Shades of H.E.R.
As we began to take many journey’s together through growing, changing, and becoming, we are taking a journey about H.E.R.
H.E.R is not just the descriptive portrait of a woman or the female descriptive according to Webster’s dictionary. We are using H.E.R as descriptive actions to describe what we are wanting every woman to obtain. Healing, Equipping, and Restoration. When we look at these three major components of what I consider The Woman’s “Trinity” we have to look at and consider where women are in the idiom of “Shades”. Now these shades are not your blinds that you pull down or in my case, my amazing husband Craig who always has to dust off ours once a month; or shades as in the color of your skin. Yet these are “Shades of H.E.R.” To make this as transparent and understandable, let’s look at the idiom of “Shades” and its meaning.
Shades:
A reminder, reminiscence, or approximation of someone or something in the past or another person or something.
The idiom in its meaning is: an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for "undecided") or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way)
Ok, now that we are done with English and Language 101. Let’s dive into it. In everything there are specific meanings and understandings. We are going to focus on “Shades’ in terms of Healing. There is an amazing quote by Jack Canfield that reads;
“And so, I wait. I wait for time to heal the pain and raise me to my feet once again - so that I can start a new path, my own path, the one that will make me whole again.”
― Jack Canfield
Shades or reminders of hurt, pain, traumatic experiences and emotional losses will keep us from rediscovering that we have the right to happiness. Happiness is being determined to find you Joy and Peace in any situation. We learn these strategies through the quality of our thoughts. What are we thinking when past reminders exploit their ugly heads? Reminders often come when we find ourselves in moments of blissfulness and recovery. One of my favorite scriptures are Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Here the writer so eloquently says that in times of distress in life, when reminders of past things continue to haunt us, when these shades present themselves, “think on these things”, think on these things that are beautiful to you, things that are lovely, things that are kind, things of joy, future thoughts of relaxation and newness. It is creating the quality of your Internal and External Healing.
We have tackled the Shades of Healing. Let’s journey through the Shades of Equipping. In everything that is built, produced, or constructed there are strategies. In every strategy there must be tools needed to equip the one who is building. Webster’s definition of equipping is;
Equip; to supply with the necessary items(tools) for a particular purpose.
The incomparable Dr. Maya Angelou wrote;
"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."
— Maya Angelou
As women we are always in the zone of “Battle” whether it is through work, relationships, parenting, and healthy sisterhoods. We are constantly armored up for the unexpected. The toughest armor to put on is the Armor of the Heart. This organ is the central place of all of our feelings, emotions and thoughts. It is the most delicate organ in our body yet the one that is the source of life. The condition of the heart dictates your source of life. Let’s take a look at some tools for Equipping us.
Forgiveness… It’s not for them but for you. The practice of forgiveness is our most important tool for Healing. Forgiveness takes us out of a dungeon of self-torment and mind destruction. I compare it to Hospice. It is literally sitting and waiting on you to die. It eats at the very soul of three things, Who you are, Who you were, and Who you choose to become. This is the most difficult act that will bring total healing.
Community not Isolation…. Have you ever heard of the phrases, “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” “There is strength in numbers”, you were not meant to do life Alone. We cannot heal in isolation. We are all books with a different chapter and titles yet; We have the same story. Sharing through journaling groups, writing or blogging, speaking to other women, and engaging in healthy communities that support the mind, spirit, and heart destroys isolation and its quiet dungeon in our minds.
Give Yourself Flowers (Appreciate your Journey, it’s still going)
You have been through so much, and you didn’t fail. Even when we have waited for Prince Charming, we let down our hair like Rapunzel, we kissed the frog and ate the poison apple only to have survived and powered through it all. The most beautiful gesture for a woman is to receive Flowers. The different shades and colors have a significant meaning. They leave the attributes of a Beautiful Aroma, Freshness, Vibrance, Beauty, Growing, Delicate, Multi-Dimensional and Strength to grow in the most complicated spaces. These are the very attributes of You! So, embrace who you were, celebrate who you are, love who are about to come. Give yourself Flowers.
What a journey of Healing and Equipping ourselves on this road to Evolving. Restoration is the essential of Evolving.
Restoration; the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.
As we Heal, Equip, and Restore the entire woman, we look to achieve the following to complete the process.
Redeem…… Take back the time you lost through the process. The clock cannot turn back, yet it can always move forward.
Heal………… From all Old Wounds that have left you damaged. Pell back the Band Aid and allow yourself to heal.
Strengthen...Friendships and yourself through the power of Forgiveness and Self Love. No one can love you like you.
Recover……... From Past Trauma by Capturing and Acknowledging the Power of your voice. You are no longer silent to the things of your past. Allow healing through speaking, creativity, and
re-establishing who you are.
Replace……… Bad habits with new possibilities and opportunities.
Reestablish… Who You Are as Woman in her beauty, power, authority, and creativity. Reclaim who you were
Redirect……… Your Mindset! Set your mind to know that pain is not avoidable, but you can overcome it. You have the ability to change the entire course of your life’s experience through changing and shifting your direction. Mark Twain wrote “The secret to making progress is to get started. Let's get started.
The different Shades of H.E.R: The Entire Woman
H.ealing
E.quipping
R.estoring
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