Thoughts or Destiny?
In 2019, I attended a Toastmasters meeting in Johannesburg alongside approximately 20 young South African professionals and emerging business owners. The room was full of sharp, eloquent voices, but one particular speech has stayed with me all these years. A somewhat energetic, fair-skinned young woman took the stage to discuss the power of thoughts. She shared openly that while she once dreamed of becoming an actress, her reality looked very different—at 36, she was a single mother, working as a consultant, and living with her parents.
What struck me was not just her honesty, but the heart of her question: Do our thoughts truly shape the direction of our lives, or does destiny have the final say? She even rooted her reflections in scripture, quoting, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Listening to her that day challenged me to reflect on my own journey—and it’s a reminder I carry with me into every season: both our thoughts and our destiny shape who we become.
1/ Be Honest With Yourself
Her story reminded me of my life in 2009, which was far from glamorous. I was 28, single, unemployed, and crashing at my sister’s and brother-in-law’s house. On paper, I looked like a “forever student”—almost nine years enrolled in some form of higher education institution and still no bachelor’s degree to show for it. Truthfully, I was having too much fun hanging out with friends and procrastinating on my future. But deep down, I wanted more. I used to dream about the day I would finally have my life together. I would write out what I wanted in my journal—the salary I hoped to earn, the career I imagined, even the place I wanted to live. It felt good to put it on paper, but the painful truth was that I wasn’t putting in the consistent effort to make those dreams a reality. And maybe you’ve been there too—wanting so much more out of life, yet letting procrastination or comfort hold you back.
Destiny, Perhaps?
Around that time, my sister and I were searching for a new church home. The long drive to our old churches made it hard to stay committed, and maybe you know that struggle too—wanting consistency but feeling weighed down by inconvenience. One day, she came across an ad in the neighborhood paper for a church less than 10 minutes from her house. We decided to visit, and there we were introduced to a scripture that would change the way I thought about everything:
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or THINK, according to the power that worketh in us.” —Ephesians 3:20
As I continued to hear it, something within me began to shift. The repetition sank into my subconscious and started to rewire my thinking. Have you ever experienced that? When a word, phrase, or truth you’ve heard over and over suddenly awakens something new inside of you? For me, that scripture opened my mind to endless possibilities. It reminded me that while destiny has its role, my thought life—and what I chose to believe—could transport me to another realm and guide me toward my dreams.
2/ Good Thoughts Are Transformative
Within just a year of shifting my thought life, everything began to change. I didn’t just graduate from college—I walked away with not one, but two bachelor’s degrees. Imagine that! After almost nine years of going in circles, once my mindset aligned with my vision, doors began to open. Now, let me be transparent: I was still unemployed and still living with my sister and her husband. Maybe you’ve been there too—celebrating one victory while still waiting for the rest of your life to catch up.
To stay active, I started attending my sister’s neighborhood association meetings. Picture me in a room full of professionals and retirees who are passionate about their community. It didn’t seem like much at first, but sometimes the connections you make in unexpected places can shift your life. A kind, silver-haired neighbor who regularly sent out job announcements added me to his weekly email list. One day, I spotted an opening at the Georgia Department of Revenue. My first interview, as a real estate appraiser, didn’t work out. But when another position opened, I got the call that changed everything: I was hired.
Even before that job, though, I kept my mind fixed on the life I wanted. I filled my vision board with travel destinations, sleek furniture, and images of a lifestyle I longed for. And let me ask you: have you ever taken the time to visualize your future in detail? Because once you do, your thoughts will begin working for you, not against you.
3/ Dream BIG
When opportunities arise—even ones that seem small at first—you have to position yourself to receive more. I remember my brother-in-law was offered a job in Newnan, GA. Newan is almost an hour’s commute from the city. As a result of my life affirmations, I chose the most affluent neighborhood to find a new home. I found a high-rise with a window that framed the city skyline like a work of art. In other words, an unobstructed view of the city’s skyline. The building had everything: a gym, a pool, a communal lounge with a wet bar, and restaurants of every cuisine (French, Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Japanese) just steps away.
For a girl from the west side of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, it felt like my vision board had come alive. All the magazine cut-outs of furniture I had pasted to my vision board, I had acquired for my new place. My new conquest inspired me to dream even bigger dreams. And that’s exactly the point—you don’t just create vision boards to admire pretty pictures. You create them to manifest your reality. If I could see it, believe it, and eventually live it, so can you. Let your environment stretch you and challenge you to dream even bigger than you ever thought possible.
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4/ Visualization Is Even Better
Have you ever noticed how the things you visualize with intention tend to show up in your life? When my pastor announced that the church choir was going to Italy, I almost shouted on the spot—because guess what was sitting on my vision board? A picture of the Roman Colosseum. That wasn’t a coincidence; that was alignment. Money was tight after I had just moved into my new place, but I refused to let that stop me. I sold personal items, scraped together the deposit, and secured my spot. Another win! That trip to Europe—my very first—was unforgettable, not just because of the sights, but because I experienced it with my church family. And more than that, it unlocked something in me: the realization that regular vacations abroad were a possibility for me, and for you too.
Even though I had that epiphany after my Italian vacation, frequent trips abroad — to which I had started to envision myself—took a backseat. But God has a way of keeping dreams alive through the people He places in your path. At my job’s Toastmasters club, I met a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed co-worker who embodied boldness. She lived right around the corner from my new swanky high-rise, and soon we were scheduling outings together. Over coffee and conversations, she shared her story of a 3-month solo trip to Vietnam. Can you imagine that? Three whole months abroad, living her dream one day at a time. Listening to her, something stirred inside me. A seed was planted. I, too, began to desire the world on a deeper level—not just the week or month-long getaways, but the kind of immersive experiences that stretch you, grow you, and change how you see life forever.
Destiny Definitely At Work
A few years later, my church announced another international trip—this time to Greece. I paid the deposit at first, but after hearing my co-worker’s bold adventure, I felt a shift. I didn’t just want to travel with a group anymore—I wanted to experience the world on my own terms. Maybe you’ve felt that too: that nudge to stop waiting on others and start creating your own adventures. At first, I hesitated and moved too slowly, but God sent help. My co-worker jumped in and planned the first two weeks of my birthday trip abroad. That momentum gave me the confidence to plan the rest of the journey myself. And let me tell you, it was everything and more.
Here’s the beautiful part: after she returned home, another spontaneous, adventure-seeking friend saw my pictures on Facebook and met me in Paris to finish out the trip. I like to think of that as God’s way of co-signing my birthday adventure—showing me that when you take one bold step toward your dreams, He’ll meet you there with blessings beyond what you imagined.
I originally wanted to follow in my coworker’s footsteps and take three months abroad, but my job wouldn’t approve the leave, and my family wasn’t exactly cheering me on either. Some thought I’d get homesick, but the opposite happened. The moment I touched back down on American soil, I realized what I really had was an incurable case of wanderlust.
5/ When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade
Back in 2017, mold forced me out of my beautiful studio apartment. At the time, it felt like a crisis. However, looking back, it was destiny that pushed me toward something bigger. That “setback” freed up money and gave me the chance to finally chase my wanderlust.
This event was a gentle reminder that “ALL THINGS (good or bad, positive or negative) are working together for my good.”
By Christmas 2017, I was on my very first solo trip to the UAE. For my birthday in 2018, I celebrated in Thailand. That Thanksgiving, I found myself back in the UAE. And on December 30, 2018, I boarded a one-way flight to Dubai—turning a thought into my reality.
Here’s the truth: every dream starts in your mind, but sometimes life’s lemons are the very push you need to step into destiny, manifest your dreams, and make lemonade.
Reliving my past reminded me of something powerful: your THOUGHTS, your ability to visualize, and the hand of destiny (God) shape everything about your future. From this point forward, I’ve decided to let my imagination run wild. To dream beyond what feels “safe.” To dream so BIG that the possibility of failure is part of the journey.
Because, as my favorite motivational speaker, Les Brown, reminds us:
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.”
Ready to dream bigger with your travels? If your imagination has been pulling you toward new destinations, maybe it’s time to stop just visualizing and start planning. Whether it’s your first international trip or your next big adventure, I can help turn those wild dreams into itineraries that feel effortless and unforgettable.
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I love this. This gave me chills. I have a testimony as well and currently going through what God has put me here for. Love you cousin
I’ve been hearing good things about your progress. I can’t wait to hear it from you personally. Doesn’t He works wonders if we just surrender ourselves completely to Him. I’m proud of you and love you more!