Hey—

So, there’s no way this is the adulthood I wanted to be a part of as a kid.

NO WAY!

(If you’ve been adulting for a while and can’t relate, I understand, but keep reading).

I’m five and a half years into this club, and if I’m on a prank show—say that. And before you get caught up on the five and a half years. Adulting doesn’t start until you graduate from college, right? Right! Great, glad we are on the same page.

It’s ghetto out here. And yes, I am being slightly dramatic with my choice of words.

Hear me out.

When I started walking out, the disciplined life God requires of me like being quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, or exhibiting the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—I realized us humans are flawed—a significant surprise to my childhood imagination.

Somewhere deep down, my child-like faith created an alternate reality.

🎶 Starts singing “back to life, back to reality”—as I dodge all types of junk coming to the surface in my heart that God’s revealing on this journey of discipline.

A visual representation of me dodging the junk in my heart!

*Boo! Throws tomatoes🍅*

Lesson learned.

To become the best version of ourselves, we must be willing to hold difficult conversations about ourselves. I am improving at this! Sometimes I respond to others with anger and frustration, not gentleness. My strength fails. I get cranky, irritable, and triggered.

💡By the way, triggers are not the responsibility of others but an area that needs healing and boundaries implemented by us. *Hands you a tomato to throw🍅*

Self-sabotage is high on my list.

@janaecarlee Some areas don’t reveal themselves until you’re in the relationship! #agoodman #dating #prayedfor #selfsabotage #healing #relatable

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Now I understand why Paul says in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

*Throws more tomatoes🍅*

But I’m leaning into it! After all, I prayed for God to use me as he saw fit. Thank you, adulthood. Leave a comment on today’s edition of “This can't be the same.. Nah, no way!” if you can relate.

To overcome triggers and the disappointments of adulthood, I seek wise counsel and open up my bible. Do I always agree? NOPE! Do I always open up my bible? NO!

However, God is not asking for us to agree. He’s asking us to obey. *You better not throw that tomato 🍅 at me*

When you meditate on scripture, it becomes embedded in your heart. Even when your flesh disagrees, your spirit illuminates stronger. I’m curious. What conversations are you having about yourself?

The accountability partner you didn’t know you needed,
xo Janae

P.S. If you’re a part of the “It Only Took A Year” community, a new chapter drops next week. I know! It’s taken me some time, but I finally have the clarity needed to keep going. Although none of you directly asked me to be your accountability partner, I take my own advice. This is a practice what-you-speak safe zone.

Psst! If you’re NEW to the Naked and Exposed®️: Journal, let's be friends—add your email to receive these straight to your inbox, or if you want to take our relationship to the next level, text me. If you don’t know why you’re receiving these in your inbox, at some point, you attended a live event, downloaded an eBook, purchased a design service from me, or you decided (then) you wanted to be a part of this journey with me, but so much has changed. No pressure. You can hop off this ride at any time by unsubscribing! Please know I will always love you (frank ocean reference) regardless of what you decide.

Naked and Exposed ® Journal by Janae Carlee

This can't be the same.. nah, no way!