Are you stuck because you're wingin' it?

June 29, 2020

Are you stuck because you're wingin' it?

Everyone has a vision for who they want to be. We all hold in our mind’s eye the vision of who we are becoming. 

When I dream into my future, I see myself as a wise elder with glorious salt and pepper locs who commands every room she enters. You can’t help but notice me because my joy, power, poise, and truth are blinding. People are often surprised when they hear my age because I look and move with the vibrancy of someone decades younger. My skin still glows in between time’s lines. My eyes still twinkle with awe and mischief. My mind is sharp. I speak less, yet say more. 

Who are you becoming?

In the dozens of conversations I have with people every week, all agree that they have a vision for where they are going.

“I want to go from good to great.”

“I want to feel refreshed, replenished, and balanced.”

“I want to release all of my burdens.”

“I want to use my gifts and talents to help my community.”

“I want to feel healthy and good, inside and out.”

“I want to put the pieces of my life back together.”

No one ever says they want to live out the rest of their years stuck in the cycles of pain, trauma, and mental illness, or that they want to be on drugs for the rest of their lives. Everyone wants to feel better. Everyone wants to fulfill the purpose for which they are uniquely equipped to accomplish.

What’s interesting though, is that most people don’t have a plan for how they are going to get from where they are to where they desire to go. Crazy, right?

Think about it…for every other goal in life, you have a plan in place or at least loosely understand the steps.

If you want to get a new job, then you know you have to update your resume, apply, follow-up, network, improve your interview skills, show up, etc. 

If you want to buy a house then you need to save, perhaps improve your credit, choose a location, hire a realtor, apply for mortgage pre-approval, etc.

The steps are pretty clear in the two examples given. The industries have laid out the path for you. But I know that the health, wellness and medical industries have not made the path to vibrance and thriving easy.

There’s a new diet, detox, miracle drug, fad workout every couple of months. Everybody who’s tried an herb one time (yet hasn’t studied) and had great results starts shouting from the rooftops that it was their savior. The FDA and all the medical associations (ACS, ADA, etc.), change their tune and recommendations every couple of years. And I get it, with new research findings we draw new conclusions. 

A large part of the problem, though, is that there’s a search for a solution that’s going to work for everyone. Health is personal and individualized. There’s never been, nor will their ever be a singular diet, exercise program, caloric count, or herbal formula that’s one-size-fits all. 

Stop looking for quick-fixes and develop your own roadmap toward reclaiming your well-being. You know better than anyone what you need.

What also happens in the dozens of conversations I have with people every week, is that they know exactly what’s been holding them back. You know you best. You know when you have a pattern of inconsistency, of prioritizing everyone else’s needs above your own, of laziness (your words, not mine), of using every excuse in the book to not eat the food that makes you feel good or go for the walk. You know when your anger, trust issues, worry, and lack of asserting your boundaries is consuming you.

I will never believe that people don’t know what to do to help themselves in some way. You may not know “the how,” but you absolutely know “the what.” And I say this with certainty because I know that Spirit always speaks. There is not a moment in your day, when Source isn’t sending you signals, signs, and messages that are pointing you in the direction you should go. Because the alternative would be that the unconditionally loving energy from whence we all come has abandoned you, and that, quite frankly, is an utterly ridiculous thought. Think about the contradiction in “unconditional love” and “abandonment.” 

I knew that trauma was getting the best of me and harming my relationships. I knew that eating fast food was wreaking havoc on my body. I knew that I felt better when I exercised. I knew that 10 hours of sleep was my jam. Basics. Fundamentals that I didn’t need to read in a book.

However, I knew that if I wanted to embody the woman I see in my mind’s eye and the wholeness that she exudes, I was going to need to develop my own plan for my personal growth and get a mentor to teach me the things I did not know. 

The themes of my plan that help me take action that’s in alignment who I am becoming (and not who I’m leaving behind) are:

  • Cultivating vibrancy of the physical body through diet, exercise, and herbal medicine
  • Practicing mental awareness, harmony, and resilience  
  • Identifying and deconstructing limiting beliefs
  • Practicing radical bravery to transmute present pain into power, passion, action, and purpose

Consider this: are you stuck because you insist on wingin’ it?

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in Iwilla Remedy Herbalism & Spirituality Blog

Herbal Antibiotics - What Herbs to Use
Herbal Antibiotics - What Herbs to Use

April 22, 2024

Suffering from a toothache? Explore natural remedies in this video featuring Master Herbalist Selima Harleston Lust. She discusses Echinacea, Usnea, Clove, and Myrrh for potential immune support and pain relief. Learn safe application techniques and when to see a doctor. Visit our shop for high-quality herbs!

View full article →

Herbalist Equipment
The Herbalist's Toolkit: 11 Essential Tools You Need for Success

April 15, 2024

Herbalists, here is our guide to the 11 most helpful tools! These essentials for every herbalist, from business streamlining to crafting remedies. Find convenient links to all the tools you'll need to elevate your herbal practice.

View full article →

Why Reproductive Health Matters
Empowering the Next Generation: A Conversation on Reproductive Well-Being

April 12, 2024

Are you interested in exploring natural approaches to wellness and prioritizing your reproductive health? Watch this insightful interview with a Selima Harleston Lust, Spelman College professor and Atlanta-based herbalist! We'll discuss herbalism, ancestral wisdom, sustainability and plant-based practices for a healthier you.

View full article →