Do you know how dope you are? No like seriously do you know how beautiful, amazing, talented, educated and blessed you are? There is nobody like you and it's time you embrace the real you! So many of us have mastered wearing the mask that we want others to see instead of being authentically ourselves. There is nothing like the freedom you experience when you're able to let go of trying to be something you are not. When you are living life off of other people's opinions of you, you're not living and eventually, the mask will fall off. My definition of Queening is embracing the Queen God called you to be. I used to wear the mask of perfection trying to make sure I presented myself as perfect Patty and well perfect Patty had a breakdown just like the one in the movie Why Did I Get Married 2. I was tired of allowing people to hold me up to this standard of perfection in everything that I did. I had to look right, talk right, act right and I was just latching on to someone else's idea of the woman they wanted me to be.

It breaks my heart that I see so many Queens doing the same thing. We wear a mask in relationships, in friendships and even with God. I know God be like hmm she fronting! There is no future in fronting and social media has created so many "ideas" of what we think we want people to think about ourselves. People are actually buying likes and followers to be "seen" and it's just sad to me. What happened to us embracing our differences? What happened to us being able to compliment and be happy for others when they are being blessed? What happened? We have got to stop being fake and phony! Take the mask off Queen! You dishonor your crown when you try to be anything other than yourself. It took me some time but I finally got to the place of freedom where I stopped caring about the thoughts of others and embraced the woman God created me to be. Even Jesus had haters but he didn't spend all his time thinking about them or even addressing them. Sometimes the real hater is you. It's 2018 and I'm here to help you adjust your crown. All mask need to be removed in order for you to become the Queen God's called you to be. I want you to think about these three things that could possibly be holding you back because you're wearing a mask.

1. God can't bless who you pretend to be!

If you think you can pull one over on God. God bless your heart! One of the main reasons you might be stuck is because you're pretending to be "strong" when God doesn't need you to be strong! You're trying to figure out everything so you wear the mask and think that no one can see you but trust me people see you! Remove the mask and be the Queen God created you to be. There is nothing wrong with you. You are different for a reason! Queens stand out we don't fit in so stop trying to be what everyone wants you to be and do you! It's exhausting trying to be what everyone else wants you to be. Eventually, you will burn out. You are no good to others or yourself when you are pretending to be someone you are not. Don't be the reason you're missing out on living the life God designed for you to live because you're pretending. I feel it's an insult to God when you're pretending to be anything other than yourself.

2. You're blocking the process that leads to your promise!

Who said this journey was going to be easy? Who said you wouldn't face some challenges along the way? Who said this process was going to happen overnight? You can't expect to get to the promise that God has for you without going through the process. You might be thinking well I'm tired and if you are that's the best place to be because you've got to get sick and tired of being average. God created you to be extraordinary so you can't think average, you can't be around average people and you can't skip the challenges that are going to continue to come your way as you are on this journey. The only way you know what you are really made of is when a challenge is before you. Stop trying to take the easy way out! You need to hard days so you can appreciate the easy days. Everything you've been through was necessary for you to push through and become the Queen God is calling you to be. You're blocking the very thing that you want because you're trying to take shortcuts. Grow through what you go through!

3. Learn the lesson!

Everything happens for a reason and you might not know exactly why things had to happen that way while you're in the moment but as you continue somethings will be reviled. You will take the same test over and over again until you pass. Instead of complaining about where you are asking yourself what can I learn from this? Ask yourself what is this moment teaching me and how can I grow from this? Even though situations may cause us pain we can learn from them. Past failed relationships taught me what not to do and what didn't work for me moving forward. You have to take time to evaluate the situation and be honest about it so you can learn the lesson and move on!

Coming from someone who used to master in wearing a mask I'm asking you to do something brave and remove your mask. The mask is keeping you stuck with people, places and things that don't honor the Queen you are. Wearing a mask is stopping you from receiving the many blessings God has for you. Wearing the mask is preventing God from blessings you, making your process longer and keeping you from learning the lesson. True Queening is being real with yourself and you can't honor the royalty within when you're wearing a mask. Trade the mask for a crown and make adjustments as needed!

Pick up your crown!