I Will Not Be Triumphed Over

The power of words has always been my salvation. In my darkest, most daunting moments, when I've felt I couldn't go on, they've purged, cleansed and restored my soul. Even as a child, at some level I understood this and basked in their beauty and strength.

In one of my most recent, more frequent pity party moments, I read the following:

"I will not be triumphed over."             

Wow! That spoke to me. Spoke to me from an ancient place of memory from generations and generations gone by. I am unbreakable, unbendable, unstoppable...no one, no thing, no situation, nobody is going to tear me down. Life may attempt to strip me down, stomp me down, wear me out, make me doubt myself, throw me curves, kick me to the curb, but in the end, I'll still rise. I will not be triumphed over. 

When I read those words, I immediately felt a heavy weight rise from my shoulders. I was at peace with my life, my situation, my predicament, my moment. Sure, I could, I really could, wallow in righteous self pity because life hasn't treated me like a favorite child recently. I'm in the midst of a storm, in the eye of a fierce storm that has bombarded me with residue from a layoff and a chain of unfortunate events that come at me blindly, from left and right. Yes, I could easily spiral into an empty pit of despair. I could curl up and give up.

Digesting that quote made me realize, I've survived worse---the death of my mother and sister being top on the list. I've been down before, but God always has my back. With age, I've come to realize that typically when one door closes, another opens right on time. We just have to remember to stop staring at the closed door in order to clearly see the one which has opened. The universe always makes a way for us.

No, I refuse to be triumphed over when my spirit is too strong to stay down and out. Do you hear me? My spirit, my resilience is too mighty. I have my doubts and worries like anyone else, I'm human, but when the dust settles and I'm in my quiet space, I hear the whispers, loud and clear, speaking to me from a place of wisdom. And I listen.

God has never and will never forsake me. And with that knowledge, I can loudly and mightily proclaim: I will not be triumphed over.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

You Are What You Say You Are

“It doesn’t matter what people call you, it only matters what you answer to.” – Madea

The above quote by actor, writer, producer, director, screenwriter Tyler Perry is powerful. And Tyler Perry is a prime example of what he believes. He has lived and walked the talk and is one of my heroes because of his amazing triumph over personal childhood setbacks and tragedies. He never gave up and always had dreams of being successful regardless of what everyone else said or believed about him otherwise. And through that belief, he has transformed into the powerhouse he is today.

If there is one life lesson I could teach young people, even some adults, it would be about the concept of mind over matter. We really are what we say we are. The universe really is a remarkable entity because what we place out there really does come back to us with a vengeance. Law of Attraction. I’ve witnessed it in my life and experienced its effects.

Make no mistake about it, there is power in our words and thoughts. The Bible speaks of it. I discovered that power early on in my life. In fact, that’s why I fell in love with words---because of their beauty, splendor and the ability to change lives. That's why I have a passionate love affair with reading and writing to this day. So why not make your words and thoughts uplifting, empowering and encouraging?

I’ve always believed in claiming what’s rightfully mine. Say it out loud. Literally speak it into existence. That sets the cycle in motion so to speak. Write it down. Post it on the bathroom mirror. Chant it over and over in your mind. You’ll be surprised at the people, places, situations and events that are placed in your life designed to fulfill your destiny. That’s the nature of the universe. Making sure you are at the right place at the right time.

So, the question is: what are you? Say it. Claim it.