Meet Melisa Dunkley-smith

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melisa Dunkley-smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Melisa, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Through life’s struggles, my unwavering trust in God has been my guiding light. No matter how daunting they seemed, I knew He is with me even in the darkest moments.
The adversities I face forged my strength and resilience. Life’s unexpected twists; unplanned pregnancy and the devastating loss of my father, all tested my resolve but I refused to not let my circumstances dictate my path. I remained steadfast and unshakeable. My willpower drives me to survive and thrive. Whenever life knocks me down I got back up and keep moving forward. I recognized that my obstacles are not barriers but instead the building blocks to my character.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an Amazon best selling author, empowerment speaker and certified Christian Life Coach. It is my hope to use my experiences to help other women unlock their hidden resilience potential.
What many people don’t know is that my early life was marked by tumultuous hardships. Navigating an unstable family environment due to my parents’ separation, constant feelings of rejection, the absence of positive reinforcement and affirmations led to self esteem issues. I had to endure being called names and constantly teased about my appearance which resulted in feelings of inadequacy and would always question my worth.
One of the hardest challenges I faced was being forced to grow up too quickly as I took on the roles and responsibilities of caring for myself, my little brother along with taking care of the home. With the family always struggling to make ends meet, I often went without basic necessities such as personal care items. My bath soap would sometimes multipurpose, serving also as deodorant and toothpaste. Despite this turbulent backdrop, my faith served as a steadfast anchor. Haunted by the possibility of dying with unfulfilled dreams and being labeled a failure I confronted my deepest fears head-on. In 2018 I enrolled in a personal development course which led me on a path of self discovery and now I embracing my God-given purpose. Obstacles form a part of everyone’s existence however it is in the difficult times that we truly discover our strength. I am now on a quest to empower women globally through my various empowerment initiatives; Strong Girl, Get Up devotional book and conference, coaching and mentorship. One of the lessons I want women to learn is that obstacles are not barriers but instead building blocks to their character.

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?

The most impactful skills would include:
1. My unwavering faith in God helped me navigate through life’s turbulent storms. This faith fueled resilience empowers me to bounce back quickly and keep moving forward despite the challenges.
You must cultivate a personal prayer life with God, renew your mind in His words daily and practice gratitude by focusing on His goodness.

2. I have embraced my failures as opportunities to learn, grow and change. Proverbs 24:16 says, “The just man fall seven times and rise again….” I am determined to win, giving up is never an option, whenever I fall, I get back up.
Stay focused, keep pushing forward. Every step is forward is a win and every setback is for a comeback.

3. Enrolling in a personal development course was a pivotal moment in my journey. This course changed the trajectory of my life, empowering me to discover my purpose. I was also able to clarify my purpose as I overcame the limiting self beliefs.
Challenge your limitations and self doubt by investing in yourself.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Over the past year the biggest area of growth is my mindset. I was able to believe bigger for myself. This led to the planning and execution of a successful Strong Girl, Get Up! conference. Through courageous faith, I’m embracing a more purpose-driven and fulfilling life.

There is a quote that says; “You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending” (Unknown)

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