Now What?.... #DayOne #2MinuteGems

Start the timer

Okay so here’s the truth….

I published the book Blindfolded in August of 2021. A book that took me over two years to pull together and just a year to give up on.

There was much hype…. The books were selling…. My truth was being told. I hosted a women’s event where we were able to gather during a pandemic and dive deeper into this work. I spoke at women’s conferences and was seeing so many lives radically transformed by my obedience. And the very blindfolds I was exposing in other peoples lives were falling off my own. Cues Fat Joe, “Nothing can stop me I’m all the way up”.

Here’s the bigger truth…. Those same moments in celebration were burdened by frustration. I’d spent a good chunk of money that was worth the sacrifice, but costly while I was rebuilding after a divorce. Some aspects of the publishing process weren’t smooth sailing the way I envisioned. The books sales began to slow down… and with it, so did my passion…. After about 6 months or so I hit that moment of now what?….

Where does my identity lay now that I’m not spending countless hours being “Bralia the author”?… Where was the extra stream of income going to come from now that I wasn’t selling books? The truth was I don’t believe I ever broke even from all that I spent on the actual publishing process and cost of books and shipping….

I received the question a few times of, “ So how’s the book going? You’re not finished are you? I believe God is telling me there’s more for you with that book? I envision you… “

And the list goes on….

My heart would sink because it sounded like some kind of Burger King “have it your way” type of prophecy that I didn’t agree with… I had given up….

And it wasn’t until November of 2022 that the light from blindfolded began to slip back into my perspective.

Y’all it’s not a full circle moment…I didn’t create this small series to lead up to my next book. I’m just straight up telling you I gave up on a dream and I’m just now having the guts to face it….

Maybe it wasn’t the book you published…. Or the movie you screen wrote… maybe it’s the relationship you’ve been standing stagnant in saying now what?…. Do I really want to marry this person?… maybe it’s the career you pursued but the math ain’t mathin; in culture, creed, or credit… yet instead the atmosphere is heavy on critique. Maybe death struck your family suddenly and tragically… maybe the addiction popped back up after you spent years overcoming it…. Maybe you landed in a new state but your footing is still loose. Maybe life is great… smooth sailing… never been better…You’ve peaked… hit the top… the momentum is still there… My question for you is STILL… NOW WHAT?

For me in 2022 I moved, got promoted, got married, found out I was expecting my second child after 8 years of being a mother of one… after I spent years

convincing myself I couldn’t even get pregnant. I Traveled: domestically and internationally … and took significant hits losing family and friends both physically and emotionally…I endured a major eye surgery on one eye while still on the waiting list for the other, we lost our sweet rocky after 18 years... we also welcomed my sweet niece Zariyah into the world.... and I’m still here saying…. Okay now what?

Whatever IT is, how will you use what you’ve built, dreamed about, prayed for, or signed up for, to move forward? You have the tools, and maybe part of the blueprint but what’s missing is you…. Where did you lose your passion? When did you stop being so motivated? When did you start bargaining your morals and values to get something that won’t build legacy? What are you hiding behind? You have everything but what?…. Time… money…. connections…. Vision… passion… influence…

Whether you’re 22 or 82 your pulse is proof that you have a "now what"?

We’re pulling up on another 365… Now what?

Don’t check the timer… check your perspective