𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
For the most part, many of us are born with a gentle and quiet spirit, living in a childlike state with our inner selves intact. However, as time passes and life experiences shape us, we may drift away from our true essence. This can lead to feelings of discontentment, as we sense that we are not living in alignment with our authentic nature.
In fiction romance novel, Dismantled Hearts, one excerpt reads, "He had met Morgan’s family a few times, and they were a lot like he expected. He understood where Morgan got her hospitality, genuineness, and beautiful spirit from. He thought about how it must have been something that was passed down from generation to generation." The inner beauty of this character was highlighted many times throughout the book. The excerpt implies that the character's inner beauty was inherited from her family line and as a result she benefited from it, which others noticed and appreciated.
I recall a few years back interviewing for a program I was signing up for. One of the women asked, "So tell me at least 10 good things about yourself." I sat there like a deer in headlights. I could only come up with four and stopped there, realizing I couldn't even answer the question. This was a wake-up call for me. I went home and brainstormed until I eventually came up with ten traits, but I found they more so described what I did, not who I was. I realized that I didn't truly understand my own core identity.
Every year, my only resolution is to get closer to God. What I am most grateful for is how He has changed me from the inside out. Reflecting on my transformation from my twenties to my forties, the change is profound. I used to have an ugly attitude and insisted on having my way. If I didn't, I would be rude, disrespectful, and quick to snap at people. My behavior was tolerated because of my looks, but my attitude made me ugly. I used to think change was inevitable as you grow older, but I’ve realized that personal growth doesn't automatically come with age. Some people remain stagnant regardless of how much time passes.
A relationship with Christ set me on the true path of continuous growth, which I still follow today. This past year, I experienced a significant transformation—a spiritual awakening that allowed me to tap into the highest version of myself, with the help of Christ, of course. It feels like being born again. I’m starting to fall in love with this new version of myself. I am now wiser, fearless, more self-aware, and my confidence has soared. It feels like I can achieve the impossible, and that there are no limits to life anymore. It’s a truly beautiful feeling, and I know I need to be this woman to walk into the promises God made over my life years ago. Though I still have my moments; I acknowledge, check myself, realign, and then get back on the road to inner growth.
I've noticed many women adopting the Proverbs 31 woman as their life guide, almost obsessively. When I first read about her, my initial reaction was, "Nope, not a chance!" I saw her as the perfect example, something impossible to achieve. I know perfection doesn't exist, and striving for it can lead to losing oneself. Some women sacrifice their authenticity just to fit the mold of this biblical figure. Apart from her resourcefulness, dignity, and strength, the Proverbs 31 woman was characterized by wisdom. What I’ve come to realize is that wisdom should be the ultimate pursuit, as it serves as the foundation for other virtues. When wisdom is at the forefront of our actions, humility, accountability, respect, empathy, sweetness, balance, compassion, open-mindedness, generosity, resilience and more naturally follow. Instead of fixating on a checklist, focusing on God's guidance allows Him to shape and mold us in His image, without compromising our authentic selves.
The best thing I could have done was build up my spirit to become the woman I am today and as a result, I now embody many of these qualities. This inner work has been years in the making. Without God's influence, I don't know where I would be. I am proud of myself for making the commitment to improve year after year. I care about maintaining my body, looking and feeling good, but my inner disposition, pleasing God, and walking in love trumps everything.
If you're reading this and you're in the process of self-improvement, remember to be patient with yourself. Everyone is on their own unique journey. Sometimes, I notice people imposing their beliefs forcefully on others and criticizing them for not adhering to God's path. It's important to understand that God works with each of us in His own time, and we're all progressing at our own pace. If someone tries to shame you for not being where they are spiritually, don't let it affect you. We're all works in progress, and it's normal to make mistakes. However, the key is to strive for growth and improvement. Eventually, you'll evolve into the person God intended you to be. Until then, embrace your journey and be kind to yourself.
Until next time!
- Authoress J. Henry, XOXO
𝑶𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈.
Most readers finish the book in an average of 2 days. Great book for men to read too. 📖🕐
Also available on Amazon Kindle
𝑰𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏?
𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈?
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