, and towards the beauty, love and joy that God has waiting for you. I’m cheering you on.
~Dr. Melody
P.S. Although I’m not a psychologist, counselor or therapist, I believe in your ultimate good. I am a motivator, encourager and lover of all of God’s beauty and creation–and that includes you!
If you feel you’ve been in self-imposed bondage and you’re ready to end the struggle–ready to claim back your life of joy and beauty–I’ve opened up slots for 4, 6 and 8 weeks coaching packages so I can help be a guiding light to help you find your way. I believe in you and your unlimited potential.
Simply click here to claim an open slot for us to talk and explore how I can help and what options would be the best fit for you. You are loved.
#DrMelody #healthandhopemotivator #christcenteredcoaching #youreworthit
Have you ever heard that Albert Einstein quote, “Coincidences are God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
I personally don’t believe in coincidences; I truly feel that when they happen we are witnessing God’s hand at work and personal intervening in our lives.
And for me lately, they’ve been happening faster and faster and more frequently.
And it’s been pretty awesome!
I speak about this today and not specifically a “health” or “fitness” topic, because I wanted to share with you my experience and ask you if you’re opening your eyes to see God’s working all around and intimately in your daily life as well. And if you’re not, ask Him to open your eyes to see it. Because I promise you, it’s not because He’s absent!
I recently had an epiphany and some realizations about how I was viewing God in context to my childhood and cultural/societal experiences, and how they were actually false beliefs and not the true representation of God’s character that we learn about in the Bible.
They were pretty heavy, and freeing, realizations! But I wouldn’t have seen them had I not been willing to look inward.
Sometimes we need to take a step back and examine our upbringings and experiences in our past that may be erroneously shaping our view of God. And if you’re not careful, you could go your whole life without truly feeling and experiencing God and His work in your life, to the fullest that He desires you to.
And THAT would be a true tragedy.
>>Final Thought: My challenge to you today is to journal and be brave enough to ask yourself:
- Am I open to seeing and recognizing God’s personal presence in my daily life?
- Am I seeing ‘coincidences’ as God’s divine interaction in my life, or as completely unrelated?
- Am I willing to open my mind and my eyes to look anew at my daily circumstances, to acknowledge the hand of God moving in and through me and my life?
These are some pretty heavy questions to unpack, but their value and freedom they can bring to you is priceless. I hope you’ll take the time to let them change you, from the inside.#youreworthit
Sending you ALL my love,
Your sister in Christ,
~Dr. Melody
P.S. Can you see the power in these journaling questions? Are you feeling like you’re NOT seeing God moving in your life on a personal level? That you’re stuck in a rut in your physical or spiritual health and you don’t know how to climb out?
I’m opening 3 spots ONLY until the end of August for my 8 week, private 1:1 transformational personal coaching program. If you’re tired of feeling dissatisfied in your body or your faith-walk, knowing there’s more life has to offer, but not knowing how to get there–then this is for you.
Simply reply to this email (it goes directly to me, it doesn’t pass through my assistant or anyone else) or you can send me a private message on Facebook. We’ll put an immediate action plan in place for you, AND see if my 1:1 mentoring program would be a good fit. It’s time for you to breakthrough to your ultimate goals and embrace the wonders and beauty of life!
Life is TOO SHORT to not be living it to the fullest. And I can help you get unstuck–to feel amazing in your body, charging full-steam-ahead toward your goals, and deepening your relationship with Christ.
Comment below or PM me on Facebook and we’ll set up a time to chat. Only 3 spots open for the remainder of August. Let’s talk today.
I’m coming down from a beautiful heart-awakening women’s retreat this past weekend and letting the new truths and self-discovery settle in and NOT be forgotten.
It’s so easy to have “moments” of insight, but to quickly get back into the daily routine and let them get pushed aside, never fully taking hold for the long-term.
But one of the biggest shifts I had was the realization of how unmistakably interconnected our health and our faith are. God is active in both. Yet we sometimes think we’re in this “health thing” on our own. That God is more of a spectator when it comes to that, since it’s not necessarily directly “spiritual” in nature. But that’s false.
Let me encourage you today:
- YOU are worth the work and effort to discover your true self.
- YOU are worthy of living the best life has to offer.
- YOU are designed with God’s imprint on your heart and soul that is UNIQUE to you. Ask Him to show you how to bring it to life so the desires of your heart are not locked away or left unfulfilled.
- Take seriously the notion that we only have ONE life on this earth, and it truly can be lived with passion, fulfillment, love and expectation of miracles!
- God’s love for you will not run dry. He will never stop pursuing you to show you how much He desires to be in relationship with you and to fill the desires of your heart. After all, HE put them there! ♡
- God can be trusted. He will not fail you. God.is.love.
>> Final Thought: I encourage you today to look at your health journey and goals through a new set of eyes–through God’s eyes. That you are HIS creation. That your pursuits to better your health and improve the body He’s given you are Noble and Worthy causes.
And that God is not dis-connected to your pursuits, He’s cheering you on!
Wanting you to reach your finish line because He knows that will allow you to further your calling and be His hands and feet in the world even more!
Your sister in Christ,
~Dr. Melody
P.S. I’ve been pondering for a while about how to best bring together the HEART and HEALTH transformations that so many of us are seeking. To live a life of PURPOSE, and to feel amazing in our own skin.
To do the inner AND outer work to produce satisfaction, transformation and fulfillment on a SOUL level.
The details are forming….becoming more clear. Keep an eye out. God is showing me an awesome path to help us do just this.
P.P.S. Reply to this email or send me a PM on Facebook if you want to be one of the first to know when it’s ready to be revealed. The interest list is forming. Get ready to unleash the Beautiful You that’s already on the inside. 😉
