In today's episode, I wanted to take a lighter tone from what Slessor Ettienne and I have been speaking about regarding Domestic Violence, whether it was God's plan for our lives.
Over the last three episodes, we have understood through the scriptures that Domestic Violence is not God's plan for either party to have dominion over one another.
Therefore, I wanted to talk to us about "This Life Is A Gift". It is truly a gift in Matthew 6:25 we learn that we should not worry about our life, what we will eat or drink: or about our body, what we will wear. Life is more important than food, and the body is more informant than clothes. This scripture tells me that we should not sweat the small stuff; we should not worry God will take care of us. 
You see, we are gods; everything we need is inside us. All that is required is a coach or mentor to help us gain insights into our lives is a gift. It is one to be thankful for its seasons, for when we remain steadfast and have stood the test, we will receive our crown of life, which is our reward. 
When you are wondering about your life's purpose as you are experiencing difficulty, think of the promises; thoughts are just thoughts that change every second. The thoughts are not who you are. You are more than your thoughts; although life can have some difficult moments, whatever you are experiencing, there is someone who can help you overcome your struggles.
As you listen to today's episode, I trust that you take to heart that you are an overcome. If you feel stressed or anxious, please remember this is only one season of life; you might be in gloom; however, your time to bloom is just around the corner. You will come through the planting stage and bloom.

This Life Is A Gift

In today's episode, we are looking at does love hurts and causes us pain, as the songwriter states in the song "Love Hurts", sung by the Nazareth. I have heard women say that they stay in an abusive relationship because if their partner doesn't hit them and cause pain, it shows that they don't love them. When I ask why they feel causing them pain is LOVE, the usual response is that's what they have come to know and accept.  One's desire to stay in a relationship should not be on how much hurt and pain. However, the desire to remain in the relationship should be the enduring love you have for each other. Love talks and listens. 
I always like to bring the biblical perspective on what LOVE truly is, and when someone says I love you, it should come from a place of safeguarding protection. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Read John 3:16
If you are in a relationship experiencing abuse, don't be fooled; that's not love. You don't deserve to experience pain and bruise to feel loved; that's abuse. Love does not hurt or cause you pain. The true face of love is: Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not do the wrong thing. Love does not get angry. Love protects. Read 1 Corinthians 13
Here is some information about where you can call for help. Please be careful when seeking assistance.
https://www.thehotline.org/ (National Domestic Violence Hotline)
Hotline: 1 (800) 799 – 7233 Available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week via phone and online chat.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) is available for anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
Refuge: For women and children Against Domestic Violence UK
The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline
0808 2000 247 
In an emergency, please call 999

Love Does Not Hurt  or Cause You Pain

I have been through lots of hurt and pain by people who should have protected me, but that was not the case. Instead, they chose to abuse me! Now I like them. I could have chosen to hate, but instead, I chose love. Why! You ask I did so because I once heard my grandmother say when someone hurts you, heap love on them, don't return tit for tat. That's a beautiful saying, and I am glad I adopted it.
What is gratitude?  According to the dictionary, Gratitude is "the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for, and returning kindness."  I am thankful for all the places I have been and the people that along the way to becoming "Me" These incidences have shaped me into becoming the strong woman that I am.  Strong in faith, mind, and accepting of who and what my mission is in this life.
As you listen to this episode,  I hope you will find a nugget or nuggets there that will help you find a way to be grateful for what you have and see your uniqueness in all the confusion.
Sometimes it's hard to see what's unique about us in confusion. Stop, slow down and listen with your soul; not only will you see your beauty, you will hear yourself; those are just temporary setbacks.
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thes 5:18

Gratitude - What Am I Thankful For!

I am starting this episode using the actual quote by Sir Winston Churchill "The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward." 
When I first heard the quote used by the HM the Queen in her 199 Christmas Message, "The further backward you look, the further forward you can see." I thought I loved this, and I had to find out more about it; in my search, I found the actual quote by Sir Winston Churchill was as mentioned above.
In the book of Hosea 4:6, the Bible tells us, "we perish for lack of knowledge." I wanted to know what I was bringing to you hence my search.
What the quote above is telling us is that, and my guess is the reason why Sir Churchill's words "The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward."  simplified was by the queen was to help us to see when we take the time to look back as far as the eye can see we can advance further in life.
In this episode, I use the quote because the longer I look back, I realise that The Unstoppable Life podcast is not here to serve a particular niche. Therefore, as we move forward with the program, we will be taking a different format. I have come to see that to stop domestic and sexual abuse in its entirety, I have to bring balance. I need a village and community to help me do so!
I will be bringing Captivating discussions around empowering women and men through various situations and trials. Listen in every week to hear stories, experiences, and different strong women and men. I will also bring experts in the prosecution and financial field to enlighten us on the steps we can take to safeguard ourselves.
You can check me out at https://www.instagram.com/verna_herry/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/verna_herry/?hl=en)
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Look Backward To Go Forward

Making a difference is something we should all try to do in the lives of others and our lives as well. We are on this earth to not only live for ourselves but others. That's where we find joy. Absolute joy comes from the small things we do for others.
I want to start today's episode with a quote from Mother Teresa "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." When we show love to one another, we are listening, observing, and showing we value each other with an embrace.
Small acts of love make a big difference in someone else life. Mother Teresa was trying to tell us don't wait to do big things and do small acts because within those small things we do comes the great stuff. For example, smiling, giving a small gift, saying hello, how are you today, calling someone on the telephone to tell them you've been on my heart I am calling to see how you are.
My hope is as you listen to The Unstoppable Life Podcast, you will find little nuggets that remind you of the difference you can make in the lives of others.

Making A Difference

Hello Friends! In today's podcast, we are continuing on the topic of mindfulness. What are some of the practical things one can do to achieve mindfulness? In my last episode, I mentioned I would have other people on the segment with me, and today I have Slessor Ettienne with me. We are talking about how we can slow down (being mindful) a situation that can escalate if we don't take a retroactive approach and be proactive instead of reactive. 
You will hear me quoting scriptures such as Matthew 5:23–25 and Colossians 3:13. In Proverbs 17:1, Soloman tells us a gentle response has the absolute power to defuse someone's wrath. That's the power we have when we choose to be mindful instead of reacting to the situation. 
You will hear us using Chris Rock's reaction to receiving a slap which was an abusive reaction from Will Smith, about Chris's joke about Will's wife. We must be mindful of the consequences of our and other people's actions and never take anything or anyone for granted. Both Slessor and I hope you will receive many nuggets in this episode to help you transform your life. 
Using scripture verses within the podcast comes naturally to me as they have been the bedrock of my faith and a source of strength for me during my time of experiencing abuse. Regardless of our faith, we can all receive power from them to make us stronger in mind, body and spirit.

Verna Haywood