Years ago, I was involved in a car accident.
Just before the impact, I remember hearing something clearly in my mind:
Brace for impact.
The car hit the wall, the airbags deployed, and thankfully I walked away okay. The police arrived, the tow truck came, and life slowly moved back into motion.
But the moment that stayed with me wasn’t the crash.
It was the question that followed.
Did I really hear that?
And if I did… what was it?
That question didn’t send me searching for a dramatic answer. Instead, it sparked something quieter: curiosity.
Around that same time, I was listening to Bishop T.D. Jakes, and one thing he said stuck with me. He encouraged people not to simply take someone else’s interpretation of scripture, but to study it for themselves.
So that’s what I started doing.
If a verse was quoted in a sermon, I would find it in the Bible and read the full context. I wanted to see it for myself. I wanted to see it for myself.
That curiosity slowly expanded.
I began reading more widely—spiritual books, personal growth books, leadership books. I developed a habit of copying down sentences that stood out to me. If a paragraph sparked a thought, I would write it in my accompanying trigger book. I did the same whenever it made me pause.
Not interpretations.
Not summaries.
Just the words that stopped me long enough to notice them.
Reading this way was slow. It took time to finish a book because I wasn’t rushing through it. Over the years, I read dozens of books this way. Sometimes I read twenty or thirty books in a year. I simply followed whatever idea sparked curiosity.
Recently, I heard someone talking about Adlerian philosophy online. As they explained it, I found myself recognizing many of the ideas they described. Concepts about purpose, growth, and responsibility sounded familiar.
It surprised me.
Not because I had studied Adler directly.
But because curiosity had already taken me down paths where those ideas lived.
Looking back, I realize something important.
The turning point in my life wasn’t finding answers.
It was allowing myself to stay curious.
Curiosity led me to read.
Curiosity led me to think.
Curiosity led me to question what I believed and why.
And over time, that curiosity shaped how I see myself and the world around me.
I used to think growth came from finding the right answers.
Now I think it often begins with being willing to ask better questions.
Because sometimes the question itself is the beginning of the path.
If this reflection spoke to you, follow Sweet N Social for future entries on creativity, courage, and walking through change.
By Tonia Tyler | #ConfidentStrides | Sweet N Social
“Success is something you attract by the person you become ” ― 
Life will offer up an answer to our prayers but not send it the way we expect it. Here is another way to look at it, we ask for a ride to our desired destination but because we don’t like the vehicle choice to get there, we turn down the ride. Keep in mind, the main objective is to get from point A to point B.
It takes courage and a bit of risk to step outside your comfort zone. That is why a strong “why” is so important to have. The “why” is what will make the most daunting tasks worth doing. A strong “why” is what will give you the gas to keep going on days when you feel empty. A strong “why” is what makes the struggles worth while. Make sure you write down your “why” and review it as often as possible. Why? Because it’s important to know.
I just finished another book and what I find so fascinating is my hunger for knowledge continues to grow each day. When I read these books, I imagine myself sitting in a classroom learning from some of the most inspiring teachers. It’s like attending college without the cost. The best part is you choose the subjects to study. How cool is that!
There are days when you will feel like you are headed backwards. It’s on days that those when our faith has to carry us along. You have to know that whatever purpose or meaning to what you are do IS working it’s magic behind the scenes. You will not always see the results you want to see. Also remember, if whatever you are compelled to do in life was easy, everyone would do it!
Look for ways to get around the obstacles to your success. The great thing about an obstacle in life is that you can get around them and/or learn from them. If you are focused and determined to achieve a specific goal in, an obstacle is just a speed bump, a detour or a delay. There is nothing that can stop a determined soul.
I used to argue, fuss and fight to voice my opinion. Those days are long gone. People are quick to offer up opinions based on what “they” believe. For example, if someone says that something you want to do is “impossible” it is based on the opinion that it is impossible for “them”. Realizing this, instead of arguing, I allow folks to “keep” their opinion and I go about with my own. I just say “watch me!”
Sweet N Social 