http://joneedp.com/blogBLOG RSSTue, 31 Mar 2020 02:49:18 GMTTue, 31 Mar 2020 02:49:18 GMThttp://joneedp.com/blog/feel-your-feelingsWhy is it that we have normalized running away from what is such a huge part of us, our emotions.2022 taught me the biggest lesson in embracing my emotions. Grief hit me in a way that I prayed to God would never happen. Not only was I dealing with grief but I had to deal with the hurt and doubt that came with my unanswered prayer. As a result I completely shut down and was depressed for a couple months. The only thing that pulled me out of that depression was more grief, believe it or not.Mon, 23 Jan 2023 16:38:08http://joneedp.com/blog/feel-your-feelingshttp://joneedp.com/blog/getting-to-know-meFor the past few years, I have taken a step back from everything that I was doing (my blog, podcast, and social media). It was a break that I think was long overdue. Although I hadn’t been doing them for long, I felt like it was so mundane. There was a message that I wanted to get out there but something just didn’t feel right about the way I was going about it. I still believed that I wanted to help people through these avenues however I felt like something was missing. It took a while toThu, 11 Aug 2022 05:44:23http://joneedp.com/blog/getting-to-know-mehttp://joneedp.com/blog/mommy-guiltI love my son and the opportunity I have to watch him develop. I feel so blessed to be able to be a mother in all of its glory. Ever since the day I found out I was pregnant, all I wanted to do was protect my baby. I made it a point to talk to him and pray over him. It was my duty to love, protect and invest in him. I felt this pull to pour every bit of my being into this little person that I was bringing into this world. That feeling hasn’t changed not one bit however since this pandemicTue, 20 Oct 2020 13:14:59http://joneedp.com/blog/mommy-guilthttp://joneedp.com/blog/my-not-so-small-lifeThere are billions of people in the world, so it comes as no surprise that anyone would feel insignificant in comparison to others. For me this feeling has been paralyzing and has also delayed me from fully realizing who I am as well as the contribution I was put on this earth to make. Some think it is all about being known and changing the whole world when in reality, it is about changing a few people’s worlds causing a domino effect.We were all created to make an impact of some kind but theTue, 29 Sep 2020 11:08:42http://joneedp.com/blog/my-not-so-small-lifehttp://joneedp.com/blog/2020-is-still-my-yearFor most, 2020 has been the most trying year that we have ever had to face. From tragedy to pandemics, it seems like the world is slowly going to hell in a hay basket. Vacations...cancelled. Celebrations...cancelled. Chasing after your dreams....cancelled...or is it? I beg to differ. I believe that 2020 is exactly what some of us needed to shake our lives up. It has been a time of absolute clarity. Things about ourselves and those around us are being exposed that we didn’t have a chance toMon, 17 Aug 2020 12:42:23http://joneedp.com/blog/2020-is-still-my-yearhttp://joneedp.com/blog/contentmentEveryone talks about wanting to be happy but not many talk about being content. What is contentment? Contentment is a state of happiness or satisfaction. So if contentment has to do with being happy then why are the two often separated?? Well it's simple, because they are not the same by a long shot.Normally when people have the desire to be happy, it usually entails that the situation is ideal therefore the feeling of happiness is dictated by external circumstances. When you are talking aboutTue, 13 Aug 2019 13:39:16http://joneedp.com/blog/contentmenthttp://joneedp.com/blog/conversationI have been miserable!Yes I know, what a way to start a blog post but it is true. It was to the point that I was expecting everything to go wrong and it was very depressing. Well it was time to have  a talk with God. No it wasn't a coming to Jesus moment but it was a revelation and reality check.For the past few months I have dealt attacks left and right from people I didn't expect. My pastor did a sermon a while ago in which he talked about situational depression. I didn't even know thatTue, 13 Aug 2019 13:41:04http://joneedp.com/blog/conversationhttp://joneedp.com/blog/taking-care-of-mePrior to becoming a mom I was always on the move and taking care of others. Well after becoming a mom, that didn't change however I found that I was felt overwhelmed and cranky not to mention always tired, unmotivated and just feeling like I was lacking something constantly.  It never really occurred to me that a lack of self care was the culprit of my symptoms.  I thought about when the last time I had “me time” and let's just say it had been forever in a day. It started to make sense to meTue, 13 Aug 2019 13:41:44http://joneedp.com/blog/taking-care-of-mehttp://joneedp.com/blog/not-compromisingHow many times do we compromise who we are in order to get ahead or be accepted?I have really been into podcast lately and I came across Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations episode featuring Devon Franklin. He was giving some background on how he got to where he is now by allowing his faith to lead him from the beginning. He is someone who honors the Sabbath and his faith told him to make that known to his potential employer. Despite being nervous because it could have meant that he would notTue, 15 Sep 2020 13:02:34http://joneedp.com/blog/not-compromisinghttp://joneedp.com/blog/intentional-loveI have been gone for the whole month of February due to my extreme exhaustion and just trying to get things like time management together but I am back. I am big on intentionality and that is what my focus for this is year is. Considering that February is the month of “Love,” that is what I want to talk about one thing in particular is why I celebrate Valentine's day.A lot of people do not subscribe to Valentine's day because they believe that it is just a day for companies to make money. ForSun, 10 Mar 2019 21:06:07http://joneedp.com/blog/intentional-lovehttp://joneedp.com/blog/year-of-consistency“Consistency is the key that opens many doors”Like most people I have struggled in the past with sticking to anything that I was trying to change or improve. Well after seeing how consistency changed my life when it came to working out, I know that it makes a huge difference. Not only did it make a difference in the fact that I was able to accomplish what I set out to do but it also made a difference in how I felt about myself and spilled over into other areas of my life such as theSun, 10 Mar 2019 22:38:22http://joneedp.com/blog/year-of-consistencyhttp://joneedp.com/blog/realistic-goalsI believe that people have a hard time achieving their goals because they do not set realistic goals. Determining whether a goal is realistic is based on a variety of factors. One significant component that I constantly consider is time. So I ask myself questions like:1. When do I want to achieve this goal by?2. Is this really a feasible amount of time?3. Did I account for inevitable setbacks?4. Is this the right time to pursue this goal?5. What is the purpose of this goal? (How will itTue, 14 May 2019 04:36:52http://joneedp.com/blog/realistic-goalshttp://joneedp.com/blog/the-day-i-became-a-momThey say that women become mothers the moment they find out they are pregnant and for the most part that held true for me. I made sure to eat right and workout. I was very cautious about what I put in my body and paid close attention when something didn’t feel right. Even with all that being said, I don’t believe that I truly became a mother until the day after my son was born.We were a day away from being released from the hospital when we were told he would have to be transferred to the NICUMon, 11 Mar 2019 00:17:57http://joneedp.com/blog/the-day-i-became-a-momhttp://joneedp.com/blog/i-chose-me“The only acceptance you can control is self acceptance” - Joneé  Growing up I was always on the heavier side when it pertained to my weight. There was no specific reason why I was this way, it was just my life at that time. Unfortunately I was treated differently than those who were more petit. I remember being in gym class and when it came time to pick teams, I would be one of the last to be chosen. What these people didn't know, and I discounted, was the fact that I was one of the fastestSat, 27 Apr 2019 18:41:59http://joneedp.com/blog/i-chose-mehttp://joneedp.com/blog/season-of-thanksgivingOver the past few years a lot of loss has happened. Some was a physical death and others death of a relationship with the living. Regardless of what type of loss it was, I had to go through a mourning process. A part of my process was making sure I took the time to be thankful for those who are in my life. Too often people have regrets about what they should have said or done before someone is gone. I don’t want to have these regrets and I am sure you don’t want to either. This is why this partMon, 11 Mar 2019 00:17:58http://joneedp.com/blog/season-of-thanksgivinghttp://joneedp.com/blog/mask-offAround Halloween everyone is use to wearing costumes and mask in hopes to receive treats from others. Truth be told, there are people who wear a mask year round to receive approval and praise from people to feel happy or fulfilled...Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:18:01http://joneedp.com/blog/mask-offhttp://joneedp.com/blog/surrounding-is-everythingAs we are approaching the new year and people start posting how the new year is going to be different, I want to bring something to your attention. Nothing will ever change in your life if you don’t change some necessary surroundings. The surroundings I am referring to is the people around you. The people you surround yourself with in life will determine where you go and how fast you get there.Sun, 10 Mar 2019 08:38:36http://joneedp.com/blog/surrounding-is-everythinghttp://joneedp.com/blog/open-letter-to-meDear Queen,    First I want to tell you that I am proud of the woman you are becoming. The strength that you have, has surprised even me. I see you growing, maturing and trying to make a difference for the good of not only yourself but others. I have seen you pull through many heartbreaks and disappoints and yet here you are still standing and better than ever. I also see that you have been having a rough time lately. Things aren’t going to way you would like. Feels like the world is fallingSun, 10 Mar 2019 08:38:40http://joneedp.com/blog/open-letter-to-mehttp://joneedp.com/blog/weathering-the-stormAs I was driving to work one windy morning my car was being pushed side to side. I had to keep adjusting my steering wheel to keep from going too far to the left or to the right. I was contemplating turning around and just going back home but then it hit me, if i can just push to make it I could use that time off for something more valuable...Sun, 10 Mar 2019 08:38:43http://joneedp.com/blog/weathering-the-stormhttp://joneedp.com/blog/how-comfortable-are-youHave you ever been frustrated with someone because they have the potential to be better, if they would just change something they were doing?One thing I have learned through dealing with myself and others is that no one will change until they are absolutely ready to. When we are comfortable where we are, the chances of us changing are slim to none...Sun, 10 Mar 2019 08:39:21http://joneedp.com/blog/how-comfortable-are-you