I'm Thankful For Unanswered Prayers

True to the holiday spirit, I am currently zeroing in on all the things I am grateful for. After pondering over my many blessings I can honestly say that during this season of my life, one of the biggest blessings I am truly thankful for are all the things I didn’t receive. I have (by the grace of God) dodged SEVERAL bullets thanks to unanswered prayers.

Let me tell ya’ll….there are so many things I thought I wanted in the past that I am so glad I didn’t get. But at that time, all I could see was what I wanted. I didn’t care about the consequences that came with the things I wanted, or if I was mentally prepared for those consequences, or what type of lifestyle the things I wanted would have yielded. All I knew in the moment was that I wanted what I asked for, and today I can thankfully say that I’m so glad God is much more aware than I am - and that He gives according to my needs and what I’m ready for.

Every blessing we want comes with a price tag. Sometimes the blessing is affordable, and sometimes we are in over our heads. When I think back on some of the stuff I prayed for, I now realize that those situations may have been too costly therefore causing me to stress or lose sight of my purpose. At the time when we are asking for blessings and don’t receive them, we automatically become angry or discouraged. We may even lose a little faith. But what I am continuously learning everyday of my life is EVERYTHING that I either lost or didn’t receive was for my good. Some unanswered prayers taught me a lesson I needed to learn, some made me a stronger person for the trials I would later face, some made me a better friend, and some made me more appreciative.

Every unanswered prayer can’t be explained, but trust there’s a reason for it. So while you’re reflecting on your blessings this Thanksgiving Holiday, remember to think about the blessings you thought you wanted but didn’t receive.

Blessings don’t always come in the form of yes, they come through disappointments too.

Thankful for the no’s……

- Samjah Iman

If You're Comfortable, You're Mediocre

I had dinner with a friend the other night and a motivating discussion came about as a result of our meetup.  While devouring some fried green tomatoes smothered in remoulade sauce, I vaguely listened to my friend as he discussed his life experiences.  I was so busy concentrating on my delicious tomatoes (I was super hungry by the way) that I could hardly hear anything he was saying until he spoke this, "If the house note you are paying makes you feel comfortable, then you need to search for a house with a note that makes you a little uncomfortable." I quickly lifted my face out of my plate and kindly asked him to repeat himself.  He explained further.  He said if you're in a comfortable position, you are not being stretched.  He stated that humans should seek some interests that make them feel uncomfortable for growth purposes.  He went on to say that a lot of people are in relationships that don't require them to grow or they go back to relationships that they once left because it's "comfortable."  Same with jobs or business ventures - people won't leave a particular job or start a business or get that degree because it will take them out of their comfort zone and require them to make some moves that they have never made before.  Therefore they settle and do what's easy.  

“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try. ”

— Unknown

I took his words in for a second and was reminded of how I live my life.  I thought about when I committed to attending Howard University in D.C.  My parents were puzzled and asked me what was wrong with going to the local university in which I could attend for free.  I told them that was too easy to do, and I wanted to do something bigger.  So at 22 years old, my friend and I jumped in the car and drove 18 hours from Monroe, LA to Washington, D.C.  I got to that new city, got my school situation straight, got a place to stay, met some interesting people, and landed a few hustles.  This D.C. adventure set the tone for my fearless attitude towards my adult life.  From then on, I jumped at any and every opportunity to do something that made me feel a little uneasy and I still do.  It's a scary thing to do sometimes and I have doubts, but in the end I find that it always works out, I learn something, and I discover that I am even more powerful and resilient than I ever knew.     

Stepping outside of our comfort zone can be applied to every aspect in our lives.  For instance, if you do 10 squats in the gym everyday, bump it up to 12 squats and so forth and so on.  Challenge yourself to eat differently.  Take a different route to work than the usual one.  Read a new type of book other than your usual reads.  We weren't made to be mediocre and only do what's easy.  We were made to be dynamic. 

We are all powerful and brilliant.  There is magic inside of each and everyone of us waiting to be unlocked.  All we have to do is take some different routes, and we will discover our limitless abilities. 

Peace and Blessings,

- Samjah Iman

Photo Credit: @87photography87 (Instagram)

Stay Out of Your Head!

Have you ever feared something then decided to go ahead and face that fear only to find out it wasn't as bad as you thought?  That's because you were tripping off of what was in your head versus what was reality.  A lot of our stress comes from the "what ifs" we have swimming around in our brains.  What if I can't pay the bill, what if he/she doesn't like me, what if it doesn't work, what if I mess up....etc.  We think ourselves into failure and then act accordingly.

I'm willing to bet that 90% of the things we are currently stressing over right now are in our heads only and haven't even occurred yet.  The mind is super powerful.  Thoughts become feelings.  We have to be careful what we think and feed our mind because it definitely absorbs what we give it.  So let's release the "what ifs" that are in our minds and focus on what is and the positive visions that we want to come to pass.  If we change our mindset, we change our worlds.

 Side Note:  Before I jump back into my day, let me give a quick review on the organic mask I introduced here - three words, IT IS FANTASTIC!  It consists of bentonite clay and everlasting essential oil, and it works (see benefits of bentonite clay here)!  It is good for oily, acne prone skin.  You can also do it as many times as you need to without over processing your skin.  I'm in love with it!  Check it out here.

Have a wonderful rest of the week my loves, and let's stay out of our heads!

Peace and Blessings,

- Samjah Iman

For Us...

To all the women who wake up before sunrise and work until night falls

To all the women who carry the world on their shoulders and feel like they are alone

To all the women who've been told they were too skinny or too fat - too dark or too light

To all the women who feel uneducated, stuck, and unworthy

To all the women who look in the mirror and struggle with the person looking back at them

To all the women who make a dollar out of a dime

To all the women who feed the kids, do homework, cook the meals, and still manage to polish their nails

To all the women who cry when no one is looking

To all the women who give everything to an undeserving idiot

To all the women who make this challenging life look so easy

To all the women who aren't valued

To all the women who keep it cute even when shit ain't

THIS DAY and EVERY DAMN DAY IS FOR US!!! SALUTE!!!

Happy Women's Day!!!

- Samjah Iman

10 Things I Learned at 34 yrs old

My life anniversary (birthday) is approaching; therefore, I've been in reflection mode for the past few weeks.  As I think back over the experiences I encountered during my year of being 34, I am reminded of some valuable lessons I learned and will share with you all.  Get into them below.     

1.  Inner peace is a valuable gift. (If it doesn't bring peace, then stay away from it.)

2.  S#@t happens - but that shouldn't stop you. (Life will do what it does.  Keep going.)

3.  Being true to who you are is grand. (When you are living in your truth and not faking the funk, life is easier.  You have a piece of mind and you are free.  You don't worry about pleasing others or fitting in.  You sleep good at night. )

4.  Trusting your gut is wise.  (Mostly every time I followed my gut, I was correct.  We were blessed with intuition for a reason.....let's use it.)

5.  Trying to please everyone will drive you crazy. (At the end of the day people will ultimately do what's best for them....so do what's best for you.)

6.  Having a positive and grateful outlook on life helps keep stress away.  (Positive affirmations make you feel good inside.)

7.  Every situation is a lesson. (I have learned from every incident that either made me happy, sad, mad, tired, etc.  There's a lesson in everything.)

8.  Self-evaluation is soul cleansing.  (Before you get the spec out of your friend's eye, get the log out of yours. Matthew 7:5).

9.  Pushing yourself to your limit makes you a stronger person.  (You never know how far you can go until you try.)

10.  Growing/maturing is a life long process.  (We should be working on growth daily.  If we don't grow then we aren't living.)

I look forward to living, maturing, and learning much more in my 35th year on this earth.  I can't wait to see what this new journey will bring.  I'm ready and excited! 

Happy Black History Month!

- The Birthday Girl

Prepare for the Fight

In continuing my message I posted on Monday, I thought I'd share some insight that I received from Bishop TD Jakes about two or three weeks ago.  During one of his sermons I caught on YouTube, Jakes preached that life is a fight, and God is our sparring partner which means He is training and equipping us to win the fight.  I thought about what Jakes was saying and a light bulb popped on in my head.  Instead of wishing that I won't have to fight life all the time, I'll go into it ready for the fight.

I'm not looking for a break anymore.  I'm prepared to work hard for whatever I want.  I was talking to my friend Fish Plate (funny story how he got this nickname) about the recent events and the message I received from Bishop Jakes, and he said something that was real.  He said, "Everybody wants to be Oprah and have Oprah's money, but no one wants to experience and live through the struggles Oprah dealt with before she became Oprah."  This is so true because we often look up to millionaires and stars and wish we had their lives, but we never know what their fight was to get where they are. And you better believe that each person we look up to has had or is having some type of fight - that's just life.  

“Don’t want to do the dishes, just want to eat the food. ”

— Unknown

There is always going to be challenges in life.  Traffic will be heavy, our bank account will be missing some zeros, people will be mean and bias, unqualified people will become presidents of countries, the hot water heater will stop working, it will cost a lot to start a business or go back to school, our gas tanks will be low, girlfriends and boyfriends will leave, husbands and wives will disappoint, the brakes will go out, the car will stop running, the computer will freeze up (this is a sure way to make me run up and down the street screaming), the boss will ignore our accomplishments, blah, blah, blah, blah. Shit happens.  Many people will experience all these things and feel like God has not favored them.  This is the furthest thing from the truth.  God is actually training us for bigger fights to come because it doesn't get easier my loves, it gets harder.  The more successful we become the more responsibility we will have - and that's when we'll really have to scuffle. 

“Mo money, Mo problems. ”

— Notorius B.I.G

I stopped complaining about every little thing that was holding me back and started mentally preparing for the hurdles.  In the past, I knew they were coming but was hoping that God would spare me.  Now I know they are coming, and I use the strength that God has equipped me with to knock them all down.  Do I get tired of fighting?  Yup.  Do I feel like I have lost at times? Of course.  But I will not be defeated because I've got things I want to accomplish.  I will not let life get in the way and have me waking up one morning with regrets.   

Life won't let up - so we can't either.  The more we fight, the stronger we will be.   

So here's to life - Moma said knock you out.

- Samjah Iman

P.S. - I've been jamming to a Tribe Called Quest's latest album.  It feels good to have some music with depth to listen to.  So far I'm digging We The People, Kids, and Melatonin.  I will continue listening to discover more songs. 

What is That in Your Hand?

Some time ago I heard the story of Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3-4) from the bible being told in a way that relates to everyday life.  It had been about a couple of years ago since I've heard the interpretation of that story, therefore I had pushed it to the back of my mind, but this past weekend I was reminded of it.

Briefly, the story is about God calling Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and from under Pharaoh's control.  When God called upon Moses, Moses gave God a bunch of reasons as to why he couldn't complete the task that God had given him.  This has been me for the past month. 

I've been on that Moses tip reeeeeaaaaal hard.  I have been faced with an opportunity to grow, and up until this past weekend I have come up with 127 reasons why I couldn't.  I've said everything from "I don't have the type of money I would like to have right now to complete the task" to "I need to get some things situated first before I do it." Then as I was sitting in solitude this past weekend trying to get my mind right, it hit me.  I was reminded of what God asked Moses. "What is that in your hand?"

You see, Moses was giving God reasons as to why he couldn't execute the plan that was assigned to him and then God said, "Dude, what is that in your hand?" Okay he didn't say it quite like that but you see where I'm going.  Moses then answered him and said it was a shepherd's staff.  God then asked him to throw it down and Moses did, and it immediately turned into a snake. God was basically showing Moses that he already possessed the skills and resources needed to complete the task - all he had to do was use them.  God was basically saying , "Bruh, quit tripping and do what I asked you to do. You got everything you need already.  Just do it.  I got you!"

When I thought about this particular story in the bible I immediately got motivated.  I felt like this story came to me because God was telling me to stop worrying about what I don't have because I already have everything I need - and to move forward with the opportunity presented, and He'll do the rest. 

We may not ever have everything we want to have in place to complete a task given to us or to go after a goal we've set.  There will always be a reason to make excuses about what we do not have, but I'm learning that it's not about what we don't have.  It's all about now, and what we do have. 

Stop procrastinating and do what you have to do with what you have now.  He'll provide what you're lacking.

What is that in your hand?

- Samjah Iman

Shut Up

Have you ever had a wonderful idea, exciting news, or new companion that you were super stoked about and as a result you decided to share your enthusiasm with someone, and they killed your vibe on the spot?  Yup, that has happened to me too - a number of times, and then I finally decided to apply some advice my grandmother gave me several years ago....shut up.   

“Don’t tell the dishwasher what you did with ya dishes.”

— Jeezy

My grandmother once told me that you can't tell everyone what you're doing.  Boy was she so right.  You see....everyone has an opinion.  Everyone will tell you what they would do if they were you, but the key factor is - THEY ARE NOT YOU!  I've learned over the years that it's okay to talk to a chosen few but not everyone because some people only want you to live a certain way that makes THEM feel comfortable.  They don't want you to do too much, go too far, or be too great because it makes them feel bad about their circumstances.  Everyone doesn't need to know your every move or your next move because not everyone has your best interest at heart, not everyone is satisfied with themselves so they project their negative vibes on you (misery loves company) and, most importantly, not everyone understands YOUR destiny/journey. 

“Never let ‘em know your next move - don’t you know bad boys move in silence? ”

— Notorious B.I.G. (Ten Crack Commandments)

I once heard Bishop TD Jakes say that we need to stop receiving counsel (from people) that doesn't line up with our purpose.   You could have a brilliant idea or new interest, but you let your idea die or interest fall by the wayside because of how someone reacted when you told them about it. And now that person who reacted negatively to your idea is living his or her life while you are stuck not pursuing your goals or living your life.  Just SHUT UP!  Bring to fruition whatever feels good in your soul and then share it with the world.  Just remember to guard some of your passions and goals before you birth them because not everyone needs to put their energy on your dreams, and not everyone can see your vision like you can see it.

Get your purpose, keep it to yourself, and carry it out.    

- Samjah Iman

Faith or Fronting?

The only differences between me, you and most extremely successful people is that they have faith, they believe in themselves, and they take action. 

Some of us love quoting faith scriptures because it's embedded in us to do so or because we actually like the way they sound.  We are quick to say "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" but won't act upon what we profess to believe.  There are people that have the whole Book of James plastered all over their cubicle wall at work, but won't start that baking company they've been dreaming about for the last 10 years.  Where they do that at??  If you feel you can do all things and if you believe He lives in you then why haven't you acted on your beliefs?  Are you waiting for some magical, successful dust to be sprinkled on you?  Well here's some news, there is none.  He helps those who help themselves.  

“But even when you pray, the next day you gotta try. Can’t wait for nobody to come down out the sky.”

— CeeLo Green

Believing in yourself is believing in God.  Believing in you means that you believe you were wonderfully made by Him and that you can truly do all things because He lives you.  That's some real power people - let's ACT ON IT!  

We have four months left in this year,  let's take a leap of faith, put in the work and see where it leads us.  If it doesn't work out as planned, at least we will have gained strength, courage, and wisdom.

Boss up!

- Samjah Iman

How to Face Failure, Obstacles and Detours With Grace by Chela Mitchell

Life will have its challenges, and there's nothing we can do to prevent them.  However, we can decide how we approach and deal with those challenges.  I was reading my girl's blog (chelamitchell.com), and I came across an article she wrote on how to face failure in a more positive way.  Click here to check the article out and take heed.

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”

— Charles R. Swindoll

Happy Hump Day!

- Samjah Iman

Enjoy the Journey

Sometimes in life, we get so preoccupied with our ultimate goals and success that we forget to enjoy the process that leads us to achieving these goals and success.  Think about it like this. Say you and your loved ones are taking a road trip somewhere. On the way to the destination you pass a lot of great scenery, restaurants, and popular landmarks, but you don't take the time to stop and enjoy these things because you are so focused on getting to your destination.  Yes you eventually make it to your destination, but you've also missed a lot of potentially fun, everlasting memories along the way because you were only concentrating on one part of the trip, not the trip as a whole.

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oftentimes we treat life and our goals just like the trip described above.  We don't take the time to enjoy other things that are happening around us because we are only concentrating on the bigger picture.  We are so busy running through life trying to make something happen that we are missing precious moments. 

I hear people talk all the time about what they are going to do when they finally accomplish a goal or reach a certain status.  My question to them is, "What are you doing in the meantime?"  Life shouldn't be on hold until you reach a desired point.  Life is a road that is meant to be traveled and lived at all stages because you never know when that road will change or end. 

Don't wait for the perfect moment to live.  Enjoy the scenery on the way to that perfect moment.  Living on the way to your perfect moment will make your perfect moment that much better.

On another note, I am helping out a family that lost everything during the flood in Baton Rouge.  The family consists of a mother and a daughter who is in the 9th grade.  If you would like to join me in assisting this family, please email me at samjahiman@styleandenergy.com for more information.  Your help and prayers are greatly appreciated.   

I'm enjoying the journey.  Are you?

- Samjah Iman