Dr. Toscha Dickerson - Finding My Way: 21 Steps to Self-Discovery

Finding My Way

21 STEPS TO SELF-DISCOVERY

Dr. Toscha L. Dickerson, CPLC

Make the best of your experience by downloading printable coloring pages, journal pages and my favorite scriptures. My gift to you!

The road I have traveled would make most people shudder.

Alleyways, drug houses, street corners, gutter.

A new way of life is what my heart craved, asking Dear God

for my life will He save.

His answer was YES off my knees I arose, I no longer have to travel

down that painful Scarlet Road.

Sonia Scott, The Scarlet Road Poem

It is no secret that we often have an insatiable need to define ourselves according to the roles weve assumed, the credentials weve earned, and by how the world has chosen to define us. Towards this end, weve come to lack a total awareness of self. The issue is this: If we are unaware of our most authentic selves, we risk falling victim to others expectations of who we are and who we should be. In essence, we almost always fall short of these expectations. Consequently, we begin to feel inadequate, deficient, and unsure. Even during the rare instances in which we have felt that we did meet or fulfill others expectations, those good feelings were fleeting. Thus, we returned to a state of not only feeling unfulfilled, but of being unfulfilled. Nonetheless, we return to being hostages of our doubtful thoughts, which say to us we will never reach our highest potential. ALL LIES!!!

In general, the journey of self-discovery is all about who we are in our most permanent states of being. So, are you ready to ditch the identity you once ascribed to yourself, in exchange for the truth of who you are at the core of your being? Now is the time for your breakthrough, and on your own terms. As you navigate your journey, I ask that you give yourself permission to detach from any previously internalized roles and/or feelings, whether they were good or not so good. Rather, embrace the here and now and the enjoyment of becoming your best self. We were each born with a gift and a purpose. Once discovered, that purpose should morph into passion and that passion into lifes fulfillment.

I have known Dr. Toscha Dickerson since head start. She is my oldest friend, turned sister. What I know for sure about her is that she has never allowed herself to be defined by the expectations of others. Moreover, I know for sure that her journey has not been an easy one. Still, she has overcome 100% of her obstacles, in an effort to fulfill her purpose in life. Yes, 100% because she is still standing, enduring, and growing. She wants you to stand, endure, and grow as well. So, as an advocate of empowering women to breakthrough glass ceilings, by defining and owning their greatness, Dr. Dickerson has taken care to author Finding My Way, a beautifully guided 21-step journal. This work is meant to jumpstart your metamorphosis into having complete clarity of thought, as well as to inspire you for a lifetime.

Now, lets honor and celebrate who we are in this very moment. Remember, our longest relationship is with self. We cannot give our best if we are not living and being our best. On to Day 1...And were walking!!!!

Tracy Williams, LCSW

Yellow Butterfly Counseling, LLC

He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. ~Daniel 2:22

The most important thing in self-discovery is revealing the true person that you are. Take off the mask to find out who you truly are and your purpose in life. Each one of us has a purpose to fulfill and it is best to find out what that purpose is to live an empowered life. Living a life you are not meant to live will cause you to miss out on blessings God designed especially for you to achieve and experience.

Ask God to reveal your purpose and His will for your life. Find a quiet space to think and pray. Discover your deepest desires. Consider your deepest fears. Explore any past hurt and pain that you may be carrying with you. Uncover all the things that are weighing you down and surrender them over to God. It is within this moment that you become vulnerable and completely dependent upon God. The enemy wants nothing more in life than for you to miss finding your purpose. He wants to keep everything hidden so you can continue to walk in darkness.

What are you asking God to reveal to you today?

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Words reveal your beliefs and intentions. Actions reveal your character. When they are in alignment, they reveal your greatest life. -Steve Maraboli

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ~Psalm 61:2

The second step of self-discovery is acknowledging your feelings. Can you relate to feeling anxious and overwhelmed? It is a feeling that overpowers your senses and makes you feel out of control. At times, I get like this when I am overthinking. I tend to want perfection in everything and that is insane.

I am learning to let go and let God. It is the best feeling ever to know that I do not have to get everything right. It is okay to know that if I mess up the world will continue to move on.

Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to be perfect or to fit in. It is perfectly fine to get it wrong, mess up, or fail! All of us are a work in progress and no one has it all together even if it looks that way.

I could complain about everything, but I choose to take a seat and thank God for all that He is doing. Unexpected blessings are on the way. I am learning how to recognize my feelings and becoming comfortable staying away from what does not make me feel my best.

And remember, do not make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings.

What are some feelings that you suppress so others will not judge you?

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Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.

-Sigmund Freud

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. ~ Isaiah 38:16

The third step of self-discovery is understanding that denial does not mean it will not happen. Can you relate to rejection? I am sure we have all experienced rejection in our lives at some point, whether it was a job, marriage, relationship, friendship, sorority, fraternity, organization, college, etc. The list goes on, but how do you recover from rejection? That is the real question.