Soul Powerful: Everyday Life Lessons for Uncovering and Recovering Your Greatness Within by Trumillia Y. Lunnie-Thomas

From the Publisher

Do you long to live your life the way it was meant to be lived - confidently and powerfully?

Are you ready to uncover and recover the greatness for which you know - deep in your Soul - you were created? Are you willing to begin the journey to recover your strength within?

Are you ready to begin today?

Join Author Trumillia Lunnie-Thomas, BA, MA in Soul Powerful - Everyday Life Lessons For Uncovering and Recovering Your Greatness Within. You'll discover the purpose of and the jewels hidden within the life-changing Life Lessons presented to each of us daily that allow a greater understanding of the power that we possess to live our best lives.

Release your power within. Once you acknowledge the greatness for which you were created, your life will never be the same again.

Break through to the life you were created to live. Become Soul Powerful today.

Product Details

• Table of Contents
• Read an Excerpt

Table of Contents

Read an Excerpt

"Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement."
-Golda Meir

When I was a young girl, I wanted to be King. Now, before you laugh, listen to my plight. When I was a young girl, still in pigtails and knee socks-I would play the Castle Game with the kids in the neighborhood, the Lockwoods. We would choose our roles; but for some reason, I always ended up being Princess So and So and the Lockwood boy would always end up being the King.

Well, I became tired of always being Princess So and So. One day, I told the Lockwood boy that it was my turn to be King. The Lockwood boy had given me a withering look and announced all knowingly that I "could not be King".

Well, why not? I had asked. Being the King seemed to be so much more fun, so much more important, so much more interesting. Why, if you were King, you give all of the orders, you decide the rules of the Castle Game. You controlled how the game was played. In essence, if you were King, you were the Boss. If someone did not play the Castle Game according to your rules-which seemed to change every second -then they were just not "allowed" to be a part of the game. I was told that I had to be the Princess. I could not-COULD NOT-be the King because I was a GIRL. Moreover, the way he said "GUURRRRL" made me want to snatch his little paper crown from atop his curly head and rip it to shreds.

Fine, I said, then I want to be the Queen. Queens are important; Queens have power, right? Another exasperated look as if I just did not get it. You cannot be the Queen, I was informed. You have to be married to the King, and the King would still be the boss.

What? How ridiculous was that? I got mad. I went home. I did not play the Castle Game with the Lockwood boy anymore after that. I was just not content with being the Princess and I certainly was not going to be the Queen and let the King be the boss of me "just because". Eventually I grew up and I went out into the world. I became employed. I made connections and to my amazement, I found that in some circles, people were still playing the Castle Game-a different variation, perhaps, and more grown up. But it was still the same game and sadly, the game seemed to have the same basic rules.

I met a lot of people who basically told me that I could not be the King, no matter how much I knew, no matter how hard I worked. No matter how many degrees I had, I was still relegated to the role of "Princess". Never to determine my own worth in the workplace, never to be King-or Queen for that matter.

Not only were women like me put into the Princess So and So role-here's the rub-we were reduced to having to watch Prince So and So become King while we stood in the shadows, wondering when, if ever, we would get our turn.

In addition, we should have felt "lucky" that we were "chosen" to be Princesses in this Patriarchy. What? Who were they to determine my worth for me?

I woke up. I decided then to never again allow someone else to assign my worth for me, to tell me what I was worth. Feeling good about ourselves and about what our purpose is on this earth IS vitally important to determining our worth for ourselves.

This process is a never-ending journey toward actualizing our GREATNESS. Developing real self worth requires that we love our-selves as deeply, as completely and as unconditionally as we would love another. Worth is knowing and appreciating ourselves and rediscovering our loveliness and our beauty, not just outwardly, but the beauty of our Souls.

No one can help us begin to feel better about ourselves. In this area, we have to do the hard work for OURSELVES. Sometimes we are afraid to take that first step for fear of failing or feeling that we have to "fix" ourselves first. Only then can we move forward.

We constantly replay the fragmenting negative messages from our childhood or what we have become programmed with as barriers, not willing to make an effort to do the work on ourselves. It's easier to talk about the things that we cannot change such as overly critical parents, an impoverished upbringing in a single parent household-than to do the work that desperately needs to be done. Now.

Esteem is the worth that we determine for ourselves or how we regard ourselves. Actually, it is what we think that determines our Soul Worth. There have been scores of wealthy people who are depressed and unhappy. On the other side of the scale, there are people who are suffering or have suffered from debilitating illnesses and terrible set-backs and disadvantages, who seem to evidence pure and perfect joy. We place value only on those things we see or touch, seldom venturing inside.

Good or bad, high or low, our Soul Value depends on us. How we view ourselves is often influenced by our relationships with other people, but ultimately, it depends on us. Our perception of ourselves is essential to how we will be. If we change the way we see ourselves, we will change our lives. We have to give to ourselves what we cannot get from others. We have to make our inner voice the loudest voice that we hear.

Some think that high Worth and Esteem means that you will always feel good and never feel bad. Not only is this unrealistic, but it is damaging. High Soul Worth is the being liberated to feel what you feel, realizing and understanding that the feelings are just that-feelings -and that they bear no reflection on your character or the person you are. You can do what needs to be done in your life, whether you FEEL like it or not. Your behavior is totally controllable by you and it is this behavior for which you ARE responsible.

Soul Worth is like a muscle, the more we use it, the stronger it gets. Just like our bodies, we must exercise our esteem. If we take it out once a week to give it a workout, it stays flabby. To not use it is abuse and you have to work on it to make it work! We weaken it by refusing to take risks; we strengthen it by adding the weights of our successes one success at a time.

What strengthens your Soul Worth? Where would you like to be? What is your purpose? What will you do to get there? When we have a strong sense of where we are going, we can stay directed and focused. In the beginning, our sense of worth and esteem may come and go like the ebb and flow of a tide as we live each day, but it will stay longer as we strengthen our muscle. Sometimes we will feel powerful and unstoppable. At other times, we may feel like the cartoon character mushed on the yellow line of the median.

The reality is that no, we may not always be on the upside in the esteem department, but like a pendulum, it always swings back the other way.

We change the way we feel by changing the way we act-target those habits that cause you to view yourself negatively. Act yourself into being powerful. Practice being powerful. Manage the situations that bring you down by acting in a way that boosts your Soul Worth and increase your Soul Value.

Here is a quick exercise-Make a list of what you admire about yourself-do not let your pen leave the paper until you have completed an entire page. Is it the way you laugh? The shape of your nose? Your sense of humor? The way you cut through the junk and get to the real heart of an issue? Your sense of style, are you always on time? List everything.

Relish and cherish each quality-each accomplishment. Remember how much you admire each of them. Learn not to beat yourself up. View "nonsuccess" as life-changing opportunities, chances to do it again and do it better. When we let go of the fear, we discover that we have a lot more to offer others and ourselves.

It takes work-hard work-to reclaim your worth. So what if people wonder "who does she think she is?" I cannot remain in denial of my worth just to "not make waves". I am moving on to better things, growing through courage and reclaiming the greatness that my Soul holds within her.

I cannot pretend anymore to be satisfied being Princess So and So when I know inside that I was born to be Queen-if only in my own Kingdom. It has to start within before it can be shared with others. Today, I am Queen in my own life. I have earned my stripes and consciously acknowledge my worth daily. Not because someone else has agreed that I have worth or because someone has decided that I am worthy of it.

I have passed various life tests, solidifying my worth and understand that I will continue to have more tests. I suffer and learn through them but I shine in my element like pure gold.

My kingdom grows and increases out of my love for it and for every-one in it. I work towards my vision and I rule my kingdom, however small, with grace and with heart. I decide my worth and I will never again hide my gifts.

8
Life Lesson: Hunger and Passion

"If you take responsibility for yourself, you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams."
-Les Brown, Motivational Speaker

I am watching one of my favorite television shows-Emeril Live-as closely as an intern would watch a surgeon during a triple bypass procedure.

Now let's just make it perfectly clear from the beginning that-for the record-I am not a chef, not by any stretch of the imagination. In my house, macaroni and cheese is a good day (Hey! It is good stuff!). I am no threat to Emeril Lagasse or anyone else for that matter. Well, maybe the firefighters should be concerned but never mind, that's another story.

What has me captivated, dare I say seduced, is the passion this man exudes for what he is doing. With each dish prepared, I begin to feel like a Peeping Tomasina; so much a part of his task is he. He is everywhere all at once and loving it.

He enjoys not only cooking, but he enjoys food. He enjoys the tools with which he is cooking. He is totally involved in what he is doing. He relishes this food, this eggplant, and this chicken. He raves on its beauty, it lushness, its smell, its texture, its taste... Whew! Is it hot in here or is it just me? But the thing that captivates me most about his technique is the innate joy, the sheer passion that he has-and shows-for what he is doing. He truly enjoys the journey from eggplant to masterpiece.

Oh, to have this passion for our own lives! When we are passionate about our lives, we are sitting on the edges of our seats, participating in our own lives. Not as a spectator dreading and wondering what is going to happen next as if our life is on autopilot, but as the Director. Making things happen by using our strengths and weaknesses, every-thing that we have and that we are.

We are sitting on the edges of our seats cheering for ourselves. Rooting for ourselves, "Go girl!" and "You can do it!"

We love life in spite of the thorns; we enjoy the journey in spite of the potholes. We are seduced by the loveliness that we know what our lives can be. We are captivated with the ingredients that make up our lives, what makes us unique, authentic.

Passion is excitement, involvement, and interest in your life as it is happening. It is the fire inside that makes it impossible for us to keep still-we have to keep moving, keep growing, and keep doing. Keep Being.

When we are passionate about our lives, we go after it with a hunger- it's got to happen, we are on fire, hungry, simply starving with the desire to have it, do it, be it, live it. We cannot stop thinking about it. We are in there making it happen and loving every second of it. And the excitement builds until we just cannot contain it. You have to tell somebody, anybody, and everybody. Passion for living is contagious. When you are excited, truly excited about YOU, about life, about others, people will see it, feel it, and want to have that too. They will catch it as well. They will say "She is going places, doing things, living fully, I can too".

Today, let us resolve to no longer be Peeping Tomasinas in our lives. Let's throw open the doors, march right into our own lives, and mix it up! Everyday!

Decide what to add and how much to make our lives the best possible. We will decide when to turn up the heat and when to turn it down. And when there are times when something boils over, just mop it up and keep going. We may have to move around some things, switch some ingredients, and mix in more of this and less of that. Our life is what we are mixing up. Let us stir in more passion! We take responsibility for ourselves.

Maria Mitchell, the Leader of the 1875 Women's Congress, reminded us that, "We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more we are capable of seeing." When you are mixing it up, sometimes your creation will seem to go flat, do not worry about it. Keep going! The process is important, keep trying new things and keep your eyes on the masterpiece you will be in the end. We visualize what we will become.

Famed Coach Joe Paterno cautions us that, "Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good." Do everything you do with honor, dignity, and Spirit.

Speaking of Emeril, here is a recipe you can try, let's call it, hmmm ...how about Homemade Passion? But first a word of caution-each of the following ingredients on its own is potent, but when combined they are highly combustible!

In your Container (Yourself) mix large quantities of the following: love, laughter, pleasure, joy, Spirit, happiness, simplicity, adventure, gratitude and flexibility. Do not worry about the exact measurements, in this recipe more is better!

Stir vigorously and continually, you will know when it is the right consistency, it is not possible to over mix this recipe! Turn up the heat! Bring to a rolling boil and continue to boil uncovered. Warning, this mixture is very intense and may boil over if kept covered or in a closed Container.

Serve often in generous portions with everything you do, say, and create, multiple times a day if you can stand it. In addition, it tastes even better the next day and the day after that. Always keep this mixture in supply and readily accessible.

There you have it, passion for living. Remove your lid and enjoy your journey to the masterpiece you can be!

11
Life Lesson: Courage

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."
-Raymond Lindquist

I was running for my life, out of breath, out of time. I slid to a stop, the earth seeming to crumble at my feet. This was it, time to decide-which way would I go? Forward or backward? I had to decide NOW.

I stood on the edge of a very wide, very deep chasm. At my back was the roar of the life I had just broken free from-snarling, angry, bitter, and unstable. Directly ahead of me, on the other side of the chasm was the life that I wanted, I needed so desperately. Hopeful, optimistic, terrifyingly unfamiliar. Could I do it?

Swallowing hard, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, whispered a prayer and jumped.

With a stroke of the pen, I jumped, flying, soaring, my heart pounding like a thousand drums. I cleared the chasm, an inaudible scream of exhilaration filling my mind like a battle cry.

Not looking down, not looking back, my eyes focused forward and I landed on my feet, on the other side, my legs unsteady, my heart banging against my ribcage as I stared shakily into my future.

It was done and my divorce was finalized that day in that courtroom when I found the courage to change what needed to be changed. The courage to jump headfirst into my own life. Now it was up to me. Courage is just that-standing on the edge of your life peering into the unknown and jumping in anyway. Every decision, every second of every day was my responsibility to live in a way that built me up and strengthened me.

Joan Curcio once said that courageous risks are life giving, they help you grow, make you brave, and better than you think you are. I received my life back that day.

Change-sometimes terrifying, often needed, and most times necessary. The more dramatic, the more necessary the change, the more difficult it was for me to hang on to. Real lasting changes required hard decisions and I just did not know if I could do it. I had to get to the root of what I really needed to change. By becoming more aware of the changes that Soul required of me and by looking honestly at what was going on in my life, I understood that I was responsible for my own life.

So many times, we turn over the responsibility for our contentment to someone else. However, responsibility for yourself always returns to you eventually. Oh, we may not consciously say, "here take over, do what you want with it". Rather we say it in our actions, we defer to others, we stifle our voices, and we go "brain-dead".

If we are not as happy in our lives as we can be, it is definitely time to change. We each have clarity about the kind of person that we want to be, but often this vision becomes dulled by everyday stuff. Who do we want to be and what will it take to get there?

Fear stifles Courage. Fear makes things bigger than they are; it paralyzes us, makes our minds clouded. Nothing will happen if we live our lives afraid that Something will happen. Nothing good, nothing bad. We think that we are protecting ourselves by not doing anything. Fear is like a dam in the middle of the river of our life. Nothing goes over, under or through it-until we detonate it.

Set the charge and ignite the fuse today. Blow the dam up, watch the pieces of it fly away. How? One kind gesture toward yourself at a time, laying little charges along the way, blowing up your fears bit by bit. It is difficult to do it all at once. But by demolishing one or two fears at a time, being brave and doing it anyway will lay waste to all of those fears that stalled you during your journey before today.

Be Courageous-only you can decide to jump-fears, real or imagined hold you back. Aesop, the ancient Greek writer of fables, who is supposed to have been a freed slave from Thrace, was credited with saying that "it is easy to be brave from a safe distance".

I know, there will be days when you will still feel fearful, unsure and a bit shaky. Whisper a prayer and dare to step into the arena of your own life. True courage requires getting into the thick of your life. Living it, doing it, everyday. Leave the safety of the familiar and dare to leap headfirst into your own life.