Lesson 22: Stop Playing the Victim. So many times we block our growth because we want to play the victim instead of realizing that we are a victor. The enemy doesn't want you to see that you are an overcomer, that you are a winner. He just wants you to focus on what you've lost, that you were hurt, that things didn't go your way. When you realize that even though you had to go through hell, take a few detours, lose a few relationships, be turned down for some opportunities that you thought you were qualified for and that you still made it through and you're still blessed you will stop living in defeat and begin living in victory!

Lesson 21: failure is not an option. When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter I thought my world had come to an end. How was I going to finish school and be able to provide for her all at the same time? I thought about just giving up because society told me that I couldn't make but then I realized I couldn't give up. I had someone who needed me and needed to see that you can achieve ANYTHING you put your heart to no matter what you're facing. I may not get it how I want to the first time or the second and maybe not even the third time but I refuse to just give up. Success isn't about how quickly you get to your desired goal it's about the fact that you completed whatever you set out to achieve no matter how long it takes; no matter what or who tries to stop you. When you feel like giving up just remember all the reasons you have to keep going. Failure is NOT an option

Lesson 20: You've got learn who really supports you and who is weighing you down- in this season of my life I am ridding myself of any "friendships" that aren't benefitting my life. I'd rather have the support of a few rather than to be weighed down by the pointless, meaningless friendships of many. I only need those who are there to uplift, motivate and help me and that I can do the same for.

Lesson 19: Holding it in is only hurting you: somewhere along the lines I lost my voice. I felt like what I had to say didn't matter. So i started to hold everything in. People could read my emotions and knew I had a lot to say but I still wouldn't say anything. And what I came to realize I was only hurting myself. The other people moved on with their lives because they said what they wanted while I was left with the thoughts festering in my head. Though I still struggle with voicing how I feel at times, I've learned that speaking how I feel can actually bring more resolutions than not saying anything at all. Don't continue to hurt yourself by holding all your hurt in. 

Lesson 18: You can't put a filter on life. Filters were made to change the effects on a picture.filters can take your color picture and turn it to black and white, or take your new photo and make it look old. You can bring the focus to one particular area of the picture. But life isn't a picture that you can enhance to your liking; to make it fit what you want the world to see. Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, good and bad, but it's all meant for a purpose. But if you try to cover it with a filter, you could hinder yourself from growing, learning, and healing.

Lesson 17: Your strength is NOT a curse...I've been through a lot in my almost 26 years of life. Some things I have shared and others I have kept to myself. But with the things that people know I always hear "you're such a STRONG person" and for a while I hated to hear it. It seemed like I have been going through so much and constantly having to be strong. I asked God why did He give me so much strength to endure everything I've been through? Then I realized that my strength wasn't a curse, but it was a blessing. It's a part of my purpose. God gives His hardest battles to his STRONGEST soldiers. Be proud of the strength you possess.

Lesson 16: Pay attention to the signs ↗️↘️↗️↘️- when you're driving on the highway there are multiple signs that signal that your destination is getting closer, but if you so happen to get off on the wrong exit you'll have to take a different (and sometimes longer) route to get to your where you're going. When you're driving on the highway of life, God always sends you signs but if you misinterpret the sign and try to make your own way you usually end up causing yourself more headache and heart ache and delay yourself from getting to where God was trying to take you. Pay attention to the signs but be patient and let God direct you to the final destination

Lesson 15: you've got to let GOD, Be GOD - someone once asked me who God was to me and my quick response was "He is the head of my life." But when I sat down and really analyzed things I wasn't allowing Him to be so. So many things haven't gone how I wanted. I don't have the job I want, I don't make what I feel like I deserve, I feel like I should be in a different place in my life. But what I had to realize is Jasmine isn't God. And when I stopped trying to control everything and let God be God things began to change. Do I have my moments where I think I can do everything on my own ? YES! But I am quickly reminded that I just have to let God be GOD!

Lesson 14: Don't stretch yourself too thin, you just might break. I broke. I was doing everything for everybody but me. I was constantly on the run and neglecting the person I really needed to take care of, me. And eventually I was being pulled in every direction until I broke. I am still learning how to PRIORITIZE, how to say NO, and what I can and cannot handle so that I don't get to a breaking point again.

Lesson 13: Learn how to get comfortable with Silence. We live in a time where we are always on the go, always doing something. Work, school, church, friends, kids, family all need our attention. Instagram, fb, Twitter, snapchat have become our focus.If you're not talking on the phone, you're listening to music, watching tv. And when all that stops and it's quiet you can't handle the silence. I had to learn how to put everything to the side and get comfortable with the silence. In those silent moments, I felt so much peace. In the silence I could clearly hear God speak to me. Don't fear the silent moments, embrace them.