Tag: personal-growth

Work In Progress

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the work we all need to do on ourselves.

So often, we focus on what someone else needs to change. And while it’s true that others may have their own growth to do, we sometimes overlook a powerful truth: real change often begins within us.

We can’t always control what happens to us, but we are fully responsible for how we respond. We are responsible for our healing, our triggers, our growth, and our transformation.

The truth is, we are all a work in progress — and that progress doesn’t end. It is a lifelong journey. As it says in Epistle to the Philippians 1:6, God, who began a good work in us, is faithful to complete it. From moment to moment, He is shaping us — refining, stretching, pruning, and growing us. Teaching us to forgive. To show compassion. To walk in humility. To become better so we can do better.

The work always begins when we look in the mirror.

When we honestly examine ourselves — our reactions, our patterns, our wounds — we begin to see what needs to change. And often, the changes we make within ourselves shift our entire situation. They can change our relationships, our environment, or at the very least, our perspective. And what we cannot change on our own, God can work through us to transform.

We often ask, “When will things change?”
But things begin to change when we change.

Growth is not easy. It requires digging deep. It means confronting uncomfortable emotions. It means acknowledging past pain and recognizing the triggers we carry. It means admitting that we may need to think differently, respond differently, or even seek help. Sometimes that help comes through prayer and surrender. Sometimes it comes through therapy and intentional reflection. Often, it’s both.

Interestingly, the red flags we notice in others can become mirrors. When we see someone avoiding their inner work, it can prompt us to ask: Am I doing mine?

Self-work is not about blame. It’s about responsibility. It’s about recognizing not only what we are carrying internally, but also how it affects the people around us.

Instead of constantly looking outward, let’s start inward.

This doesn’t mean others don’t need to change. It simply means we take ownership of our part. And sometimes, when we do our work faithfully and consistently, it inspires others to begin theirs.

We are all a work in progress.
And that’s not a weakness — it’s grace in motion.

Posted on by normascott21 0

Expectation: Speaking Faith, Growth, and Purpose Into the New Year

As I sit and reflect on my expectations for this year and for life in general, I’m reminded of how powerful our expectations truly are. After all, we often receive what we expect — whether good or bad. It may sound too simple to be true, but God confirms it: “You will have what you say” (Mark 11:23).

With that truth in mind, I’m choosing to expect 2026 to be the best year of my life so far.

I’m expecting happiness, joy, and peace like I’ve never experienced before. I expect to be in the right place at the right time, to be healthier than ever, and to walk in obedience so God’s blessings will pursue and overtake me (Deuteronomy 28:2). I’m expecting to grow sharper, wiser, and better every single day.

I expect to meet like-minded people who empower me, challenge me, and help me grow. I’m expecting increased provision beyond what I can imagine. I’m trusting that angels will continue to watch over me and my family in all our coming and going (Psalm 91:11). I’m expecting better communication, deeper understanding, and continual healing from past and present hurts. I expect to both give and receive forgiveness freely, to deepen my relationship with God, and to fulfill His purpose for my life.

I’m expecting to remain grounded no matter the circumstances — to keep perspective, to move forward without looking back, to focus on what I desire rather than what I fear, and to release what I cannot control. I choose to surrender the rest to God and to speak life over my life (Proverbs 18:21).

I’m expecting to be still and allow God to fight the battles I cannot (Exodus 14:14), to receive beauty for ashes and double for every trouble (Isaiah 61:3). Above all, I hold fast to the truth that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

My expectations are anchored in faith, guided by gratitude, and strengthened by trust. I step into this year believing that what I speak, nurture, and walk in alignment with will continue to unfold.

Take a moment today to reflect on what you’re speaking over your life — and choose faith over fear.

Posted on by normascott21 0

Choose Wisely, Know Your Worth — and Add Tax

Choosing yourself is an act of wisdom. It protects you from being taken advantage of, taken for granted, or mistreated. It keeps your mind clear when actions don’t align with words and helps you recognize when something simply isn’t right.

Knowing your worth means refusing manipulation, gaslighting, and the quiet confusion that leads us to blame ourselves for the behavior of others. It means not allowing feelings of inferiority—feeling like you’re not enough or that you’re too much. At the same time, it’s not about believing you’re better than anyone else. It’s about standing firmly in who you are and refusing to let anyone or anything convince you otherwise.

When you’re doing the work and you truly know your worth, you stop settling for less than you deserve. You understand that no one can make you feel inferior without your permission, as Eleanor Roosevelt so wisely said. And when someone wants access to your time, energy, or peace, you add tax—because your value comes with a cost.

Setting boundaries, walking away when necessary, forgiving, and choosing happiness despite circumstances leads to a life of fulfillment and joy. It frees you from comparison, competition, grudges, unforgiveness, and hatred. Instead, you get to live as your true, authentic self—unapologetically.

As this New Year begins, I will continue to do the work. I will be thankful for every new day God blesses me with and learn from every test and trial that comes my way. I will continue to choose me—not out of selfishness, but out of necessity—so I can become my best self and be intentional about what I allow into my life.

Peace comes from choosing yourself. It gives you the clarity to choose what is right for you in every area of your life and opens the door for the right people to walk in—those who see your worth and are willing to pay the tax.

Posted on by normascott21 0

When Apologies Mean Nothing: Breaking the Cycle of Blame

Have you ever been in a situation where you keep experiencing the same behavior from someone? Where they are sorry after the incident, yet not taking any responsibility for their actions, and continuously blaming you, or someone else for their behavior. Well an apology is worthless and not an apology at all without changed behavior.

For some, it could be coming from a spouse or significant other, who’s verbally or physically abusive and is always sorry after the fact, or a family member or friend, or even a boss that crosses the line over and over again, and is always seriously sorry after the fact, and just makes excuses wanting you to just get over it and to act as if nothing ever happened. Expecting you to accept their apology and move on.

when sometimes all the other person needs to heal is for them to recognize and admit and change thier behavior, but we have to also realize that it may not be in them to do so.

They may continue to blame you or anything else for thier behavior, to blame there past, or what they’ve been through, using that as an excuse or a scapegoat for their behavior, while taking no responsibility whatsoever for their own actions.

Although yes we are supposed to forgive them, it doesn’t mean that we have to continue to put up with the behavior, and be made to feel as if we are overreacting, and that it’s all in our head, or that were the problem. I believe you would call this a form of gaslighting, which is just a start in explaining this behavior and the situation we may find ourselves in.

After a while you may start to think that somehow it was your fault, and try to figure out what you may have done to bring on this type of behavior, when the truth of the matter is, we are not responsible for another person’s actions or reactions only they are. The first step in changing thier behavior is for them to realize that there is a problem.

Sometimes we deal with the behavior for years, walking on egg shells, trying to keep the peace and saying the wrong thing to avoid yet another confrontation, It is not our responsibility to try and change them, It will take an act of God, therapy and a total reflection and realization on the other persons part to do that. These situations can cause a lot of mental distress so protecting our peace, our health and mental wellbeing, and not blaming ourselves is crucial.

If there is a part we need to take responsibility for by all means do that, then forgive yourself, take care of yourself and first and foremost forgive and pray for them, pray for yourself and ask God for help and guidance to get through it, or in some cases the strength to remove yourself from the situation all together.

Posted on by normascott21 0