Encouraging Words From Motivational Speaker, Carenda Deonne
Tell us about yourself and some of your passions.
I was born into a very loving and nurturing family and raised on the East Side of Baltimore. You could always find hugs, kisses, kind words, and great seafood! I was and I still am a “girly-girl.” I loved to dress up and have tea parties with my favorite teddy bears and baby dolls. I was raised to stay out of “grown folk” conversations and to be grateful in all things. While the kids in my neighborhood rode their bikes and played outside, I could be found in my room writing poetry. I still love writing poetry; writing has always been a safe place for me. It allowed me to express my inner most thoughts without judgement.
The three words that I would use to describe myself would be cheerful, compassionate and clairvoyant. I believe that you can turn negativity into your greatest momentum. Most people see negativity as the infamous red mark of disdain. Absolutely not! I believe negativity can be the green light that you need to push you further ahead. That momentum has allowed me to become a published author and the editor-in-chief of Far Above Rubies Magazine, as well as a speaker and entrepreneur.
Some of my passions are writing, motivating others in their pain, teaching God’s word, and making sure that I laugh every day I have breath in my body.
How does motivational speaking impact your life and others?
Whenever I have an opportunity to share the stage with an audience, my desire is to move them beyond emotion and into mindset. My purpose is to motivate people through their pain. When you think of pain , it is usually connected to an emotion. I don’t want people to stay there. If they do, they will not grow because they will resist embracing change. I want others to always think about the flipside.
I once heard someone say that adversity comes with a gift. I want people to consider how their current situation, circumstance or trial, and how it is making them stronger through cultivating faith, increasing their wisdom and building their confidence.
When I launched my business, Carenda Deonne LLC, I was in a place of pain. I wasn’t on the mountain top. I wasn’t even in the hills; I was in the valley. Life was giving me lemons coming from every direction. Truth be told, I had more internal lemons than external lemons. Nevertheless, I decided to embrace change by building my inner man. I decided to shift my mindset; to speak the word of God over my life with boldness. I decided to heed to wise counsel. I didn’t just need to talk about my pain, but I needed layers of hurt to be uprooted. I constantly tell people that “making lemonade” is a thing of the past. Now, I am taking aim. I am throwing those lemons back. That’s how motivational speaking impacts my life and others.
Who are people in your life that motivate you?
I love this question because it allows me to brag on a few amazing women in my life. The first person who motivates me is my mom. My mother is an amazing woman. She was the first in our family to graduate college and she always displayed in word and deed how to be a lady of poise and grace.
My second person that motivates me is “Mom A.” Our relationship is one of beauty and love. Mom A is so much more to me than a “stepmom” She has always been supportive of my goals and dreams. She is truly a woman of resilience who has bounced back from several insurmountable situations.
Finally, my two grandmothers -Nettie Morris and the late Lula Mae Pittman - motivate me. My grandmothers represent so much wisdom and faith in God.
What advice would you give to people who are looking for ways to be more successful?
The advice I would give are these three things:
Seize every opportunity as training and development. In the beginning I would complain about where I was in the process. However, let me tell you, that mindset will only stunt your growth. I have since learned to be faithful and a good steward over the resources and influence that I currently have. I changed my mindset. Therefore, every chance I have an opportunity to attend a training or utilize my gifts and talents, I do it in “grand fashion!”
Pray for wisdom! Once you become passionate, completely sold out to your purpose and destiny, you will attract people and be presented with opportunities. However, I needed wisdom to know is this opportunity God’s will, or a distraction. Wisdom keeps me calm and focused. Not only that, but wisdom also continues to help me not cast my pearls amongst pigs! Passion is great, but without wisdom, you can only go as far as your emotional state will allow you. Once I was able to make solid judgements, I realized the depth of my passion and purpose.
Prosper in your body and soul. I knew that I was passionate about my purpose when I started taking better care of my temple. I started taking inventory of not only what I was eating, but what I was saying. I wanted to prosper in both my mental and physical health. Anything that you are passionate and purposed for requires energy, commitment and consistency. I came to the realization that, if I am always tired, fatigued and irritable, it would directly translate into my progress. For me, working out is a great stress reliever. I also read books, take walks, and refuse to neglect my hobbies. This has yielded in a beautiful balance and sustainability in my life. Taking care of myself makes me more open and receptive to ideas.
How can we impact others and motivate ourselves on a daily basis?
The best and most impactful way to motivate yourself and others is to stay true to your authentic self. Do not compare yourself to others. Do not set unnecessary pressures onto yourself. Just be you. Forget perfectionism. When you make a mistake, learn from it and move froward gracefully. Love both your strengths and your weaknesses. Love the unlovable about yourself… both make you the remarkable and unique person that you are. Finally, be 100% present in your commitments. People know if you are prepared; people know if you are sincere. □
Article Credits
Instagram: @carendadeonne
Twitter: @cdpgem
Facebook: @carendadeonnellc
YouTube: @carendadeonnellc
Podcast: www.anchor.fm/takeaim
Website: www.carendadeonne.com