Death to Superwoman

Let me start off by saying that perfection is an illusion, and there is no such thing as balance. Some seasons, you’ll neglect certain things and parts of your life, and that is ok.

For years, I believed I had to be everything to everyone. The strong Black woman. The wife who holds her husband down. The mother who never misses a beat. The daughter, the sister, the friend, the professional; all done with a smile, no cracks showing.

I wore the cape proudly. But the cape got heavy.

I told myself rest was a luxury I hadn’t earned. That pausing was a sign of weakness. That if I didn’t push through, somehow my family would fall apart. I thought strength meant never stopping.

But eventually, I stopped anyway, because I had no choice. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Everything in my life seemed perfect, but the weight of trying to be perfect and show up for everyone and everything, every time was crushing me.

The Myth I Inherited

Being a Black woman, you inherit stories. Stories of women who endured, who carried, who made a way out of no way. That legacy is powerful, but it can also be suffocating.

I thought strength meant silence. I thought motherhood meant martyrdom. I thought being a wife meant meeting every need before acknowledging my own.

The truth is, no one asked me to do that. Not my husband. Not my children. I put those expectations on myself.

The Superwoman Complex

Part of it was the Superwoman complex, that deep-rooted belief that I should be able to carry it all. That no matter how heavy life gets, I can handle it without breaking. That I can juggle every responsibility, every role, and never drop a ball.

But here’s the truth: I am not Superwoman.

I am not meant to carry everything. And even if I could, why should I? Carrying it all left me tired, anxious, and stretched so thin that there was no space left for me.

Letting go of the Superwoman complex has been an act of freedom. It has meant admitting that I am human, not a superhero. It has meant learning to ask for help. It has meant setting boundaries. And it has meant allowing myself to put some things down without guilt.

The Sofa That Saved Me

One of my favorite places in the world is my family room sofa. In the middle of the day, I’ll grab a blanket, curl up, and take a nap. For years, I would’ve felt guilty about that, like I was slacking off or wasting time.

Now, I love those naps.

I love that my children see me resting. I love that my daughter especially sees me prioritizing my body, my peace, my need for pause. Because I don’t want her to grow up thinking womanhood means constant exhaustion. I want her to know that she can be strong and still rest. That she can be a nurturer and still say, “I need time for me.”

It’s not just about what I’m teaching her, it’s also about what I’m unlearning for myself. Burnout is not a badge of honor. It is a sign that you need rest or that you need to delegate some things to other people.

The Real Me

I used to think my family needed Superwoman. The woman who could work all day, cook dinner, clean the house, do the homework, keep the smiles going, and never stop moving.

But my husband and my kids? They don’t need a superhero. They need me.

They need the me who laughs so hard my stomach hurts. The me who cries when I feel overwhelmed. The me who can admit, “I can’t do it all today.” The me who lets herself rest on the sofa in the middle of the afternoon, trusting that the world won’t collapse if I step away. The me that is present not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. The one who is truly enjoying each moment instead of thinking about and planning the next.

They don’t need my cape. They need my presence.

Death to Superwoman

So here I am, saying it plainly: death to Superwoman. I am not a myth. I am not an endless well of strength. I am not a machine. I am a woman. A wife. A mother. A daughter of God. And that is more than enough.

I am laying down the cape and choosing to live fully in my humanity with all its softness, all its imperfections, and all its beauty.

Superwoman is dead. Disa is reborn.
And for the first time in a long time, I feel alive and free.


❤️ Disa B.

My Message to the Strong Friend

To the “strong friend”: it is okay to admit that you’re not okay. That is a sign of strength.

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If you don’t read anything else on this post, I want you to know that admitting your struggle and your hurt does not equate to you being weak. Strength is saying, “you know what? I’m hurting. And it’s okay. I will make it.” We all need somebody. No one can get through this life alone. Thinking that we can is a lie from the enemy.

The Bible says in James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Healing comes through confessing our struggles to others. Healing comes once we face what we are going through head on and admit it.

Today, you may be feeling like living your life is no longer worth it. You may be feeling alone and lonely. Like no one understands. You may be feeling like you’re isolated on an island and thinking you’re the only person experiencing what you’re going through. Even in the midst of those feelings, you may still be encouraging your friends and family to get them through their stuff. You may be carrying the burdens of others and don’t think you can carry theirs and yours much longer. Release it today my friend. Cast all your cares on the Lord for He cares for you. His burden is easy and his yoke is light. Give it to Him!

You are worthy. You are loved. You are strong. And in your weakness, He (Jesus) is strong for you.

This time last year, I was struggling. See, I’m typically the strong friend. People come to me for advice and wisdom, and I give it with no hesitation. I can quote scripture and encourage people. That is a gift of mine. I love to do it. But when it was time to encourage myself, I couldn’t do it. I never understood how people could take their own lives until suicide was looking like my only option, and I attempted it…twice.

My family and friends tried to be there for me, but I retreated. I isolated myself because I didn’t want them to see how hurt I really was. So when they would call and text me, I would make it seem like I was doing okay. That I was making it. That the days we’re getting easier. But the exact opposite was true. I was drowning and depression was swallowing me up. I was at rock bottom. My faith in God diminished. I didn’t want to believe in Him any longer. I never understood how when tragedy happens, people blame God and turn from Him until it happened to me.

But you see, healing began to take place for me when I turned back to God and told Him that I was angry at Him and confessed my hurt, out loud. That was hard. Saying it out loud. Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Jesus does. I tried to shut Him out. I ran from Him. I honestly lost all faith and trust in Him. But He never left me. For that, I‘m grateful. When I finally ran back to Him, healing began to take place. I began to have new strength. New perspective. Then, I got real and expressed it to a couple friends and my mom. See, as bad as I didn’t want to, I had to face it head on. Avoiding it…bottling it up on the inside was killing me slowly. But man there was so much freedom in confessing it. I didnt have to smile through it. I didnt have to pretend. I was free to live in my hurt for a moment. I was free to express my sadness and my anger and my disappointment. It felt good. It FEELS good. 10259733-3b68-4aad-bd08-0f6084bf18a2_637052fa-7ebd-4b72-9ddd-ab3655029929_2048x2048

I can’t say that I’ve made it. To be honest, each day I’m still making it. I’m still recovering. I still have to renew my mind. I still have to cast down thoughts. Tears still form. But I’m still here. And the pain isn’t how it once was.

So, to the strong friend, seek help. Seek wise counsel. Seek a safe place to be vulnerable. You will be so glad you did. Then a year later, you will be able to look back and see how you made it through your toughest time. That is strength. ❤️

Xoxo
Disa B.

From Rubbish to Rubies

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I remember about 4 years ago, I was so broken. I was at my lowest point. The things I placed my hope in failed me. I had no self worth. I didn’t value myself. I accepted anything and everything from someone who didn’t deserve a hello from me.  I knew I should be treated well and that abuse is not acceptable, but in my mind I didn’t believe I deserved better or could get better. My heart ached as my mind played tricks on me. I had been belittled and ridiculed so much that I began to believe the things people who didn’t matter would say about me. I began to believe I was worthless, even if my mom said I was priceless. I began to believe that in order to keep that man, I had to open my legs, even though my parents taught me better. The enemy had a hold on me. I remember my life flashing before my eyes. I remember an ex telling me that he’s not afraid to die and pulling the emergency break while going at least 80 mph. I remember that truck narrowly missing my car after it spun around. I remember fearing for my life. I remember wondering why that truck didn’t hit us and why I didn’t get hurt or why I didn’t die.
 
Now I realize that even in my sin, God was fighting for me. He remembered the plans He has for me, plans for good and not for evil. He didn’t want me to stay on the path I was going. He wanted me back in His arms. He never wanted me to leave but I walked away. I was fighting God off of me as He was fighting for me. He never gave up. God fought relentlessly for me. I believe he fights relentlessly for you too.
 
imagesCAMFSGA1He doesn’t want His sons and daughters to live a hopeless life on a path of destruction that will ultimately send us to hell. He wants us to be His. He wants us to be whole. He wants us to choose Him. He wants us to choose Jesus, not the world. God says we are worthy no matter what mistakes we’ve made. God says we’re worth far more than rubies. He doesn’t remind us of the filthy rubbish we once laid in, that we once identified ourselves with. He turns our rubbish into rubies and uses our past mistakes, failures, disappointments, heartbreaks, insecurities, and pain to bring Him glory.
 
We all have a past. We all have made mistakes, but your rubbish doesn’t define you. God’s word does. And He says you are fearfully & wonderfully made. You are more precious than rubies. Let Him turn your rubbish into rubies for His name sake. If you are single, know that God loves and cares for you. He has a perfect plan for your life. You are worth the wait. Your singleness isn’t a punishment from God. It is a gift from Him. He longs for you. Allow Him to make you whole. If you are married and feel low, know that God hasn’t abandoned you. Look to Him to heal your wounds. Your spouse is great but he/she isn’t God. Allow God to fill your voids. I am praying for you!
 
xoxo Disa B.

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

 

Growing up, I had low self-esteem and a poor self-image. I didn’t like the way my nose was shaped or how my eyes looked.fearfully&wonderfullyI definitely did not like my hair. I desperately wanted to look like the girls on TV. I wanted to look in the mirror and see myself as beautiful instead of ugly. The older I got, the better I became at masking my low self-esteem with a false confidence I would pretend to have. I didn’t want people to know how I really saw myself, so I would portray myself as this cool, confident young woman who was so sure of herself and didn’t care what people thought of her. That was so far from the truth. On the inside, I was growing more insecure by the day. The only time I felt pretty was when I had a boyfriend. I let them determine how I saw myself. Whenever they would cheat on me and abuse me physically and/or mentally, I was back in a low, depressed state. I would immediately begin to see myself in a negative light. I would always believe I deserved to be mistreated because I felt I wasn’t good enough.  I would think, “If only I were prettier, he would treat me better…if only I had this or I had that, he would be faithful to me.” Eventually, I snapped out of that. Thank God! I fell to the feet of Jesus. He had been waiting on me for so long. He showed me my value. He showed me my worth. He showed me that I am beautiful, that I am made in His image. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He showed me that my value, my worth, my esteem comes from Him, not from them.

If you are struggling with body image issues, low self-esteem, or low self-worth, please know and believe you are beautiful, worthy, and valuable. God says so, and He does not lie. You are made in His image. He loves you, and He cares for you. Go to Him, not to the fading things of this world.  Only He alone can change the way you see yourself, but YOU have to be willing. Jesus loves you, and so do I.

Remember: You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were made in the image of God. If you have a poor view of yourself, you essentially have a poor view of God. Allow Him to change the way you view yourself. You are worth far more than rubies. Don’t let anyone else tell you differently.

xoxo Disa B.

Feeling Discouraged?

I know often times in life things don’t work out exactly how we wanted them to; our plans don’t pan out the way we expected. In those times, it is easy to get discouraged and easy to give up, but I want to urge you to not give up. Disappointment does not equal failure. Hearing a “no” does not mean you will never hear “yes”. If you give up now, you forfeit your promise. The enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to steal your joy and your hope. He wants to kill your dreams and passions. He wants to destroy the purpose God has for you. The enemy wants nothing more than to see you discouraged. To discourage means to dissuade or hinder; to deprive courage or confidence.  The enemy wants to take away your confidence in your purpose. He doesn’t want to see you fulfill the things God has destined for you. Just as he met Jesus in the wilderness to try to persuade Jesus that He didn’t need to fulfill the will of God after Jesus fasted for 40 days, the enemy wants to persuade you to not fulfill the will of God as well. He doesn’t want you to reach your promise land. He wants you to see closed doors as missed opportunities, not as provisions of God. He wants you to think you aren’t good enough, like you can’t fulfill your purpose, and that you don’t have the experience or resources needed to succeed. He will do anything to get you to quit. Discouragement is one of his tactics to get you to quit and unfortunately, a lot of us fall for it. But the good news is, we don’t have to.

discouragedJust as Jesus overcame the enemy’s tactics, so can we. All we have to do is fight back with the Word of God. That means we must first KNOW the Word and have it in our hearts. I would encourage you to memorize, study, and meditate on Scripture. It is the sword we use to fight back the enemy.

Knowing the Word of God also helps strengthen our faith and our confidence. There are thousands of promises in the Bible that still stand for us today and the Word of the Lord does not return void. If we remember these promises, we won’t believe the lies of the enemy when he tries to discourage us. God has promised you a future and a hope. His plans for you are good and not harmful. Don’t let your faith waiver because of your circumstances. Stand firm on the Word of God. Fight the enemy back. You already have the victory. You just have to believe it!

I pray this encouraged you. When you feel discouraged, pray. If you don’t know the words to say, just say Jesus. He will give you peace. He is the ultimate encourager. He will lift you up.

 

xoxo Disa B.

A Letter to the Lost Me

Dear Lost Me,

You are somebody. You have been hurt. You have been ridiculed. You have been mocked. You have been taken for granted. Your name has been drug through the mud, but you can overcome. You will overcome. Your worth isn’t in that man who says you think you’re too much. Truth is, you are too much. You are set at a price that he couldn’t afford so he would try to do anything to devalue u. You are worth far more than rubies, don’t let anyone tell you differently. You are worth more than that man who chokes you and makes you fear for your life. You don’t deserve to be treated that way. You deserve so much more. You are beautiful. Why do you think you’re not? Sure you’ve been used and abused but that doesn’t define you. You are a queen. Your worth isn’t found in those girls you thought were your friends. I know you let them into your world and you trusted them. They prayed against what you were praying for. Don’t let them hinder your ability to be a friend. They were really a wolf in sheep’s clothing, pretending to care. That’s not you though…don’t let that experience turn you into that. You are kind, caring and compassionate. You don’t have to be a tough girl all the time. Sure you’ve been used and abused but that doesn’t define you. You made the grades, you had the scholarships…but you still feel empty because you placed your value and your worth in that. Those things are great but that doesn’t define you. The clubbing and the alcohol don’t define you. You use it to escape from reality but when the buzz wears off and you wake up the next day and you’re back in reality, you still feel empty and broken. This is not your solution…Jesus is.

One day you will realize just how valuable you are because you will realize Whose you are and THAT defines you. You are the daughter of The King. You are to die for…Jesus showed you that 2,000+ years ago. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your past isn’t your future. Your past, your pain, your tears, your experiences will become your testimony and it will touch the lives of those around you. It will save people and bring them to Christ the same way your pain brought you to the feet of Jesus. See there is purpose in your pain. You won’t be down always. I know you’re feeling depressed right now and alone but I promise you this…you are not alone. You may feel lonely but Jesus is there. He is there to pull you out of that gruesome pit of depression that’s trying to pull you in deeper. He is there. Reach out to Him. Let Him save you. Surrender it all. When you do, I promise you will feel better. You will be able to smile again…I mean truly smile. You will radiate from a joy that comes from within. ImageAnd one day, at the right time, God will bring you someone who knows your worth and is willing the pay the price for you. One day you will be a wife and he will show you what God’s love looks like in a man. The enemy will try to make you think that this is too good to be true, but remember God says nothing is too good for you. Remember you deserve to be treated like the queen you are. You are worth so much more than you could ever imagine and this man will show you that because God first showed him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life…He will heal you. He will make you new. Let Him. Don’t abort the process before you get to your promise. It will be hard. But it will be worth it. And one day you will sit back and say…”God You are so faithful. You turned my misery into ministry. You turned my pain into joy. There were times I had given up on myself but You never did. Thank You Lord.”

xoxo

An Improved Me

Worth far more than rubies

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Many of us women always quote Proverbs 31 and say we are more precious than rubies, but how many of us truly believe it? If we truly believed it, a lot of us wouldn’t be struggling with body image problems, abusive relationships, low self-esteem, and all those other things that a lot of us struggle with daily.

I know for quite some time, I didn’t truly believe it.

Can I be real with y’all? I struggled with knowing my self-worth for a long time. Basically from 9th grade until this year…yes, THIS YEAR! I have parents who would build me up and tell me I am beautiful, I am valuable, etc. That was never the problem. The problem was that I didn’t believe it. I didn’t feel beautiful. I didn’t feel valuable. I didn’t feel I was worth much at all. I was insecure, felt less than, and when it came to relationships, I was willing to accept any and everything. The enemy really had a hold on my mind.

I would try to find my value in my GPA, in my performance on the track, in my relationships, from guys, from the clothes I would wear, and anything else you could think of.  Let me tell you, I have made 4.0s, graduated college Magna Cum Laude, had some great track meets, have gotten a lot of attention from guys, and I still felt empty. Trust me, I am not saying this to brag or boast. I am saying this to show you that no matter how many material possesions you have, no matter how great your resume looks, no matter how much of a star athlete you are, you won’t be fulfilled until you accept Christ in your life. He is the only one who can fill those voids. We find our worth in Him and Him alone not from the things in this world because all these things can and will fail us at some point.

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Me after graduating from college May 12, 2012

I placed my value in track so much that when I stopped performing as well as I once was (due to injuries and drama) I felt so low. I felt myself slowly going into depression. I placed all my worth and value in my relationship that when my ex cheated on me and abused me, I felt worthless. I felt I did something to deserve it. I felt so low that I didn’t feel like I deserved better. I didn’t think I could get better because I placed all my value and worth into a man who could honestly have cared less.

I have said all this to tell you that you can overcome this. Jesus overcame and so can we.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you
will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the
world.” – John 16:33

You don’t have to live life being insecure and looking to material possessions, a significant other, a pair of thighs in your bed, or anything else.

Ladies, your self worth is NOT found in that man. It is not determined by how many likes you get on your photos on instagram, how many guys try to holla, or your relationship status. Your worth is found in Christ. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were made in the image of God, and we serve a beautiful God so that makes you beautiful as well.You are worth far more than rubies, diamonds, and pearls. Believe it. Recieve it. Act like it. Don’t sell yourself short.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139: 13-14

Fellas: Your worth is not found in how many females you can sleep with, how big your muscles are, the car you drive, the brand of clothing you wear or anything else. You find your worth in Christ. When you accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life, you will be made new.

“And the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable than a whole flock of sparrows.” – Matthew 10:30-31

Now when you realize your value comes from God, your actions will change. Your thoughts will change. You will realize that you don’t have to give it up to a guy in order to get or keep him. You will realize that you don’t have to have 10 differect chicks in order to feel good about yourself. You will realize that you are valuable, that you are worth the wait. If a man gets upset that you won’t give it up, you will be cool with that and politely give him the boot because you know Whose you are. You will know that you are worth far more than a measley 10 minutes of something that can lead you to hell.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 6:17

I pray that this helped someone who is dealing with self-esteem/self-worth issues. You are beautiful. You are worthy. You ARE more precious than rubies. You deserve God’s best. Jesus loves you. You are to DIE for. Jesus showed us that. Receive it. Believe it.

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xoxo

Disa Foster