Saturday, January 24, 2015
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Are You Being Used?
What I love most about
what I do, is that like Martin Luther King, I get to use my pain to serve the
world.
But it wasn’t always
like this. Once upon a time, I couldn’t see past my pain.
Growing up in the
projects in an extremely abusive household, my constant prayer was, “God, when
you get me out of here, and I know you will, use me. Just use me to change the
world. To bring healing to hurting girls like me. Use me God. I don’t know what
my future holds but I know there’s a vision for my life that is greater than my
pain. I don’t know what it is- I just ask that you use me.”
May years later, that
dream, that prayer brought me to start The D.e.v.a In You Group- a self
development and leadership company for women and girls at risk. At risk of
what, you ask? In my eyes, all girls are at risk. At risk of dropping out of
school, getting pregnant if their having sex, doing drugs, getting their heart
broken, being abused mentally-emotionally or physically or just falling into
the wrong crowds. Like many girls and women, as a teenager in and out of foster
care; running the streets, I questioned my ability to survive. But each time I
thought of giving up (for a few seconds), I reminded myself of what I knew God
had in store for me, once I was able to heal. I may have struggled to see how
that healing would take place, but I knew it would- one day. I was able to find
resilience in my darkest moments because I had faith the size of a mustard
seed.
Failure for me became
a new opportunity to begin again, only each time- I became wiser. I knew that
in order to be used, I needed to stop bleeding. Leading while bleeding was not
an option for me. I needed to get through my own “stuff” before God could show
me what He was going to use me to do. I was fighting the pain when the very
pain I was fighting was bringing me to the front door of my purpose.
Through my pain, I
made it my mission to ensure people everywhere have the opportunity to live up
to their God given potential. I never quite understood the power of my pain. I
saw it as a negative thing so I couldn’t look past it. I never imagined it
would be my very weapon and tool for success one day. We all love and highly
respect Martin Luther King, but are we forgetting that it was through his pain
that he was able to discover and fulfill his purpose.
Once you know what you
want to do and what you want to be, that’s it! That’s where it starts. It’s all
about perseverance from then on. Yes you will fall. Yes you will experience
hurt and failures. It’s apart of growth. It’s apart of success. But as long as
you want to be used in this world to bring forth change, peace, love and
healing, than YOU CAN!
I had to understand
that pain was temporary and that eventually something else would take its
place. For instance, purpose! But if you give up, the pain will last forever.
Which do you prefer? To live life on purpose or to die with no purpose?
Dream BIG, Think BIG
but start small. Start right where you are with what you have because what you
have is BIG- it’s your story.
I was putting off my
business idea and my movement because I was waiting to be perfect. I was scared
of my own potential. I was afraid to come out of my own comfort zone; my story.
All I needed was God. It’s exactly what we all need.
Do you want to be
used? Do you have a desire to do more? To give back in a bigger way? Than YOU
CAN! Start right where you are.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
My Story Is Also YOUR Story!
Join me at my Chapters Woodbridge Book Signing
Saturday January 17th
11:00am-4:00pm
3900 Highway 7 - and Weston Road #1
Elizabeth Correia came from a toxic 'Playground' and has arrived at a life filled with Faith, Forgiveness and Courage.
"This is my life, this is my journey and I am grateful for the opportunity to share it with you. This is my liberation; I am FREE!" - Elizabeth Correia
"This is my life, this is my journey and I am grateful for the opportunity to share it with you. This is my liberation; I am FREE!" - Elizabeth Correia
If you missed it, here is my latest TV interview with Rogers Cable 10
Listen in while Raquel and I discuss sexual violence against women and girls:
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