December 29, 2023 • 15 mins
Saying farewell to 2023 was like closing a profound chapter in my book of life, one that taught me the art of self-assertion and the power of letting go. As I, Yanni, sit down to share these transformative lessons, you'll be touched by the tree analogy that reshaped my perspective on relationships—identifying those who are leaves, branches, or the roots in our lives. This episode will strike a chord with anyone grappling with the complexity of human connections, ego, and pride. I illuminate my struggles, bare my soul about the clashes within my closest relationship, and recount how a sermon opened my eyes to the essence of humility and love.
Gratitude flows abundantly as I extend a heartfelt thank you to the tribe that has been my bedrock through life's tumultuous storms. Our conversation spirals from the theme of unyielding perseverance to an intimate discussion about faith and its deeply personal journey with the divine. Discover the significance of life's seasons, and feel the embrace of a community that affirms your worth and love. Together, let's usher in 2024, equipped with the wisdom to cherish unwavering support and the relentless drive to flourish, no matter the odds. Join me in this sanctuary of reflection and encouragement—it's a celebration of growth and the undying spirit of connection.
Standing In Your Truth Podcast with Yanni Thomas
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello everyone, welcome to season two of
standing your truth podcast.
I'm your host, yanni.
On this podcast, you will hearmyself, family and friends
having open ended discussions onanything from faith, finances,
relationships and how to staymotivated during life trying
times.
Make sure you follow me on all.
My social media link is in thebio.
(00:24):
Sit back and get ready to enjoy.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, well, well.
Hello everyone, welcome toanother episode of standing your
truth podcast with your host,yanni.
Um, it's the last Friday of2023.
I was like going to skiprecording this morning.
We learned recording thismorning, friday morning, but I
(00:53):
was going to skip and I was like, no, I feel like I have to like
it's the last Friday.
I dropped on Friday.
This is the last one, I cannotmiss this.
So I got up and I'm here andthe last night I kind of took
some time to think about, like,what my 2023 was and what I've
(01:13):
learned and what the journey'sbeen and it's been a beautiful
one for sure, Um, and kind ofwant to point out go over some
of those things and you know,just talk from there.
But, um, I think one of the mainthings I take away from 2023 is
, um, I have learned how tostand up for myself and when I
(01:39):
don't feel comfortable removingmyself from a situation, um, or
where I felt like a situation isnot, um, conducive for the
woman that God has me to be, Ijust remove myself.
Um, and that's something that Ihave not always done and,
looking back at it, I was like,oh yeah, you know, you, you, you
(01:59):
figured that out, you know.
So I kind of gave myself alittle pat on the back.
I can see the growth there.
So that was pretty cool, um forsure, and something that I've,
um definitely can say Ibenefited from, because before I
would stay in environments well, they weren't conducive for me
and I would suffer, um.
(02:20):
So the idea that I figured outhow to, you know, be like left
right, left right, get out ofthat real fast, has, um
definitely made my life muchbetter.
Um, and then also just realizingthat I am not for everyone and
(02:42):
it's funny because um, pastorCliff said something on the
lines of um.
I think it was like I'm tooexpensive for some people, like
they can't afford me, and I meanthat in the most humble way.
But it's like some people, justthey're not my people.
I think we have to realize that, like we can't force ourselves
(03:02):
on everyone, they're not meantfor you, they're not meant to be
in your life, or maybe they.
Maybe they meant to be in yourlife for a season, not for you
know, your whole life.
I think there was a um analogygoing around where it was like
telling hot like a tree, and itwas like some people that like
leaf, and they'll just fall off,and some of our branches,
(03:24):
they'll be there for a littlebit longer, and then some are,
you know, roots and those areyour friends.
Your childhood friends are theones that are gonna be there
forever.
So just something to thinkabout.
Like, if you have people inyour life and it's like they're
not bringing anything to you or,uh, you know learning from them
, um, and they're not adding toyou, they're not challenging you
, they're not supporting you,they're not correcting you you
(03:46):
may need to reevaluate yourfriends for 2024.
I'm just saying, um.
And then something else was um,I have been battling and if you
watch me on social media youknow I've mentioned it before
(04:07):
with my ego and my pride and allkinds of same thing.
But you know, and I honestlydidn't realize how much of a
struggle it was until, I think,getting with Aaron and allow him
, um, calling it out, when thatis, you know, the case, when
it's just nothing but my egokicking in and that's the reason
(04:30):
why, um, I'm not doingsomething.
Or, you know, I want to handlethe situation a certain way, um,
and then it's crazy becausePatrick Cliff preached, preached
about it on Wednesday, and Ijust saw so many examples of
where it's like dang, yeah, I'mbattling and literally it's
(04:55):
crazy, because I feel like myrelationship with Christ has
definitely grown to this momentwhere I feel like my flesh and,
I would say, the Holy Spirit arereal life battling, like I know
I cannot, like, I'm like why amI doing this?
Why is this so hard?
And I'm like that is the fleshand the reason why I know that
(05:16):
it's the flesh and I feel likeit's because I put myself in
God's presence and I listen tothe Holy Spirit and I'm
sensitive to it.
So it's like I know when I'mlike, what am I doing?
Like, let's stop and let's redothis.
So I would definitely suggest,if you are battling with pride,
(05:40):
or even if you're not maybe youthink you're not I mean to be
honest with you probably are Togo over to Hope Alive on Apple
or Spotify, and the sermon iscalled Pride Can't Go and he's
pretty much saying, like how weneed to get rid of pride for
2023, not don't take it into2024, so that we can experience
(06:02):
amazing things that God has forus.
If we just let go of pride.
Like pride is stopping us fromgetting to the next level with
God, like and him fully using us, which is, I think it's just so
true Because you don't realizeand he breaks down some ways
about pride, even the idea ofnot wanting to do something new
(06:28):
because you're afraid of how hewere gonna look at you.
Pride, I'm like, ooh, that's meFor sure, or something, that
one kind of it's a battle, but Ican see where I've made some
progress, but I'm still learning.
So pray for your girl.
And then I guess my challengeto those who are listening for
(06:54):
2024 is don't be afraid to askthem again.
Whatever it is that you've beenpraying about, whatever it is
that you want, don't be afraidto ask them again.
I feel like that's come up acouple of times for me, where
(07:16):
I'm like, ooh, and I've askedand I've been obedient to the
things that he've asked me and Ifeel like it's worked out, and
sometimes I don't work out in myfavor.
Sometimes the answer's no orit's a.
I feel like, maybe like a right, not right now or maybe it's a
yes, but just don't be afraid toask them again.
(07:42):
I think there's somethingbeautiful when you just
surrender whatever is going onand give it to him and allow him
to Show you.
Whatever you're praying aboutis something that he has for
your life or not.
I think a lot of times we justthink, as Pastor Martha said,
we're doing good things and youknow we're always well, but a
(08:04):
lot of times good things don'tline up with God things and we
get caught up doing the goodthings and not the God Things
that we should be doing.
So I ask him, praying, andallow him to guide you and show
you and Be the, give him, allowhim to give you the Footprint,
how that goes.
Oh, that's how that goes, thefootprints, for it's true, I'm
(08:26):
not sure if that's it, but yougive it.
I'm trying to say the blueprintfor your life.
That's what I was trying to say, I think.
But yeah, but it's in at theyear.
Pack yourself on the back.
You, you've gotten to thispoint.
There's some people who did notmake it.
Yes, this year, I'm sure, hasit's up and downs, because I had
(08:50):
it for me too.
But Don't get lost in theStruggles of this year and the
worries and the pain that youjust forget that.
You know you're.
We're getting ready to get intoanother year and that's a
blessing for sure.
(09:12):
So I just challenge you guysyou know to, you know ask him
again and think about, like,what is God calling you to that
you like to do and what is Godcalling you to that you don't
(09:34):
like to do, that you're runningfrom?
I Feel like we kind of all have.
Well, I guess, if it notrunning, you don't have it, but
sometimes you, we're runningfrom what God has truly called
us to do.
So I just challenge you guysjust to stop and think about
that for 124.
I know for sure.
(09:55):
You know I was writing thisquestion and I thought about it
for myself and I Think sometimes, as I mentioned earlier, those
good things versus God things, IGet caught up in that.
Sometimes I get caught up in theI'm doing good because I'm
volunteering and, you know,using my resources for the
(10:16):
community, which is really whatI felt like the goddess Um
called me to do.
But at the same time, I need topray before, you know, I don't
say signing up to volunteernecessarily, but fully
committing, because a lot ofthem I like sit on the board or
(10:38):
I could make I volunteer, likeon a consistent basis and I'm
like heavily involved and Ithink, before getting to that
level Is what I need to bepraying for, to make sure that
the good things that I'm doingare God.
Things are very pretty.
Actually, I'd be doing Godthings because I'm doing a God
thing, that is a good thing.
That's just something, I guess,for me, maybe more so for me.
(11:05):
But, yeah, hey, I remember Iwrote this down because I
remember I said it like, oh,actually, a lot of episodes ago,
but anyway, um, seasons atseasoning to life, I'm gonna, in
2023, out with that.
So, whatever you went through,um, just remember seasons.
(11:28):
I mean, yeah, I said they'rewrong right now, seasons at
seasoning to life, that's right.
Um, yeah, so I'm gonna pray forus.
There's not a super longepisode, but I just wanted to
end with something and, yeah,heavenly Father, just wanted to
(11:52):
say thank you, lord, thank youfor the things that you have
done for us.
Lord, the seen, the unseen, Lord, I Just pray for the listener
that's listening today, father,that they be reminded that
they're yours, they're loved,they are needed, they are wanted
(12:13):
, they're special, they'reunique.
You make no mistakes, father.
I pray that as we look intoanother year, lord them, we will
Look to you to guide us throughthe next year, father, that
will will build up on therelationship with you.
We will getting your word.
We will Make sure we're puttingourselves in your presence.
(12:37):
Father, just pray that thosewho may just be discouraged they
just Find some way somehow Backto you, lord, and allow them to
realize that Joy comes in themorning and, if they connect to
(13:02):
you, lord, that you just willallow them to have the peace.
It doesn't make any sense,father.
I Know because you gave it tome, lord, every day, and just
wanted to say thank you, lord,once again for allowing us to
make it to another year, lord,where so many didn't make it.
Fathers, as I just say thank you, thank you, thank you, jesus
(13:24):
name, my pray, amen.
So remember that You're loved,you're wanted, you are needed
and there's someone out therethat needs you, your story, your
guidance.
I Feel like everyone hassomething that someone else
(13:45):
needs.
It sounds crazy to say, but Ijust feel like we need people.
We need to try.
I've had to Shake my tribe up alittle bit.
Looks a little different.
Ending 232 doesn't do, then itdoes Starting it, but I'm
thankful for them, every lastsingle person.
If you're my tribe listeningand you know who my track, thank
(14:06):
you.
Actually, if you're listening,you're part of my tribe too.
I appreciate you.
Thank you for loving me,investing in me, showing up for
me.
It's a big deal for me.
So I just say thank you andremember seasons add seasoning
(14:26):
to life.
If you're Filling a littlediscourage, it's not over.
Keep going, keep going.
Keep your your hand in God'shand and keep going.
Pray and Prayer.
You know, I feel like it looksdifferent for everyone.
How you talk to God may not behow I talk to God, but that's
(14:47):
okay.
Talk to my alarm for me to getup, but talk to him and allow
him to study you.
All right, guys?
Well, that's all I have and ILove you and thank you.
(15:08):
Peace out.
Hello everyone, welcome to season two of
standing your truth podcast.
I'm your host, yanni.
On this podcast, you will hearmyself, family and friends
having open ended discussions onanything from faith, finances,
relationships and how to staymotivated during life trying
times.
Make sure you follow me on all.
My social media link is in thebio.
(00:24):
Sit back and get ready to enjoy.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, well, well.
Hello everyone, welcome toanother episode of standing your
truth podcast with your host,yanni.
Um, it's the last Friday of2023.
I was like going to skiprecording this morning.
We learned recording thismorning, friday morning, but I
(00:53):
was going to skip and I was like, no, I feel like I have to like
it's the last Friday.
I dropped on Friday.
This is the last one, I cannotmiss this.
So I got up and I'm here andthe last night I kind of took
some time to think about, like,what my 2023 was and what I've
(01:13):
learned and what the journey'sbeen and it's been a beautiful
one for sure, Um, and kind ofwant to point out go over some
of those things and you know,just talk from there.
But, um, I think one of the mainthings I take away from 2023 is
, um, I have learned how tostand up for myself and when I
(01:39):
don't feel comfortable removingmyself from a situation, um, or
where I felt like a situation isnot, um, conducive for the
woman that God has me to be, Ijust remove myself.
Um, and that's something that Ihave not always done and,
looking back at it, I was like,oh yeah, you know, you, you, you
(01:59):
figured that out, you know.
So I kind of gave myself alittle pat on the back.
I can see the growth there.
So that was pretty cool, um forsure, and something that I've,
um definitely can say Ibenefited from, because before I
would stay in environments well, they weren't conducive for me
and I would suffer, um.
(02:20):
So the idea that I figured outhow to, you know, be like left
right, left right, get out ofthat real fast, has, um
definitely made my life muchbetter.
Um, and then also just realizingthat I am not for everyone and
(02:42):
it's funny because um, pastorCliff said something on the
lines of um.
I think it was like I'm tooexpensive for some people, like
they can't afford me, and I meanthat in the most humble way.
But it's like some people, justthey're not my people.
I think we have to realize that, like we can't force ourselves
(03:02):
on everyone, they're not meantfor you, they're not meant to be
in your life, or maybe they.
Maybe they meant to be in yourlife for a season, not for you
know, your whole life.
I think there was a um analogygoing around where it was like
telling hot like a tree, and itwas like some people that like
leaf, and they'll just fall off,and some of our branches,
(03:24):
they'll be there for a littlebit longer, and then some are,
you know, roots and those areyour friends.
Your childhood friends are theones that are gonna be there
forever.
So just something to thinkabout.
Like, if you have people inyour life and it's like they're
not bringing anything to you or,uh, you know learning from them
, um, and they're not adding toyou, they're not challenging you
, they're not supporting you,they're not correcting you you
(03:46):
may need to reevaluate yourfriends for 2024.
I'm just saying, um.
And then something else was um,I have been battling and if you
watch me on social media youknow I've mentioned it before
(04:07):
with my ego and my pride and allkinds of same thing.
But you know, and I honestlydidn't realize how much of a
struggle it was until, I think,getting with Aaron and allow him
, um, calling it out, when thatis, you know, the case, when
it's just nothing but my egokicking in and that's the reason
(04:30):
why, um, I'm not doingsomething.
Or, you know, I want to handlethe situation a certain way, um,
and then it's crazy becausePatrick Cliff preached, preached
about it on Wednesday, and Ijust saw so many examples of
where it's like dang, yeah, I'mbattling and literally it's
(04:55):
crazy, because I feel like myrelationship with Christ has
definitely grown to this momentwhere I feel like my flesh and,
I would say, the Holy Spirit arereal life battling, like I know
I cannot, like, I'm like why amI doing this?
Why is this so hard?
And I'm like that is the fleshand the reason why I know that
(05:16):
it's the flesh and I feel likeit's because I put myself in
God's presence and I listen tothe Holy Spirit and I'm
sensitive to it.
So it's like I know when I'mlike, what am I doing?
Like, let's stop and let's redothis.
So I would definitely suggest,if you are battling with pride,
(05:40):
or even if you're not maybe youthink you're not I mean to be
honest with you probably are Togo over to Hope Alive on Apple
or Spotify, and the sermon iscalled Pride Can't Go and he's
pretty much saying, like how weneed to get rid of pride for
2023, not don't take it into2024, so that we can experience
(06:02):
amazing things that God has forus.
If we just let go of pride.
Like pride is stopping us fromgetting to the next level with
God, like and him fully using us, which is, I think it's just so
true Because you don't realizeand he breaks down some ways
about pride, even the idea ofnot wanting to do something new
(06:28):
because you're afraid of how hewere gonna look at you.
Pride, I'm like, ooh, that's meFor sure, or something, that
one kind of it's a battle, but Ican see where I've made some
progress, but I'm still learning.
So pray for your girl.
And then I guess my challengeto those who are listening for
(06:54):
2024 is don't be afraid to askthem again.
Whatever it is that you've beenpraying about, whatever it is
that you want, don't be afraidto ask them again.
I feel like that's come up acouple of times for me, where
(07:16):
I'm like, ooh, and I've askedand I've been obedient to the
things that he've asked me and Ifeel like it's worked out, and
sometimes I don't work out in myfavor.
Sometimes the answer's no orit's a.
I feel like, maybe like a right, not right now or maybe it's a
yes, but just don't be afraid toask them again.
(07:42):
I think there's somethingbeautiful when you just
surrender whatever is going onand give it to him and allow him
to Show you.
Whatever you're praying aboutis something that he has for
your life or not.
I think a lot of times we justthink, as Pastor Martha said,
we're doing good things and youknow we're always well, but a
(08:04):
lot of times good things don'tline up with God things and we
get caught up doing the goodthings and not the God Things
that we should be doing.
So I ask him, praying, andallow him to guide you and show
you and Be the, give him, allowhim to give you the Footprint,
how that goes.
Oh, that's how that goes, thefootprints, for it's true, I'm
(08:26):
not sure if that's it, but yougive it.
I'm trying to say the blueprintfor your life.
That's what I was trying to say, I think.
But yeah, but it's in at theyear.
Pack yourself on the back.
You, you've gotten to thispoint.
There's some people who did notmake it.
Yes, this year, I'm sure, hasit's up and downs, because I had
(08:50):
it for me too.
But Don't get lost in theStruggles of this year and the
worries and the pain that youjust forget that.
You know you're.
We're getting ready to get intoanother year and that's a
blessing for sure.
(09:12):
So I just challenge you guysyou know to, you know ask him
again and think about, like,what is God calling you to that
you like to do and what is Godcalling you to that you don't
(09:34):
like to do, that you're runningfrom?
I Feel like we kind of all have.
Well, I guess, if it notrunning, you don't have it, but
sometimes you, we're runningfrom what God has truly called
us to do.
So I just challenge you guysjust to stop and think about
that for 124.
I know for sure.
(09:55):
You know I was writing thisquestion and I thought about it
for myself and I Think sometimes, as I mentioned earlier, those
good things versus God things, IGet caught up in that.
Sometimes I get caught up in theI'm doing good because I'm
volunteering and, you know,using my resources for the
(10:16):
community, which is really whatI felt like the goddess Um
called me to do.
But at the same time, I need topray before, you know, I don't
say signing up to volunteernecessarily, but fully
committing, because a lot ofthem I like sit on the board or
(10:38):
I could make I volunteer, likeon a consistent basis and I'm
like heavily involved and Ithink, before getting to that
level Is what I need to bepraying for, to make sure that
the good things that I'm doingare God.
Things are very pretty.
Actually, I'd be doing Godthings because I'm doing a God
thing, that is a good thing.
That's just something, I guess,for me, maybe more so for me.
(11:05):
But, yeah, hey, I remember Iwrote this down because I
remember I said it like, oh,actually, a lot of episodes ago,
but anyway, um, seasons atseasoning to life, I'm gonna, in
2023, out with that.
So, whatever you went through,um, just remember seasons.
(11:28):
I mean, yeah, I said they'rewrong right now, seasons at
seasoning to life, that's right.
Um, yeah, so I'm gonna pray forus.
There's not a super longepisode, but I just wanted to
end with something and, yeah,heavenly Father, just wanted to
(11:52):
say thank you, lord, thank youfor the things that you have
done for us.
Lord, the seen, the unseen, Lord, I Just pray for the listener
that's listening today, father,that they be reminded that
they're yours, they're loved,they are needed, they are wanted
(12:13):
, they're special, they'reunique.
You make no mistakes, father.
I pray that as we look intoanother year, lord them, we will
Look to you to guide us throughthe next year, father, that
will will build up on therelationship with you.
We will getting your word.
We will Make sure we're puttingourselves in your presence.
(12:37):
Father, just pray that thosewho may just be discouraged they
just Find some way somehow Backto you, lord, and allow them to
realize that Joy comes in themorning and, if they connect to
(13:02):
you, lord, that you just willallow them to have the peace.
It doesn't make any sense,father.
I Know because you gave it tome, lord, every day, and just
wanted to say thank you, lord,once again for allowing us to
make it to another year, lord,where so many didn't make it.
Fathers, as I just say thank you, thank you, thank you, jesus
(13:24):
name, my pray, amen.
So remember that You're loved,you're wanted, you are needed
and there's someone out therethat needs you, your story, your
guidance.
I Feel like everyone hassomething that someone else
(13:45):
needs.
It sounds crazy to say, but Ijust feel like we need people.
We need to try.
I've had to Shake my tribe up alittle bit.
Looks a little different.
Ending 232 doesn't do, then itdoes Starting it, but I'm
thankful for them, every lastsingle person.
If you're my tribe listeningand you know who my track, thank
(14:06):
you.
Actually, if you're listening,you're part of my tribe too.
I appreciate you.
Thank you for loving me,investing in me, showing up for
me.
It's a big deal for me.
So I just say thank you andremember seasons add seasoning
(14:26):
to life.
If you're Filling a littlediscourage, it's not over.
Keep going, keep going.
Keep your your hand in God'shand and keep going.
Pray and Prayer.
You know, I feel like it looksdifferent for everyone.
How you talk to God may not behow I talk to God, but that's
(14:47):
okay.
Talk to my alarm for me to getup, but talk to him and allow
him to study you.
All right, guys?
Well, that's all I have and ILove you and thank you.
(15:08):
Peace out.
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