Candidly Charmaine

This morning while walking my dog, praying and talking to God, this dropped in my spirit….

Some of you are wounded and only surviving because you’re going through the robotic motions. 

At that moment I begin to see people bleeding out and still trying to operate through their daily functions. Basically going through their life as a Robot only operating by life’s command. Whatever was presented they accepted it and kept going. It was an acceptance of defeat!

I then prayed and ask God not to allow me to go through robotic motions. I do not want to experience my life accepting everything thrown at me, not doing anything about it, and still attempting to navigate through my familiar routine. I will not live my life as a desensitized robot.

A robot can only do what it’s told to do. It can only function based upon the commands its operator/master has given. It has no feelings or own thought process. You basically push a programmed button and it goes. Goes without questioning or fighting back and that’s exactly what we expect it to do.

Until there’s a malfunction or breakdown…..

That’s where some of us are right now or have been before. We have allowed things in our lives to put us in a Robotic mode. We no longer have feelings, we’re numb and just going through life with our same daily routine.

I began to think of people I know, including myself, that have been bleeding out and still operating at one time or another. If you be honest with yourself, some of you right now are just going through the motions without taking time to process life. You’ve allowed life hardships to overwhelm you to the point where it’s drowning you. You have succumbed to life’s oppositions.

My prayer for you today is that you will stop allowing other things that is meant to throw you off course to command your life. You have given away your power and you need to take back your authority. Fight back!! You don’t have to accept everything that you’re faced with.  Life has a way of sometimes bringing you to a low point, but what you do with that low point will affect you one way or another. Get out of the mindset of just going through the motions and start surviving.

Even though we all know what survive means, here is a little reminder:

Survive– continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.

You may be wounded, but you will SURVIVE!!

With Love,

Candidly Charmaine

What does it mean to be stuck?

How many times have we heard someone say or have said ourselves the things we “used to be” and “used to do”?

How many times have we been guilty of getting stuck in those “used to be” moments?

“I remember when I used to be a size 4.” “I remember when my business was booming.” Or “ This is the way we used to do it.”

I can go on and on, but I want to know what are you doing NOW? What changes are you making to surpass the past? Nothing is wrong with reflecting on memories and accomplishments, however do not get stuck in those moments.

Sometimes we can be so consumed with our past that we lose focus on our present and future. I’m sure we all know someone who is stuck on what it was, instead of looking at what it is. There’s always new levels to reach and conquer. Let’s not abandon our hopes and dreams by looking back on our “used to be”.

I took the time to look up the definition of stuck and three meanings really grabbed my attention.

1. Be or become fixed or jammed in one place as a result of an obstruction.
2. Remain in a static condition; fail to progress.
3. Be or remain in a specified place or situation, typically one perceived as tedious or unpleasant.

You may one day find yourself in a “stuck” situation. Your career is stuck. Your ministry or outreach is stuck. Your relationship is stuck. Your finances are stuck and so on. And you’re constantly looking back at what it “used to be”. Your past has now obstructed your view on the things which lies ahead.

You have now become:

Stagnant – not moving forward

Toxic – your past thoughts have become poisonous to your future

Unsure – you have no idea of what’s next

Confused – thinking it was better in the past.

Kidnap – “used to be” is now holding hostage “what it can be”.

In our lives there should always be some type of movement happening. If you’re not moving, you have become a victim of being stuck. Even if you have to take a step back in order to move forward, that is still progression. The main goal is to continue to flow. Flow like the rivers that are always going somewhere. A Continuous FLOW!!

In order to make progress from your “stuck” place, your perception has to change. You can no longer view yourself as the person you were 5, 10 or 20 years ago. What may have worked for you then may not necessarily work now. We all have heard that things get better with time. As time passes, we should be looking for more ways to grow. A reflection should only be that, but never a stopping point.

Challenge yourself from this day forward that you will continue to flow. Your latter days will be greater than your former.

With love,

Candidly Charmaine

Label: a short word or phrase descriptive of a person, group, intellectual movement, etc.

Female, Daughter, Sister, Twin, PK (preacher’s kid), Woman of God, Bestfriend, Girlfriend, Lover, Woman, Wife, Step-mother, First Lady, EX….Divorced, Single

Short, thick, skinny (at one time), beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, stuck up, admirable, down to earth, rude, honest, charming, no filter, understanding, loving, supportive, trustworthy, loyal, go-getter, independent, strong, stubborn, breath of fresh air, “brings the party”, misunderstood….

These have been just a few labels that have been placed on me. I have often questioned why and under whose authority. Who gave people the right to label me?

When we get ready to purchase something, we look on the inside of clothing or on the outside of an item to see what it’s made of. We study and think about what it entails to decide if it’s the best thing for us.

The label helps you make the best “educated guess”, but sometimes the label is wrong. The “fit” doesn’t work, it doesn’t cure the symptoms that you possess, the reviews are bad/ mixed, etc.

The “label” is simply the perception of someone else.

How many times have you bought something and had to return it because the “label” wasn’t fit to your needs? You didn’t have the proper tools needed; you really liked it, but it just didn’t work.

You never really know the ability or the performance unless YOU try it out for yourself. I’ve always been one to make my own decisions about someone or something according to their actions towards me. Basing your opinion solely off others is a disservice to yourself.

Have you ever questioned why someone was labeled? Was it because they stood for something that others would fall for? Was it because everything that the label suggested that sounded good turned out to be a defective product? Or the infamous label “they’re jealous and hating!”

I can go on and on with labels, but at the end of the day labels will make you feel two things. Good or bad! It’s just simple as that.

The way to overcome all of the labels is to be true to thine own self. The perception of others IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM!! If you’re constantly worried about the labels that have been placed on you, you will find yourself always worried about what others think, what you do, or what you say. WHERE’S THE FUN IN THAT?

Listen, I have allowed labels to control me at one time in my life. I was told because of the position I was in that I should “tone things down.” I was taught as a child in a Christian home with parents who are Pastors that we have to hold ourselves in a different manner than others. I couldn’t listen to certain types of music or watch some things on TV or go to certain parties. The judgement of others and the labels THEY placed on what they thought a pastor’s kid should or shouldn’t do taunted me.

When I became a teenager, I found myself questioning these labels that were involuntarily placed on my life. When I reached adulthood, I began to resent some of those labels because I realized they were unfair. Every phase of my life that I have looked back over I find myself missing out on so much just because of a LABEL!!!

Your life is about the choices that you have made. Whether you decided to stand firm or give in, the labels that others have placed on you are irrelevant! I guarantee you, while you’re worried about those labels the same people are living their life. So why not live yours?

Again, who gave people the right to label me? Who gave people the right to label you? Since when have you decided to allow labels to dictate your life? Make the choice today that labels will no longer control you.

Free yourself from the perception of others and drop all of the labels!

With Love,

Candidly Charmaine

Welcome to Chapter 34 🤗🤸🏽‍♀️🎉!! Wow ….. it feels so liberating to say that!
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I am truly blessed to witness this day. This day feels so different than any previous birthdays. I know who I am, I know what I want, I know what I like and dislike.

I have lived my life in a bubble for so long. Protecting my inner space from past hurts and those who wish to attach themselves only for their personal gain.

I am N O T that person anymore. I believe the only way I can be free is to be real with myself. In turn, my transparency will be freeing to others.

There’s so much more to life than what you see. I’ve been told by many that I have no filter. At first, I used to take offense because others would try to shape me through their eyes.

Then I realized it was only a censorship to manipulate instead of providing wisdom. I don’t want anyone else to tell my story as you should want the same.

With that being said…I’m happy to announce a new venture that I’m starting.

🌸🌺Candidly Charmaine 🌺🌸

This will be a blog that goes beyond my personal inspirations. I’m digging into life applications that everyone has experienced or at least know someone who has.

Relationships, Spirituality, Health, Wealth and a little fashion tips here and there.

There’s so much that I want to share with you!! Please be on the look out for future posts!!