GIRL Date: Amanda Just Take the Jump!

Meet Amanda…

Founder and Director of LIVING FREE BY CHOICE, Wife, Mom, Minister, Coach, Entrepreneur….

 

Her organization helps individuals to find and pursue their purpose in God and to embrace the process.  She also coaches to help us all understand that what we bring to the table matters. She is a part of organizing monthly women empowerment sessions, Wake Pray Slay Luncheons, Fundraisors, Gift Boxes….there’s no limit to the BOSS moves she is making.

One of my favorite parts of the interview was hearing about her pre-mie initiative. Both her son and daughter were both pre-mies born a little over 3 lbs so the initiative is personal to her. She knows all too well what it takes to have that experience.

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What is Little Stars?

It’s a support group for moms that have little stars that have came into the world a little earlier than expected.  I felt depressed, I felt alone, my husband had to work. A lot of people are happy for you but it can be draining. Breastfeeding and changing and singing all within the four walls of a hospital was hard!  It’s really hard, so we send a care package to the parents to let them know they are not alone. It includes custom onesies, hand crocheted hats, glow in the dark stars, a bible and diapers.

Amanda’s morning routine…..

I get up at 6am and I pray.

“Lord give me the wisdom to get through my day. I am a peacemaker, I bring light, I bring love, I bring joy.”  I speak to my children and make sure they are good as well as my husband.  My husband has to be to work as well but a lot of the help comes from my husband and he is on it.  If I decide to sleep in late he picks up the slack.  It’s really about balance.  After it all I sit on my bed, drink my coffee and I write down what I want to accomplish for the day, and then for the week. I love writing!

“We’re really not that good no matter how much me try, we make mistakes, we fall, we hurt…and our only sufficiency is because of God. Let’s not be that good together”

Affirmations are like breathing life into yourself and you’re not waiting for anyone else to do it.  I look into the mirror and I’m like “you go girl….come on Amanda, you are confident, you are strong”  It is so important to know who you are.  My all-time favorite saying is “We teach people how to treat us”.  I believe that we teach people how to treat us, and if I walk around like I am nothing… people are going to treat me like I am nothing. But if I command respect, and peace, and love, then that’s what’s going to come to me. Even when it doesn’t (because let’s be honest it doesn’t always go that way) I command my day to get back in line! You can’t let things and people have too much power over you. Some days I fail, but once I get moving and going I give myself a huge boost.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

There is no fear in failure. If I could tell myself….I’d say don’t be afraid to fail.  It used to consume me… it was so bad.  The comfort zone was my place! You can’t have faith and fear at the same time.  I missed a lot of opportunities because I was scared of the unknown. I have no regrets, but if only I would have took that jump….just take the jump!

What can you not live without?

Coffee. I probably don’t need it but it is a comfort to me.  Its like sipping blessings.  Once I have coffee it’s like woosah!

What is a day of self-care for you?

Reading books. I love Max Lucado and I love John Maxwell. One book I would go back to read is by Joyce Meyers and it’s called “Shut Your Big Mouth”.   I absolutely love it because it just teaches you how to not speak negative about your life.  Perspective is 99 percent of what life is about.  It just brings me back to life.

If you had to leave earth tomorrow what would you do?

I would make sure my kids are secure.  I would write letters and give them the wisdom to push them along.  My kids are my everything.  I know that they have to learn on their own, but if I can help prevent them from making the same mistakes I did I would stop them dead in their tracks. I would teach them how to love each other and love people. I teach my kids love because I believe in Karma.

What do say to someone who wants to quit

It is NOT AN OPTION! I don’t care. Of course we struggle but quitting is not an option….NOT at ALL..  There are times were the people didn’t understand what I was doing and I knew it was a GOD idea. I would say to myself “This is not Amanda…he is using me”  There were times when I wasn’t my best self and money was funny but I had to realign myself.

Amanda’s favorite scripture is “2 Corinthians 3:5”: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God and that’s what I based living free off of.

 

What does women empowerment mean to you?

I have 4 women that have proven through deed and through action that when you stick together nothing is impossible. Where there is unity there is strength.   She teaches in Wake, Pray, Slay that I don’t have to step on you to get where I need to go…I can walk right alongside you. I just really hate seeing when women feel they have to get there quicker than she does so that they can say they are first.  I don’t have time for that! My story is not your story. If I can help I am going to reach down and pull you up.

What women inspires you most?

I think I have thee greatest mother.  She taught me the strength of the woman in the household, how to maintain my home, and be a wife. My other 3 mentors have taught me how to be a wife but also handle a business and they taught me balance.

She discussed how her mother grew up in a time when if you were going to be a mom and a wife….that was it. She had to explain to mom dukes that it is possible!!

What does LOVE mean to you?

LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind, LOVE does not boast, LOVE is helpful and LOVE heals. That what love is to me.

Go Follow Amanda on Instagram (livingfreebychoice and wake.pray.slay_empowerment) and visit her website livingfreebychoice.org for more inspiration and to get that much closer to your purpose.  It was incredibly grounding for me to speak to Amanda. I felt like I got myself free coaching session in a half hour of just getting to know this woman.  That in itself just adds credibility to the fact that this is her calling and her true PURPOSE. Thanks Amanda.