Meet Theresa Burleson

We recently connected with Theresa Burleson and have shared our conversation below.

Theresa, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I Thank God, that He nurtured my confidence pretty early on, by helping me confront my insecurities and affirming me through the Word of God of His purpose and plan for me. God is intentional and gives me peace through knowing I don’t have to have it all together, because He does and He knows me through and through and made no mistakes. So as I try esteem Him and have honest evaluation of myself I’m able to find peace, that when I struggle to be confident in myself I can be confident in Him, who created me.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a teacher and mentor to students between the ages of 10-18. I also run a platform called Honey Wordz, and am a contributing author to a book called Prayers that Break Her Through, and very soon my next book will release which is YA Christian Fiction.

As a teacher, nothing brings me more joy than seeing children grow and be seen, then nurturing who they are while building them up in who they can be. Most of GenZ is in pain and struggling and so knowing how they feel and being them, I don’t take it lightly their needs and my calling to be the one to lead them to the only one who can truly help them, Jesus. Watching Him transform them and see them free has changed me.

Honey Wordz is a Christian Wisdom platform meant for edification, reproof, knowledge, truth, and authenticity. It’s important to be ourselves as God intended when He created us and that’s my focus. This is a way I can share what I’m living in and teaching in a relatable and real way for those who feel this journey can be isolating and lonesome.

Being a writer, is such a discipline, but it’s so rewarding to write a story or share something that truly has impact. I’m an avid reader with my favorite authors currently being Francine Rivers and Jackie Hill Perry, so being able to share a story that can inspire and affect the lives of others is important. Words matter, and stories have impact and I’m thankful God gave me many I hope to share.

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?
I’d say wisdom that doesn’t come from man or experience but prayer and the Word of God. Self-control/ self discipline because it’s very easy to be a lazy artist or creator but you have to labor often and work sufficiently in order for things to get done. I’d also say grace, because you’re not always going to get it right and being able to balance grace and discipline is so helpful. We should learn if we don’t already know how to speak to ourselves when we didn’t fulfill what we had planned while also not excusing ourselves when we’re procrastinating.

My advice is trust the process, and be patient. I know people hate those words because we like to be gratified by results and instantaneous success to the point where we beat ourselves up when it doesn’t happen but consistency is more important that how fast we do things, let the process happen and start with one day at a time and in that day one step at a time.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
It may sound cliche, but it’s genuinely not, it’s Jesus for me. I used to be so hard on myself with no grace and I struggled feeling this need to be perfect, and I can’t. We understand logically and emotionally none of us are perfect but we still strive for it anyway, and I was trying to be perfect for people who had different ideas of what that looked like, it was crippling. Jesus freed me from that weight and blew up all my plans to help point me to what’s actually meaningful and impactful to Him. Him being perfect and me being everything but helped me to start focusing on other aspects like being who He called me to be and knowing that my authenticity is what is useful to Him and more useful to the world. He redefined what success is to me and satisfied me that I don’t have to look for it in things or people but in His approval and now I’m able to live a life of peace and freedom working on things that are profitable to the hearts and minds of people, that they could experience the same thing. The skills he’s given me as a creative and person I utilize everyday now but rather than seeking the glory or approval for myself I give it back to Him that I don’t live for applause but serving Him whether being seen by others or not.

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Image Credits
Makenzie McCloud- McCloudnine @mccloudnineart

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