Actors and actresses are paid an astronomical amount of money once they receive a reputation and status in Hollywood. They become someone else on the screen. It is similar with non-paid actors. We often pay an exorbitant amount of money to portray an image that is not our own on camera. In life, we sometimes project what others want to see, and that puts stress on the body and mind and becomes too exhausting.

Ask a female lawyer who has to put on a tough exterior to be taken seriously. Ask a psychiatrist, who appears to know the answers to their client’s problems when they are in dire need of answers. This is my favorite one. Ask a pastor, whereas people believe that they have the answers to every calamity that occurs in their lives and in the world. Whew! Breathe. Breathe and know that it is OK not to have the answers. Breathe, as you know that sometimes you will cry during your storm. It all comes back to breathing. Breathe, as you know that you are not perfect. Breathe and know that you do not have to please everyone. Breathe and know that at times, you will make mistakes. Make them your lessons learned. Breathe. The price of acting is too high for you. You are losing your identity. You are losing focus on your true destiny.

What makes you do what you do? For every cause, there is an effect. There are some underlying factors in your life that make you role play. In essence, you are avoiding the issues. I can attest that avoidance is not the answer to problem-solving. It is understood that confrontation requires energy and tact. You do not want to make things any worse than what they already are.

Unanswered questions may leave you confused and angry. This is a lethal combination. Confusion causes doubt and insecurities to take precedence in your life, impacting your ability to make decisions. Anger, a small word, yet so powerful when a person engages in it. Misdirected anger is a disaster meant to happen in a person’s life. There will be times where anger arises in a person’s life. There are several reasons why we get angry. You can be angry from the loss of a loved one. Other triggers of anger are sickness, betrayal, disappointments, and failures. The list seems endless. Some anger is justifiable. Nevertheless, we must handle it with dignity. To paraphrase, the great Professor Cornel West, states, “Justified. But undignified.”

Unexpected disruptions. Maybe you are angry at a sickness for disrupting your life. You certainly did not ask for it, yet it has happened. The pain, the endless tests, the weakness, the vomiting, and the sorrow you see in your loved one’s eyes. The hollow cheeks have not replaced your once full and round cheeks. Disruption, unappreciated and unwanted,tat has now caused an angry situation for you. You are courageous for your loved ones. You are vigilant in your wait for the Lord to answer your prayers. One factor persistently evades your faith walk; it is — timing. Your mind begins to question things that might seem insignificant and crazy to those around you. What exactly is this elusive thing called time? You look in the dictionary and thesaurus for its meaning and still the clarity escapes you. Pain and sorrow can do that to a person. It dulls the senses.

The human body is made up of five senses, which operate to gather information from the world around us: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. These internal senses help us understand our environment. By losing one of these senses, the remaining senses sharpen. When a blind person loses their vision, their hearing sharpens, this sense is how they glean information about their surroundings. They also rely on the sense of touch. This is a natural process and the body is doing what it is designed to do. Sometimes we encounter situations, that are so severe; we often doubt our natural senses. This is the time to solely rely on Jesus, as He is the answer to all our problems.

Choosing the course of self-pity and anger is never a good one to take. Uncontrolled anger is a danger to both you and those around you. Moreover, you hurt the ones you love. Hurt is no excuse for hurting the ones around you. Anger should never go ignored; it must be identified and dealt with it. Sounds easy? Maybe, but not for some, as the wounds runs deeper than others do, but it can be done. The release must come from your soul, filtering to your heart and mind. You will know when it happens. As the weight is being lifted from you, your soul, heart, and mind are all lightened. Things around you are no longer looking the same. You will not feel or look the same. Never give up. Give out. Never up.

(Editor’s note:Vanessa can be contacted at vanessajackso90@hotmail.com)