Stronger: How Overcoming Life's Adversities Can Push You Into Your Purpose

By Dr. Teresa A. Smith

Baptized by the trials and tribulations of life, Dr. Teresa A. Smith (Dr. TAS) is a crusader for "messy people;" that is people who recognize their mess and are working diligently to not be stifled by their circumstances. Despite being sexually abused and bullied by both adults and peers, Dr. TAS did not adopt a victim mentality. Driven by possibilities instead of impacted by circumstances, Dr. TAS achieved with distinction a Doctor of Education degree in Education Leadership from Virginia's Liberty University. Dr. TAS travels across the country providing cultural competency training to youth groups, school counselors, superintendents and school boards assistance, schools, public and private mental health providers, social services employees, family advocates, and juvenile court personnel. She is truly driven to help others create a better life for themselves and their families. Dr. TAS is also a sought-after speaker, coach and consultant.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Teresa A. Smith
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215404928

Book preview

Stronger

STRONGER

How Overcoming Life’s Adversities Can Push You Into Your Purpose

DR. TERESA A. SMITH

Stronger: How Overcoming Life’s Adversities Can Push You Into Your Purpose © 2017 by Dr. Teresa A. Smith

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.

Thank you for respecting the proprietary work of the author.

Printed in the United States of America

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Section I

1. Growing Up with Trauma

2. Between Two Worlds

3. A Broken Existence

Section II

4. Blind And Bruised

5. A Faith-Shaped Life

6. Seeing Clearly Maintaining The Right Perspective

Section III

7. Discovering Who I Really Am

8. I Am Enough

9. Against All Odds I’m Still Here

Workbook Questions

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

All glory belong to the friend that sticks closer than a brother or sister ever could (Proverbs 18:24 ESV).

Many people have been with me on this journey: My mother, Gloria B. Smith who knows better than anyone I have been writing this book since I was little girl.

Each of the following individuals played a unique role in the release of my first book: Dr. Edward E. Bell, Stacey Dove Brodie, Kasaundra Felder Jones, LaTricia Woods, Frances Frost, Regina Moore, OnJerya T. Smith, Velena L. McRae, Dr. Caroline L. Lattimore, Patti Fralix, Lee Heinrich, Dorothy McGirt, Shanda Whitaker Howell, and Brenda Diggs. You each were a part of this journey at the appointed time and I sincerely thank you!

PDGBranding.com you are simply the best!

This book is dedicated to anyone who felt they couldn’t go on another second, minute, hour, day, week, month, or year!You are STRONGER than that second, minute, hour, day, week, month, or year in time! Don’t Quit, Don’t Quit you are STRONGER than you think! Happiness is a state of mind!

INTRODUCTION

If you met my experiences before you ever laid eyes on me, you would meet a laundry list of scenarios that would make you terribly uncomfortable. I have been sexually abused, marginalized, and disregarded. I have lost a loved one at the hands of the law. I have been diagnosed with a debilitating illness. Any of these honest revelations could create a sense of pity as you read my story.

Alternatively, some of you who read my story will be able to painfully identify with my struggle. I did not write this book because I want you to feel my pain, I don’t desire anyone’s pity. I wrote this book to illustrate that, despite everything I have been through, and continue to face, I am better today than ever before.

Life has a way of hitting us with unexpected challenges that suddenly alter life’s trajectory from a path of comfort to one of suffering. Life is filled with a wealth of teaching treasures and moments of inspiration that provide growth opportunities when these challenges arise. I have never been a slave to the circumstances of my life. Even now, far into the course of my journey, I am still encountering unexpected challenges. Yet, I refuse to allow them to define a single moment of my journey or who I am. This theme of overcoming challenges will permeate these pages.

Take control of the very thing that challenges you.

Hopefully, the principle of not letting challenges control who you are will resonate with greater potency than the pain of life’s unexpected challenges. The first principle is making sure that the very thing that you face should never define who you are.

My story is one of determination and resolve. Resolve, in my case, is more like defiance. This kind of determination is your willingness to defy the outside forces that could dramatically alter the direction of your life. Which brings me to the second principle that should leap off the pages and confront you:

Opinions should never define you.

Even if problems in your life don’t manage to distract you, there are people around you who will try their best to pull you from your goals or to take away your resolve. As you will see in my story, some of the closest people in my life have created the most adversity. Although this reality puzzles me, I am reminded that Jesus himself was betrayed by a friend and confidant.

I have written this story for those who believe that life has targeted them with a special brand of misfortune. Their pain and anguish manifest itself as a simple question posed to God and self simultaneously.

Why me?

This two-word interrogation has haunted some of the world’s most resilient people. Why have I been abused? Why is my family broken? Why do I have a disease? Why am I overlooked? The temptation to fixate on this question is often irresistible. It is important to understand that as human beings, we are a blank canvas. We are constantly painting a portrait of who we are, whether we realize it or not. We also are constantly changing. These changes are an opportunity to paint over our mistakes and reconfigure the canvas. When you own it that way, you can decide which direction to go.

Nobody else determines what your life will be. Learn to live with the mantra I own who I am. If you must take a detour, that’s okay; it’s your detour. It’s your journey!

Regardless of your position in life, I believe you can benefit from the insights I will share in this book. Maybe you are a millennial in search of purpose. I was a first-generation college student, one who was not expected to finish and excel in the field I chose. Today, I have my doctorate credentials. I came from a confused childhood with trauma all around me, but I made it.

As you turn these pages, I hope you will be filled with hope that where you came from does not dictate your outcome.

Maybe you’ve felt the stinging pain of abusive, violating relationships. I was harshly violated at a shockingly young age. I remember far more than I would like to admit about those incidents, but again, what he did to me has not defined my life. It was traumatic but not enough to pause my purpose. God had already written my story long before that incident. For the people who have been violated or abused by someone, there is life after your abuse. I hope that the lessons that you’ll learned from my story help you to heal your own