Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
November 4, 2024
This Week's Anchor
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.
Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught,
and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:7 (NLT)
Simply put, most of us are incredibly hard on ourselves. We often do it as an attempted method of motivation; however, despite our best intentions, our negative self-talk usually does far more harm than good. Some of us were socialized to be self-critical in our upbringing. For others, our broader context (e.g., a high-pressure work and/or school environment; racism, sexism, and the intersections of many other -isms; difficult/toxic relationships) leads us to direct an overwhelming degree of harsh judgment toward ourselves. Regardless of the varying paths to self-criticism, our inability to recognize and celebrate our own growth is a common contributor. Let me emphasize the ‘our’ in the previous statement because, ironically (or not so ironically), our deficit mindset seems to apply only to us as we often effortlessly acknowledge growth in everyone else but ourselves.
This is valid not only for personal growth but also for physical growth. As a child, I recall adults repeatedly expressing their disbelief in my development across periods of time. I saw the markings on the wall indicating my body was getting taller, but I could never actually feel myself growing in the moment. This inability to see and feel ourselves growing extends beyond the physical and our childhood experiences. Nevertheless, there is a benefit to recognizing our growth, particularly our personal and spiritual growth, as we journey through this thing called life.
According to our anchor scripture in Colossians, by being rooted in Christ and honoring our growth in Him, not only do we evolve, but our faith is strengthened, and we overflow with gratitude. It is liberating and relieving to see growth within ourselves. It makes living and wading through struggles feel worth it. We often misperceive self-criticism as a motivator; however, it usually results in a level of self-pressure that demotivates and discourages us. Contrarily, the affirmation of our growth propels us forward and helps us persevere in our purpose. When we recognize our growth, we receive clarity on (a) what works and what doesn’t work in our lives, (b) who and what should be a part of our lives, (c) where we have been, and (d) direction for where we are going.
Acknowledging and affirming our progress encourages, affirms, and inspires us, and it connects us with the One who is at the foundation of our evolution. See, by honoring our growth, we are honoring God’s work in us because, let me tell you, He is always working on, in, and for us. So, how can we more mindfully honor our growth? Here are a few inspirations that can help us:
Adjust Our Lenses—See Ourselves More Clearly: Devote time and space for thoughtful introspection. Shifting our self-perceptions starts with our willingness to pause and reflect. This reflection can extend beyond solitude as our relationships and community, when healthy and intentional, can be some of the best mirrors. Engage in spaces (e.g., bible study groups/prayer circles, accountability partners, therapy/counseling) that facilitate you seeing yourself more objectively and promotively. [This Black woman-developed journal is an excellent tool for self-reflection and self-affirmation]
Sharpen Our Growth-Assessing Tool—Intentionally and Consistently Assess Our Growth: We’ll make a vision board in a heartbeat, but let someone ask us how we’ve grown over the years, and we’ll give a blank stare. We are naturally future-oriented and forward-thinking beings, yet we should be careful not to hyper-focus on where we are going at the cost of neglecting where we have come. Just as we carve out consistent goal-setting moments in our lives, we should also designate intentional growth-assessing moments in our lives. Set aside time periodically to identify how you are growing and have grown and explore ways to accurately and objectively assess your growth. Get specific—consider different areas of growth/ways you have grown based on your unique experiences (not in comparison to others).
Implement Reinforcement—Affirm and Re-Affirm Yourself and God’s Work in You: Your growth deserves celebration! Find ways to commemorate your evolution. Give yourself rest, enjoyment, other desires, or simple positive words on a post-it note. Direct praise to God for how He is growing you. Bask in and deeply connect with your growth, and share and celebrate it with others!
Whether you feel it or not, you have grown, and you are growing; you have healed, and you are healing. Think about it: you aren’t the person you were 10 years ago, 5 years ago, or even last year. You’ve changed. You’ve evolved. You’re wiser. You’re better. You’ve endured. You’ve sustained, and you’ve persevered. If no one else in your life sees it, God sees it, and you can see it too. Ground yourself this week by standing firm in the deep, ever-evolving roots of you!
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
How have you grown this year? How can you intentionally and consistently be more attuned to your personal and spiritual growth moving forward?
What intention(s) do you want to set to connect and/or reconnect with being grounded this week?
Related Scriptures to Ground You Through this Week
Isaiah 43:19
Jeremiah 29:11
1 Corinthians 13:11
Philippians 1:6
Philippians 1:9-11
2 Peter 1:5-8
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“Black women have incomparable faith, strength, resilience, creativity, and work ethic. There’s nothing that we can’t do or be! We’re Exquisite Black Queens… Born with excellence inside our DNA. We were, are, and will always be royalty!”
Stephanie Lahart
Comments