This is about having or showing assurance. It is about pushing down the negative voices around you and in you. We all trust in something. There is a source that we believe in whether it is to always bring bad luck or help us make our goals. We all believe in something.
I find my confidence in God. I trust that He will make all things work together for my good. Philippians 1:6. This month we are going to be confident in the things we do and the people around us.
What do you put your trust in? Where do you find your confidence?
Today think of all of the things you know how to do. Write down all of them. Depending on how old you are the list may be pretty long. Don’t take anything for granted. And you know what? You are still learning. You are not done yet.
Best known for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Parks refused to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus. She was arrested, lost her job and was the subject of death threats.
But as the movement grew stronger she became an icon of what activism looks like. After the boycott, Parks moved to Detroit. She went to work for US Rep. John Conyers in the House of Representatives from 1965 to 1988. She died in 2005.
Model: Porsha Harris Photographer Karen J Anderson
Madam CJ Walker was not born with a lot of opportunities. She was the first child her parents had that was born free of slavery. When both parents died she was young and was raised by her sister. But the woman born Sarah Breedlove was able.
Sarah married young and had a child. She was determined her daughter would have all of the things she never had. She started out doing the things she knew to do, but later learned new things. She was able.
A woman who grew up without parents, without a formal education, and all of the other things we are waiting on became very successful. She was able.
Madam CJ Walker was born Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana in 1887. After moving to St Louis in 1888, she worked at a laundry and became a part of the community. She learned about haircare from her brothers who were barbers. She became an agent for Annie Malone, who owned a company that catered to African American hair care. Walker would later become Malone’s biggest rival.
Walker moved to Denver in 1905 to sell Malone’s products and start to create her own. She met and married Charles Walker. She began selling her products door to door, and her market grew to the point where she could hire other people to sell them for her. She opened a college where she taught other women how to take care of their hair. She also opened a manufacturing plant to make her products. She created a method of grooming that helped promote healthy hair and scalps. Her goal was to teach women how to live better.
She became a millionaire and her products were sold all across the US and the Caribbean. She supported organizations like the YMCA and scholarships for education of African Americans. She tried to fulfill a need in the community.
In this image it spoke to a woman who was able to be where she was. It did not limit her.
People of African descent have made significant contributions to society. This month is an opportunity to look at those achievements and celebrate those people.
In addition to being capable of doing something, You are able to do it. This month as we celebrate Black History and see all that our ancestors accomplished, remind yourself that you are able.
You have power, skill, proficiency, and intelligence to accomplish the tasks before you. You have the means and the opportunity.
Tell yourself this every day and watch how your life changes.
You are capable. Write down everything you accomplished this month. Even those little things. Learn to appreciate those little things. Continue to remind yourself that you are capable. You have skills and talents. You accomplish a lot every day. Appreciate your talents and skills. Value yourself.
There will be moments when you don’t want to believe in yourself. There will be times when you want to through away everything you have accomplished. Let your work be like the smell of garlic, very hard to get rid of. But also bring life and flavor to everything it touches. Let it remind you of how capable you are every moment of every day. I am capable.
I have been taught that it is bad manners to brag about what you can do or what you are good at. This is different because we are talking about skills we have developed over decades. We have spent years learning new things and putting them into practice. We are very capable.
UPP Creative Media 