Crossing Bridges with Rae

Transform your relationship with yourself and with God through the quiet power of gratitude. What if shifting your mindset from negativity to gratitude could change your life? In this episode of "Crossing Bridges with Rae," I unravel my journey of embracing gratitude and meditation despite initial skepticism. Through consistent effort, gratitude has become a pivotal part of my daily routine, and I’m excited to share simple exercises like the “morning moment” and the “gratitude pause” that have helped me along the way. These practices may only take seconds but can bring profound peace and thankfulness to everyday life.

Join our community conversation as we explore the impact of gratitude on our healing journey and how every small step forward counts. Reflect with me on how recognizing the good amidst challenges can shift our perspectives and enrich our lives. Together, we’ll delve into the importance of community support and sharing experiences on this path toward healing. Let's promise to practice self-gentleness and trust ourselves as we navigate life’s ups and downs. I am grateful to our soulful family for your commitment and look forward to continuing this heartfelt conversation next week.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Power of Gratitude Transformation Journey

(08:20) Journey of Gratitude and Healing

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In this podcast episode, I, Rae, reflect on professional football player Russell Wilson's journey, focusing on his challenges with a former coach and his current success with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Emphasizing themes of faith and perseverance, I admire Wilson's transformation under Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin. I discuss Wilson's past criticisms and highlight how his faith has provided strength. This episode encourages listeners, to remain steadfast in their beliefs, trust in a higher power, and navigate life's challenges with grace and determination, drawing inspiration from Wilson's resilience and success.

CHAPTERS:

Introduction and Love for Football (00:00:00)  

Rae expresses her passion for football and reminisces about watching sports with her father.

Russell Wilson's Challenges (00:01:19)  

She discusses Russell Wilson's issues with his former coach and the benching situation.

Wilson's Success with the Steelers (00:02:32)  

Highlighting Wilson's impressive performance and the Steelers' success after he became the lead quarterback.

Transformation and New Energy (00:03:20)  

Reflection on how Mike Tomlin and the Steelers have revitalized Wilson's game and spirit.

Faith and Perseverance (00:03:51)  

Wilson's faith in God and how it guides him through challenges.

God's Role in Life's Struggles (00:05:07)  

The speaker discusses how God supports believers through difficulties, leading to success.

Karma and Consequences (00:06:14)  

Exploration of karma and how wrongdoing can lead to struggles for those who mistreat others.

Encouragement to Stay Steadfast (00:07:28)  

A motivational message about believing in a higher power and persevering through life's challenges.

LINKS AND MENTIONS:

• Cam and Mace: "00:02:32"
• Mike Tomlin: "00:02:32"
• Pittsburgh Steelers: "00:01:19"
• Russell Wilson: "00:01:19"
• God: "00:03:51"

HIGHLIGHT TIMESTAMPS::

(02:29 - 03:13) Personal Relationship With a Higher Power

(20:09 - 22:09) Creating Personal Relationship With God

SHOW NOTES:

Join me on this soul-nourishing episode as we explore finding peace amid the chaos that surrounds us. Through personal experiences, particularly during the challenging times of the pandemic, I share how surrendering control to God has helped alleviate overwhelming emotions and stress. We'll discuss the importance of leaning on a higher power for guidance and comfort, offering practical advice like creating boundaries with the constant influx of information, such as avoiding morning news consumption. This episode is a heartfelt call to develop a personal relationship with a higher power and seek divine direction to navigate life's challenges.

Listen in as I emphasize the importance of building a personal relationship with God, free from external influences and distractions. I highlight the healing power of praise and worship, sharing how gospel artists like Kirk Franklin have positively impacted my spiritual journey. By minimizing external noise and distancing ourselves from negative influences, we can better listen to God's guidance and foster a deep, personal connection with Him. I invite you to join me in creating a supportive community aimed at nurturing this relationship, and encourage your feedback and engagement, wishing everyone peace, happiness, and mental calmness.

CHAPTER SUMMARY:

(00:00) Finding Peace Amid Chaos

This chapter addresses feelings of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, especially in tumultuous times. Drawing from personal experiences during the pandemic, we explore the importance of leaning on a higher power for guidance and comfort. I share how surrendering control to God has helped alleviate overwhelming emotions and stress. Practical advice is given on creating boundaries with the constant influx of information from the outside world, such as avoiding morning news consumption. This chapter is a call to develop a personal relationship with a higher power and seek divine direction to navigate life's challenges, aiming to provide solace and guidance to those searching for answers.

(18:22) Building a Personal Relationship With God

This chapter focuses on the importance of building a personal relationship with God, free from external influences and distractions. I emphasize the healing power of praise and worship, sharing how gospel artists like Kirk Franklin have positively impacted my spiritual journey. By minimizing external noise and distancing oneself from negative influences, we can better listen to God's guidance and foster a deep, personal connection with Him. I invite listeners to join me in creating a supportive community aimed at nurturing this relationship, highlighting that true peace and happiness come from trusting and seeking God first. I encourage feedback and engagement, wishing everyone peace, happiness, and mental calmness.

SUGGESTIONS WITHIN THE PODCAST:

The Lord's Prayer

https://bit.ly/TheLorsdPrayerExtendedwithRae

Ephesians 3:20

https://bit.ly/DeclareEphesians320

The 23rd Psalm

https://bit.ly/23rdPsalmRM

Welcome to a Love (Valentine's) Day edition of Crossing Bridges with Rae, where I your host, Rae, open up about the many facets of love, with a special nod to my single listeners out there. Listen in as I unpack the importance of self-love and the beauty of being single.

We're celebrating self-appreciation, discussing the value of waiting for a relationship that truly resonates with effortlessness, and considering how our insecurities can shape our romantic journeys. Whether you're solo or partnered up, this is a day for all to bask in love, so I'm inviting you to reflect on the personal significance of this occasion and join in the conversation about nurturing the most important relationship you have – the one with yourself.

Moving on to a practice that's as heartfelt as it is hopeful, I share an empowering affirmation designed to open our hearts to love and abundance. This isn't just about positive thinking; it's about setting intentions and taking action.

I guide you through the thoughtful process of writing a love letter to a future partner, a step that's not only for singles but can be a touching exercise for those already in love. It's about expressing gratitude for love that's either already present or yet to come, and doing the self-work necessary to heal past wounds before welcoming new love. Tune in for a dose of inspiration, a moment of gratitude, and a reminder of your worthiness of love's many blessings.

HIGHLIGHTS:

(01:22 - 03:49) Valentine's Day

(14:35 - 15:59) Letter to Future Husband

(18:40 - 20:33) Valentine's Day Reflection on Love

CHAPTERS:

(00:17) Valentine's Day and Self-Love Encouragement

Valentine's Day special on self-love, cherishing singlehood, and waiting for a healthy, mutual relationship. Reflecting on personal insecurities and their impact.

(10:29) Affirmations and Letter to Future Partner

Affirmations and intentional actions attract love and abundance, involving gratitude and self-work to ensure healthy relationships.

TRANSCRIPT:

00:17 - Rachel "Rae" Mindy (Host)

Where? Hello, thank you for being here and welcome, welcome. Welcome to I don't know what to call it today Rachel Lerant Love Drops. Let's just call it that Love Drop. Let's just call this episode Love Drops. So welcome to Love Drops with Ray. Happy Valentine's Day. 

01:26

I really just want to kind of share something, more so for those who are single. I'm going to be talking to all of you, but you know, for the most part I talk to women and a few men as well, so I just want to kind of sort of have like an open discussion about my feelings on some things and to provide some motivations and encouragement. Today I received a happy Valentine's Day message, which I appreciated, but it made me think about all of the women and men that are not really celebrating this day, right, and because they don't have a partner, or they just had a breakup or there was a divorce or an ending of an engagement, whatever. It is right. Or maybe you are just happily single, okay, so let's just include us in there too, right, but this day is about love. This day is about love. This day is about love, this day is about love, and so you know, for me, I honestly I'm just gonna be perfectly honest, I forgot that today was Valentine's Day. I had, you know, things to do early this morning, people to take care of, and things of that nature. So, you know, once I was like out and about. You know, you're kind of like in the community or whatever. If there's some sort of holiday going on, it's going to be present, right? So I realized, oh, today's Valentine's Day. And so I saw a couple of I wouldn't say they were sad posts, but just posts about you know, not having a man or you know, not having a partner, or not having someone to spend this day with, celebrate this day and things of that nature. And I just don't, I don't believe in that. I mean, excuse me that I forgot today was Love Day, right, but if you want to celebrate it, it's open for everyone couples and people to celebrate it. If you want to celebrate it, it's open for everyone couples, people that are single, everything right. 

03:50

Because there's something to be said about if you don't have, like, a significant other, there's something to be said about just loving on yourself, showing love for yourself. You know, I think that was the premise of like Valentine's Day, like, okay, well, I don't have a man or I don't have a woman, but let's go do something together, right? But and I love that, I love that idea because I love bringing people together myself. But I think there's something to be said about just celebrating who you are and loving who you are, and even if that's the broken, you right. Even if you are at a space where you are sad or lonely or, you know, going through something right now, whatever, I think that there's always an opportunity, no matter what is going on in your life, to celebrate yourself. Celebrate yourself, because if you don't love yourself, how is anybody else going to, right? And so I just wanted to share some things with you that I've, you know, picked up or was like oh, I like that. Let me share that, and hopefully it will give you a good feeling, or a better feeling about this day. This day never has to be sad. 

05:15

Whether you're with someone or not, whether you're married or not, whether you're, you know, happily divorced or unhappily divorced, whether you are engaged to someone or whether you're not, like, whether you're super single, and that's where you are in this period in your life. I just feel like there's always a reason to be happy, even if you don't have that special someone in your life. So I've got a question for you, I've got a message for you and I also have an affirmation for you, and then I have an action. I love this message and this is for anyone who is really seeking something really special. So let's go, stay single and wait for a relationship that feels effortless, that's not confusing, that's not complicated, and don't commit until you find someone who's willing to treat you right, without constant reminders, because every conversation you've had with them they've been attentive, they've paid attention to the details, they've allowed themselves to be open when it comes to you being able to speak from your heart. And stay single until you find someone who is willing to listen, process and apply the information that you have given them, because they truly want to understand you and respect you and be able to respond well to your love language and they value open communication and appreciation within the relationship. And stay single until you find someone that values making you feel loved, cared for, safe and heard above everything else, because their desire is to remind you that with them, everything matters. Someone who displays wisdom and the proficiency to deal with the obligations that come with loving you and don't settle into you. Find someone who chases you with the same velocity or passion before and after the relationship starts, and they keep that effort in keeping you. What do you think? I just think that's absolutely beautiful, absolutely beautiful. 

08:10

I know that there's a lot of us that want a relationship, but I heard a question a couple of weeks ago and I saved it for this purpose, because sometimes we have to ask ourselves this question as much as we want to be in a relationship, as much as we want a special someone, as much as we want a husband, a wife, a girlfriend, a fiance, whatever, how are my personal insecurities going to ruin this relationship? Is the question. That's something that I really want you to marinate on, maybe even journal on, and come back and share it with me. Share with me what you wrote down, share with me what it is, if anything that you feel like are your personal insecurities, and maybe these might be some things that you need to work on. Maybe these might be some things that you need to pray about. Maybe these are just some things that you need to kind of sort of realize, because what happens is that we ask for this perfect person, we ask for this person that's specifically for you, but we haven't done the work, and so, therefore, those people are victim to like being charged with things that other people have done, which is why I speak so much about not only self love, but healing and things of that nature, because they're so very important. You never want to fumble someone right. You never want to like push someone away that really is there to love you, to love you wholeheartedly, unconditionally. You never want to do that. So that's the question that I wanted to ask Are you going in wounded? Are you going in wounded? So just ask yourself that question. I would implore you to either meditate on it, marinate on it or my number one would be germ on it. 

10:29

So I heard this affirmation Not sure how long ago it was, but I heard this affirmation and I saved it because I really wanted to share it. And since today is love day, why not share it now? So this is a short declaration or affirmation that I think can bring upliftment and make you feel better and even put a smile on your face. It's short and sweet, but I'm going to share this as well. So take some time, Close your eyes, take a deep breath. I repeat after me, I give myself permission to receive new levels of love and abundance in all areas of my life. I grant permission to my angels to bring me surprises and miracles to remind me that I am worthy of great love and abundance. And so it is. And so it is. So I love that affirmation. It says a lot in there, but more off, more Importantly, it is just speaking to yourself every day, right? And so this affirmation, you know you can change it, you can update it, you can add to it, you can subtract from it, whatever it is that you want to do, but the words that you speak to yourself, they always, they always come true. So use it at your discretion. I will add all of these things into the show notes so that you can, you know, copy and paste it, whatever it is that you want to do with it. So the action that I want to share with you and Since I said that this was really for my single people, you know, I believe that even though I may be speaking to single men or women, I personally believe that even if you are in a relationship, especially if there are some things that are going on that are kind of rocky or, you know, there's some issues and things of that nature. 

13:01

I always feel like these kind of things are Not just for one person or one group of people. Um, most people would would say the latter, but I don't believe that. I believe that there's always a room For growth, there's always room for improvement, there's always room, you know, for all of those things, and it doesn't necessarily have to be that you don't have a partner. Okay, and so the action that I was going to share was Writing a love letter to your future husband or wife and letting God go to work for you. And Basically, I saw I don't know again, I saw this somewhere on social media, but basically the person Was, you know, interested in being married, right, interested in finding their person. And I believe their mom suggested like why don't you get God involved in your relationship? Why don't you write a letter to your future husband? And she was like light bulb, you know what I mean like let me stop trying to do this on my own. Let me let, let me get God involved in this right. And so the action was that she went and got a Valentine's Day card. It's still Valentine's Day today and even if it isn't Valentine's Day, excuse me, you make this your own right. If you happen to hear this on another day and there are no Valentine's Day cards in the store, please do not stop because you don't have a Valentine's Day card. Right, because you don't necessarily need the Valentine's Day card to write a letter to your future husband. 

14:51

But in this, in this example, it was going to get a Valentine's Day card and Writing a letter to your future husband and then letting God go to work. Right, and that means thanking him For how he treats you, what he has done for you, how faithful and committed he is to you. And I would add to it that I would read this letter every day, right? Or I would just make sure that I show gratitude For him coming into your life, him, her, whoever coming into your life every day. I just watched the miracles happen. Right, watch the miracles happen, but you know, I'm always talking about my, my father, and I personally believe that when you God into it and you really really seriously believe. 

15:52

Because I want to digress for a second I do not want you to read this every day and beg God for a husband. This letter is for your future husband, but this letter I, we want to write this letter in the present tense, right? We're not gonna say, like God, please send me blah. No, you're sending a letter, or, sorry, you're writing a letter to your future husband. So that means he's already yours, right? So you're writing in the present tense about everything that you're thankful for that he does for you, how he loves you, how he cherishes you, how he provides security and how he takes care of just everything, how he's the leader in your home, how he's your lover, your friend, all of those things, right. How he treats you, how he talks to you, how patient he is with you. I can go on and on, right. But we're not going to be asking God for anything, right, because God already knows what it is that you need, right, and maybe you do need to go back to that question and see if there are any things that are in the way of you getting this. But we're not going to negate the fact that we're going to put into action and write a letter to our future husband or wife, right? And so, yeah, that's really all I wanted to share. 

17:25

A lot of times we're doing this surface stuff and we're not really getting into the nitty gritty, right, because we know that if we have had, maybe breakups in our relationship. So maybe if we've had a challenging childhood or if we've had just things that have hit us back to back, we've got some things that we need to work through. We've got some things that we can't run away from because we don't want to go into anything wounded right, that we might find someone who really is for us, but we fumble it because we still have issues. And I'm not saying that you should be issue-less when you go into a relationship, because your partner should just love you, right. And ultimately, when the two of you come together, whatever needs to be healed should be healed within that relationship, right. But when you're wounded at times, you don't see the force for the trees, right. So you personally feel like that person is wrong and that person really hasn't done anything, and so I digress because I don't really want to talk about that. I really don't want to talk about that. 

18:40

Today is Valentine's Day. My request for you would be to do all of these things, all of them, to answer the question, to affirm, to really take in the message that I shared with you about staying single until you find that person that really, really treats you very, very well. And the action. Write a letter. Write a letter to your future partner, to your future love, to your future husband, to your future wife. Write a letter and be so grateful for that person. Be so grateful and just take time to remind yourself every day if this is something that you really want. You should be able to carve out some time to talk to God about that person coming into your life and how you're so grateful and thankful for this opportunity to be loved like God loves you. So I digress, I'm gonna go. I literally just wanted to come on and just say something about love right, love right. Let's not allow the depression to setting. Let's find a reason to smile today because there's so many. You're alive, you can walk, you can talk like there's so many things to be grateful for, and so I'm gonna leave you with that. I pray and hope that your day has been great. I hope your week is amazing. 

20:34

It's February. I don't think that it's love day. I actually think it's love month. I don't know about any of you, but I have just felt so much energy around love, the smoke, and where at the 14th. So we're kind of sort of in the middle of the month. I can't believe it's the 14th myself, but anyway. So, yeah, so do something, even if it's going to get some ice cream, if it's going to get a slice of pizza, if it's going to, you know, make your favorite meal. Or, you know, make you a cute little cocktail or whatever. Have fun. It's no reason to be depressed. You're alive. You're alive. Act like it. Love yourself. Love yourself to death. So I am going to go. You know, this is the end of the love note. I appreciate your time. I appreciate you listening to me. Thank you so much for your presence and I'll see you on the other side. We'll talk on the next one. Bye. 

Self-Love, Love Letter, Affirmations, Valentine's Day, Single, Relationships, Self-Work, Gratitude, Future Partner, Personal Insecurities, Abundance, Miracles, God, Romantic Desires, Healing, Cherishing, Company, Reflection, Intentional Action, Transformative Power, Celebrate, Single Life, Love's Personal Significance, Nurturing, Relationship, Cherishing, Self-Appreciation, Love Drops, Love's Infinite Possibilities, Healing Past Wounds, Effortless Partnership, Mutual Effort, Respect, Understanding, Angels, Blessings, Romantic Arrival, Personal Qualities, Love's Arrival, Inviting, Contemplation, Potent Affirmation, Receiving Love, Involve God, Romantic Desires, Inevitability, Self-Work, New Relationships

Listen in as I share the transformative landscape of 2024, a year that beckons us to stay anchored to our spiritual connections and let our inner voice guide us like a compass through life's ebbs and flows. This episode is a heartfelt reminder (and rant) that, despite the external cacophony, our true path is charted from within. Listen in as I share wisdom-filled profound insights into achieving emotional balance, ensuring that neither the darkest nights nor the brightest days sway us from our centeredness. Together, we uncover the beauty of life's transience and the power of recognizing that every experience, whether shrouded in darkness or bathed in light, is but a temporary state in our journey.

Embark on a journey with me as I emphasize the art of creation over destruction and the importance of contributing positively to the world. By maintaining a strong connection with our spiritual family and trusting in the gentle nudges of our intuition, we can forge a path that is not only good for ourselves but for others as well. The conversation underscores the criticality of discernment in the media we consume and the messages we internalize, encouraging us to live authentically and to practice the wisdom we preach. In the heart of this year of transition, we are urged to hold firm to our spiritual roots, allowing them to shield us and instill unwavering confidence in the face of any challenge.

CHAPTERS:

(00:15) Connection and Inner Voice in 2024

2024 is a year of transition, stay grounded in spiritual connections, use your inner voice as a compass, and acknowledge temporary dark and light experiences.

(05:56) Embracing Spirituality and Inner Voice

Being creative, staying connected to a spiritual family, discerning media, living authentically, and trusting intuition for 2024's transition.

HIGHLIGHTS:

(01:30 - 03:53) 2024

(05:56 - 08:16) Creative, Destructive, Balanced

Emotional Equilibrium, Inner Voice, Spiritual Path, Impermanence, Anchoring, Wisdom, External World, Discernment, Media, Ideologies, Authenticity, Transformation, Spiritual Roots, Courage, Transition, Creativity, Destruction, Positive Contribution, Spiritual Family, Fear, Discerning, Authentic, Guidance, Protection

Join me, Rae, on this soul-stirring journey of Crossing Bridges, where we unlock the transformative power of gratitude to craft a more fulfilling life. Gratitude isn't just a practice for the good times; it's a beacon during our darkest days, offering a new perspective that can elevate our happiness. Listen in as I share my own experiences, from battling depression and mourning to discovering the profound impact of gratitude. I provide simple, actionable steps that you can weave into your daily life to nurture this powerful habit. Whether it's through mindful breathing exercises or jotting down daily thanks, you'll learn to appreciate life's tapestry, embracing both the highs and the lows with a grateful heart.

Embrace the journey of building resilience through the lens of gratitude in this latest gathering of Crossing Bridges. As we wrap up, I reflect on the internal victories we achieve by making gratitude a cornerstone of our daily routine. These moments of thankfulness fortify us against life's challenges, guiding us toward greater strength. Remember to carry forward the practice of gratitude and share the shifts you experience. Your stories are an integral part of our community's fabric, encouraging others to find solace in gratitude. Share the experience, and your stories of gratitude, as they become a beacon for others within our circle. Subscribe, leave a review, and spread the healing power of gratitude. Here's to staying positive, staying grateful, and eagerly awaiting the insights our next episode will bring.

HIGHLIGHTS:

(03:04 - 05:24) Practicing Gratitude Through Breathing

CHAPTERS:

(00:20) Cultivating Gratitude for a Fulfilling Life

Gratitude can transform our lives by creating a positive outlook through simple practices like routine, mindfulness, and breathing exercises.

(15:11) Embracing Gratitude and Building Resilience

Gratitude's transformative power, resilience as a guiding light, and embracing challenges and strengths in our journey towards greater strength.

TRANSCRIPT:

00:20 - Rachel "Rae" Mindy (Host)

Hey there, soulful family, welcome to Crossing Bridges with Bray, a sanctuary for those who are navigating the depths within. I am Bray, your companion on this exploration of self-discovery, healing and the profound beauty that arises from the darkest moments. Today's topic is close to my heart. It is all about cultivating a gratitude shift to create a more fulfilling life. We all know that life isn't always about sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes we face challenges that test our resilience and make us question everything. But guess what? Even in those tough times, gratitude can be a powerful ally. What if I told you this simple yet powerful tool can shift your perspective and boost your happiness? Today we are diving deep into the world of gratitude, exploring its benefits, practical tips for incorporating into your daily routine and how you can truly transform your outlook. I will even share how taking mindful moments of gratitude changed my life. 

01:42

You know, gratitude, honestly, to me, is being grateful for what you have and for what you've experienced. It is not just a dictionary definition, it's a daily practice. It's about appreciating the journey, the good and the not so good. It's not to say, it's not just saying thank you, but appreciating what you have and what you have experienced. Gratitude is like an ultimate reset button when everything seems to be falling apart. It gives us perspective. It helps us to move from a place of want or need to a place of appreciation and peace. What helped me in the beginning was not forcing, but practicing the power of quick gratitude bursts, whether it was appreciating the warmth of the sun on my face, the taste of my morning tea or even the fact that I could breathe, that I could see, that I could hear, that I could walk, that I could talk, those small moments added to a significant shift in perspective. So why not try it yourself? Let's take a few moments right now and let's just take some time, like, put away everything you know, sit down or stand up or lay down, whatever it is that you want to do, but let's take three deep breaths. Let's take a breath in through your nose and out through your mouth three times. We're going to hold it at the top. So let's go the first one in through your nose, hold it at the top, and out through your mouth One more time. Let's go again in through your nose, hold it, and out through your mouth One more time in through your nose, folding, and out through your mouth. Now, identify something that you are grateful for. Just notice how it feels Amazing right Now. Imagine doing this throughout the day. And here's the cool part you don't need to do anything fancy to practice gratitude, whether you are into journaling or simply saying it to yourself in quiet moments. Find a routine that works for you, in other words, the breathing, and all of that does not necessarily have to be done Whatever seems to work for you, if you simply want to write down three things that you're grateful for every day and then build on that Because I'll just be totally transparent I did not even resonate with gratitude. 

05:25

I was like what does that mean? What is that Like? I mean, at the point in my life where I really started on this journey, I was really not well. I was depressed, I was going through different phases of mourning. I also was not necessarily a positive person. There are just so many things that I could go into as to how I used to be but I really wanted to change. 

05:56

And because I wanted to change and I knew that gratitude was very, very, very important, I started simple, and that's exactly what I was getting ready to say. I started writing down five things that I was grateful for every morning and I just got like a notebook I think at the time it was probably like a composition notebook and every day I would put a date at the top of the page, you know, like in the corner, and I would list one, two, three, four, five, and I would write down everything that I was grateful for, and sometimes I did it in the morning and in the evening, sometimes I did it just once a day and it grew from there. But that's where I started, and so, if it is journaling, journaling is my jam. So I'm always going to suggest journaling, because writing something down is very, very powerful, very powerful. But make you know, creating statements or speaking out, excuse me, what you're grateful for, or saying it in your quiet moments. You know like. You don't even have to vocalize it if you don't want to. 

07:13

Whatever works for you, whatever continues the routine, because the routine is the. The routine is one of the most important things. If you want to change, the only way that you will be able to is if you do this on a regular basis. Nothing actually that you do to change, to improve yourself, to upgrade or whatever it is you want to call it. Nothing is done by doing it one time. You know I've used the example before, but like, if you're building muscle and things of that nature, like you can't just lift that weight once, it's not going to help you, right, it has to be done every day, maybe twice a day, you know. However, that works. 

07:59

So again, and I remember back in the day when I did start this practice you know I think Oprah was talking about having a gratitude journal and things of that nature so eventually I got a gratitude journal and I would just write in it every single day, sometimes more than once a day, because what happened for me is, the more that I did it, the more I felt better. So when I wanted to feel good, if I wasn't feeling not quite right, I would write down what I was grateful for, to remember and to shift my mind away from negative thoughts and start thinking about things that I really cherish, that I really loved, that I really enjoy the people, that I love the experiences, whatever. Those things work, and so I always want to Share that. You start simple and you build on it. You don't have to do any great and grand thing when you've never done it before, right, you just do something small, something short and you continue to do it on a regular basis. 

09:08

And for me, you know, I used to speak about what I was grateful for, even when I was in my car. You know, at some point I was not even Drive to work Without anything. It would just be me talking to God. You know, speaking what I was grateful for, speaking what, speaking my day into existence. Today is going to be a great day. Things are that nature. Nothing but great things are gonna happen to for me. Today, all is well, everything is always working out for me. Things of that nature, right, and those things for me, eventually, the more and more that I said them, the more and more that I believe them, the more and more that I felt them and the more and more the shift started to take place, and it continued to take place and continue to take place. 

10:01

You know, the other day, a video popped into my feed and it was, you know, just a dose of wisdom from Steve Harvey, right? An old video that he had created, I'm not even sure how long ago, but he was basically talking about coding your mind Excuse me, coding your mind for depression, with gratitude. And and he, you know he was basically saying. Well, actually, you know what? I'll just share with you exactly what he was saying. One way to code your mind from depression is with gratitude. Every time I feel myself starting to feel some kind of way, I just take out a piece of paper and a pencil and I start. I just start writing down everything that I'm grateful for, and Whatever that is whether it's my health, that I can walk, that I can see, that I have a car it may not be the car that I want I have a place to live. I ate today and I can see a way that I will eat tomorrow. I've got a friend that I can call and share my troubles with and just be real detailed with it. You would be stunned how long you will be writing. He went on to say now let me tell you what happens. 

11:26

Your gratitude erases all negativity, because there's no room for negativity. It's not a magic trick. Joy and depression cannot reside in the same place. Those two things cannot exist at the same time. Also, what it does? It changes your focus from what you don't have To what you do have. Gratitude changes your perception. Your perception changes your existence. That's all you're trying to do. 

11:57

After you've done. After you've done that, here's what I want you to do write a list of Of everything that you are grateful for. I want you to read that list every morning when you wake up, of everything that you're grateful for. And after you've thanked him for all this stuff, I want you to take another piece of paper and I want you to write on this piece of paper everything that you want in the present tense, everything that you want now. And what God is going to do is he is going to tie those two lists together. So now, since you are showing me all the gratitude that you have for what I've already done, this is what God is saying. Remember, I said the more grateful you are, the more stuff he will give you to be grateful for. So what he's going to do is he's going to take this list and he's going to start putting things on the other side, the side of things that you're grateful for, right? So eventually, what will happen is the list of the things that you want will be moved over to the things that you're grateful for. That's basically what he was saying towards the end of the snippet, and I was like, okay, all right, now. 

13:19

I don't think that I ever took his advice and did this particular excuse me did this particular exercise, but what I will say is that I love this because this is something that you can do. It's not going to take all day long and, of course, this is something that you can do in the morning, the evening, whenever you want to do it, but the point of it is to do it and to practice it, right. So you're going to write down everything that you're grateful for. I don't care if you want to do two or three things because you're just starting, or if you want to actually take this practice on and put it into motion, and then, in the present tense, you want to write down all the things that you want, and you're going to continue every morning. To excuse me, read this list right, read the first list, which is your gratitude list. The second list is the things that you want, in the present tense. I'm so happy and so grateful now that I have a new Mercedes block or whatever. I am so happy and so grateful now that I received my promotion at work. I am so happy and grateful. Okay, you get it, and so let's continue. Let's continue. 

14:42

So, before we wrap up this episode on gratitude. Remember, it is not just a good feeling. Practice, it's a life changer. Embrace it, make it yours and watch the magic happen. It's like a magnet for more blessings. Trust me, trust me, trust me, trust me, it works. 

15:11

So I want to say, first of all, thank you for hanging out with me and until next time, I really want you to stay grateful. I want this to be a practice in your life and I want to hear from you, maybe a week from now, a month from now, however long it takes for you to get a result. If you practice this every single day, I promise you your life will change, your perspective will change. So, as we conclude another chapter of Cross and Bridges with Ray, remember that your resilience is a beacon of light and every step you take within yourself is a victory. Thank you for joining me on this transformative journey. Until next time, embrace the bridges you cross and the strength you carry within. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with your fellow gratitude enthusiasts. As always, stay positive, stay grateful and stay tuned for more episodes. Catch you on the next one. Bye. 

Gratitude, Depression, Resilience, Transformative, Mindfulness, Happiness, Appreciation, Routine, Breathing Exercises, Mindful, Perspective, Well-being, Strength, Solace, Challenges, Strengths, Bridges, Community, Reflections, Enriching Conversation, Internal Triumphs, Celebrating, Fortifying, Spirit, Storms, Victories, Shifts, Positive Outlook, Embracing, Building, Habit, Acknowledging, Guiding Light, Gathering, Subscribing, Reviewing, Sharing, Transforming, Cultivating, Fulfilling Life, Enriching, Reflections, Path of Gratitude, Internal Victories, Small Gestures, Elevate, Overall Happiness, Resilient, Mindful Breathing, Gratitude Journal, Mindful Breathing Exercises, Grateful Heart, Enriching Conversation, Insights, Reflections, Path of Gratitude, Internal Victories, Small Gestures, Elevate, Overall Happiness, Resilient, Mindful Breathing, Gratitude Journal, Mindful Breathing Exercises, Grateful Heart, Enriching Conversation, Insights, Reflections, Path of Gratitude, Internal Victories, Small Gestures, Elevate, Overall Happiness, Resilient, Mindful Breathing

In this episode of Music Musings with Rae, I dive deep into the powerful and inspirational song "My Life" by Mary J. Blige. As the host, I share my personal connection to the song and how it resonated with me during a difficult time in my life.

I reflect on the profound themes of self-love, self-worth, and the unwavering love of God that are present in the lyrics of "My Life." I emphasize the importance of treating ourselves with love and kindness and the significance of finding inner peace and letting go of negativity.

Throughout the episode, I explore the chorus and verses of the song, discussing the messages of hope, resilience, and finding strength in the face of challenges. I highlight the importance of facing our struggles and seeking understanding, while also finding joy and strength even in the darkest moments.

I also take a moment to discuss the concept of love, sharing various definitions and emphasizing the importance of self-love and unconditional love. I encourage listeners to embrace self-assessment, prioritize their own well-being, and trust their intuition.

To further support listeners on their journey towards self-love and inner peace, I share three mantras that can be repeated daily to uplift spirits and clear negativity. These mantras focus on doing our best in each moment, recognizing our inner and outer beauty, and trusting ourselves and our intuition.

In conclusion, I express my gratitude for Mary J. Blige's honesty and vulnerability in her music, and how her art has helped me heal and navigate through difficult times. I remind listeners that their resilience is a beacon of light and every step they take within themselves is a victory.

Join me on this transformative journey as we explore the profound beauty that arises from the darkest moments and discover the power of self-discovery, healing, and finding strength and faith through music.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction and Self-Discovery
• 00:04:41 - The Power of Choice and Inner Peace
• 00:08:38 - Understanding Love and Self-Love
• 00:13:16 - Finding Solace in God's Love
• 00:15:43 - Facing Struggles and Finding Sunshine
• 00:18:32 - The End Goal: Peace and Joy
• 00:22:54 - Mantras for Self-Love and Belief
• 00:25:04 - Mary J. Blige and Her Impact
• 00:32:10 - Embracing Life's Lessons and Appreciating the Journey
• 00:39:45 - Conclusion and Message of Hope

Music Musings with Rae, self-discovery, healing, My Life, Mary J. Blige, 

life challenges, self-love, self-worth, faith, resilience, hope, perseverance, 

peace, love, sunshine, struggles, heartbroken, heartbreak, inspiration

Listen in as I explore the transformative journey of building self-confidence through the power of affirmations. This heart-to-heart session is your sanctuary for self-discovery, a place where I share over 50 affirmations that will fortify your self-love, help you overcome self-doubt, and embrace personal growth. I invite you to make these affirmations a part of your daily ritual, whether you're looking in the mirror each morning or needing a lift during life's tougher moments. By regularly voicing these powerful statements, you're not just speaking life into yourself, but also cultivating a practice of positive self-talk that can reshape your inner narrative.

Discover the therapeutic joys of simple pleasures and how they can shift your emotional state, as we talk about personal go-to strategies for when spirits need lifting. From the infectious laughter that comes with watching comedies to the soul-stirring emotions evoked by music, I underscore the importance of these experiences in self-care. Join me as I delve into mirror work, the act of confronting our raw, unadorned selves while reinforcing positive beliefs, and journaling, a tool for enhancing self-worth and resilience. I remind you of the inner strength you possess and the victories that come with each step of your growth journey.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Building Self-Confidence With Affirmations

Discover the power of affirmations for self-belief and self-confidence, with over 50 affirmations to incorporate into daily routines.

(11:48) Power of Affirmations and State Change

Self-care, empowerment, laughter, affirmations, and journaling can help build confidence and resilience in personal growth.

HIGHLIGHT:

(01:10 - 02:38) Building Belief and Self-Confidence Through Affirmations

Self-Love, Affirmations, Personal Growth, Self-Confidence, Resilience, Self-Care, Mirror Work, Journaling, Empowerment, State Change, Therapeutic Joy, Simple Pleasures, Positive Self-Talk, Emotional State, Personal Empowerment Techniques, Building Confidence, Overcoming Doubts, Unadorned, Rebuilding, Strength, Victories

MUSIC CREDIT:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/ambient-boy/fireflies

License code: KI4I3FM7G0RAOTFP

TRANSCRIPT:

00:00 - 00:30 Rachel "Rae" Mindy (Host)

In a world that often feels like a storm, there's a resilient spirit within each of us waiting to rise. Welcome to Crossing Bridges with a Ray, a sanctuary for those navigating the depths within. I am Ray, your champion on this exploration of self-discovery, healing, and profound beauty that arises from the darkest moments. So soso, so so for family. Hello, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome. 

01:10

So today's episode is all about building yourself, belief, and self-confidence, and it's a tool to shift your state whenever you need it. Today, I am simply sharing with you some affirmations you can listen to first thing in the morning. You can also use it for your morning mural work, or just simply listen to them when you're questioning yourself and yourself, or maybe when you're having a bad day or a bad moment. So join me as we create a new habit of speaking life into yourself every day, or, better yet, several times a day. So let's go. It is your time to love yourself and pour into you the way you pour into so many others. So I am going to read off a list of 50 plus affirmations and I hope you enjoy and I hope they speak to you. And if they don't speak to you immediately, but you really like them, like they do something for your soul, just keep repeating them. Constant repetition builds belief. Constant repetition builds belief. So here we go. 

02:40

I love and approve of myself just as I am. I am not my feelings. This is temporary. I make small steps I am proud of I am strong, I am fearless. I am beautiful. I will heal. I will get through this. I deserve happiness, joy, and comfort, and it's okay to want them for myself. I am smart, I am kind, I am important, I am enough. I love my perseverance. I've proven that I am strong, smart, alert, motivated, and capable. I am unique. No one else is me, and that's my superpower. I am just as important as everyone else and just as capable. Everyone makes mistakes, big and small, including me, and that is oh yeah. I am in the process of becoming the person I want to be and it is exciting. 

04:07

I forgive myself for past indiscretions. Every day I am constantly evolving. The past no longer exists and the person I was doesn't either. Other people's opinions of me don't matter, because I know and like who I am I am. Other people's perceptions of me do not determine my value I am. My mistakes have molded me into the unique person I am now. 

04:51

Every day is a new opportunity to be the person I want to be. I am grateful for life's twists and turns because they make me a more capable person. I am safe. I am calm. I trust I can do anything, but I don't have to do everything. God is on my side. I only need to tap in to experience joy. 

05:35

Just because something doesn't come to me easily doesn't mean I am incapable. I find strength and worth through hardship. I am stronger than my fears and I can conquer them easily. I have faith in God to support me through all of life's challenges. When I take care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually everything falls into place. 

06:19

Each day is a new opportunity to start fresh, let go of the past, and build a better future. I take one day at a time, and this too will pass. I can feel peace in the middle of a storm. Every moment is an opportunity to choose love over fear. I believe in myself and my ability to achieve anything I set my mind to. I forgive myself for my past mistakes. I have the power to change anything about myself that I dislike. I am worthy of love and respect from both others and myself. I let go of everything that holds me back from being my best self. I am a friend to myself in all moments. 

07:37

I deserve to take up space and express myself. I choose to focus on my strengths and not my weaknesses. I am in control of my thoughts and emotions. I am capable of achieving my goals and dreams. I am worthy of forgiveness and compassion. I am beautiful inside and out. I am grateful for my life and all of its blessings. I am worthy of respect and kindness from others. I am worthy of love and belonging I deserve. I am deserving of self-care and self-compassion. I am capable of overcoming any obstacle. 

08:40

I am proud of myself for taking care of my mental health. I am grateful for the people in my life who love and support me. I am worthy of my own love and affection. I am worthy of taking up space and being seen. I am deserving of rest and relaxation. I am capable of creating a life that I love. I am proud of myself for setting healthy boundaries. I am grateful for my unique qualities and personality. I am deserving of respect and appreciation from others. I am capable of learning and growing from my mistakes. I am proud of myself for seeking help when I need it. I am grateful for the opportunities I am worthy of pursuing my passions and dreams. I am deserving of love and acceptance from myself and others. I am capable of over-cutting my fears and doubts. I am proud of myself for taking care of my physical health. I am grateful for the present moment and all that it has to offer. 

10:25

So that was actually 63 positive affirmations that are about all different types of parts of yourself and your life. Right, and what I would implore you to do is to take the time, preferably in the morning, but I don't know how your life is. You could sleep in the morning and work at night, so it is really up to you, but it would be amazing for you to take this time. Take time out of your day, excuse me, and say these affirmations in a mirror, say them to yourselves or simply just listen to them, because there's something to be said about just taking something in. Maybe when you don't have the strength to speak, maybe you're upset, crying, feeling depressed, just don't really have the energy to open up your mouth, but your ears your ears are still very, very helpful when it comes to shifting your state from sadness to happiness or just sadness to just acceptance. Sometimes, when we're not feeling our 100% best, sometimes we need this is something that I do all the time. 

11:48

If I'm not feeling my best, I will find something that I know that makes me feel better, and it doesn't necessarily have to always be affirmations, but this is an affirmation episode. But what I was going to say is my go-to is always comedy or music. And I take it a little bit further when it comes to music, because I will actually get up from wherever I am, even if I'm in my room, and start dancing. Dancing is first of all, dancing is my jam. I was a dancer at one time, but dancing for me is free, it's very free, it's very free to just simply express yourself, even if you're doing a two-step. But I turn on music that I absolutely love, that makes me want to move, and I will sing to the top of my lungs. I will listen to songs that might bring up some emotion you know, even crying and things of that nature, because when you are not feeling your best, it is always best to get that out, and my personal preference is journaling when it comes to shifting my state. 

13:04

But affirmations, mirror work, dancing, oh, and yeah, watching comedies Comedies is my jam. At one time my favorite go-to was Eddie Murphy Raw. There will never be a time that I will not have like a belly laugh and a cry watching, or even listening. I'll give you a little tidbit With that. Was it wrong? Anyway, when that tape came out? So now we're going way back. Right when that tape came out, I bought it and I played it in my car all the time, like I'm surprised that the tape even held up, because I would play it all the time, like I knew all the words and everything, and it's just something about laughter that makes me feel better. 

14:00

So this episode is about the affirmations, but it's also about changing your state, and so I just wanted to give you some I don't know some suggestions, some insight, some ideas that you might want to incorporate into your best self. Right, we are building your best self, and so let's just call these your best self-affirmations. And I encourage mirror work, because mirror work works for your confidence, and it also allows you to accept who you're looking at in the mirror. A lot of times we're looking at ourselves in the mirror when we're all dressed up, dolled up, hair done, nails done, you know, makeup, like everything is done, right, but we're not looking at ourselves wrong, like we're not, you know, taking off our clothes or just wearing a bra and panties or whatever, and speaking these words into existence, looking yourself in the eye and stating amazing things about yourself, right. 

15:05

And so this is the purpose of this episode to not just, you know, give you a couple of words to say, but to actually put forth the effort to change right, to upgrade, to update Update is probably not a good word, but to upgrade right To do the work. This is just a part of the work, but doing the work is always going to make you proud of yourself, it's always going to shift your state, it's always going to build you up, and that's really what we want to do. You know we don't come to this world not loving ourselves or having low self-esteem or, you know, not feeling that we're worthy. We don't come to this world that way, but the world and circumstances, and maybe even family and friends, or whatever the case may be, you know they tear us down sometimes, and it is our job. It is our job I'll say it one more time it is our job to build ourselves back up, whatever it is that means Sometimes it means going way back to figure out why you feel this way about yourself, but this is just a tool that I love to use and that you know it was shared with me from my coach, and I really just want to add this to the episodes that I have created because I think it's important and not I think it's important. 

16:43

I know it's important and I know that it's helpful. I know that it's extremely helpful. Not seeing your own worth and value is a problem that I would love to help you to solve, and this is just one of the tools that I personally have used to get me there. So I want to conclude, but I just wanted to add that you know just a little bit of spice from my own personal experiences and from my own life. So as we conclude another chapter of, or another episode of, crossing Bridges with Ray, I want you to remember your resilience. Your resilience is a beacon of light and every step you take within yourself is a victory. Thank you so much for joining me on this transformative journey. Until next time, please embrace the bridges you cross and the strength you carry within. Thank you so much, soulful Family. Until next time, thank you. 

Embark with us on an intimate exploration into the soul-nourishing practice of self-love, as we uncover the sacred act of loving ourselves in the way that God loves us. This episode peels back the layers of negative self-beliefs and strides into the light of self-acceptance. Through personal anecdotes and vulnerable moments, I reveal the pivotal experiences that propelled me from the depths of depression and low self-esteem to a place of empowerment. We delve into the significance of stillness, reflection, and journaling as tools to reconnect with our inner essence and the person we are destined to be.

This conversation invites you to discover the cathartic release of journaling—a powerful vessel for navigating through life's tumultuous emotions. I introduce the concept of a 'dump journal,' an unfiltered space to pour out your darkest feelings, thus initiating the healing process. We tackle the misconceptions around self-love, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping how we support and extend love to others. Whether you find solace in the arms of a supportive network or are in search of alternative means to express vulnerability, this episode offers insights into the transformative journey of reclaiming your personal power.

Concluding our heartfelt narrative, we confront the essence of personal responsibility within the realm of love and life choices. I share tales of heartbreak, the quest for divine guidance, and the revolutionary power of self-prioritization to enhance our well-being. As we redefine self-love to reflect a more profound, divine connection, I invite you to join a burgeoning community aimed at mutual upliftment. And amidst the deep reflections, there's a spark of excitement—I tease the release of a new song that promises to resonate with our collective journey towards growth and inspiration. Stay tuned for a melody that embodies our next step in this shared path of enlightenment.

Your journey matters and your voice will always be heard here, so be sure to share your thoughts, questions, and reflections with me on my interwebs...click my link below!

Thank you for joining me for another episode as we cross this bridge together!

So much Love,

Rae

Rae's Links...

koji.to/xoloverae

HIGHLIGHTS:

(05:01 - 06:08) The Power of Writing Emotions

(15:11 - 17:14) Finding Self-Love and Support Together

CHAPTERS WITH SUMMARIES:

(00:03) Loving Yourself and Overcoming Negative Beliefs

This chapter, I open up about the importance of self-love and the struggle to reclaim our true selves in the face of negative external influences. I reflect on the concept that we are loved unconditionally by God and should strive to see ourselves through that same lens of unconditional positivity. Throughout our lives, others may imprint negative beliefs onto us, leading to issues like depression and low self-esteem. I share my personal journey towards self-acceptance and emphasize the power of healing, especially from childhood wounds, by being still, reflecting, and journaling to rediscover the person God intended us to be.

(05:05) The Healing Power of Journaling

This chapter focuses on the therapeutic power of journaling, specifically through the use of a 'dump journal' to process negative emotions and experiences. I share the concept of writing down feelings of hurt or anger as a form of release and self-expression, emphasizing the importance of expelling these negative emotions in a healthy way. I also touch on the significance of self-love and the misconception that it is selfish, reiterating that loving oneself enables us to better love and serve others. Furthermore, I stress the value of having supportive relationships where one can be vulnerable, but also offer alternatives for those who may lack such connections. Finally, I address the issue of women who share their pain online, encouraging them to reclaim their power and not remain stuck in a cycle of complaint without action, all while acknowledging the validity of their experiences.

(10:53) Empowering Self-Love and Personal Responsibility

This chapter emphasizes the importance of taking personal responsibility for our choices, especially when those choices stem from a lack of self-love. I stress the idea that we often give away our love to undeserving people because we haven't learned to love ourselves first. I share my own experiences with heartbreak and how turning to faith and asking for divine guidance has helped me overcome emotional pain. I highlight the necessity of self-reflection and putting oneself first to improve our lives. Additionally, I introduce the concept of moving away from the term 'self-love' towards a deeper understanding of love as an extension of God's love. Lastly, I express a desire to build a community where we can support each other in elevating our self-worth and viewing ourselves through a more loving and divine lens.

(17:46) Excitement for New Song Release

This chapter teases the reveal of a beloved song that I'll be sharing tomorrow, which is Wednesday. I express my excitement about the upcoming reveal and my curiosity about whether the audience will share my enthusiasm for the track. The suspense is maintained as I choose not to disclose the title just yet, ensuring anticipation builds until tomorrow's post. It's a short but sweet check-in, designed to spark interest and keep listeners engaged, and I wrap up with well-wishes, hinting at the upcoming discussion on the other side of the song reveal.

TRANSCRIPT:

00:03 - Rachel "Rae" Mindy (Host)

Yeah, I'm back, welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of Crossing Bridges with Rae. I am your host, Rae, and today I really really just wanted to come from a really raw and pure place. I hope I don't offend anyone or anything like that. I'm just going to say that in the beginning, because these types of subjects I get really passionate about and can just go off on a tangent and normally my tangents and the passion is where the gold is, is where the aha moment is, is where the value is. So let me just say that and so, yeah, so today I really want to talk about loving yourself the way that God loves you. You know, God loves us unconditionally, right, unconditionally, just as we are. He sees us as amazing and beautiful and wonderful and all of these positive things. But we do not see ourselves that way and so, therefore, we go through life like just bumping our heads, you know, and making wrong choices and going through depression and low self-esteem and no confidence at all, and are making decisions while we are feeling these, what, these different feelings and you know, I've been there. So I'm speaking from personal experience, because it took me a very, very, very long time, in my personal opinion, to truly like, accept who I am, and truly love myself. And you know a lot of those, a lot of the reasoning why it took me so long because I've always thought that I was an amazing person. I always knew that I was unique. I always knew that I was different. 

02:10

But what happens is that when people tell you early on that you're nothing, that you're, you know, whatever, whatever those things are, when people put negative thoughts into your head on a constant, constant, constant, constant basis, then you start changing, like, of course, before you started getting those negative messages from whoever it was, you were good, right, because we come to this earth without any of those things, right? It's normally people and circumstances that put those things on us and that shift us and change us in different ways, but we are here innocently and just being whoever it is that God made us be. Unfortunately, sometimes there are people around us in our lives, or whatever the case may be, that either don't like it, have never experienced it, these kind of things, or whatever, and they mold us and shape us into something different than what we already were. And what happens is that the more that you start to believe those things that are like programmed and pushed into your mind. You start living that way and you forget who God made you to be. Right, because at some point in your life even if it was when you were two years old, five years old, three years old, whatever the case may be at some point in your life you're exactly the way God made you, exactly the way God made you. And what I am imploring you to do is for you to work to get back to that point. Get back to that point. Get back to that place, even if it comes to like being playful. Right, because a lot of times, most of where we need to heal is in our childhood. So let's start thinking about those things right and trying to get back to like how we used to be you don't have to be childlike in an adult body all the time, but I promise you it will be very beneficial to you for you to think back. If you can Well, let me not say if you can you can. If you make that a goal, an accomplishment, right, you can do that. We can do whatever it is we want to do. We are capable of doing all types of things. And so, if you want to heal, if you no longer want to think of yourself as ugly or whatever those thoughts are, whatever those negative thoughts are, you can do it. All you have to do is take time, be still, and be quiet. Write in your journal. Just write it out. 

05:05

I know I mentioned in one of my videos about a dump journal. This is perfect for a dump journal, right? If someone that you love let's just use an example Someone you love doesn't treat you, right? Write that shit down. Write it down. Write exactly how you felt. Write exactly what you wanted to say, or maybe what you did say or what happened. Write it out. Write it out in a separate journal. You don't have to call it a dump journal, that's just what I call it. I'm actually in the process of creating one, so I'll keep you guys updated on that, because I love journals and so there's no, it doesn't make sense for me to not sell one or to, I'm sorry. It doesn't make sense for me to not offer you one if you want it. 

05:54

But, yeah, get it out. You know, if you want to go to, you know, the top of a mountain and scream, or if you want to go in your closet and scream, or if you want to go lay on your bed, get your pillow and scream, it doesn't matter. My thing is to get those negative feelings out because what I find is a lot of times when we don't feel good about ourselves, we kind of sort of keep that inside unless you have, like, an amazing friend, an amazing mom, an amazing like. If there's someone in your life that you can really be vulnerable with and really like express your feelings with which I find a lot of times people don't. But if you do, you have a gift right there. 

06:38

But if you don't find whatever it is that works for you, whether it's journaling, or screaming I just I'm just going to say this. I want to say that journaling is healing, an adult journal. The reason why I feel like that is such an important part of your healing process or you're getting to know yourself process, or you're loving yourself process is because there are feelings deep down inside of you that you probably have never said to someone, where you and your journal and keep that to yourself. But you are able to express those feelings, cry, and get those things out because God loves us so much and there is no need for us to be on this beautiful earth that he created and not loving ourselves. It also doesn't make sense for us to be pouring so much love into so many other people and we're not pouring love into ourselves. So I really just want to like, I really really just want to express this Loving yourself is the greatest gift that you can give yourself, and we have been taught a lot in certain instances that it's selfish, and all of these things or whatever, but you are literally filling yourself up so that you can go out into the world and pour that out to other people, because God really does like heal you and bless you through other people, and so our job is not just to take care of ourselves. 

08:48

Our job is to share, like those things with other people. That's why I believe God has me doing this podcast, because there are things that I know, there are things that I've done that I can share with other people and bless other people, help other people, restore other people, allow other people not to feel like they're alone, and, for me, one of my number one things that I'm super passionate about is women loving themselves. There are so many women online like literally right now as I'm making this recording that are on social media complaining or crying or talking about how they were hurt and how this person took advantage of them and all these other things, and please do not allow yourself to think that I am minimizing those things. What I'm saying is that we need to take our power back from the thought that there are women online complaining and crying about what their current situation is, what their last situation was, what their ex-husband or ex-boyfriend or whatever, did to them. First of all, let me just say this I've been there. I've been there where I have spent time just complaining, complaining complaining complaining about something that I hadn't fixed or hadn't made any changes about, or hadn't done anything about it. There are also things that were realities for me, being a single mom, you know, being someone who had gone through domestic violence and things of that nature. Like I can go on and on. So I'm definitely not minimizing anything that anyone has been through. 

10:53

All I'm asking you to do is to take personal responsibility for yourself and the choices that you've made, and I personally believe that a lot of the choices that we make are because we don't love ourselves. It's because we are giving away our love to someone who doesn't deserve it and we don't recognize it, because we don't even love ourselves. Does that make sense? I really, really want to implore and I'm not just talking to women, I'm talking to men too. But because I'm a woman and because I can relate to a lot of things that women go through, especially single moms, but also women that just don't have that strong self-image of themselves I am telling you, I am imploring for all of you to really think about the things that you're doing and how you're spending your time because you really could be spending time talking to God and asking God what it is that he would have you to do so that you can love yourself more, or what it is that you can do to get out of the situation that you're in, or what it is that you can do to stop feeling so heartbroken. 

12:06

I have asked God for whatever it is that you need. I have asked God to take the feelings away about someone who has broken my heart, cheated on me, ghosted me, or whatever. And I promise you, those feelings probably did not go away that day. They might not have even gone away that week, but I promise you, one day I just realized oh my gosh, I haven't thought about him, I haven't cried about him. I haven't even wow. Yeah, none of those memories have come back, you know have come flooding back, like I feel so much better. And as soon as I realize that God has blessed me with what it is that I've asked him for him to do for me, I tell him thank you so many times. I am so happy and so grateful that you have blessed me with that because my heart was broken. It made me feel so bad, I was so depressed. 

13:00

Whatever the case may be, whatever it is that you want and whatever it is that you need, god will provide it for you. But you first must have the faith. You first must believe. But without all that, you first must ask whatever it is that you want, ask God, believe in God, believe that he will give it to you, and not on your time, but on his time. Not on your time but on his time. Not on your time but on his time. I had to say it three times, so I really just wanted to come on today. I'm a little late, but I just wanted to come on today and just really pour into you. 

13:49

Like I know, people talk about self-love and loving yourself, and that's why I didn't use self-love, because I'm kind of sick of using that word because people use it way too loosely and don't really know what it really means. God is love. God is love Unconditional. You are loved. You can love yourself unconditionally. All types of doors will open for you, all types, and I'm not saying that doors won't open for you if you're if you don't love yourself. But why would you not want to love yourself? You are the most important person in your life, you. You are the most important person in your life. You are the most important person in your life. Learn to love yourself, learn to value yourself, learn to see yourself and put yourself first before anybody else, and watch your life, your day-to-day, your future, your present. Just open up to something absolutely beautiful. So I am going to go. 

15:11

I really just wanted to like just share some love and just virtually embrace each and every person who is listening to the sound of my voice that is going through any of this depression, heartbreak, just sadness. Stop yourself, stop yourself. And it's okay to mourn, it's okay to cry. It's not like it's not okay, it's okay. But we just don't need to stay there, right, and at the end of the day. We need to put ourselves first. We don't need to be on social media arguing with men. We don't need to be on social media debating as to who's more important and all this other stuff. You are the most important person in your life Period, point blank. 

16:07

Now, if this is something that you want to take further because I do have, I do have something that I created. I think it was maybe in 2021 that I really do want to get a community of people to go through it with me, and so if this is something that you're interested in, I am in the process of creating a group so that there can be a little bit more like communication between us and so that I can share some of the things that maybe that I do on a daily basis that might be able to help you move out of, like, the low vibrational, negative type of feelings and let's start moving up the ladder so that we can really see ourselves in a whole new light and see ourselves the way God sees us. I want to thank you so much for listening to me. Thank you for listening to another episode of Crossing Bridges with Ray. It is so important to me to share what I know and what I have in my arsenal so that you can cross over the bridge with me. Thank you so much for being here and I'll see you on the other side for another episode. 

17:46

I've got another song for you for Wednesday, which is tomorrow. So, yeah, I'm excited to see if there, if anybody, if anybody, loves this song the way that I do. I will not let you know what it is now, but I will be posting it tomorrow. Have a great one and, yeah, I'll see you on the other side. Thank you for listening to another episode of Crossing Bridges with Rae. 

Listen in as I open up about the transformative journey of healing through Marvin Sapp's song "The Best in Me," a beacon of hope during my time of personal grief. The raw emotions stemming from the loss of my daughter and feelings of overlook by family, except for my father's love, laid a foundation for a profound connection to this song's message.

This episode of Music Musings not only explores the unique solace found in music but also confronts the misconception that religious practices alone can dissolve the pain of past traumas. It's a heartfelt reminder that we are often seen and valued beyond our immediate circumstances and that the path to healing is both personal and intricate.

In my latest heart-to-heart, I also touch upon the power of music to elevate self-worth and self-esteem, reflecting on how lyrics can become a mirror for our emotional state and catalyst for change. The sheer joy discovered upon revisiting a song that once provided comfort signifies the progress from turmoil to tranquility.

I encourage you to find solace in melodies that resonate with your journey, and I have shared a link to the video and lyrics of the song and video that had such a profound impact on my life. So, join me on this melodic episode of Music Musings with Ray, as we celebrate the therapeutic wonders of music and the steps we can take towards emotional restoration.

The Video: The Best In Me by Marvin Sapp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV6LsR2jCjs

Check out the lyrics here:

https://www.last.fm/music/Marvin+Sapp/_/The+Best+In+Me/+lyrics

CHAPTERS:

(00:02) Healing Through Music

This chapter reflects on the profound impact that Marvin Sapp's song "The Best in Me" had during a time of personal grief and turmoil in 2010, following the loss of my daughter five years prior. I share my journey through feelings of being unwanted and unloved by family, with the exception of my father, and how these experiences shaped my outlook on life. I discuss the sense of acceptance and hope the song instilled in me, emphasizing that church and scripture alone don't erase the pain of past traumas. The message of the song resonates with anyone who has felt unseen or unvalued, reminding us that God sees the best in us regardless of others' opinions. I encourage those with similar feelings to start working towards healing and highlight the challenge of facing these emotions during family gatherings, advocating for self-work to overcome such deep-rooted issues.

(13:59) Using Music to Improve Self-Esteem

This chapter reflects on the transformative power of music and its capacity to bolster self-esteem. I share a personal testament to how this particular song's lyrics resonated with me, helping to acknowledge and heal past emotional challenges. The joy and gratitude felt when hearing this song again is a testament to the progress made, illustrating the journey from past struggles to present contentment. Emphasizing music as a therapeutic tool, I encourage listeners to harness it for personal growth and pleasure. The lyrics and video of the impactful song are provided to further enrich the listeners' experience. Thank you for joining me on another episode of Music Musings with Rae.

HIGHLIGHTS:

(01:03 - 04:34) Struggles With Family Acceptance and Love