I was sitting thinking earlier this morning about what to write about and the word Enjoli came to mind. Enjoli was the name of a popular perfume back in the 70s and 80s. The perfume had a jingle phrase that went like this: I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never never let him forget he’s a man. Cause I’m a woman Enjoli. On the commercial would be this tall blonde hair blue eyed beauty and she would be in a fancy gown and acting sassy. So because it spoke to the empowerment of women, it was one of my favorite commercials growing up. What God has been revealing to me all morning is that it is time to awaken the Enjoli in me.
The Prophetess Deborah: A Story of Empowerment
So how does one define an Enjoli-if you base it upon the commercial she is a multifaceted, unstoppable, fierce, fiery, well rounded, confident and capable women. However let me tell you a story of empowerment!
One of the most outstanding examples of an Enjoli is Deborah in the bible. The word Deborah means Bee, feisty, fiery. Deborah was a Judge and prophetess in the pre-monarchy times of Israel, a woman among women. During that time Judges were always men and considered a leader or priest within the community who resided over military, government, and legal affairs. Judges were considered the equivalent to a chief or clan leader in their respective communities during this time.
What was interesting about Deborah was that she was a Judge merited within her own right and the title was not affiliated with her husband. Often times the title of chieftess was a ceremonial title given to a woman when her husband held the title of chief. The bible mentions her husband Lapidoth but did not mention him as having a title of authority within her community. Furthermore she was a woman who honored her husband and managed her household and husbands affairs with great efficiency.
She was the perfect example of a biblical Enjoli. She managed her home, honored her husband, and was a pillar of respect within her community. The bible further goes on to state that she was so revered that the current day army of Israel would not go into battle without her and in doing so triumphed victorious over the enemy of that time. Deborah reigned as a Judge for over 40 years and peace rested over Israel during this time. A true testament to the empowerment of women.
I asked God what was the purpose of this story and how it related to today’s modern day women and myself. I like so many are called to have just as great an impact on the world. Inside of each of us is the power of the Enjoli we just need to know how to awaken it. It does not matter if we are plus size or skinny, short or tall, black, white, or green. Each of us has the unlimited potential to be the wife, mother, and entrepreneur, the Enjoli.
Empower the Enjoli
So I asked God how do I Empower the Enjoli within. And he told me some things about my self I needed to change.
1.Stop being fearful- I’m talking about in little areas where we are not as comfortable or competent. But they represent areas which hinder our development and growth to the next level of our lives. They are the fears and apprehensions we easily dismiss and overlook.
2.Cease procrastination-procrastination is like a poison that slowly kills the brightest of visions. Time waits for no man and we can never get it back once it is gone. Procrastination will have you standing still in a time loop that you can look around and find years wasted and not even realize how it even happened.
3.Be more persistent and consistent in all things- I am notorious for starting and stopping things all the time. Long-term persistence and consistence is the key to long-term success.
4.Stop sabotaging behavior by changing behavior patterns. I can’t tell you how many times I was depressed about losing weight but still would eat the things I shouldn’t.
5.Daily set goals to be a better me. Write down my long and short-term goals and work daily on actions that will bring them to past.
6.Lastly, but definitely not least. Connect spiritually to God by daily spending time with him. Tapping into the spirit ties everything together.
Putting these principles in place and continued practice will guarantee we hit the mark every time, empowerment!
My Empowerment Moment!
Here’s what can be done when you say you can!!
To God Be the Glory; both Now and Forevermore.
Voluptuous Diva
Stay Blessed and Continue to Re-Define Yourself
Voluptuous Diva Diaries is a newsletter sponsored by Voluptuous Diva, Inc.
We are an online social network, fashion design, and merchandising community
dedicated to the majority of American women.
Voluptuous Diva, Inc. was created so that my fellow Divas can
feel empowered, sexy, and valued.
Minister Joan White is the founder of Voluptuous Diva, Inc. and resides in Winston-Salem, NC
I have one of the best personal development coaches. Her name is Deborah Saunders-Carlton. She has helped me through so much over the past year. In my last session with her I expressed how this year has not gone according to plan. How I have not accomplished many of the goals I set-out for myself and I was feeling stagnant and discouraged. We talked about all I had been through a lot this year and truly I have overcome a great deal.
Earlier this year I lost my mental health business. The local management agency took it away within 4 days with no real explanation. I was devastated initially but I came to realize it was a real blessing. I am freer now than I have been in the last 8 years. I have more peace and God fixed it so that I could financially support myself to be able to pursue my passion which is blogging and inspiring others.
So I asked her why I have been so stagnant all these months. First of all she chastised me for not calling her sooner and remaining in that mind set all that time. Then she proceeded to tell me how I had a large vision with a lot of components and without a clear strategy I was overwhelmed and did not have a clear focus on what I needed to do. Then she made a profound statement “Girl you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time and even then you have to eat it in multiple place settings.” Of course I was blown away.
Timeline Solutions for Eating that Elephant!
As she and I began to talk we realized I had a vision whose time frame for initial fusion was roughly 15 months. So she suggested that I print out 15 calendar months and create a timeline that showed all the things I needed to do. Each task was to be represented in a different colored timeline and as I completed each task I was to highlight them and mark them completed on the calendar. She also taught me something a coach of hers taught her which was each day set a goal of 3 things to complete to further my business and improve upon my personal life. They were not to be things I should do routinely but tasks needed to further advance myself and business.
Final Thoughts!
Lastly, I was encouraged to write down each of my vision objectives and detail under each one what was undone. As I did that, I should choose tasks daily from this information to accomplish daily to further my vision. Meaning at the end of 30 days I would accomplish 90 different things both personal and business. I was so blown away and excited. She also encouraged me to keep track of my accomplishments and celebrate them as wins to keep myself motivated.
I agreed and I am proud to say my momentum has improved my focus is better and I am accomplishing far more than I have earlier this year. I am truly excited about what is to come for the remainder of the year and the New Year to come.
I admonish each of your to write the vision down and make it plan, calendar you vision, detail your vision objectives and challenge yourself to accomplish something everyday, in doing so you will hit the mark every time.
To God Be the Glory; both Now and Forevermore.
Voluptuous Diva
Stay Blessed and Continue to Re-Define Yourself
Voluptuous Diva Diaries is a newsletter sponsored by Voluptuous Diva, Inc. We are an online social network, fashion design, and merchandising community dedicated to the majority of American women. Voluptuous Diva, Inc. was created so that my fellow Divas can feel empowered, sexy, and inspired.
Minister Joan White is the founder of Voluptuous Diva, Inc. and resides in Winston-Salem, NC
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I don’t know about you but there have been times when I have been so low I could not see my way out. But in my weakest hour of giving up something on the inside would not allow me to do so.
It is at that very moment inner strength comes, pulls me out and encourages me to keep moving forward, to keep believing for the better.
Throughout my 20s I was a depressed and defeated individual. I came home from college without a degree and I felt so low and defeated. It did not help any that I disappointed my mom by not finishing and (she never let me forget it). All my friends got married in their twenties and were starting families and I was left alone. I was living at home with my mother, no car, working temporary jobs and no relationship. I use to sit and cry for long periods of time and eat. I thought I was unlovable, unemployable, and destined to be stuck in my moms house forever.
Yet something inside me kept me going. I was involved in a local church at that time and I spent every moment I could at that place. I even volunteered in the church office for several months. I know now that it was God me and letting me know in my heart not to give up, not to give in, that no matter what I was going to make it.
I am 45 now and I look back on those times with such amusement. I realize as I have matured as a women just how much I have grown and been able to withstand the hardships of life that were designed to destroy me and I thank god that I stood.
It was only because strength comes in our weakest hours, hope and the ability to keep fighting is an inherited part of our nature. It is Gods way of letting us know he will never leave us nor forsake us, especially in our darkest hours.
I continue to find however, that I must continue to guard my mind against regression. I have found myself this year not as productive as I wanted to be. I have not lost the weight that I wanted, or accomplished the things with the business I set for myself. But it is okay. I realize God is calling me to go deeper in him and I will not get to the level that I want until I do.
Beloved know that it is okay to feel frustrated, it is our minds way of letting us know that we need to continue to make changes to improve ourselves. Never give up or give in, ass long as you keep moving and progressing towards your passion in life you will never be a failure.
In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently. Tony Robbins
One of the most powerful tools utilized in my life is also one that posses the greatest challenge to execute and that is the power of positive confession. As a Christian I have been taught throughout my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ that I AM WHAT GOD SAYS I AM. In the world system, I AM WHAT I SAY I AM. Both have validity and require action on the part of the confessor.
Even now as much as I have accomplished and through all that I have gained I still struggle with this in some parts of my life. I find myself in a constant mind battle to stay victorious in knowing that I am a powerful woman destined for greatness.
The word Power means a strength or force capable of being exerted. Confession means to disclose or acknowledge faith in something.
Translation-In us lies a strength or force cable to helps acknowledge a faith in something, often times bigger than ourselves. The key is where our power comes from and what it is we are confessing.
I am firm believer that the power is Christ Jesus and the confession is the Word of God and positive things instead of negative.
The Positive Confession of a Growing Christian
One of the first slogans I learned as a baby Christian was “confess it, believe it, and count it done in the name of Jesus.” I remember as a young teenager in high school confessing for good grades, confessing that the lord would bless me with whatever I needed. I was so excited back then, on fire, faith unwavering. I confessed for God to use me to do great works and to allow me to accomplish many great things. As I look back I chuckle at my naive and innocent faith.
As I have grown older and life has handed me quite a few blows (bombs is more accurate), I find that it is harder to have the fresh naive and positive outlook of my youth. As I continue to struggle with hardships and heart breaks in my life, it is difficult to stay positive and I am not ashamed to say that I have looked at my circumstances and failed to see no way out on many occasion. I have viewed positive confession as ridiculous and ineffective method to improve my circumstances many times in moments of despair and frustration.
Yet one thing has continued to remain constant for me is that even though I am down I don’t stay there. I begin to call upon the name of the Lord and say I can do all things through Christ Jesus who Strengthens me (Philippians 4:13) Even in my darkest hour as I began to confess the word about my circumstances peace would come. Hope abounds when there is an acknowledgment according to the word of God.
One of the greatest enemies of positive confession is negative thinking. It is interesting to me how the nature of man has always been to gravitate towards the negative. Yet the positive has so much more power and benefit to our lives. The bible tells us that we are born in sin and conceived in iniquity, therefore, it is in our innate nature to look gravitate towards a negative perspective first. How many times have we jumped to conclusions and automatically thought the worst, only to find out upon closer examination that things were not as bad as they seemed? I can honestly say, for myself too many times.
It feels comfortable to our flesh to dwell on the negative. How many times have we been quick to pass along the latest juice gossip and hesitant to pass along good news? It is amazing to me how easy it is to say something negative about someone and so hard to say something positive.
Here me with your heart when I say this. You must learn to overcome negative thought and speech if you ever expect to walk in your fullest potential. I cannot tell you the number of times thinking and speaking negatively has cost me opportunities and killed my momentum to develop and grow into my God ordained Destiny. The bible says that we have what we say and that death and life lie in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). This let’s me know that I have the power to change my life for the better or worst by what I say and how I think.
I have found that the more I speak the Word of God and positive life fulfilling words from my mouth the better I feel, the clearer my outlook, the better I perform and the more effective others are around me as I speak positively into their lives.
I admonish each of you to begin this day to cast down negative imaginations and begin to view the world from a more Godly and positive manner, begin confessing that the glass is have full instead of half empty and I promise that as you do your life will definitely change for the better.
So because it spoke to the empowerment of women, it was one of my favorite commercials growing up. What God has been revealing to me all morning is that it is time to awaken the Enjoli in me.
One of the most outstanding examples of an Enjoli is Deborah in the bible. The word Deborah means Bee, feisty, fiery. Deborah was a Judge and prophetess in the pre-monarchy times of Israel, a woman among women. During that time Judges were always men and considered a leader or priest within the community who resided over military, government, and legal affairs. Judges were considered the equivalent to a chief or clan leader in their respective communities during this time.
She was the perfect example of a biblical Enjoli. She managed her home, honored her husband, and was a pillar of respect within her community. The bible further goes on to state that she was so revered that the current day army of Israel would not go into battle without her and in doing so triumphed victorious over the enemy of that time. Deborah reigned as a Judge for over 40 years and peace rested over Israel during this time. A true testament to the empowerment of women.
To God Be the Glory; both Now and Forevermore.
I have one of the best personal development coaches. Her name is Deborah Saunders-Carlton. She has helped me through so much over the past year. In my last session with her I expressed how this year has not gone according to plan. How I have not accomplished many of the goals I set-out for myself and I was feeling stagnant and discouraged. We talked about all I had been through a lot this year and truly I have overcome a great deal.
Lastly, I was encouraged to write down each of my vision objectives and detail under each one what was undone. As I did that, I should choose tasks daily from this information to accomplish daily to further my vision. Meaning at the end of 30 days I would accomplish 90 different things both personal and business. I was so blown away and excited. She also encouraged me to keep track of my accomplishments and celebrate them as wins to keep myself motivated.
One of the most powerful tools utilized in my life is also one that posses the greatest challenge to execute and that is the power of positive confession. As a Christian I have been taught throughout my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ that I AM WHAT GOD SAYS I AM. In the world system, I AM WHAT I SAY I AM. Both have validity and require action on the part of the confessor.
One of the first slogans I learned as a baby Christian was “confess it, believe it, and count it done in the name of Jesus.” I remember as a young teenager in high school confessing for good grades, confessing that the lord would bless me with whatever I needed. I was so excited back then, on fire, faith unwavering. I confessed for God to use me to do great works and to allow me to accomplish many great things. As I look back I chuckle at my naive and innocent faith.
One of the greatest enemies of positive confession is negative thinking. It is interesting to me how the nature of man has always been to gravitate towards the negative. Yet the positive has so much more power and benefit to our lives. The bible tells us that we are born in sin and conceived in iniquity, therefore, it is in our innate nature to look gravitate towards a negative perspective first. How many times have we jumped to conclusions and automatically thought the worst, only to find out upon closer examination that things were not as bad as they seemed? I can honestly say, for myself too many times.
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