Happy Wellness Wednesday, Garden Fam 🌸
I hope you are having a wonderful week! It’s Stress Awareness Month and we know that chronic stress is a huge enemy to our health, so we are starting a new series today. This month, I will be sharing ways to avoid and alleviate stress in various areas and seasons of our lives. Check out this week’s video to learn what the Bible says about managing stress and grab some additional practical tips for managing stress below!
Have a healthy & wholesome week!
Love you bunches 🍇
Focus Scriptures
1 Peter 5:5b
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Practical Tips for Avoiding & Alleviating Stress
Maintain your health staples!
Eat well
Consume a well-balanced diet
Sleep well
Quantity: Get enough sleep
Quality: Set yourself up to get the best possible sleep each night
Get active
Make an effort to exercise regularly
Do your best to get the nutrients (vitamins and minerals) your body needs
Check out our vitamins & minerals series for more information
This is a part of consuming a well-balanced diet, which can support mental health and stress management
Minimize and set boundaries for…
Your screen time
Increased phone and screen use is associated with higher levels of stress
Your ‘Yes’
Be selective with what you say ‘yes’ to.
Ensure that you are able to realistically take on the request before agreeing to do so
Allow God to lead and guide you as far as when to say ‘yes’ and when to kindly decline
Be okay with saying ‘no’ when you are not able to help, don’t desire to participate, or have been instructed by God to do so
Implement self care practices
Make a habit of doing things that you enjoy and that help you to relax and decompress, such as…
Taking baths
Going for walks
Stretching
Dancing (my personal favorite 😊)
Reading
Participating in your favorite hobby
Reduce or eliminate caffeine
Drinking more than your personal limit of caffeine can cause symptoms of anxiety
Make time for community
Spend time with family and friends who can support you in stressful situations and/or offer time away from the concerns of life
There are many more suggestions that may help you to manage your stress, but these are great starting points that can be implemented with any schedule, lifestyle, or situation. It’s up to you to decide how to do so!
Can I be honest with y’all for a minute?!
As someone who was once accustomed to setting goals, relentlessly going after them, accomplishing them, and then repeating the cycle, transitioning to this new season of submission to God’s plan for me has been a BEAUTIFUL, yet challenging process in many ways.
It’s almost like rebuilding who I am… actually, it is that. It’s a stripping away of everything that has attached itself to “who I am” that doesn’t align with who God says I am (or that doesn’t align with who God says I need to be going forward). It’s a beautiful blessing to see the care He’s been taking in molding me, pruning me, and taking me through the refiners fire, so that only the parts He envisioned remain. But WHEW!
I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t somewhat challenging to hold back when I know there is so much more I could be doing. To say ‘no’ to things I know I could very easily say ‘yes’ to. To “miss” opportunities I know I could easily be taking.
However, this is where TRUST & FAITH have been my foundation to stand and wait on. I’ve done MANY things well, but in this season, I can’t afford to just be out here doing things & checking boxes. I’m simply not allowed, to be honest. God has shown me glimpses and whispered insight about where He’s taking me, but the thing is, the promise, the dream, the vision always comes before the manifestation of what God has spoken or shown you.
Abraham & Sarah waited DECADES for the son God promised him.
Joseph had dreams YEARS before he saw them come to pass.
Even David was anointed to be king LONG before he actually took the throne.
There are many more stories like this in the Bible.
In this season, it brings me joy to embrace God’s plans for me as my own, and also, it has required an intentional focus, and an intentional letting go. Focusing on what He has said, and letting go of anything that is not that, even the good ideas that don’t align with God’s ideas.
In a world where every other advertisement is saying, “HEY! GO! DO!” my challenge in this season has been to remain faithful in the gap between “anointed” & “appointed,” between “promise” and “manifestation” (of His plans, not my own). It’s required me to watch & happily congratulate my peers as they go forth and walk into the fullness of their gifts and assignments, while intentionally not allowing myself to feel the need to rush or “catch up.” It has also required me to block out the voices of those trying to rush this moment, thinking I’m stuck or confused because they’re used to me constantly producing. I know they mean well, but I also know they can’t see what is going on behind the scenes, and it's my responsibility to steward this season well. God’s timing is perfect and if He’s saying to wait, or "stay right here and do this thing," I must trust that I won’t be “too late” for anything.
Btw, this is NOT me saying to wait for those God has told to “GO!” If this is your 'Go!' season and you haven't gone, what are you waiting for?!
Anyway, the biggest thing God has required in this season is a shifting of how I see success and where I place my value and worth. I’ve always felt joy and accomplishment in achieving in general. Though I wouldn’t say my worth was found in my achievements per se, this time of shifting has really required me to be intentional about completely separating how I view myself, my value, and what is within me, from my job title, how much money I make, what goals I’ve accomplished, and even how others respond to these things (good or bad). It has required me to build my confidence in who God says I am and be at peace when others are not able to see it (or choose not to, lol). Where God is taking me will require that I am not attached to worldly achievements (no matter how great) and especially, not attached the approval or applause of man (no matter who they are). It requires that I don’t move until He says so and that once He says ‘Go,’ I don’t allow anything to sway, taint, or modify what He has said to do, or how He has said to do it.
Y’all have heard me talking about submission and radical obedience, and doing things God’s way.
It’s a beautiful thing and there’s no safer place to be than in God’s will. But I thought I’d let you in on what it can sometimes look and feel like in the midst of it. I'm also documenting this for myself, because BABY, the season that’s coming will blow my mind & I’m already knowing, so I want to have this here as a marker and reminder of how far God has brought me and the way He did exactly what He said He would!
For those in your appointed/promised season, keep going! Continue allowing God to lead and guide you.
For those in the ‘in between’ season, like me, remain submitted and resist the urge to rush God’s Hand.
Know that His timing and His ways are perfect, and He has a perfect plan from beginning to end. TRUST HIM!
For all of us, may God continue to order our footsteps, for “the steps of a good [wo]man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in [her] way.” (Psalm 37:23)
Let’s continue to make Daddy proud!
Love y’all, bunches 💖
P.S. I know I spoke a lot about the challenges, but the JOY is unmatched!
& the pressure I DON’T feel to have it all figured out, knowing that my Father does, is just *chef’s kiss*.
The PEACE I can feel knowing that I’m in His will anchors me and keeps me from being swayed by every word, piece of advice, or problem that arises.
To be able to REST in Him, even while working is a beautiful thing. Literally wouldn’t trade it for the world! 💛
If you’re in this season...
Build your FAITH in God daily.
Spend intimate time with the Holy Spirit in prayer, in praise, and in the Word. Trust what He has spoken & eliminate doubt.
SPEAK what He said!
... or keep your mouth shut!
Don’t speak against the promises!
Wait PATIENTLY on the Lord!
Be faithful in what He’s given you to do in this season, even if it seems small.
REST!
This means two things:
No matter what season you’re in, REST in God, knowing that if you do your part, the part He has given you to do, that He will do His!
Resist to be busy in your season of rest. If God has you resting in this season, it’s likely because it’ll be GO time soon. Don’t neglect this moment to stop & recharge. This includes mental & physical rest!
EXPECT!
Expect what God said to come to pass in His divine timing. He is not a man that He would lie, so when it comes to Him, “expectation [does NOT] lead to disappointment!”
Epiphani
High There! 👋🏾
If you are reading this, I hope you are doing well! 🌻
It’s been a while since we last sesh’d together, but I am super excited to be back with renewed energy and a refreshed outlook. I’ve missed you all and this space! I needed the time away to finish what I started (my degree), and to further clarify my vision on what I plan to build. Many wonderful things have come out of this quiet season, and I am truly grateful for the growth, achievements, lessons, and blessings! Before I jump back in, here's what I've been up to while I was away...
I graduated! 🎓
Earlier this year, I earned a Master of Science degree in Medical Cannabis Science & Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. I am honored to say that our class was the first to graduate from the first medical cannabis masters program in the country. I actually started this blog while in that program as a way to document my journey, so I appreciate you all riding with me to the end of that chapter. We did it, y’all!
If you want to know more about the program or even apply, you can check it out here.
I moved across the country! ✈️
As you know, I’m a Maryland girl. I’ve lived there all of my life except my time at Spelman–and one [awful] year in high school in North Carolina. Well, this summer, I sold most of my things and packed up the rest, and said farewell to my home state! A little backstory…
Two years ago, I visited my childhood friend for her birthday. She’s in the military and was stationed here in Las Vegas at the time. I had never been, so I looked forward to exploring, and of course, having a girls’ weekend! Who knew I’d fall in love with the area?! The views and the vibes were captivating! 😍 My friend lived out in the suburbs, so we had a beautiful view of the mountains each morning. Needless to say, I was sold! Between the weather, the mountains, and the palm trees, I knew this would be my next place of residence. It was the first time somewhere felt like home outside of Maryland! Two years later… We live baby! I became a Nevada resident last month and couldn’t be happier that I finally made the move!
Hmu if you’re ever on the wessssst!
I took a break! 🧘🏾♀️
This summer, after completing my program, I took a much needed break! I had been going hard for two years straight, really more than that if you count my teaching days. Working full time and attending school full time was no joke, especially since I was really trying to learn and retain the information (and not just pass my classes). Anyway, I knew I needed to rest and recharge before the next season of my life if I wanted to be effective and avoid burnout. I also needed to spend some extra time with God, renew my mindset, and gain clarity on the vision for The Garden of Epiphani, and the impact I hope it will have in the cannabis industry and my community. Lastly, before I continued on doing the next thing, I needed moment just BE... to remind myself that though I can do great work, I am just as valuable when doing nothing as I am when I am producing. Everything from here will be built from that place of clarity and freedom. My quiet summer brought me so much joy; I danced... a lot! I took walks, I read, I vision boarded, I sat in silence and enjoyed nature... God taught me so many things in that time about who I am, who He is, and what things I need to do (& not do) to be successful. I don’t have all of the answers, but I feel so ready for what’s to come and know a few things to be more true than ever:
Rest is valuable! - You are not failing or missing out when you are taking time to rest.
Wisdom is one of the most valuable things one can pray for; God will order your steps if you ask and believe that He will!
Asking questions creates space for finding, discovering, and receiving answers, so I should not fear the unknown, but rather embrace it!
With that being said, rest and recalibration is an important part of the process of preparing to achieve your goals, especially when attempting to go where you’ve never gone and do what you’ve never done. Make time to rest & recharges, sis!
In conclusion, thank you God for a wonderful year and a big shout out to my tribe who has supported me! Thank y’all for holding me down. You can expect new blogs, posts, and presentations to help us along our cannabis and health & wellness journeys, so stay tuned! In the meantime, sign up to get emails from The Garden.
2022, I’m ready for you! ✨