Episode 3: Go to God with your stuff... A Conversation with Imani Ackerman

This episode is a conversation featuring Imani Ackerman
 
 Imani is such an encouraging woman. She is a Young Moms’ Advocate and Legacy Activator, which basically means she empowers and encourages women to become all that God made them to be and change the world.

In our conversation, she encourages us that even in our busy seasons that we enjoy the pockets of time that we are able to spend within devotion with God and not feel guilty. We are called to pray without ceasing, so speak to Him throughout the day. 

Imani also stressed the importance of going to God with our “Stuff,” acknowledge them and allowing Him to guide us in them. He is truly the only one that is able to bear all that we are carrying. Many times we can go to friends that can carry our stuff and she advocates the benefit of seeking professional help when we do need that extra support. 

Overall, Imani shared that do not let your stuff or emotions affect how you reflect God to those around you and you should speak life over areas that you or others may have spoken death over. 

You can connect with http://imaniackerman.com/ and on Instagram

@imaniackerman

@imanimediaco

Check out Imani’s Book “How to Have It All: The Secrets of the Proverbs 31 Woman” 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1795624167/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_lXRaFb1EYGKQJ 

 Reflective Action

• In your journal this week, take a look at all the stuff that we need to take to God. 
• Ask God for what are areas that you need to work on and find healing?
• Allow God to transform and heal those areas in your life. 
• Ask God to take control of your emotions, so we can be a reflection of God's light to others without the hurt. 

________________________________________

Join us for our Spiritual Balance Conference & Retreat.

https://bit.ly/BCRevent 

 I pray that this episode provides you the inspiration, support, and encouragement that you need.
 
 Blessings,
 
 Marline Paul, M.Div.
 Rose of Alpha Omega Founder
 Ministry Consultant & Christian Life Coach
 
 Download our Free Affirmation Cards
 https://www.roseofalphaomega.org/resouces

Connect with Marline & Rose of Alpha Omega
https://linktr.ee/RoseofAlphaOmega

{Sister, Speak LIFE! is a ministry of Rose of Alpha Omega, Inc.}

Transcript

Interview 

[00:00:00] [00:00:00] Marline Paul: [00:00:00] So we would just open up and you will just share about who you are, your ministry, anything that you want to just start off with, just to introduce yourself and stuff like that. So we'll just start off with an introduction of Imani.

[00:00:14] Imani Ackerman: [00:00:14] Alright. 

[00:00:15] Marline Paul: [00:00:15] Okay. Whenever you're ready. Okay. 

[00:00:19] Imani Ackerman: [00:00:19] So I am Imani Ackerman, and I help young moms to have it all. I am a Christian. I am a wife. I'm a mother of two beautiful girls they are. So amazing. I'm just so grateful to them. They're miracles. and I am a writer, I'm an author blogger, speaker, teacher, all the things I want to do, all the things and, My journey in being a mother and just some of the trials that I've worked through just. Adulthood being a young [00:01:00] mom, becoming an adult while being a mom. Just giving me a passion to help other young moms have it all. I'm also a full-time college student businesswoman. I want to show young moms that just because you are in a season of motherhood and maybe growing in yourself doesn't mean that you cannot see the dreams that God put on your heart come to fruition... That's me, 

[00:01:26] Marline Paul: [00:01:26] that's you as mothers, we wear many hats, you know, even as women wear many hats because God has called us to so much the direction. 

[00:01:36] yeah. So what's your highlight for this week? So share it like a highlight for this week. 

[00:01:44] Imani Ackerman: [00:01:44] A highlight for this week. My husband and I are, we started a business together, among all the things.

[00:01:51] And we just had our first client, our first real group. And it went extremely [00:02:00] well. And we're just so grateful. And the client asked us to work with her again, like as soon as we finished 

[00:02:06] that one thing she said, Oh, I have more work for you. So, it's just cool to see that what God put on our hearts to do, I mean is working.

[00:02:14] I mean, it, God put it on our heart to do it should work, but sometimes, you know, how's this going to go? So we're just grateful that it's working now. 

[00:02:22] Marline Paul: [00:02:22] That's good. . So how you've been focusing on that a week, or have you been focusing on something else besides that. 

[00:02:29] Imani Ackerman: [00:02:29] So there are a number of things that I have been focusing on.

[00:02:35]I have had a lot of schoolwork and, and then the business, and then, we just moved into a new home. So getting settled. So all of those things are, yeah, there's a lot that we've been juggling, I think. Yes. 

[00:02:52] Marline Paul: [00:02:52] So how do you keep yourself, like. I guess I don't know if you understand it. How do you keep yourself focused [00:03:00] in where you know what to do next?

[00:03:01] What do you do to help you with that? So I don't know. 

[00:03:06] Imani Ackerman: [00:03:06] I am, I take the time to when writing things down super important. Because have you ever seen, like on a computer? I don't know about you, how you use the computer, but when I go to use the computer, I have like, At least 10 tabs open at a time when I'm on the internet, my brain works and I know that if I don't take the time to write things down, then, I will become very disorganized or I'll just pick and choose whatever feels right to work on at the moment. And. Yeah, that does not work in busy seasons. I pray without ceasing. I. Every so often I have nice [00:04:00] pockets and chunks of time where I sneak away to be with Jesus.

[00:04:04] And I'm like, Hey, leave me alone. I'm journaling, I'm reading my Bible. I'm realizing now that I need to make that more of a priority. Like almost the way that I practice self-care, which is another thing that I do just to kind of make sure that I'm where I need to be. But, It's it's very easy for that to not happen.

[00:04:24] Like that has to be a ritual and a habit to establish. so while I'm working around while I'm learning how to establish that in a season that is very busy, it's a transition. I have all the things I talked to God all day, all day, every day, every moment that I get in the bathroom, I'm in like all these little moments I have with God.

[00:04:50] 

Marline Paul: So yeah, I don't do too bad too. Cause like how my life is. It's like me, you have a little moment where you can spend time and your devotion with God where you have, [00:05:00] you know, a rich times to kind of go for walks and I'm able to like have my, my Bible. Playing in the background while I'm just talking to God, I'm looking at nature and sometimes it's cooking and I'm talking to God, you know, and I'm playing with my son and I'm in God is speaking to me.

[00:05:17] And that's just like seeing God and man, you're so amazing, you know because you know about, you know, just looking at how my son is. So it's, it's good. Just to still pay. You don't have to like all. Yeah was going to be perfect in your routine with God, but it just like, having his presence with you all day long and knowing that he is there, you know, 

[00:05:35] Imani Ackerman: [00:05:35] I am realizing more and more that my relationship with God is very practical.

[00:05:43] Like I, it doesn't have to, I grew up. I became a Christian. When I was about 16, I went away to a ministry school for three years and did a ministry internship. That's where I got my credentials to do ministry. [00:06:00] The way that our time was structured was very strict in that every day at 9:00 AM, the whole school was coming together for prayer and not corporate prayer, prayer.

[00:06:13] We were all praying at the same time, but having our own individual time with God. So for three years in a row, I was having this hour a day with God, I'm looking back and I'm like, I was 18, 19,20, 19, 20,21. I didn't have children. I wasn't married. I was in this bubble where. Everyone was a Christian. All of the whole environment was conducive to that being a reality. And I remember when I came out of that, I was so like, Oh, like, why can't I keep the habit going? 

[00:06:52] Marline Paul: [00:06:52] Exactly. 

[00:06:53] Imani Ackerman: [00:06:53] I would beat myself up, but as I'm growing and. Ha. So as I'm growing out of that, [00:07:00] like perfectionism, I'm realizing my relationship with God is so practical. Like God is with me when I'm working, God is with me when I'm I'm cooking.

[00:07:10] I love that. I love to, I feel like, yes, I did that, but I know who I'm talking to. I'm talking to 

[00:07:16] Jesus. 

[00:07:17] Marline Paul: [00:07:17] Exactly. 

[00:07:18] Imani Ackerman: [00:07:18] So, yeah. Yeah. I love that. 

[00:07:23] Marline Paul: [00:07:23] Yeah. With all that's going on in this whole chaotic season with being quarantined, the protest and just trying to get change. What scripture have you been standing on to keep you staying here or to keep you grounded?

[00:07:39] Imani Ackerman: [00:07:39] So 

[00:07:40] there are, there are a few, In your anger do not. Sin has recently come up and then, yeah, especially, the black lives matter movement, and just that struggle of [00:08:00] police brutality and racism, and just these things coming to lights. I, that has been really difficult for me in the last few weeks, I think.

[00:08:14] And I can't even say like, I've had personal experiences with racism. I can't tell you. I've had my own self-esteem issues with regards to race, but I can't tell you of an incident that has directly affected me, but God, I feel like has just given me a burden for. This time. And honestly, I think all of us, whether it's happened to us, whether we've experienced that or not, like we are able to mourn with those who mourn and see like, wow, this is really hard and sad.

[00:08:48] And I tend to. 

[00:08:52] Want 

[00:08:52] to outwardly express myself. Like some people, when they process anger, they turn inward, they shut [00:09:00] down. I am not a down person. I am an explode person. I have, sometimes I will implode then explode. I have had to my, what I sometimes feel like is a prophetic thing. Like sometimes God gives me things to say, That is challenging.

[00:09:20] That is may offend people. I've offended some people over the last few weeks. but ultimately coming back to. My own heart. I feel like God has been challenging me, like in your anger do not sin like that, just because you know that you're right. And that you're valid and that you have this platform that you're not taking to social media with the intent to hurt people because when you're hurt, You want to hurt people?

[00:09:51] Marline Paul: [00:09:51] Exactly. 

[00:09:52] Imani Ackerman: [00:09:52] People hurt people. Exactly. And pride has been really challenging me on that. Finding the balance between expressing myself [00:10:00] morning of challenging. I'm really challenging the body of Christ, but without letting my anger turn into something that. Really causes division. Cause some people are like out here trying to say, Oh, you're causing division by talking about it.

[00:10:17] I don't believe in that, but I do believe that we can cause a division by intentionally trying to hurt each other instead of having conversations. So I've been trying to be sensitive about that. 

[00:10:29] Marline Paul: [00:10:29] And it's all about speaking the truth in love because we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. Yeah, you can't bring people into Christ that you've heard them because then not, well, you hurt me and I'm going to go somewhere else and we'd ask the last thing we want to be, because I know I was talking to one of my friends or know us and I messaged, she was sharing about how we need to be focusing on being loving to others and because Christ is love.

[00:10:58] And if we are to be [00:11:00] Christian, We have to be like him and, reflect that love towards others. And that's the hardest thing to do because if Jesus was here, he will be loving on all sides. You know, he didn't come for those who are sick. Those who were healthy people, those were sick. So he would go to those who are hurting us and try to transform their heart.

[00:11:23] And, you know, I have people remembering that and how you say it. Not to be angry, you know, and, and be in and don't be, you can be angry, but that's part of being angry and not sitting in your anger because I know Jesus had a time when he was an angry also, but he did not sin. So that's the hardest part for us to do that.

[00:11:51]Okay. What has God. has been speaking to you or showing you about him, yourself, and others, that basically.

[00:12:00] [00:12:00] Imani Ackerman: [00:12:00] Okay. So yeah, God has been showing me a lot. I, the season that has just ended with our move, has. Yeah, I feel like God is just. He's just doing something for lack of a better way to put it. I'm trying to determine how I love, you know, that being transparent is some, is like my thing. I like to be authentic, but I do want to balance it and make sure that I am not saying too much about a specific situation.

[00:12:43]so I'm thinking about it, but basically the last season, the last season that we just came out of as a family, was not ideal. My husband was serving as a youth pastor and he was let [00:13:00] go in November, which was very awkward timing because it was just before we had our second daughter and then the pandemic happened.

[00:13:09]There was some family drama, connected to that as well. And it was just a difficult move. It was, it was bittersweet because on one hand, yeah, on one hand, it was sad that things were happening the way they were like my, there, there was no real reason given to my husband as to why he was let go.

[00:13:32]I can tell you for me, it feels political. but I don't know, but then, the sweet side of it is I feel like I am coming out of a season where I have seen myself through the lens of someone who was trying to like, make me into something that God did not say I was. So right now I am experiencing freedom.

[00:13:56] I feel God is showing me. my [00:14:00] humanity, he's showing me that I am human, but that I'm still worthy and loved. he showed me that I can still hear his voice. it's just, it's been a, it's been a beautiful healing time. And one thing that, I've been working through some fears with the transition, just like, Oh man, What are people going to say about this and what are people going to say about that?

[00:14:23] There are some powerful people who I have been afraid would try to sabotage, what I'm doing. I'm being so transparent, but God has been encouraging me and it was confirmed twice, like on the same day. And I was like, okay, like I found the root of. Some fears that I had. And once I spoke them out loud to a couple of key people, the scripture that I was given was no weapon formed against you shall prosper.

[00:14:56] Alright, I'm good. I'm going forward. And so what's interesting is [00:15:00] starting the business. For example, with my husband is one thing that I felt like God was really encouraging us to do. He's given us a really great 

[00:15:07] The opportunity to do that. 

[00:15:08] And I was very hesitant, like, Oh, like, I don't know, like what if this person finds out and, and tries to like defame us and all this stuff like these, it's not super, it's not too irrational, but their big extreme fears, if that makes sense, like kind of, and just that reminder.

[00:15:29] No weapon formed against you shall prosper. I just feel like that gave me the peace to say, I don't have it all together. God still loves me and I'm going to go forward in God's love period. And then we got our first client. So praise God, 

[00:15:48] Marline Paul: [00:15:48] it's almost like you just mentioned a lot of people and you know, and also you have spoken to the next part of the importance of speaking life over your situation.

[00:15:58] You know, and, [00:16:00] and even with women who are listening, that's one thing I've been trying to stress for the past interviews, like the importance of speaking life over your situation, because our thoughts are the ones who try to put us down sometime and have a speak death over a situation. That's where there is a power-up.

[00:16:18] And then the power of that. The power of life is in your tongue. And that's one thing that we need to, stress the importance of. So do you have anything to add to that for the women who are listening to the importance of speaking life over your situation? 

[00:16:34] Imani Ackerman: [00:16:34] Absolutely. I think in order to speak life, you have to see where you have spoken death over something, or someone else has spoken death over something.

[00:16:46]and what I mean by that is like in the same way that I was able to find the root-like. Then, I think that sometimes our emotions show are like a [00:17:00] symptom of something else that's going on. Sometimes, sometimes it's like, Oh, you were tired. But like, even that, like I was irritable and it was because I was tired, like the irritability was a symptom of something.

[00:17:14]so I feel like finding the roots. It's super important. So that then you can almost like renounce for like, it sounds like a very overly spiritual thing. I don't have better words to say it. but it's almost like you have to say no, that's not true. And then speak life over that thing. Yeah. So, being told as a child, you are.

[00:17:42] You are, blah, blah, blah. You are ugly. Then like every time you go in the mirror, there's this like, like, I don't know. And you're picking at yourself. Okay, we'll find the root. Oh, I was told that as a child and that's something that I believe and then speak renounce that like, [00:18:00] no, that's not me. That's not what God says.

[00:18:02] That's 

[00:18:03] not 

[00:18:03] fine. That is the Bible. Like everything should align with God's word. 

[00:18:09] Marline Paul: [00:18:09] Yeah. 

[00:18:10] Imani Ackerman: [00:18:10] And then if it doesn't align, it's like you cast, you cast those thoughts down. That's what the Bible says, cast it down and then speak the life over it, speak the opposite, speak God's truth over it. So it wasn't like no I'm fearfully and wonderfully made that can be inside and out.

[00:18:27] It could be like, oh, I'm ugly. It could be ugly like that. 

[00:18:33] Marline Paul: [00:18:33] so. I think we all, a lot of people dealt with that image situation, you know? I know this is some other podcast that how kids act the girls after like six one is in sixth grade or, you know, our six years of age that all what's going on in the media, they started.

[00:18:50] Looking at the images they see in media and it starts affecting their self-esteem. And it's also good for boys too. You know, it affects your self-esteem in [00:19:00] in different ways. So it brings it down. Cause my son right now, my son he's like. He can do anything. He wants to be everything. And I'm trying not to allow anything to quench that, you know, that hope he has, you know, and I guess as we get older, sometimes it's hard to remember ID or identity in Christ, you know?

[00:19:20]

[00:19:20] Imani Ackerman: [00:19:20] I feel like so much of what we go through is connected to identity. And, you know, I have shared this in, "How to have it all." Like, I just really feel like when we forget who God is and who he says that we are, that's kind of when things go down. So when you are hearing something or believing something or someone is saying something about you, like about, Oh, this is who you are.

[00:19:49] I would ask, does that align with what God says? And if not, no, like. I'm a person who kind of receives that stuff. I'm wondering [00:20:00] how I'm not going to receive it. Like if you're a person who receives that stuff. Okay. And knowledge, Oh, I made that a part of my own identity. Then reject it, speak that life. Or if you're hearing it as it's coming in, if you are able to reject it before it, is even internalized.

[00:20:19] Awesome. 

[00:20:19] Marline Paul: [00:20:19] Now I understand that you know, you spoke a lot about. All the questions that we're going to come in, jumped the head, but it's okay. Because it all ties in together, you know, but he spoke about a little of your challenges of, you know, like, and I, and I know with me, I grew up facing those challenges of identity, you know, even though I remember one time.

[00:20:42] I told my mom I'm going to run away. Cause nobody loved me. And she like, everybody loves. So I think a question of identity we grew up with that. I don't know, you know, and it's like a challenge and you have to face it each and every day. So how do you face that challenge? You know, if you encounter, [00:21:00] you talk about it a little bit, but how you face that challenge over your life when you're meeting those negative times, what are some practical steps that you to do to overcome that?

[00:21:12] Imani Ackerman: [00:21:12] So I used to assume that everything that I was feeling and thinking was true, unlearning, that has been a process, but I have been learning how to acknowledge this is what our feeling, these are the thoughts that I have and say, those things are valid, but they may not be true. And so then once I let's say I had yesterday, I perceived an attitude from my husband that hurt myself.

[00:21:54] Yeah. But yeah, my goal, I didn't normally I would go and be like, [00:22:00] you hurt my feelings like, which sometimes still happens, but. I have been learning to say, okay, what if that's not 

[00:22:11] true? 

[00:22:13]and so in my approach saying, Hey, like, and even he told me, okay, if you have to figure out a different way to say it, so it's like a work in progress thing, but it's like, are you okay?

[00:22:24] Because I kind of felt like you were having an 

[00:22:27] attitude. Maybe I did something, 

[00:22:30] but, yeah, just thinking. Just realizing like this feeling or like feelings the are temporary. They're always changing. does not, it does not invalidate them, but they're always changing. So they can't necessarily be like the truth that we live by.

[00:22:50]and then experiences that we have and then thoughts that we have, like. Just asking is this true has really helped a [00:23:00] lot. And, when I feel like I am out of control and can not like I can't, I want to say, like regularly when I can't regulate those thoughts and feelings, I definitely go to God about it.

[00:23:15] I definitely go to God when I feel disconnected from God, because, you know, you want to know it's totally the enemy as I'm talking to you about it. I'm just like the enemy wants us to feel like we can't go to God about our stuff. And when I get to that point, because it happens. I will contact a trusted friend who knows Jesus and can just tell me what's true.

[00:23:42]so those are some things that I do I ask. Is it true? and then I try to, like, I validate my feelings. I don't say, Oh, why do you feel that like, get over it. is this true? And then, If, if I can move on from there, I address it. But if it's like, man, I, I need to come [00:24:00] down, like come down off of this place.

[00:24:02] I will go to God in prayer. And if for some reason the enemy has gotten into my head and was like, Nah, like you can't talk to dad about this, whatever he does. He actually never says that to me. but there are some times that I'm like, Ugh, I don't even know what to pray. I'll just go and ask a friend. either my friend will be like, here's, what's true.

[00:24:23] Or they'll say, I'm going to pray for you. And that helps so much. 

[00:24:26] Marline Paul: [00:24:26] Yeah. Having a friend that you can trust to speak into you is really key also in this time, because once you're, once you have the enemy have an attack so much, you know, you need some backup.

[00:24:45] Imani Ackerman: [00:24:45] I love that Marlene. That's exactly what it is like. Okay.

[00:24:48] I tried. I need backup. Yes. That's so true. 

[00:24:54] Marline Paul: [00:24:54] Yeah. We need a backup. Okay. Just, just it's sometimes overwhelming, and yeah, [00:25:00] and I, when I went, what I'm doing to them coming from a place where I'm trying to hear this, I struggled through this also. And this has been where, I find my source of, I guess how I can fight or my source of relief because I have other people speaking life into me and I like it.

[00:25:20] I like hearing other people's stories. I like hearing their encouragement because it really encouraged me also to move forward and. with my Walker. I believe what it says, as iron sharpens iron the same way as I'm seeing you, succeed, it's sharpening me to succeed. Also, we're pulling each other up, not pulling each other down, and then how should be the focus should be.

[00:25:42] So that's a good 

[00:25:43] thing. 

[00:25:44] Can I say two things? One that is awesome. I have realized like sometimes when we are. Going through those moments of like, oh, I'm overwhelmed emotionally. I'm having these thoughts. [00:26:00] I am battling the, all the things. Like that connection with another person sometimes just helps you to realize it's not sometimes.

[00:26:11] And I don't mean this in a harsh way because some people say it in a harsh way. Sometimes it's not about you. Like, and sometimes when you're able to see somebody else and connect with them and hear their story, you realize, Oh, Like either I can get through what I'm going through or this person is with me.

[00:26:31] I'm not alone. Or, Hey, like there are other people who have other things going on. Like it just, there are also many benefits to that iron sharpening iron 

[00:26:44] take the focus off yourself. 

[00:26:48] Imani Ackerman: [00:26:48] Yes. Taking that, focus off yourself and your issues and your problems for a second. So that you can come back and be like, Oh, this is how I deal with it.

[00:26:58] I don't remember my [00:27:00] second thing, but I thought that was major, 

[00:27:02] Marline Paul: [00:27:02] but you remember, let me know, we can go back on it. So we spoke about

[00:27:12] Imani Ackerman: [00:27:12] Therapy. I'm a huge therapy person. I feel like. Sometimes we deal with the same things over and over. Sometimes there are generational curses that need to be broken. Sometimes they're deeper rooted issues like anxiety, depression, et cetera, that just makes it hard to cope with everyday life. and so with that, I highly recommend therapy, counseling.

[00:27:38] I am a. Like, yes, Jesus and Jesus gave us therapists, to like when all else is just not. Working. I definitely recommend that I have a therapist on call who if I really feel like, Hey, I have not gotten past this. And it's been a few weeks. I've called my people. I've been praying. I don't see [00:28:00] solutions. and I need someone to talk it out with.

[00:28:02] Call her up. And usually, that helps a whole lot. 

[00:28:06] Marline Paul: [00:28:06] Yeah. I've been through that also because it gives for me, I, it gives you a safe space to land on without putting too much burden on your friends. Cause you didn't want to hear it too, but I know there's some situation that you go through that you feel nervous about sharing it to them because you wonder how they're going to look at you.

[00:28:25] Will they ever look at you the same, you know, and you don't want to put out weight on them and God has gifted these people with those abilities to listen to you and speak truth into you 

[00:28:40]  you shared some affirmations that, you, you speak over yourself. Is there any additional affirmation that you want to encourage women who are listening to you, to speak over?

[00:28:49] So that'd been helpful to you too. 

[00:28:53] Imani Ackerman: [00:28:53] Yes. in this season, you know, it's funny. I, I was never a huge [00:29:00] affirmations. Affirmations person. Like I see people doing it and writing out these long things and I've kind of been like, does that really work? Like not skeptical, but just like, it would be awesome if that works.

[00:29:14]but, and then also like just overthinking, how much do I do? Like. Overthinking is, is, something I'm working through. So, but with that said every so often  I find a few and I'm like, Oh, that's an affirmation. I'm just now starting to realize that's what they aren't. So for those people who are like turned off by that, or like, I don't really get it.

[00:29:37] Like, it's really not that deep. It's just a word that we put over something it's just speaking encouragement to yourself. That's all it is. So for me, even recently, my husband caught me in a moment. I was in the middle of doing homework, a lot of it. And, I am a perfectionist with certain [00:30:00] things.

[00:30:00] I really want to do a great job in school. It's very important to me. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be going back to school. And sometimes actually it's just a, it can be very stressful. Like I just worked myself up. Like, what if it doesn't go? Well, what if this would have that all the, what ifs?

[00:30:20] It's like anxiety in the moment. And I have to tell myself, so I just stopped and told myself, you can do this affirmation. You can do this. And then I tell myself things that I've done. Like a girl, You are in school, you have a business, you have two children and you are awesome. My husband tried it. I was like in the middle of telling me, giving myself a pep talk.

[00:30:50] It's like, that's what I call an affirmation. It's like a pep talk. And in the middle of hearing myself this pep talk and he's just making fun 

[00:30:57] of me. 

[00:30:58] And I'm like, don't say what [00:31:00] you're about to say. You're doing a great job. You have two kids, you are busy and still, somehow you're in school and you're doing great.

[00:31:08] Like sometimes just celebrating what you are doing so far goes on long way. and that's how I give myself grace. Like, you know, this doesn't need to be perfect. You have all these other things going on. So that's a major one. I say it's okay. A lot. It's okay. 

[00:31:32] Marline Paul: [00:31:32] That should be our motto. It's okay. 

[00:31:34] Imani Ackerman: [00:31:34] It's okay.

[00:31:36] It's okay. It's going to be okay. Yeah. Those are some major ones. And then, I consider what God has. I feel like I hear God speaking to me. Like, I may not say them out loud, but I feel like I hear God saying things to me throughout the day. Like, [00:32:00] you know, you're worthy. It doesn't have to be perfect.

[00:32:03] Like, I'll hear like, Names that he's calling me like beloved and like, things like that. So those are things that I can probably say over myself as well. I just moved in, so I haven't put up my little verses and stuff around the house. I need to do that. And, but that's how I just kind of keep that, that positive Jesus mindset.

[00:32:29] Everywhere all throughout the day, 

[00:32:32] Marline Paul: [00:32:32] when you were saying about affirmations that I remember I was in while I was doing my studies, they're saying in a Jewish culture that there's power in the spoken word. And so, and that's why I did speak. They took the value, the spoken word more than the original word, because, you know, cause like what you stay have life.

[00:32:49] And so when they speak a blessing over you, that's a. The whole affirmation over. So when, when, when I think when was it? Which one was it? [00:33:00] April was dying. Oh. And Jay, everyone to Joseph was Abraham. And then I'm kind of confused. Abraham Abraham with his son with Joseph and you know, and he's blessing, the blessing of Jacob

[00:33:16] his blessing. You know, the word he speaks over the kids was very important. Just like notes. No, this is the first world war I speak over, you know, Ephriam. I know this is, you know, my dad, you know, how he had to speak over that word. When I read, when I think about it, I'm like, man, it's very important because what you say to your kids, you know, it's powerful, because they take it to light and they remember it, you know?

[00:33:46] And that's just, I'm so thankful that I was like, not one of my mentors and my mentors, because I listened to them, even though they don't mentor me like one Oh one, they're my mentor. 

[00:33:57] Imani Ackerman: [00:33:57] They might not know they're your mentors, but they're getting mentors. [00:34:00] Absolutely. 

[00:34:00] Marline Paul: [00:34:00] Yeah. And she was saying how she speak life over her kids.

[00:34:03] And I started doing that to my son and I can see a change and help,

[00:34:07]  and I just see that that's important, you know?

[00:34:11] To just speak life over your children, over your business, over yourself, over your husband, your part, you know, cause like, you know, my husband, when he was in the military, that's one thing I know I had to like speak over him, you know because the enemy attack is real. 

[00:34:27] Imani Ackerman: [00:34:27] Right. 

[00:34:29] Marline Paul: [00:34:29] You know, and it, and I had talked to the guy who guards my heart and gives me strength.

[00:34:33] Because as a mil spouse. You have to have an extra spine or something to deal with that. So you just have to ask God for strength and with them on that.

[00:34:45] So you share some great advice and I think we go over, a lot of stuff already, but what is your support system look like right now?

[00:34:55] Imani Ackerman: [00:34:55] Right now, I am grateful to have a husband [00:35:00] who is involved. I want to say that at the top, because I have so much respect for the single mother. I stay here for two days with my kids by myself. Without anyone else in the middle of a pandemic. And I got to say, I could not do it. So shout it to the single mamas.

[00:35:22]so a supportive husband who is present, thank God was willing to go back and forth with me about. I'm making adjustments when, you know, one or the other just needs extra support or extra time or whatever. he's awesome. I also have my mom in law living with me. Yes. And I am blessed to have a mom in law, but I have an amazing relationship with, I love her so much and she loves me and we kind of joke.

[00:35:52] It's not funny, but we choke that. you know, if your son. Ever God forbid passed away. You're staying with me forever.

[00:36:02] [00:36:00] Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, my mom in law is amazing. And then where we are right now, I feel like God is just setting us up for the future. I have wonderful friends who support me. you are definitely one of those friends, friends who I know I'm like, I can call on this person. I can, we can talk. And that just fills me up.

[00:36:24] So I consider that part of my support system. But going further or expanding beyond myself. I am grateful for this season because where we were in the past season, we. Had some family close by, but we weren't close. but we are back in a place where we have family members who are close to proximity and close, like in hearts.

[00:36:51] And literally like in a 10-minute radius, we have one, two, three, Three four, [00:37:00] four different houses. We'll have family members that we can call on and our kids are the only ones in their generation. We have the first grandkids, so everyone's like fighting over, who can babysit. And then that's just within 10 minutes.

[00:37:15] Then beyond that, like if you go another 20 minutes, there are a good other. Seven people at least. So we are just like, God, God planted us smack in the middle of a huge support system and lots of family. And, I think it's because there are going to be some really big things coming. I'm hoping they're all really good things.

[00:37:40]and. Yeah, that we will be leaning on our family for. So thinking God. Yeah. 

[00:37:48] Marline Paul: [00:37:48] So I think we are, we covered everything. I know wasn't before we like ended up any final remark. If you want to say to encourage the women leaders who are listening, you can feel [00:38:00] free to share. So, 

[00:38:03] Imani Ackerman: [00:38:03] absolutely. I would just say, you are.

[00:38:07] Absolutely absolutely called for such a time as this, God chose. You do not doubt it. Do not allow anyone to diminish it. Do not let anyone take that away from you. You are a daughter, you are a loved, And God has given you everything that you need. You don't need to be anything extra. He created you just, as you are, to use your network, uses the gifts that God has given you.

[00:38:35] The world needs you and know that the enemy is real and he is going to try to do everything to try to knock you down because he knows that the world needs you. but if you get knocked down, get back up, you got this. 

[00:38:50] Marline Paul: [00:38:50] Yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Thank you for sharing all of that, how to connect with you.

[00:38:57] So 

[00:38:57] Imani Ackerman: [00:38:57] I am a [00:39:00] blogger at Imaniackerman.com. that is my blog for moms and I am, and actually all the other life I am on Instagram at Imani Ackerman, and I am also, my business with my husband is Imani media co. He said he's letting me be the face of it. So that's why his name. 

[00:39:25] Marline Paul: [00:39:25] So, yeah, you got his last name, so 

[00:39:31] Imani Ackerman: [00:39:31] exactly.

[00:39:33] Marlene. This was amazing. 

[00:39:35] Marline Paul: [00:39:35] Thank you so much for being sharing become a little bit nervous. I don't know, but. I feel like we cover so much and I enjoyed this a lot, 

[00:39:44]Imani Ackerman: [00:39:44] Marline. I love you. And I'm grateful to you. I'm so grateful. You're my life. I'm just thankful. Thank you for just. Reaffirming my gifts. It means so much to me. Like, even though we've been doing this for however long, like even though we, we have [00:40:00] experienced like we're leaders, all of that, like just being encouraged.

[00:40:04] Still means a lot. So I know that and I'm grateful. I really am grateful.

[00:40:12] Marline Paul: [00:40:12] I'm excited.

[00:40:16] Imani Ackerman: [00:40:16] I will talk to you soon. 

[00:40:17] Marline Paul: [00:40:17] All right. You too. Bye.