The Women's Empowerment Group

Pauline Respress, BAS, M.Ed When I awoke this morning something kept ringing in my head and it was the word wholeness. I had an epiphany that to be whole, we must know our sum parts. We must know the things in us that feel real, as I continue on my journey I am realizing that in order to find our parts that make up our whole,we must decide wholeheartedly, that in which ,of our parts that we are the most passionate about. We then can begin the work of weaving those parts together. I am truly in search of wholeness, but what I have found in my journey is that we don't find wholeness it in fact find us.It finds us in our spirit, when we can begin to see that in which truly brings us joy. I often think that life is just suppose to be hard, but I now know that it is not hard if we are doing that in which we were designed to do, it is as easy as pie. When we are doing a task that seems hard to other but to us, we are dancing in the rain in your head. It's because the task is no

S ometimes we have to simply wait, simply sit quietly and wait for that in which we have worked so hard to achieve. God has his own time to manifest things in our lives. He can't give us all of our blessings at one time. If so we would not appreciate the journey to the blessings. The little things that when joined together help us to see what God is trying to tell us. I am experiencing a period of nothingness that I am taking the time to connect the dots,to see what patiently waiting can do for me. I am not used to doing nothing,in my head it says that I am not being productive , not adding to the gross domestic product. B ut in fact this period is allowing me to groom some necessary skills while in my holding status. I am working on things that I have wanted to see in my life for a very long time. It is as though God has placed me on a self-vacation that all I am able to see is ME.  And what it is I want for myself. I just want to be alone and hear my own voice in my head and ta

G rowth and G rowing is an amazing place to be in. It is a place that I can look back and look forward at the same time. It is a place that tells me that I am OK right where I am. It tells me that this is where I am suppose to be with certainty. Growth at times challenges us to really look in the mirror and see ourselves, past the scars and the external-ness of ourselves. And looking ourselves directly in the eye and seeing our soul. Seeing the true person that all of the make-up, hair and clothing served to mask. Seeing the little girl inside and being able to embrace her and tell her that we are OK and that all that we have endured and struggled through has been for a purpose. And that the struggle has all been about growing and growth and that we can now walk together congruently into our destiny. Once we have aligned ourselves with our soul and understand who we are meant to be, we become free. We begin to see the journey as a fun-filled experience that is no longer work. But do

Boy have I learned a lot over the past few years. My life has taken many twist and turns that have bent me into unimaginable places. Aging is a beautiful thing it allows us to begin to see life so differently. Over the years I have continued to ask myself, when will the light bulb come on? when will I begin to see things clearer?  It seemed as though I was in the maze, that kept me turning in different directions, I knew that their was an exit; but I just could not seem to find it. It kept eluding me..it kept calling to me.. that it was there ,but I could not seem to find it. In steps 45 and I look around and everything seems to be brand new, everything seems to make sense. It is as though the light came on and no one told me that it was being cut on. People make better sense, situations bring clarity and not frustration. I am calmer and know that life is simply a scavenger hunt --that we collect things along the way, for a later time. And one day all of the items begin to make sense

Pauline Respress Sometimes when we arrive at our destiny, a little voice in side of us, says "STOP!"..a little voice makes us retreat from that in which we truly desire. That voice is not real, it is merely old recordings surfacing, it is merely remnants of who we used to be, again trying to rob us from, that in which we have worked so hard to achieve. You are in control, you do not have to listen, you are strong enough to tell those voices goodbye. Tell them that you have listened to them way to long and you no longer need them to protect you. Tell them that you now know that you deserve everything that you have accomplished and that they will never again rob you of that in which you truly are due. Tell them that you are fearless and no longer fear what could happen, because you now know that life will happen and no matter what the outcome--I can handle it. Because I now know that GOD protects and favors me and that alone qualifies me for my dream. His love for me --tel

Sometimes when we are coming into ourselves, when we are defining our paradigms of who we are and what we want for ourselves. There may be moments that we doubt ourselves, that we look in the mirror and say who am I really and what is it that I am attempting to accomplish. These periods are normal, they are periods that we are shifting into who we really are and we are accepting our current circumstances yet still aspiring for what we see for our lives. These periods are growing periods that we are taking stock of our lessons and connecting them to the people and world around us. We are letting go of the things that block us from truly getting to what we see for ourselves in our head. I can clearly remember twenty years ago standing on campus and simply dreaming of where I am right now and today. I was talking with a friend but in my head I was soaring to my future. I was dreaming about being married and owning a home and moving far way. I can also remember walking across the stage at

Family is a very peculiar network at times. We grow up together and know each other..endure all of our growing years together. And then something happens as we mature.We begin to see each other in an entirely new light.We begin to see that the little children have grown into mature adults. Adults who have their own ways of thinking,own ways of living and own ways of being.We begin to draw lines in the sand and realize that if we don't draw the lines then the adult siblings will never see who we are as adults. They will never respect our opinions, our life styles and our perspectives.. until we can demonstrate to them that we have grown and changed and that old ways of living are no longer acceptable to us . We tend to see our siblings as the little children that we once grew up with and that the same things that worked at 5 will work at 45. But as we grow and change so to do our coping skills and we no longer respond to what we did as children. But until we can change our views o

When we attach our vision to purpose...then it has wings. Our vision is something that must manifest(s) in and for the greater good, in doing so we find our own purpose. Some may have great vision; but it dies,  because it does not advance mankind. It does not connect itself to the universe. You see the universe is a vast place that all of its inhabitants have a common thread that connects us. And when we tap into that, when we can tap into one little piece of the world, that we can advance; then we have found purpose.Then we are doing something, that is greater than ourselves. Greater than what we see in front of us. Our vision is given to us by GOD and when god gives us a vision, it is nurtured and manifested by HIM. He knows everything that we need to make our vision unfold. So our task is,  to stay in communion with HIM as to get further directions and instructions. We get our instructions by being silent in ourselves, by listening and waiting patiently for the things that we n

Pauline Respress, BAS,  M.Ed student Sometimes the universe will align it self as to amaze you in what occurs in your life. Sometimes we can begin to connect the dots and see why certain things,  just had to happen. Some things are meant to happen at a certain; an appointed time. We meander through life and experience all sorts of life changing events. We see each event as a separate occurance, each event teaching us something. But there comes a time when each separate events begins to seem familiar. And the familiarity ...forces us to form a connection, in our thought.  The familiarity,  sings that we must begin to pay attention, and uncover the meaning in the lessons and events of our lives. You see, every experience we endure becomes a part of our virtual filing cabinet and we must decide at an appointed time,  where each event is filed. The familiarity of the event,  depicts.. as to where each event is sorted and eventually when we have obtained enough information in an area,

Pauline Respress, Facilitator When I think of vision, I think of the possibilities. All of the things that could be....All of the things that have the potential to manifest.Yes ! I am a visionary and sometimes my vision goes beyond the scope of what the human eye can see. I commonly see a blank canvass that has the potential to do whatever the mind can create. I don't understand when we become stuck in the " I can't mode' or "Its never been done mode ". I believe that this type of thinking is defeatist and it stops us from trying anything. It stops us from dreaming and hoping . And when we stop dreaming or hoping the potential for growth is stunted. We become stuck on the perpetual wheel of complacency. Complacency isn't a bad place but it is a place that looks the same day in and day out and never ever allows us to step outside of our respective boxes. It is a safe place that is free from risk, because risking means trying something new and complace

I have grown to know that people need space and time to grow. If we continue to intervene in others lives they are not given the opportunity to grow in themselves. I have also grown to know that sometimes helping another can really be hurting them. Some people are in the midst of getting their lessons and when we intervene, the lesson is never really learned. I have had so many times in my life when I was experiencing a pain staking lessons and there was no one there to rescue me, but when the lesson was over, I walked away stronger and more experienced in that area.  Everyone needs to be afforded the opportunity to pay for their own learning, because in the end , the learning belongs to them and it can never, ever  be forgotten. You see,  GOD strengthens us through our experiences, our experiences are like movie clips that we tie together and at an appointed time in our life, the movie begins to make perfect sense. All of the experiences form a sort of puzzle that each new experienc

"Ye though I walk through the valley of death I shall fear no evil." This is such an amazing bible scripture. It tells me that no matter how much evil is thrown my way, I will walk with my head erected and shall fear not the circumstances that I may endure. I have a screen saver on my lap top that has the picture of a formation line of german sheperds. And gracefully walking passed them is a small cat that is looking straight ahead as though the evil looking sheperds are not even there. This screen saver reminds me that even when the winds blow and the storms rise, that I can continue walking. Trusting that GOD will protect me from all evil. When we get into the presence of GOD and ask for his grace and protection. we become unstoppable and fear no longer is a factor in our lives. We know whom walks with us and we become like David who did not fear the lion, because he knew who had his back. As I grow into my full woman(ness) I realize the importance of walking with c

Sometimes when we are stepping into our greatness, our light shines so bright that it can make people retreat from us. Some people can not understand putting all of your trust in GOD and his majesty manifesting in your life. Some people may go away from you, but remember that it is not about you. It is about them not being ready to see your light. It is about them not understanding that when you place all of your energy into something.. that something will happen in your life, something will show up..something will manifest. This is a universal law. I hate to say that it is envy, because I think higher of people. But sometimes it is just that..envy. Envy is an emotion that we all have--but it is also an emotion that can be redirected to empower us..not bring someone else down. I use my emotion of envy to better myself. If I see that you have something that I would like to have, instead of hating on you, I turn it inward to figure out how I can better myself to get that in whi