Growing Through Authenticity

Having pride is excellent and healthy but what happens when your pride gets in the way of your progress? Let’s grow through pride together. Homework:Identify if you are a prideful person. Ask yourself if pride has ever gotten in the way of your progress. Have you ever been too prideful to ask for help? Why is it hard to ask for help when you need it? Podcasts to listen to:“Who’s Raising Who” hosted by Crystal Shay & Ms Pat “SamandTinaLuPodcast” - hosted by Sam & Tina “Crissle’s Couch” - hosted by Crissle Music to listen to:Love Is Stronger Than Pride - SadeLove is Stronger Than Pride - Victoria MonétPower Trip- J. Cole

We are growing through ego and diving into what it means to have a big ego. HomeworkIdentity if you consider yourself to have a big ego. Do you think having a big ego is being arrogant or having confidence? Research “ego death”, and determine if you ever experienced this. If you have experienced an ego death, what have discovered? Music :Already- Beyonce Ego - Beyonce My Power - Beyonce Podcasts to listen to:“Who’s Raising Who” hosted by Crystal Shay & Ms Pat “SamandTinaLuPodcast” - hosted by Sam & Tina

Is anxiety a sometime thing for you in pivotal moments, or is it disrupting the quality of your life? Were you a nervous child? Do you have a hyper amygdala, aka is your threat detector a bit out of whack? Well let’s grow through that. Call to action homework: Ask yourself these questions. Do you have anxiety? When does anxiety surface in your life? What gives you anxiety? Did you struggle with anxiety as a child? Have your parents or relatives struggled or struggles with anxiety? How do they cope and grow through it? How do you grow through anxiety? Pinpoint 3 healthy ways you or someone you know can grow through anxiety. Once you identify 3 healthy productive ways to grow through anxiety, actively implement 1 or all of those action(s) every day. Podcasts:Who’s Raising Who hosted by Ms. Pat & Crystal Shay The Read hosted by Kid Fury & CrissleThe Friend Zone hosted by Assanté, Dustin and Fran Music:Anxiety by DocheiiUnlearn by Kehlani Tyrant by Beyoncé, Dolly Parton Research Articles:https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-vs-anxious#anxiety-disorder-vs-anxioushttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323454#treatment

Growing through confidence takes time, experience, and success. It’s being completely secure in who you are no matter the obstacle or risk you face. When you’re confident there is no doubt, anxiety, or fear that will deter you from being yourself and being uncomfortable, because you know without a doubt, you’re going to be alright. Homework:What makes you confident? What aren’t you confident in? Identity what you’re not as confident in, and work on building your confidence in that space.Music: Don’t Count Yourself Out - Tank and The Bangas feat Dawn Richard Confident - Justin Bieber feat Chance the RapperPodcasts:The Read hosted by Kid Fury & CrissleOne 54 Africa hosted by Godfrey Mwangi & Akbar Ali

This episode we are growing through rejection together. I know it’s uncomfortable to accept or even to acknowledge, but rejection can happen to the best of us. Good thing about rejection, is that it’s temporary. Homework:When was the last time you have been rejected? How did it make you feel? How long did it take you to get your confidence back? Assess how you deal with rejection. Podcast recommendation:​Who’s Raising Who hosted by Ms. Pat & Crystal Shay Music:Beard - Album by Syd

Do you think fear can stunt your growth? Sometimes fear can get in the way of taking risks, being bold, and trying again. What are you afraid of and why? What is your response to fear or disliking something? Let’s unpack all these questions and grow through fear together.Homework:Face your fears. Tackle at least one fear or dislike you have and unpack it. Why do you dislike or fear said thing? When did this start? What happened to elicit this emotion? How did you end up there, and how do you plan to move forward? Let’s conquer our fears in a non-violent way. Podcast recommendations:Higher Learning hosted by Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay; Special Guest Stacey Abrams Grits and Eggs Podcast hosted by Deante’ Kyle Music Be Alive - BeyoncéComing Home - Odeal feat Jorja Smith

Today’s episode is tackling the sometimes tumultuous task of growing through consistency. Joslyn gets transparent about her setbacks and reframing her mindset around being persistent. She challenges everyone to stay disciplined, be resilient, and become consistent. Homework: Choose one thing you decided to put off and start it. Try being consistent with that idea, chore, hobby, for at least one day and challenge yourself to keep going! Podcasts to listen to:1. Higher Learning2. Everything Serves A Purpose3. The Friend Zone4. The Read 5. Around The Way Curls Songs to listen to:“Morning Dew (Donk)” - Beyoncé“Main Attraction” - Chlöe, Timbaland

After taking a week off to attend the Homegoing services of one of my best friends, I’m back with a discussion about growing through authenticity. All the ads, commercials, and social media influencers have been trying to tell us who we are. However, who are you really? Have you been authentically you? Let’s dive into that conversation. Some music of the week while I was growing through it…NUEVAYoL - Bad Bunny Bodega Baddie- Cardi B The Storm Is Over Now- Kirk FranklinHomework- Be authentically you all next week. Go within and discover, remember, or continue to be who you are.

After a long hiatus I’m back with part two of growing through grief. I promise the future episodes will get lighter, but for now I’m still growing through it y’all. Since grief is constant and all you can do is learn to live with it and manage it, I give some advice on how I’ve been growing through each day by putting my own personal spin on the days of the week. I truly hope part two of growing through grief finds you when you most need it. Feel free to share this episode with someone that may be struggling with grief. Just remember to take the time to breathe, because it will all get better eventually. Come along for the ride as I am growing through me. Music that’s growing me through grief:Fly Like A Bird - Mariah Carey Heaven- Beyonce One Sweet Day - Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men

Check out this blast from the past! In honor of Throwback Thursday @ImJustJoslyn finally decided to come on back to the podcast streets, and this time she’s talking about grief! Don’t worry everyone it’s definitely her shortest episode to date, so you won’t be in your feels for too long. This is a special episode with only her talking around grief that she’s experienced personally, as well as breaking down the different stages of grief and loss. So sit back, relax, light some candles and even some sage or palo santo, grab a sip, whatever you need to do in order to tap in to your feelings for a bit! It will be quick don’t worry! Call to Action 1. For this week just have grace with yourselves! I challenge all of you to say 5-7 amazing things about yourself and the grief you have experienced for the next week Monday-Sunday. Even if you’re repeating those 5-7 positives each day that’s okay. Find the good in your grief. 2. Some book recommendations for this episode are: ◦ Grieving While Black: An Antiracist Take On Oppression And Sorrow by Breeshia Wade ◦ Notes on Grief by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie ◦ The Pain We Carry by Natalie Y Gutierrez 3. Podcast recommendations: ◦ Small Doses “Side Effects of Healing After Loss” (with Maya Jaye) and host Amanda Seales ◦ The Friend Zone ep 375 “The Fifth Member” with hosts HeyFranHey, HeyAssante and Dustin Ross ◦ Can’t Afford Therapy Podcast with hosts Antoinette, Josh, and Savon Music1. Know That You Are Loved by Cleo Sol2. Don’t Hurt Yourself by Beyonce3. If You Let Me by Sinead Harnett4. One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men5. W.A.Y.S. by Jhene Aiko Research article credit: The Stages of Grief: How to Understand Your Feelings (healthline.com)