Episode 22 | Tapping Into Ease, Flow, & Rest: Lessons Learned from My Recovery

Happy February and Happy Black History Month! I hope your 2022 is off to a great start. I wanted to take this podcast episode and get a little more personal and share with you some lessons learned after recently undergoing surgery.

My hope for this podcast is that if you have gone through a situation like mine or you are experiencing loss, burnout or stress, that you can draw some inspiration from the lessons that I have been learning.

Show Notes:
[01:37] I started off 2022 in the hospital. On January 10th I had surgery to remove uterine fibroid tumors.
[01:57] Black women are two to three times more likely to have fibroids and severe symptoms and complications with them. By the age of 50, 90% of black women will be diagnosed with fibroids.
[02:42] I was diagnosed with fibroids in 2015 and under the advisement of my ob-gyn and surgeon it was decided that I would undergo a surgery called a laparoscopic myomectomy to remove my fibroids in order to preserve my uterus and fertility.
[03:31] Praise God the surgery was successful and I had a total of 15 fibroid tumors removed. It’s now four weeks post-op, I am now feeling 110%.
[04:44] Today I really want to talk about recovery and lessons that I learned. I hope that what I am sharing will help you tap into ease, flow, and rest in your life.
[05:24] The #1 lesson that I learned is to take time off.
[06:44] It was important for me to take the time off and look at it as a time for me truly to heal and recover.
[07:47] If you feel like you need some time off, take it!
[07:52] Lesson #2 is asking for help. As an independent woman, this is very hard for me.
[09:29] I decided I was going to ask for help and that I was going to welcome any help that I got. I made it clear to my sisters and closest friends what I needed.
[10:24] I challenged myself that every time someone would offer help I would take it. One of the biggest things was me learning to say yes.
[11:43] There are people in your life that are willing to help and you need to be sure that you take advantage of that. God sends those people in your life to lean on.
[12:52] Lesson #3 that I learned is to truly not rush the process.
[16:23] It is okay to go at a slower pace and be patient with yourself.
[17:23] Lesson #4 from my recovery was establishing a new routine.
[18:22] The need to always feel on, the need to feel always accessible, the need to be tied to a phone is something that I have been releasing slowly. When I am off work and enjoying my personal time, I am not worrying about work.
[19:20] I also started doing daily affirmations. I found a really cool app from a friend called “I Am”. I have also gotten back into my daily Bible reading.
[21:08] Notifications can be turned off. Apps can be deleted. Work email can be taken off your phone. You can add positive things like affirmation apps, mentally stimulating word games, the YouVersion Bible app, and a meditation app.
[21:31] You didn’t go through what you went through just to come out the same.
[22:31] Ease, flow, and rest are what we should prioritize.

Links Mentioned on the Show From Toya:
Travel, Pray, Slay Podcast
Travel, Pray, Slay on Facebook
Travel, Pray, Slay on Instagram
Travel, Pray, Slay on Spotify
Toya on Twitter
Travel, Pray, Slay Merch
Travel, Pray, Slay on YouTube
The White Dress Project
I Am Affirmations App