“And the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud, was greater than the risk to blossom.”

Anais Nin

My debut memoir is almost here! “A Mind Restored: Finding Freedom from the shame & stigma of mental illness” by Kimberly Muka Powers. Launching January 3rd, 2024!

In the two years leading up to this book launch I have wrestled with the fears of sharing my story. But in this process of healing, I have truly found peace with my illness. For in choosing to publicly share my story, the weight of hiding it for so long has dissipated. I have found freedom!

May you find freedom in your journey too. Perhaps you have wrestled with shame and stigma in some area yourself. I pray you find healing in a spiritual and emotional way, and experience the peace of God that passes all understanding, guarding your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Thanks to each of you for your support as I am launching my memoir!

I hope it helps so many -to break free from the shame and stigma of mental illness! May it equip and empower you to effectively learn to manage the symptoms of your illness! If I can do it, so can you!

Available now for pre-sale on Amazon & Barnes & Noble!

Releasing January 3, 2024!

Get your copy today! And share it with a friend or loved one who can be helped by it.

Perhaps you are like me and have a mental health diagnosis. Do you manage it or does it manage you? My debut book is memoir, self-help, and Christian inspiration. See how I have effectively learned to manage bipolar disorder type 1 with psychotic features over the last two decades. Your illness doesn’t have to define you. Find freedom today.

I am excited to announce my book is available for pre-sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online! Thanks so much for your support in my writing journey!

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, this book is for you! Break free from the shame and stigma of mental illness by effectively learning to manage your symptoms! You are not alone! You got this!

https://a.co/d/0Hbi6DF

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@trilogybooks

She was living her best life. When mental illness turns her world upside down, could this young woman heal and reclaim her faith?

Kalamazoo, Michigan, 2000. Kimberly Muka rarely knew trials or troubles. Coming from a caring middle-class Christian family, the well-liked sophomore thrived physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Until an ordinary day at school ended with a shocking manic episode and a trip to the psychiatric ward.

Hospitalized for three weeks, the once-vibrant teenager endured a traumatic summer lost in a haze of medication and depression. But despite multiple debilitating setbacks, she battled toward stability with the help of Christ and a revitalized outlook to help others faced with similar grim prognoses.

In this powerful memoir of courage and resilience, Kimberly Muka Powers unflinchingly recounts her years fighting Bipolar Type-1 with psychotic features and using that hard-earned knowledge to educate and provide support. Raw with emotion and empathy, you’ll walk in the shoes of someone once ostracized and burdened by shame, who fought a devastating mental illness and both social and church stigma and triumphed through the Grace of God.

A Mind Restored is a heart-wrenching memoir. If you like overcoming adversity, finding self-acceptance, and reconnecting with the Lord, then you’ll love Kimberly Muka Powers’s inspiring chronicle.

-Best Page Forward

“A Mind Restored” will be available for pre-sale soon!

The tears streamed down my face with a rush of intense feeling. I tried to name them, as I often do when my mood has shifted. A silent scream bursting of warm excitement and wonder-mixed with the cold, isolating dread of fear.

My story will be out there.

The email from my agent came today in between sessions. I could hardly wait to uncover the memo. January 3rd. No turning back now. It will be in the eyes of the public.

I ordered 50 copies to have on hand. Should i order more? Should i order less? What am i doing? And Why?

The only problem with writing a book is people will actually read it. 🤦🏽‍♀️

The purpose of my book has already been accomplished: break free from the shame I have been dragging around like a heavy ball and chain for two decades.

I hope no one realizes how crazy i am.

Bipolar type 1 with psychotic features is what they call it.

My heart wants to crawl inside itself while hoping the fireworks inside my mind won’t keep me up at night.

If only…

If only I could reach one person with the hope that they, too, can break free from the shame and stigma of mental illness by effectively learning to manage their symptoms….

If only…

If only I can share with people through my vulnerable exposure of the most embarrassing parts of my journey-that they are not alone.

If only…

If only someone can learn of the powerful hand of God who can rescue us and walk with us in our darkest times.

If only…

If only i might inspire you to pursue your God-given calling in education, career, relationship, and ministry goals. Even you-who may be marked by severe and profound mental illness-like me.

Am I defined by my illness? I was. But now I choose to put that behind me and walk forward with my head held high. Will you join me?

Oh the greatness of God! Have you seen him work? Have you heard his voice? Has he brought you life?

The days turned to months and as i look back all i feel is his peace that passes all understanding. The good news is that his peace is more than a feeling. It just is! Nothing will change that. Not sickness or death, trials, conflict, rejection, abandonment, your worst fears.

His peace passes all understanding and will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus!

What is all this talk about Jesus anyway?

 

Where do i begin? Upon years and a lifetime of personal study have I discovered the Savior of the Bible. The King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting father, Prince of Peace.

It’s not too late for your own personal study. Got an old untouched Bible covered in dust on your shelf? Never opened it? Never read it? Put it down years ago and have yet to re-open it after that terrible thing happened and your anger at God became easy?

Turn. Turn to Him.

He’s calling you.

Child. Come. Come to me. I will give you rest.

He will! Because that’s who he is and that’s what he does.

Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. And let’s talk.

XO

 

The years slept by and my distance from church grew. I was torn apart on the innermost level of my being: that to be a part, however, to remain hidden. I knew from voices i once respected my mental illness was not accepted. I internalized that to mean i was not accepted. And the conflict within me grew. Especially in the church.

How could i be my authentic and genuine self when all i wanted was connection; but the shame i carried with the weight of stigma pushed me farther and father away from what i longed for.

I prayed to own the confident version of myself in the community I yearned for the most: Church family. My heart ached for what i knew God promised believers: the hands and feet extending the love of Christ.

And then prayers were answered out loud. One after one.

In the loving and bold voice spoken by a new friend at my new church.

“Anytime you need a place to belong, you belong with us.”

I didn’t know if I should hesitate. But i chose not to. I received those words like a healing balm. God spoke through this dear sister.

Simple invitations exuded the welcome “Come sit with us Kim.”

Thank you God, for seeing me. How could i not expect you to meet me. You’ve done it before, and you will do it again. Praise the name of The Lord.

Selah

The crisp autumn air on my face awakens me. I breathe deeply, filling my lungs, and releasing the breath. Accepting the change of seasons. Life sleeps slowly into dormancy, but not without a brilliant farewell of harvest orange, neon red, and brown.

Life has moved quickly in 2022. The world relieved to progress beyond a global shut down. Masks off. Barriers removed. I see people’s faces. Some smiling. Some preoccupied and stressed. Most hurried about reclaiming the day to day activities.

I have written a book this year. Why? Healing. Growth. To help, educate, inspire, and empower others. Challenging myself to escape a darkness and bondage long time holding me captive in a prison of my own making. Mental illness. I believe I have finally broken free out of my shame and humiliation of my story. Who am I? I accept myself. I embrace my past as it has positively shaped my future.

I do not know what the future holds. I trust the One who gives me breath each moment. I choose to courageously walk forward in faith, eager to see the hand of God heal others, comfort them, claim them as His own, using me to be a light in the darkness proclaiming hope.

Life moves through seasons. Times of pain, illness, brokenness, despair, death.

Life. New life. Second birth. Transformation. Healing. Redemption. Calling. Purpose. Acceptance. Faith. We do not have to stay broken. Set free! Ready to walk boldly into the beyond.

Humbly giving thanks for all of the blessings this time of year! Pausing to remember the reason for the celebration this season.

“For unto us, this day, is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:11.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16.

Each year, and especially this year in the second year of a global pandemic, i am thankful to be with my loved ones this holiday. For we all know our days are numbered, and any day—as many have experienced, may take our loved ones away.

How do you celebrate the Holidays? Gatherings and food, lights and decor, trees and gifts. Family and friends, church and worship. I smile thinking of all the thanks to give to God.

In his lowly state as a babe in a manger, Jesus now reigns above in Glory, angels proclaiming his life to this very day. His life, sacrificed, so we may live. Abundantly. Powerfully defeating sin and death in His Spirit.

Merry Christmas friends. In all my blessings i think of you and yours. Look what the Lord has done! Praise his holy name.