Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tamika Rodriguez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tamika , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose on my knees crying out to God to save me from my self and from my life. I was at my lowest point, some call it rock bottom. The moment when you have to face yourself and the weight of what it feels like to be the destroyer of your own life. I cried out to God what is even the point of life? Why am I here? I just wanted to die. Yet He showed me that I had a whole life worth living. Through intention, dedication, soul searching, habit breaking, alot of praying and inner child healing, I could finally see me. The real me, free from all the masks, broken pieces and the weight of everything that I carried. The best part I could finally hear what my Creator has spoken over me and into me and it is life!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
In my journaling and prayer time I was given a mental image, it was that of a seed buried under ground, in the dark, forgotten. What I didn’t know was that the seed was waiting for it’s time. Being watered, sheltered, pressed and covered for a time until it was ready to bloom. The name of my business is Bloom by Design, because for such a time as this I am blooming into everything I am called to be. I have faced a troubled past of childhood SA, dysfunctional family and all that goes with it and yet I’ve endured. Now I’m on a mission to heal my body, my soul and my mind. Not only for myself but for others who have faced similar situations like mine. To show that there is a way out of so much darkness. I’ve learned so much through intentional inner child work, growing in spiritual connection to my Creator and learning about physical body changes that promote healing. God has given us so many resources on this planet that restore balance and promote healing within our bodies. Herbs are one of those resources! I can’t forget flowers either for the joy that they bring! I’m on a mission to study herbalism and holistic healing to help myself and to help others who want to bring health and alignment back to their bodies.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One would be the ability to be real with yourself. To shed the mask and to truely see what is in the mirror and real life around you. You have to learn to accept what is reality without trying to change it in your mind for the better. Complete acceptance and how to respond to it.
Another would be to learn how to love yourself. When you lack love for yourself you look for love in alot of places that are dangerous to your mind and soul. It can cause you to chase things and be someone who you are not. When you understand that you are wonderfully created for a purpose and that the one who Created you loves you so much, He starts to give you an identity. When you identify with the identity you don’t just accept how anyone wants to treat you any longer. You no longer put up with mistreatment because you begin to love yourself and see yourself as worthy. (That includes how you treat yourself as well!)
The last thing I would say that was super impactful for me to learn was how to flow with changes in life and how to not be so rigid. Perfectionism used to be a huge stronghold on my life. That stemmed from people pleasing, which stems from not feeling loved or being enough and keeping others happy over yourself. When I learned I am enough, I learned how to let go of the need to be perfect. I learned how to let go of masks that say be perfect to be accepted. Don’t be accepted! Be you!! The need to control everything in your life causes so much stress. Stress in turn breaks down your mind and body and causes many physical and mental problems. So I learned how to be flexible. How to accept challenges and how to grow and flow with them.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed all I used to do was cry and stress. Now I still cry lol because it’s natural and releases stress hormones but I take a few deep breaths and feel it for a moment. Then I begin to write out what it is I need to do. After that I take it one step at a time with the first thing on my list. When you think about the whole thing it puts you thinking to far into the future and that can be overwhelming because you are no longer living in the now but stepping into trying to control your future events. So scale it back, write it out, breathe, feel, cry if you have to and then begin with a small part. Once done move onto the next part of whatever it is that’s overwhelming you. One step at a time. One day at a time. One second at a time. I hope you bloom!
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Image Credits
Bailey White Photographs
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