Dr. Natashia Stafford-Cotton: Sharing Hope and Resilience in the Face of Life’s Challenges
Dr. Natashia Stafford-Cotton is a woman with many accomplishments. With a doctorate and master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, an MBA and BA in Behavioral Science, and memberships in distinguished honor societies, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience dedicated to helping others. But her most recent endeavor, writing her new book, Keep Your Kleenex: From Diagnosis to Deliverance, is perhaps her most personal and inspiring yet.
Natashia shares her story with Today’s Purpose Woman about how her husband’s terminal diagnosis inspired her to write Keep Your Kleenex: From Diagnosis to Deliverance. “In 2012, my husband was diagnosed with a terminal condition. I started a journal jotting down mostly pertinent details/directives from all his clinicians or tracking results, levels, etc., with a few prayers and thoughts sprinkled in”, she explains. “However, it was not until 2017, when I revealed it to coworkers or various friends or church family, etc. their varied reactions of disbelief to the amazement of how I was possibly not only navigating but seemingly living blissfully while facing such detriment did I realize there was a bigger story that needed to be shared.”
The book shares Natashia’s journey as a wife, mother, and full-time provider turned caretaker and how her faith helped her navigate her challenges. Despite the difficult circumstances, “Keep Your Kleenex” is not a dark retelling of Natashia’s struggles. Instead, it celebrates her resilience and the many miracles she experienced.
Keep Your Kleenex: From Diagnosis to Deliverance offers straightforward advice and hope in the face of life’s detours. It also highlights the impact and importance of intentionality, having a support system, and daring to believe despite life’s disruptions, or what Natashia calls “a D-Day” (Disruption Day). Readers will discover practical principles and practices to help guide them through the challenges of being a caregiver to others without losing themselves in the process.
When asked about the central message of Keep Your Kleenex: From Diagnosis to Deliverance, Natashia states that it is about “learning to identify the incremental miracles vs. the billboard front page news type miracles in our lives, which are often overlooked because we are expecting overnight magic.” She also emphasizes the importance of allowing what looks like a tragedy to become the trajectory for a greater purpose and not settling for solely existing in trauma or survival mode but full-throttle thriving mode.
Natashia’s book is a critical guide for anyone who must unexpectedly navigate the dynamics of receiving an untimely diagnosis or handling life-altering circumstances. It also offers insights into what it looks and feels like (and means) to believe in God as a higher power in the 21st century. Furthermore, the book is an excellent resource for women. Her advice is always to remember that prayer and faith are powerful tools, and tears should not be seen as a sign of weakness. “They are proof our hearts are alive, passionate, and able to be touched! I also refer to them as liquid prayers, and God treasures each teardrop,” she says.
To learn more about Dr. Natashia Stafford-Cotton, visit her website: https://natashiastaffordcotton.com
