COURAGE TO BEGIN AGAIN
"If you are sad, if you are heartbroken, make yourself up, dress up, add more lipstick and attack." Coco Chanel
There are times in life when the world seems to come crashing down around us. We look in the mirror and barely recognize the person staring back. The sparkle in our eyes has dimmed, our confidence has disappeared, and even the simplest tasks seem overwhelming. Sometimes the last thing we want to do is put on a smile and face the world. I know that feeling all too well.
When I was going through a particularly rough time in my life, I wanted nothing more than to withdraw from everyone and everything. Nothing made sense anymore. I had lost my confidence, my sense of direction, and, for a while, even my ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel. To make matters worse, I was dealing with a life-threatening disease without the support I so desperately needed. It was one of those seasons when I wondered just how much more I could endure.
One day, while listening to country music, a song by Miranda Lambert came on the radio. It was Mama's Broken Heart, and the lyrics seemed to jump right out of the speakers and grab my attention. The message was about pulling yourself together, fixing your makeup, and facing the world even when everything inside you feels as though it is falling apart. Now, I don't know if Miranda took her inspiration from Coco Chanel's words, but the message was clear. Sometimes we have to make the decision to get up, get dressed, and show up for life even when our hearts are not quite ready. I remember thinking, "Well, perhaps it is time to put on my big girl panties and get back into the game of life!"
Of course, the angels had something to say about that. You see, there is a difference between pretending everything is fine and making a conscious decision that our circumstances will not define us. Putting on lipstick doesn't magically heal a broken heart. Dressing up doesn't make a life-threatening illness disappear. And smiling when we feel like crying doesn't mean the pain is gone. What it can do, however, is remind us that we still have a choice. We can choose to take one small step forward. We can choose to look in that mirror and recognize the beautiful soul who has survived every difficult day thus far. We can choose to honor our pain without allowing it to become our identity.
I have learned that courage doesn't always arrive with a mighty roar. Sometimes it comes in the form of getting out of bed, taking a shower, putting on something that makes us feel good, and stepping outside into the sunshine. And sometimes courage looks like a fresh coat of lipstick!
As I reflect on that difficult chapter of my life, I realize something profound. I was never as alone as I believed myself to be. Even when human support was absent, the angels were there, quietly whispering encouragement and reminding me that my story was far from over. They weren't asking me to deny my feelings. They weren't telling me to hide my tears or pretend to be strong. They were simply inviting me to remember who I was beneath all the fear, sadness, and uncertainty. I was still a child of God. I was still worthy of love. I still had a purpose. And there was still so much life waiting to be experienced.
Looking at my life today, I can only smile at how far that frightened, discouraged woman has come. If someone had told me back then that I would someday be traveling the world, blessing sacred lands, meeting extraordinary people, and sharing messages of hope and peace, I might have wondered if they had lost their mind! Yet here I am. The very experiences that once threatened to break me became part of the foundation upon which I built a life of purpose, compassion, and service. Perhaps that is the deeper message in Coco Chanel's words. The word "attack" doesn't have to mean fighting against the world. It can mean approaching life with determination, courage, and an unwavering belief that we are capable of rising again.
We don't have to attack our problems. We can meet them with faith. We don't have to fight our emotions. We can acknowledge them with compassion. And we certainly don't have to prove our strength to anyone. Sometimes our greatest strength is simply allowing ourselves to be vulnerable while trusting that better days are ahead.
Dear Angels, how do we find our balance and confidence again once life deals us a big blow?
Dear Ones, if you are going through a difficult season right now, please hear this. You do not have to have everything figured out today. You do not have to be strong every moment. You are allowed to cry, to rest, to question, and to feel whatever is moving through your heart. But please don't forget to live. There is still beauty waiting for you. There are still adventures to be experienced, people to love, laughter to share, and miracles that have not yet revealed themselves. So, when you are ready, wash your face, straighten your crown, put on your favorite outfit, and perhaps add a little more lipstick. Then step forward with your head held high, knowing that you are not walking alone. And if lipstick isn't your thing, that's perfectly fine too. The angels really don't care what you're wearing. They just want you to remember how magnificent you are!
Angels Whisper: Dear Ones, we see the tears you have cried in silence and the battles you have fought when no one was watching. We know there have been moments when you questioned your strength and wondered if you could take another step. Yet here you are, beloved ones, still breathing, still growing, still carrying the divine spark within your heart. Do not mistake a difficult chapter for the ending of your story. You are not defined by what has happened to you but by the love that continues to shine through you. Rise when you are ready. Rest when you need to. And remember that you never have to face the world alone. We walk beside you, cheering you on with every courageous step. Your light has never gone out. It has simply been waiting for you to recognize its brilliance once again. All we ask is that you trust.
Today, I promise to be real and raw at all times.
** I also want to lovingly acknowledge that there are times when sadness goes much deeper than a difficult day or a broken heart. Depression, anxiety, grief, and emotional exhaustion are real experiences that cannot always be overcome by positive thinking, prayer, or simply deciding to get up and face the world. If you find yourself in such a place, please know that seeking support from a trusted friend, counselor, or mental health professional is not a sign of weakness. It is an act of courage and self-love. Faith and professional care can walk hand in hand. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is reach out and allow someone to help carry what has become too heavy to hold alone. You deserve that love, compassion, and support.
Teri Angel is a Joy Guide, Happiness Coach, energy healer, best-selling author, spiritual teacher, mentor, and inspirational speaker devoted to awakening peace within the human heart. As an International Peace Ambassador and founder of the nonprofit Angelspeakers Inc., Teri creates transformative workshops, sacred gatherings, and global initiatives that honor environmental stewardship, animal advocacy, peace consciousness, and the integration of ancient wisdom teachings into modern life.
Through her worldwide movement, Peas For Peace, Teri invites humanity to remember our divine interconnectedness—strengthening awareness of our oneness and inspiring unity through compassion, love, joy, and intentional action. During the Peace On Earth Tour, she was honored with the sacred name “She Who Blesses the Sacred Land,” a title she carries with humility and heartfelt grace as she continues blessing lands and waters around the world.
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To book a private session with Teri, visit https://angelspeakers.com
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