The Healing Power of Resilience Rooted in Joy

The Healing Power of Resilience Rooted in Joy

About Nikki Cruise

Nikki Cruise is an energetic and dynamic International TEDx speaker, bestselling author, empowerment coach, and connector who in sharing her miraculous testimony brings hope and encouragement in the healing power of joy. The joy that brought about her healing of body, mind, and spirit as she walked out of her wheelchair after 11 years
As a coach, she encourages women to recognize their own value, regardless of the circumstances and society’s inevitable labels, so that they can see how to powerfully impact the world through their unique calling and purpose through her J.U.M.P.P. program.
(Joyfully Unleashing a More Powerful Purpose)

She also empowers leaders in business to excel in their leadership, implement new strategies and to be equipped with tools to daily choose abundance and joy and seek out solutions to adversity in all circumstances and lead others to do the same. 

Nikki, originally from South Africa, resides in Burleson, Texas, USA.

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Introduction

Good, beautiful day, beautiful, beautiful souls! This is Charla Anderson, host of the Charla Anderson Show~Collector & Connector of Fascinating People (& EVERYONE is Fascinating!), especially you.

Super thrilled to introduce you to Nikki Cruise. From. She’s been coming from a wheelchair to walking, not just walking walking across international TEDx stages. You’re going to want to hear all of her story because she she learned how to do that with joy. And we’ve got a lot of connections with joy in our in our world.

…BUT FIRST…

As always, I’m going to do our little 22 second mini vacation, a little breathing exercise that gets us centered and grounded. So here we are going to breathe in calm for 7 seconds. We’re going to hold for 4 seconds and breathe out gratitude for 11 seconds, so join me if you will get some. Be still a no coming in here we go.

Bring in your calm hold… Relax. Release. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you. I do believe all of us could benefit from doing that a little bit more often, don’t you?

So I have Nikki Cruise here. I’m so we’ve met through Bri talks, and many of my guests are coming through this wonderful speaker, faith-based speaker organization that Terry Lee Harrison has has created. And it’s a speaker training amazing people coming together and with the bri talks, Bri talks. and bold, real and impactful. And so I’ve a lot of my guests.

I’m showing up from there. And it’s just so fun. So I want to introduce you to Nicola Nicola. Is that how you say it from South Africa? But she lives in Burleson, Texas, not too far from me. So tell us who you are in this world, Nikki. and and then we’ll talk about what you do. Okay.

Thank you so much, and thank you for having me here, and it’s been an honor and a privilege to meet, not just you, but so many other people through Terra Lee, who’s the founder of free Talks, and I’m known as the Joy Junkie. My birth name is Nicola Cruise.

I go by Nikki Cruise, but labeled The Joy Junkie, because God has just gifted me with this huge amount of joy. Born and grew up in South Africa, passionate about Jesus ever since I was little. and now live in Texas. in between, spent 25 years in California. and now we are here attending the most amazing church, and you will learn why.

Wow. So I didn’t know about the California part. So, yeah, I think you know. I have. I have an Airbnb and my tenants that are transitioning today are from South Africa. And it’s just, I have a lot of friends and acquaintances from South Africa. I think it’s interesting and fun.

So you’re I. Don’t you know the story? How you got to Texas and all that, but what you know, my, what I tend to want to know is the overcoming part. So every one of us has a story. Sometimes that story is a little bit more. you know, impactful or deeper than others, but everyone has them.

And this is what we want to do. And how can we offer hope, joy overcoming? And because you, I’ve seen the pictures you were in a wheelchair, and never told you would never walk again.

Yeah. Well, the overcoming takes 2 2 phases. The 1st was I was in a wheelchair for 11 years. I hadn’t.

Years.

Yeah, I had a severe asthma attack. and everyone thought I was fine. The next day my heart rate was running very high. The next day I got up to use the restroom still attached to heart monitors and things. and as I stood up it was bells and whistles and alarms, and my limbs flumming in every direction. My hands distorted, my feet went shaking, and it was almost like I was having an epileptic seizure.

And my heart rate went very high, and I had no control over any of my loans. no motor function. Skill had bad dystonia. So that’s when your muscles distort and then go stiff. And I thought, Okay, what’s going on? There was so much fear. My life at that moment changed, and that was the start of 11 years in that state.

Can I.

Yeah. I wasn’t.

A question. So you you were living life doing fine whatever you were doing doing with your life, you know, and then you had an asthma attack and ended up the next day where you you couldn’t in all in one moment, all in one moment. Really. So wow! I mean, all of a sudden totally unexpected. You were living a healthy life. And then, next thing you know, you’re in a wheelchair, and it lasted 11 years.

Yeah.
So.

And I kept thinking it would. I kept thinking it would go away as quickly as it came on. and I kept saying, Okay, God, you’re going to heal me! I know you’re going to heal me. And because of the spasms and the shakings that happened when I was awake or asleep. and I was not just in a wheelchair I was strapped in. I could.

How old were you? I’m sorry I didn’t mean.

This was 13 years ago, 14 years ago.

This.

2,010, so.

That, wasn’t it?

Clock. Yeah. no, yes, 2,010. And let’s just I just kept thinking, it’s okay. It’ll go away. Still, had my faith. But you know what. I wasn’t a happy camper. Every day of the week I was frustrated. I was angry, but I still had that hope. and for 11 years that carried on. I couldn’t feed myself. I couldn’t brush my hair. We could only bath in that much water in case I spasmed back and drowned because of the shaking.

I broke my ribs going over the back of my wheelchair. and there were numerous events in those years that really did wipe me out in so many ways. But I just kept thinking, this is okay. God’s gonna heal me until the day that I walked into the doctor’s office and my neurologist said, You will never walk again.

It’s been too long. and I was devastated. For the 1st time I was angry with God. and my question was, How do you expect me to do or be anything stuck in this wheelchair? And I was so angry, fortunately, that only lasted a couple of weeks. because I know for a lot of people that lasts longer.

But I got fed up with being angry. and I had a choice to make, and I turned on and said to God. Okay, God. I’m going to be the best version of myself whether I’m walking or in a wheelchair. And it was like.

All of a sudden it was like a light bulb went off in my dark world because I could now see things I could do. I could see my value. I could see how God could use me. and because I was now seeing that I was grateful because I found gratitude found joy. and it was an abundant joy, and it bubbled over, and it was attractive to other people and people, saying, How can you be so happy in your circumstances? And at that point I learned my circumstances do not but define me.

My belief in myself defines me, but only after I believe what God says about me. and when we believe what God says about us, we get a new vision, and it was almost like there was a wall which were my circumstances, that I got to look over. and I got to see my vision on the other side of that wall. and I suddenly realized God could use me in the wheelchair.

I just had to stop listening to everyone else. And that moment came that anger, that frustration came because for the 1st time in 11 years took my eyes off God, and I listened to what man said. I listened to what my doctor said. and I learned we get to be very careful what we listen to. So that was an experience. And I just I was so.

I was a sponge for everything God had to give me. and I was sitting watching TV service. a service on TV. I was in California, in Texas, and I went into the service saying, God, I’m coming to you expectantly. thinking he was going to walk, work some more on my heart, that he had been healing.

My emotions had been healing my spirit, that had been healing had been healing me from wounds of past trauma. In the 3 months after I said, I will be the best version of me. and I watched the service, and it was on Palm Sunday. It was a Palm Sunday evening service, not even a healing service. and I could feel God move after the service. I was so grateful I did my praise. I put my comments in the chat. and I went to the bathroom to run my bath.

When I was lunged over the bath as usual, running my water, turned it off to go and call my husband. and I reached behind me from my wheelchair. and my 1st reaction was. we didn’t put the brakes on, you know, self-condemnation, self criticism. and I eventually stood up and looked over my shoulder and turned around. There was no wheelchair.

I had walked to the bathroom without even realizing it. and I have been walking ever since, and that was 3 and a half years ago. So we moved to Texas to attend the church through which I was healed. That’s okay.

Okay, wow, wow! So miracles. I am a clearing for miracles. I had been given that a long time ago, and the I I’ve witnessed them. I believe in them. I believe you speak what you want, not what you don’t want you, you know you know when my, what my 1st guest were, and I had lunch with them yesterday, 7 years later, after he had a had a less than 1% chance of being alive this next morning, and I said she there was. But the doctor said, I said, Who created doctors? Bet the scientist and I said, Who created science?

Speak what you want. You speak life, not death, and I was like shaking them. I’m like, don’t or you know, it was incredible. And 7 years later we had lunch yesterday, so it was just so fun to know that I mean I watched his ultrasound, his heart, and I said, If God can create it, he can heal it.

and and it, you know. And I was like this, every word matters this second transformation. Change your words, change your life. 31 daily practices every word matters, and we don’t. We’re so casual with our words. 

We’re so not speaking life. We’re speaking what we don’t want. And I’m I’m the story is amazing to me. I had a I had a split second because we’re talking joy, too, and you are joy dash inspired.com. People can find you. Joy dash inspired.com. You’re going to be starting a podcast. There’s so much going on,

I’m so excited to to find out all this and know more. but I had a split second moment of transformation from bitterness to joy and and it and it was permanent. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was like, I don’t. I’m not carrying that bitterness anymore. 

And it was. It was miraculous for me, because I’d carried it a long time. but I I wanted to go back and say I mean, I want to hear all about the the how that all came to be. But I also want to acknowledge. So this happened to you. but it wasn’t just to you.

Somebody in your life had to had to take care of you. brush your teeth. you know. Yeah, so how did you know? That’s it affects much more than just. I mean, I’m sure it affected much more than just your life.

Absolutely excuse me. My husband was my caregiver while he held down a full-time job. because, not ever having worked in this country. you know we had limited resources. I didn’t qualify for any of the Medicare or Medicaid, or anything like that, so it was a challenge. but in that I got to depend on God so much because he had to be the one I depended on. You know a lot of a lot of my friends from church couldn’t deal with it.

It was not easy to be around me. and there were very few people that were actually there as regular visitors. and it made it difficult. It made it very difficult. but there were people who were absolute blessings to us, and did step in. but I do believe that God had to heal you mentioned bitterness.

I had to step out of a fence. I had to step out of the bitterness and the judgment. and the anger and the hurt of people not being there for me. But it didn’t really matter, because God was there. God was there for me. and even when I chose to take my eyes off him and be angry. He was there. He doesn’t go away. and she just.

He knows the plans he has for us. and if we can focus and believe that, that’s what brings the joy. And I mean, if I had been healed on my wheelchair earlier, I would just be a walking mess. but he healed my body after he healed my mind, my spirit, and my emotions. and we are so often inclined to tell God how we think he should do it.

Jenna. Good, you know, like it’s time. Now I’ve done my bit. You do yours. and he knows what’s so perfect. and as my husband took care of me he grew. He. he! Obviously it was tough. it was financially tough. It was emotionally tough. It was very difficult. We’re here with no family in this country.

So those people who who were around us kept us going. and we saw so much value in relationship. but even more value in valuing one another. and at that time I used to tell him how he should do everything. because, of course, I knew I had no control over anything, so I may as well try and control him.

And there was one very funny moment which comes to mind when my mom came to visit, and we were moving into a place we called the Retreat because I had a big garden with a ramp, so I could actually get in and out, which I couldn’t where we had been living. and my mom was helping us move over from South Africa, and I started trying to push the boxes with my feet because I’m kind of stubborn. And my mom said.

But.

Isn’t that so true how we become stubborn? And it’s a good thing to overlook things that hold you back from the point of view of it helps you keep your vision, but it’s also good to recognize the limitations that are on you, so that you can rely on God’s strength.

That’s the power. and I see we’ve got Dusty joining us nice to see you dusty and welcome. So that was kind of my story. But the amazing thing about it that I say to people, what I learned is, my circumstances don’t define me, and people say, but I’m not in a wheelchair.

No. but what are the limitations and the chains that you’ve built up in your mind about what you do and don’t believe about yourself. What do you believe about your circumstances. because when you start putting boundaries around yourself that aren’t godly, loving, kind boundaries you are chained to and strapped to a wheelchair, just like I was what is stopping you being that incredible,

Extraordinary person God created you to be, so that you can have joy so that you can know your purpose. So that’s what I’m really passionate about is people seeing beyond that? 

And if I may just carry on what I know now, which I didn’t know back then. is, as Charla said. every word is important. What you speak out and what you think changes the DNA in your brain. Your brain isn’t something well, your mind isn’t something that’s static. unstuck, and I believe from that moment I chose to choose joy. That moment. It started changing my mind when the DNA in your brain changes. creates physical healing throughout your body. It’s called neuroplasticity. I didn’t know it then.

I know it now, but it doesn’t mean my healing wasn’t a miracle, because God created us with that ability to heal by His name and His power. So every word counts, every thought counts. make them positive, make them joyful because it’s not only you you are affecting everyone around you. I have an acronym for smile. a sound mindset invites laughter everywhere. So are you smiling from the heart. People around you.

You have an acronym for joy as well.

Oh, yes, I do, joy, you know we saw I sat there in my wheelchair, and people said, Come on, lighten up! How can I lighten up. I’m in a wheelchair. This is not my fault. Joy means just own yours. Take responsibility for your joy. Don’t blame everybody else because you have a choice in every circumstance, and God says to us. have joy in every circumstance. doesn’t mean you have to laugh about it all.

They say that God. Christ had joy when he was going to the cross. It’s in Hebrews. 12. Do you think he was happy about it? No, but the joy came from knowing the outcome and the results. And when we focus on God’s promises to us. and we focus through the arms and legs of the giant to the Promised Land. We have joy. It’s your choice. Take ownership, take responsibility.

I love that so much, and I what I’ve come to know I don’t. I wasn’t always this way, but you know our circumstances do not just like you said, don’t define us that it’s not. It’s not who we are. Our circumstances are not who we are.

Our circumstances are where we are. and but if you can take a breath, your your circumstances right, this second, everything from let there be light has brought us to this moment in time.

Right? So this everything. But we can’t change any of those. We can change the next one with our, and if we change our thoughts. we and and our words, because everything you see after I am is who you are. And so it’s the breath of life in you.

When you say I am. You’re claiming things that you may not like or may not want. And so that’s very critical to use your words. As for what you know what we want.

And so when I think about that, my circumstances.

I I’ve thought about this before I have met and have pictures with Nick about Chick, or, however you say it, the guy with no arms and no legs. Life without limbs, you know, got the little flipper. He’s very happy to have and you know he was so unhappy.

But what it is is who I am. If I lost a limb, if I had, you know some disfigure, whatever who I am is not that this this is a meat suit around who I am. and so I feel like that’s a like something that I mean.

I say all these things almost every week. Some part of all this stuff is, is my message is unconditional love, and also unconditional forgiveness, not unconditional boundaries. But I can imagine falling into a wheelchair for 11 years, you know, having that as my my identity.

Yeah.

And then. and then you get up and walk. You got up and walked. God let you just get up and walk, and we’re not talking. All of this God. Talk isn’t about religion. This is about loving God. If God is love, it can’t be, not love. And so, and a loving God and loving both. And so you’re you are. You’re just a bright light. And and this story is miraculous at the you know. I mean just maze amazing.

And so now, these last 2 or 3 years that you actually been able to walk again. You’ve now like, I said in the beginning you’ve walked on international TEDx stages. you know. And you’re stepping into podcasting. And you’re, you’ve written books, you know. So tell us about some of that part of you.

Well. the beginning part was very interesting, because I thought, now I can walk. When I remember that 1st day I got up and I walked around, and I sat down in every chair in the living room. You know why? Because I could choose where to sit. Things we take for granted that we forget to be grateful, for you know I get up nowadays,

And I often stand in the cat food because my cat insists on eating next to my bed, and you know those 1st thoughts that go through your mind when your toes squish through the cat food, and then I think I am so grateful that I can stand in the cat food.

And it’s become a big part of my life. But in the beginning I went off and I thought, Okay, now I’m going to do all these things.And I said. I’m not going to be a coach. God, that’s not my lane. I will not be a coach, and God said, Okay.but the 1st thing I had to do before I learned about coaching was, I had to learn to rewrite.

I had to relearn to write. I had to learn to use the computer because of my shaking. I hadn’t been able to hold a cell phone. So everything was new and sometimes very frustrating. and people think, Oh, you can walk, that’s incredible. You must have this perfect life now.

Doors are open, know the frustrations are there the same battles everybody else has. So yes, I get to have so much more joy than a lot of people tap into, because we all have it. I get to express it more because it comes more naturally, and it’s a gift God’s given me. And I realized it attracted people.

I realized people were becoming empowered with my story and saying, Well, how do you live the way you live? So I did become a coach. and after becoming a coach. Suddenly God said to me, If you want me, if you want to do great things, you’ve got to come to me and expect great things. God cannot do more than you will put in your mind and expect. And I remember standing in front of the computer, flinging my arm side wards, going whatever you want. And 3 months later the book was published that I’m part of. It’s a journal. It’s 31. Authors overcoming adversity not published by me.

But my story’s in there as the 1st story, and it’s called The Gifts of Pain. and the same day that was published was the day that I spoke on public stage, not church involved for the 1st time ever where somebody had fallen out, and I was asked to come in with 2 weeks notice on a very TEDx like format. and I spoke on, owning your value and shine. That was my thing, and I was very nervous. I did it, and that night my speaking coach, who had then match. He wasn’t yet my speaking coach said. would you be interested in doing a Tedx talk in Zimbabwe?

Wow!

These 2 things had been very interesting because been in a wheelchair for so long. I hadn’t been out in public much. I didn’t have clothes. I had lost a lot. So in 3 years I went from totally confused, not able to use a computer to flying to Zimbabwe to share my message on a TEDx stage.

And I always say walking across the stage, because that is the huge impact. And it’s not about me. It’s not about my healing. It’s about the inspiration and message that other people receive. And my purpose is to impact other people and give them hope. Let them know you are unique. You are extraordinary. What is your purpose So I have a jump, a program called Jump.

Joyfully unleashing a more powerful purpose. And we start off looking at identity. Who were you in Christ? And you can’t really step into a purpose and find the joy of it until you know who you are and you aren’t anybody else. God created each one of us with this fine paintbrush. putting individual characteristics on. and you don’t get to compare your inside to other people’s outside.

What you see on the outside of other people is right for them or wrong for them. It’s not your concern, but it’s also not you. You have a purpose, and your circumstances don’t get to stop the world receiving from your purpose.

Beautiful, beautiful, my tiny little book, I, you know, talks about finding your purpose. So many people are. What’s my purpose, and you’re finding a more powerful purpose. But our purpose really could be, and is how we treat the person right in front of us, right? How we.

It’s a new time.

We show up how we live our lives with integrity and with with joy and with with confidence, or all of the things that we get to show. And and I’m telling you it. I think scientifically, they’ve learned. It’s almost sometimes you call it an aura or something.

But your your energy field is 8 to 10 feet out, and you can walk in somewhere and feel. I don’t think I want to be here, you know, right? You can feel an energy. And now that they’ve proven all this stuff scientifically, it’s great because we’ve known stuff. But we know in our nowhere. But we didn’t know educationally. And so this our scientific is very, very cool, too.

I love the neuroscience. And you’re talking about neuroplasticity. Probably Greg Braden and Joe Dispenza and Bruce Lipton and those guys that are doing all this incredible. not just research, but testing, you know, they, they attaching people to to feel, to find out, and people are being healed overnight, I mean miraculously in some of those places. Once they I mean, you’ve got to. You’ve got to shift your mind. You’ve got to shift your mindset. It is a mindset.

It is, and I have 3 pillars a kingdom mindset, because that is so powerful for me. I’m a Jesus freak. So you’re always going to hear Jesus coming out of my mouth. And it’s okay if you don’t, if that’s not your faith. same as if I quote from the Bible, and you don’t read the Bible. That’s also fine, but there’s some pretty good advice in there, you know, so receive what you get to receive from every other person.

Because and this is what I love about Charla’s show is everybody is incredible, extraordinary, and unique. And you can glean something from everybody, whether it’s what you see you share. You imagine when you see them, but lean from people around you because we’re not created to be alone. We are created to live in community, and I mean, I wouldn’t have met Charla if it wasn’t for Bri’s community. And there are places like that. But what are you taking into it. And you’re so right. Your purpose is who God has called you to be.

Your purpose isn’t being a CEO. Your purpose is the impact or the effect you have on somebody else. and how you carry an awareness of your purpose. It, like Stevenson, cynic says you know your why. it’ll help you see through the hard times. It’ll help you maintain your joy because there is so much joy in being who you are and who you were designed to be.

The joy. So the purpose this morning I read, Your purpose is not what you do. It’s why you do it. you know so and and so that’s another way of saying what you just said. But why we do what we do is is is what our driver is. So I’m getting these messages. I mean, I’m attracting like crazy some most the most incredible people. I have a whole sheet of declarations, and if anybody listens to this, and he sends me an email. I’ll send it to you. I think there’s 52.

They’re very brief, but it’s like I’m always on time, always fully prepared. I attract successful people willing to invest in me like a magnet, and that’s 1 of the mantras, or some sayings that I have amazing amazingly. And this this show and these guests are no different. I’m you know. This is ending up season 2. Pretty soon. I am. I don’t. I don’t have. I’m booked 3 months out, you know, so I don’t. I I don’t.

Test.

But yeah, I don’t have any spots for people right now to even book. So I love that. And I I don’t like it because I want people I want I wanna I love everybody. I want everybody to be my guest. So so you’ve but tell us, go ahead.

I was gonna say, and that is your purpose. Your purpose is to help people become seen. and you do it so naturally, because it’s your purpose. So come back.

I have not heard it like that. Thank you so much. So I’m my purpose is to help people become seen. Is that what you said. can you receive that? I’m gonna receive that? Thank you.

You. Do you open up a platform for people to share who they are? You’re very natural at it. You’re very, very disarming, you know you don’t have to come in here and be nervous. Charla is as incredible as she shows up on her show. I’ve seen her in other groups, and even chatting to her beforehand. So you have a natural gift for that. and I celebrate you with your ending season 2. And hey, just celebrate all the people you’ve got, and maybe start doing bi-weekly.

Yay!

I spoke it. Sorry.

Whoa! Oh, man, I call Wednesday my show day, and it’s like it’s a day, you know. There’s a lot to it. So though, that I but it had crossed my mind this week. Hmm! I don’t know. We’ll see.

I didn’t mean to cut you off. You had a question earlier.

Well, I wanted to, you know. Here you’re you’re doing so many things you’re so let’s let’s talk about where you’re headed now, and unless you have something else you want to. explore.

Well, God is doing so much as I step more and more into my purpose. And yes, there’s there’s challenges to it. I have my, podcast that is going to be launched in January. It’s called the entrepreneurs joyinspired com podcast where we’re going to explore the entrepreneurial journey. But more importantly, how you can infuse your faith into your entrepreneurial journey. There are so many of us who have a business, and we Christians, or we faith-based. and we’re living 2 separate lives with whatever you believe you get to infuse that it isn’t about balancing the 2. It’s about intertwining the 2. And how do you do that faith, joy, and a kingdom mindset. and we’re going to be exploring episodes on that. So that’s super exciting. And I am looking at launching an evergreen course which I’m going to be putting up soon, which is purpose oriented for the start, and then the follow on will be more of similar to my jump mentorship, which is an annual program that there’s just a weekly group call. That is amazing. It’s about community.

It’s about connection. And then the 3rd thing that or the thing that I’m doing at the moment is. I’m uploading my courses and my ebooks up to something called the Great Discovery. and the great discovery is a global platform for learners in any language and in any country. And it does translation. And it is so powerful if anyone knows what the Sig sigma is. This is 4th generation, Sig sigma, which is a principle that helps people be successful in what they do. and that is so exciting. And if anyone has questions about that, I would love to share it with you.

I have a little clip of me speaking in 5 different languages, because they do the translation. No, I don’t speak 5 languages, my mom said. It must be a great program. You learn 5 languages in one day. But really it’s a global reach to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to a lot of the information and the the online learning. So with that all being said, it’s really just about going into the year of jubilee, excited and just really loving life. loving life.

I am outrageously optimistic. Something I say often, and I do believe our world is getting brighter and better. And and and because because that’s the way I see it. That’s what I receive. even though there’s a lot that is not going very. You know. There’s a lot of disc discord in our world, and I’m I’m ready for that to settle down a bit. And I’m I fully believe that it is and will. And so that’s because that’s my mindset. 

That’s how I live my life, and you and I both of us will help people come to one of us, you know, find us and find people that will help your mindset if you can’t. If you know the opposite is also true joy. Once you once you, you know, love joy. then, or live your life as joy. You’re my name means joy. You’re you know you’re joy, dash inspired.com where you know where once you have that the opposite is also true. 

The complainers. the complainers, continue to find things to complain about. I find things to be happy about. I don’t have. I don’t have to worry about all the other stuff. I just get to walk out. If I go out I want I collect people. I mean people in Aldi. I’ve I keep making new friends in the grocery store, you know.

So I I it’s because I have the happy. the attitude of of grace and of of joy, and and and it is a very attractive, and when I was a flight attendant for 34 years, I know there were some people that would come on the plane in wheelchairs, or whatever, and they would just be beaming, not particularly. you know, attractive necessarily, but they were so attractive because they just had an attitude of just loving, you know, loving life, no matter what their circumstances were so so excited about that And.

I just loved it, and I would just say, You know, you’ve got such a precious countenance, or something along that line. You know that that beaming, that joy that comes through your eyes. Yeah.

And and, as I said earlier, it’s not about walking around with a smile on your face, or laughing, or whatever. But when you do have joy. It releases the happy drug in your brain. and it encourages you to go for the next one. And that dopamine. Your brain’s always looking for the next dopamine hit. Now, when you’re depressed. doesn’t do anything. nothing’s taken away, but it doesn’t do anything. 

But so don’t you want to just take a chance. If you’re having a bad day, take a chance and find something to be happy about. Just smile at someone. You might make their day. Just find one small thing and get one 1st of dopamine. You know, it’s the happy drug in your brain. It’s scientific that it does actually elevate your health. It elevates your thinking. and it makes you want more. That’s why happy people are so happy.

That’s great. We also that completely get that when you’re in those states of depression, and and up and and unhappy, or whatever it is it it does take? It’s not. It takes an effort, it takes something, and gratitude is 1st key. You know we have a I have a mentor keeps every day.

Keep breathing free oxygen. I get some message into there. Keep breathing free oxygen, and if you can take a breath. you’re okay in that moment, and and if you can find something, if it’s just thank you for oxygen. you know.

Thank you that I can, you know, move my finger, whatever whatever it is, it can be just start with a piece of gratitude just something that you, you know. Free oxygen is. We all have that until we don’t. So, you know, be grateful for that.

And gratitude literally finding something the smallest thing and one way to do that is also another way and parallel way. find, reach out and help somebody do one thing that lifts someone else and you start eking out of it’s all about what’s wrong.

And sometimes we can start getting. It’s not about what’s wrong. I mean, it’s a we think we’re focused on what’s wrong. We’re focused on what we don’t like. We’re focused on everything that is bad in in our world, and open one eye and go.

But I can walk. but you know. and we can change if you don’t like where you are. Take, take. You can change the next step, make a different decision to speak a different word, and change the next step you take. and I promise you the law of attraction is real.

Yes.

You speak what you want, and and and it will begin coming your way until you negate it and confuse them. Positive movement of the law of attraction, which you know it’s been trivialized somehow, and but but I do believe very much that we we get what we speak.

And it it comes back to that, just lifting your head up to look over that wall like I had to from that very. And don’t think that just because I speak about joy, I’m diminishing any hurt. any trauma, any depression. I’m not. But I’m trying to give you one little tool to help you hold on because the hurt that you’re feeling.

The depression that you’re in the way you feel is real. But it’s not forever. It’s not forever. So start off with one step. What you’re feeling can improve, I know, because it did for me what you’re limited and bound into can be broken.

Whether it’s your mindset, whether it’s physical, whether it’s emotional, whatever it is. have hope. because in that hope you will find joy. You will find gratitude, and you will begin to equip yourself to look over the wall. But it is about mindset, you know. There’s a very well known quote that says, when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. and when you can begin to see yourself, not as the victim, but as the overcomer.

You may not be there yet. but see yourself as the overcomer. See yourself as you’re going to be. because God says. you know, cost your vision forward. He does tell us to believe in the things that are unseen. you know. That’s faith. and it’s not. doesn’t always mean faith in God. What about having faith in your soul. because maybe somebody hasn’t told you that you are precious. You are extraordinary, and if you’re in a depression, or you’re in circumstances that are really wearing you down.

You aren’t those circumstances. Those might just be the things you’re in at the moment you underneath are incredible, and you do have a powerful purpose, and you can do it. You can get to that place that you are seeing yourself in. That is better. That’s what started me off. I decided I didn’t want to be mad with God when hurt and wounded anymore. Because you’re not broken. You’re not broken. You might be wounded, and wounds can be healed. Any wounds and be healed. There is always a forward.

There is always a tomorrow, and I just really feel like somebody needs to hear that, and you can have joy in knowing that. am I not? Burst out laughing? You might, but you might not. and just have a vision and write it down. Write down where you want to be tomorrow. Not worried about what you believe you can be tomorrow. Write down where you want to be tomorrow. That’s step one step 2 is, look at it and say, Okay, maybe I can begin to believe it and step 3 is to opt it out. and that’s whether you are in the worst of circumstances or the best of circumstances.

There’s always a tomorrow that you get to see us better. So write it down and bonus points if you actually share it with somebody. because then they can hold you accountable and walk with you.

Love that so much. My. I was talking to people that you know that going through stuff right? So you don’t claim it. You don’t claim a dis-ease, you might be diagnosed. You do what you need to do, but you don’t attach yourself to that diagnosis, because if God can create it, he can heal it and look at yourself playing with your grandkids.

Look at yourself over that wall, playing with your animals, playing, you know, 20 years from now what you want your life to look like. and that, and just do what you’ve got to do in this moment to take care of whatever’s going on.

But see the winner that you really are. If you know if God is love, he can’t be, not love, and and you are loved exactly who and where you are in this moment, right now, and no matter what you are loved, and I feel like I know I say this a lot, too. A lot of people don’t love themselves enough to love. to feel, to receive love are to love others in the way that you know the the Golden Rule. Treat others the way you want to be bullies are victim to.

I say it a lot because they’re they don’t love themselves enough to receive God’s love, and others love that try, and the harder people are to love, the more they need it. I say that a lot, too, but it. That’s because they don’t love themselves enough to receive and to treat others that way. I’m curious. If you want to mention your you moved from California to Texas for a healing church. Is that what I heard? Do you want to talk about that a bit, or is that.

I would love to. I had connected with this church. In fact, there’s a funny story behind that, too. We had developed a ministry to Uganda very small ministry. because while I was in my wheelchair, I connected with the pastor there, and their church and their family really took care of me on zoom. My husband would plonk me down, turn it on, and it was open, and we would chat during the day. didn’t understand half of the language of the group calls, but that was okay.

There was a place where I belonged, and we then started a food bank because the pastor excuse me. sorry. The pastor was walking around in the middle of Covid with no job. His wife had no job that shut the schools down and excuse me. and he was handing out food anyway, to people who needed it. So I said, How can I support you? So we started funding food to be given out, and it’s now developed a once a month food bank where they distribute food. But at the same time there were a lot of women who had no future that they could see.

So we opened a vocational school in Uganda because we opened the vocational school in Uganda. Somebody phoned me one day and said, this church has a ministry to Uganda you have to connect. and that is the church I now attend, and the church I was healed through. and the reason I share that story is because God blessed me out of what I was pouring into. I got it so, having now been healed through this service. we joined to actually attend and go to the church here, who has. amongst other things, the healing ministry. It’s very much a hands-on church.

It’s called Open door experience pastored by Pastor Troy Brewer. who is a dynamic pastor who really stands for being the hands and feet of Jesus, and they have food banks all over the world and rescue kids all over the world. and I’m very blessed to be there and to be walking so that I can teach the kids church there.

It’s in Burleson, Texas.

Yes, it is. Yes.

This, and would you say it again? The name.

It’s open door experience. otherwise known as Odc. Open Door Experience Church. It’s not open door real estate. There isn’t open door real estate, but Open Door Church, or you can look up Troy Brewer, EREW. ER. Ministries.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Well, our time! It goes fast, no matter what who you know. And so here we are, ending the hour already, and I’m so incredibly thrilled to know more about you, I think. You know, when when we talk we talked about TEDx talks.

But I know the reason Terry Lee Harrison started bri talks is because you can’t talk about faith or business in on a stage with TEDx, and so she kind of crossing the toastmasters with TEDx to and and Speaker training for those of us that are looking at that as a a means to share part of our part of our wisdom, and so that we reach out to either one of us.

If you would like to know more about how we can. I mean, it’s amazing group. And she I met her march firsts She started this in May, and here we are in November, and it has grown globally amazing.

She’s got a talent and a gift, and incredibly easy to get real real fast in this in this little wonderful weekly group, or whatever whatever she’s got going every week. Something. So so thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Nikki. I’m so grateful. So joy dash inspired.com joy dash inspired.com for your website. You’re all over social media. At Nikki’s joy. Nikki’s joy inspired. Is that it?

It’s well. My my personal page is where I do most of my stuff, and it’s just Nikki Cruise.

Okay, NIKK, I, they can both be spelled differently. Nikki Cruz so it’s always good to spell, because you know.

Yeah.

So that’s important to know.

Yes, it is, and I just want to thank you so much, Charla. It’s been absolutely amazing sharing and kind of going off on tangents, saying things I wasn’t expecting to say so to ever who is listening? I just. I thank you for listening and receiving whatever you’ve received from this. and if you need to reach out, you can reach out to either one of us. If you’re struggling to find me. I’m sure Charla will put you in touch with me.

Absolutely, absolutely. I’m very grateful. So this, you know, this goes out globally on podcasts and and on my website, Charlaanderson.com, so that you can find us. You can find us, and we we want to encourage you. And and I don’t know that you know that I say this at the end of every one of my shows. and when I found out my name means joy.

My signature was, Choose, joy! I had a dog name I had had a dog named Joy had split second moment of transformation, bitterness to joy, a lot of things, and I was incredulous that my name meant it. And now I always in my show, with always, always. And I’m just going to end it now, too. So thank you so much.

Always, always, always, always choose joy .

Connect with Charla Anderson:

For more insights and to follow Charla’s creative journey, check out her website and her other projects:

• Website: CharlaAnderson.com
• YouTube: Check out her channel for beginner art tips, life wisdom, and more!
• Win Win Women: Catch her on winwinwomen.tv to watch her shows and learn more.

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Important Links

• Nikki Email:  support@joy-inspired.com
• Your Website:  www.joy-inspired.com 
• Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/nikki.cruise.7
• LinkedIn-  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkijoyinspired
• Instagram-  Ig @nikkijoyinspired

About Nikki Cruise

Nikki Cruise-International TEDx speaker, bestselling author, dynamic empowerment coach shares her miraculous testimony to bring hope and encouragement in the healing power of joy. The joy that brought about her healing of body, mind, and spirit. As a certified GOD TALKS coach, she encourages female Christian entrepreneurs to recognize their own self-worth, regardless of the circumstances and society’s inevitable labels, so that they can see how to powerfully impact the world through their unique calling and purpose and have joy in their entrepreneurial journey through her J.U.M.P.P. program. (Joyfully Unleashing a More Powerful purpose)She also empowers Christian leaders in business to excel in their leadership through their faith, mindset, and unique God given value to find new strategies and be equipped with tools to daily choose abundance and joy and seek out solutions to adversity in all circumstances and lead others to do the same.

Nikki, originally from South Africa, resides in Burleson, Texas, USA.

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I’m Charla Anderson, host of The Charla Anderson Show, Collector & Connector of Fascinating People (and EVERYONE is Fascinating!) on live TV, streaming and podcasts. As a Ziglar Legacy Certified Trainer, a retired award-winning flight attendant, Olympic Torch bearer, personal development junkie, Inspired Speaker, Published Author and Your Courageous Coach, I want to share my passion of living life full-out, saying YES to intriguing opportunities, and encouraging YOU to do the same. Let’s jump on a discovery call and get to know each other. Find all things Charla at CharlaAnderson.com/links.

On The Charla Anderson Show, We discuss Mindset, How much Your WORDS matter, Princess to Queen energy, mantras, HOPE, Faith, Miracles, Overcoming, and much, much more, including learning from amazing guests.

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