“Life doesn’t happen to stop us, but to motivate us to attain more” says Tarkisha M. Wallace, a two-time National Bestselling Author and Licensed Professional Counselor. While we will get more in to detail about Tarkisha and how she embodies our motto of “Dream More Than One Dream”, we don’t want to bypass her statement of “life doesn’t happen to stop us”. If we are honest with ourselves for a minute, at times we think the constant oppositions in life are happening to hinder us on our journey rather than having a perspective of what can we gain from overcoming the constant oppositions in life. And we know, sometimes it feels like its always something, but those oppositions can be our launching pad to thrust us into something far greater than we could ever imagine. If you feel its more beneficial to quit because life keeps happening, guess what, Tarkisha has a word for you too. “When things were tough, and I gave up, nothing happened for me. I remained right in the position I quit. However, when things were hard and I persevered, eventually I worked my way through and out. I completed the mission.” Go head girl, complete the mission. ShuEsq is rooting for you!
Now back to the lady of the hour, as mentioned, Tarkisha M. Wallace is a Licensed Professional Counselor and two-time National Bestselling Author. As Site Director for a mental health agency, she provides services to individuals and families and supervises counselors that are working toward completing licensure. Additionally, she owns and operates a counseling private practice, Soar Counseling & Consulting Services, LLC in Baton Rouge, LA. In October 2018, she released her first book, Little Girl Arise, which is a book that speaks to the little girl inside every woman that has aborted their purpose. In November 2018 she became a National Bestselling Author, and in January 2019, she became a two-time National Bestselling Author. Little Girl Arise reminds every woman that despite tragedy, loss, life circumstances, failures, and setbacks, she still has a purpose and its time to arise and fulfill that purpose. Tarkisha says that along with counseling and her newly found appreciation for writing, she will always be a lover of God. Because of her love and appreciation for Him, she serves in her church’s dance ministry and also participates in the women’s ministry. After God has affirmed that she is His favorite, she values her position in ministry. And she wants you not to worry because you are one of God’s favorites too! “He has many”, she says.
Tarkisha acknowledges that sometimes she feels as though she has “bitten off more than she can chew.’’ However, she says she keeps on chewing because eventually she sees she is able to handle it all. She dreams more than one dream by doing all that she can within reason. Although she tries not to overwhelm herself, she realizes God has placed valuable gifts and talents within her, and she does not want to miss out on using or accomplishing anything He’s purposed for her. “I want to be a good steward with all that He’s entrusted me; that includes my dreams.” She says if God has gifted her with it, He has equipped her to bring the dream to reality. It’s important for her to dream more than one dream because she not only wants to make God proud, she wants to make a significant difference in the lives of those connected to her, and she wants to be an example for others so that they know they too can accomplish any and everything that they desire. Tarkisha wants to ensure that while she is on her journey to accomplish her dreams, she is also an encouragement, motivation, or blueprint for someone else. “By pursing my dreams, or I like to refer to it as purpose, I’m not only striving to please God, but to show someone else that yes, it all can be done. And it can be done WELL!” Ok, dreamers, we should pause for a minute to reflect on our own journey because we think Tarkisha is dropping some real jewels. Yes, the pursuit can become beyond challenging, but are we mindful that our journey can be an inspiration for someone else, or also our way of showing God or the universe that we appreciate the valuable gifts and talents within us? Are you being a good steward over what has been given to you? Before we complain or give up, we should ask, have I been a good steward over what has been given to me? That includes jobs, businesses, children, relationships, dreams, finances, and so much more.
Tarkisha, like anyone else, has faced opposition that she believes was meant for her to quit. The most recent opposition arose when she began writing Little Girl Arise. She reflects on how the demands at work increased to a level she had not experienced since she began her employment in 2011. She expressed everything seemed to spiral out of control, and although she had support, she felt as though everything fell on her. In addition to maintaining her private practice and helping her family, she says writing became a task she often wanted to give up on. She admits in her mind, writing was optional, but when she changed her perspective and considered her purpose, writing was mandated. Yes, there were times she mentally checked out and got behind, and there were times she was so productive she wondered where her energy came from. She laughs and thinks she may have to credit Bath and Body Works for the help. Nevertheless, she overcame the above opposition by learning to pace herself and saying no, which has helped her gain some control. Additionally, there are times she lacks consistency in pacing herself and saying no. During these times, she reminds herself to be realistic in thinking and in actions by realizing that somethings may not get done immediately or alone.
Tarkisha also applies prayer and the support she receives from her village to every dream, every ambition, every goal, every purpose associated with her life. She says had she not used the two to the fullest she would have failed, and it would have been her fault. “I know the recipe for success, we all do. However, there are times we give up because that recipe involves some difficulty. We can’t stop at the difficult moments.”
Tarkisha is right, we cannot stop at the difficult moments. We should strive to view opposition as an opportunity to gain. Had Tarkisha gave up while pursuing her dream as an author, she would not have become a two-time Bestselling Author. Imagine what you may miss out on if you give up now.
As we are going through our own personal journey and facing life’s oppositions, Tarkisha wants us to remember, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the PLANS I have for you” declares the Lord, “PLANS to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Tarkisha reminds us the word “plans” is plural, meaning more than one. “God has multiple plans for us; therefore, we should have multiple dreams. Then He confirms that these plans will be good by saying ‘plans to prosper you.’ Prosper means to succeed in an enterprise or activity; to become strong and flourishing. God created us in His image and likeness. If such a great God created us, don’t you think He placed the same greatness in us that He possesses? God has so much more for us. We have to get out of our own way to accomplish those things.”
And if this scripture doesn’t affirm that we should all tap inside of the many talents and gifts within us, she encourages us to read Don’t Settle for Safe by Sarah Jakes Roberts and her book, Little Girl Arise. She believes these books will assist us in recognizing and pursing our purpose!
To learn more about Little Girl Arise, visit https://aalbc.com/books/bookinfo.php?isbn13=9781720268871 or https://soarcounselingbr.wordpress.com/online-ordering/ !
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