Category: Blog

Strong Woman Signing Off. Welcoming a Powerful Woman! Rather than calling myself a strong woman, I would like to refer to myself as a powerful woman. In today’s society, women are expected to handle any challenge life throws their way and appear to have it all together. This is supposed to be a good thing, but having to uphold the image of strength can be more damaging than helpful. Through my experience with this expectation, I’ve come to recognize that being strong isn’t what truly makes us remarkable and powerful. In place of this traditional definition of strength, I’m now embracing my authenticity and power as a woman. Join me in discovering why being a powerful woman beats being strong any day. The societal expectation of women to be strong. As young girls, we are taught that being strong is an admirable quality. I’ve grown up being told to be strong and defend myself, but as I’ve gotten older, I realize that expecting such strength can be draining and harmful. I recall being warned to be cautious of what I was requesting when praying and asking God for strength. To truly attain strength, you must face pressure, weight, or opposition, all in the name of proving your strength. Women may already feel overburdened and overwhelmed by their home and work responsibilities, and this societal pressure can cause burnout and feelings of inadequacy when we inevitably fall short…despite our best efforts. Moreover, this reinforces outdated gender roles where women are expected to carry the emotional burden of those around them without being offered any support in return. Because they are too busy taking care of others, women often do not have time to pursue their own interests or focus on themselves. Ask yourself… What have you recently put on hold because of someone else’s needs? Society needs to recognize that strength comes in many forms – including vulnerability – and that it’s okay for women (and men) to ask for help or take a break when needed without feeling ashamed. To grow stronger in our own unique ways, we must acknowledge our limitations. Instead of trying so hard to “be strong,” women should embrace the power within themselves. We all have it. My reasons for no longer wanting to be a strong woman.  For a long time, like many of you, I prided myself on being a strong woman. I thought it was something I was just supposed to be. I didn’t think I had a choice. Plus, I knew that I came from a family of “Strong Black Women.” But deep down, it was also something I learned to aspire towards. I thought it would earn me respect and possible admiration from others. But as I got older and thank God, wiser, I began to see that the expectation for women to be “strong” can actually be quite harmful. It implies that we should always have everything together, never show any vulnerability or weakness, and constantly push ourselves beyond our limits. This pressure can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. I no longer want to live up to this unrealistic strength standard because it’s simply not sustainable. Instead of striving for an ideal of perfection that doesn’t exist, I choose to embrace my imperfections and allow myself room for growth and self-care. Being powerful means recognizing my own worth and value as a person regardless of how well I’m able to hold things together in difficult situations. It means acknowledging when I need help or support from others and not feeling ashamed about it. I should actually feel empowered! Ultimately, embracing our power as women means rejecting societal expectations that do not serve us well and creating new narratives around what it means to be successful in life – ones that prioritize overall well-being rather than superficial appearances or achievements. Powerful women: What it means to be one! Being a powerful woman means recognizing your worth and using your voice to make an impact in the world. It means owning your strengths, embracing your flaws, and being unapologetic about who you are. A powerful woman is one who lifts up others around her rather than tearing them down. She understands that success is not a zero-sum game and that everyone has enough room to shine. In fact, a powerful woman will encourage others to succeed and reach for their greatest potential. Taking the time to understand others involves actively listening to those around you and advocating for those who might not have the same opportunities as you. Being a powerful woman also means being empathetic and compassionate towards others. It’s important to note that being a powerful woman isn’t just limited to certain races or ethnicities – it applies to all women, no matter their background or socioeconomic status. Being a powerful woman involves breaking free from societal expectations of what femininity should look like. It’s about carving out our own paths in life while remaining true to who you are and your values. Be best advice to move from Strong to Powerful It’s time for us to shift our focus from being strong women to powerful ones. We need to reject the world’s expectations that have been placed upon us and redefine what it means to be a woman in power, with power. Being powerful doesn’t mean we have all the answers or never struggle; instead, it means we recognize our strengths and weaknesses and continue to grow despite them. Take time to discover who you are. What are your vulnerabilities? What makes you special? What allows you to feel deeper? Who are your front-row, biggest fans? Who wants to see you grow? Whom do you want to see grow? Understand that no one is asking you to have all of the answers. You can be powerful with a few words like “NO.” Save the Date Burn Vision Mid-Year Decide to BE the BOSS of your life and Join us at 3:00 pm EST…

The Power of Your Inner Voice Have you ever had a gut feeling that told you to go one way, but your rational mind said another? Or maybe you’ve heard a tiny voice inside your head whispering doubt and fear when you’re about to take big risks. That little voice is your inner voice – the internal communication system that helps guide us through life’s ups and downs. Whether we listen to it or not, our inner voice has immense power over our decisions, emotions, and overall well-being. In this blog post, we’ll explore the impact of our inner voices on our lives and how we can harness its power for positive change. So, sit back, tune inwards, and let’s dive into the captivating world of the human psyche! What is your inner voice? Your inner voice is that little voice inside your head that guides you and helps you make decisions. It is your conscience, and it is always there to help you. We, as women, also refer to it as our intuition. I call mine “Holy Spirit.” In many cases, the “good” inner voice is never wrong and protects us. Most of the time, your inner voice will lead you in the right direction. However, sometimes it can be hard to hear your inner voice over the noise of the world around you. If you are feeling lost or confused, take some time to quiet your mind and listen to what your inner voice has to say. You know Rita and I are big on encouraging you to spend time in silence. Remember, “the solution is in the silence.” Your inner voice is unique to you, and it knows what is best for you. Trust yourself and trust your inner voice. It will never steer you wrong. The Impact of Negative Self-Talk on Mental Health. Negative self-talk can have a significant impact on your mental health. If you regularly tell yourself that you’re not good enough, that you’ll never achieve your goals, or that you’re worthless, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-worth. Negative self-talk can also contribute to negative thinking patterns, which can become entrenched and difficult to break free from. If you find yourself regularly engaging in negative self-talk, it’s important to seek help. Depending on your severity, that help could come from a Mental Health Wellness Coach like myself or from a mental health professional who can help you identify the thoughts and beliefs that are driving your negative self-talk. Together we will work to develop more positive and realistic thought patterns that are healthy and help you achieve your goals. The Benefits of Positive Self-Talk Positive self-talk has been shown to have a number of benefits for both mental and physical health. People who engage in positive self-talk tend to have better mental health overall and are more resilient in the face of stress. They also tend to have lower levels of anxiety and depression. Physical health benefits have also been linked to positive self-talk. People who engage in positive self-talk tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate, and improved immune function. There is also some evidence that positive self-talk can improve chronic pain conditions. Mind over matter… so to speak, and it reduces the feelings of feeling sorry for yourself. Affirmation: Thoughts have power. If your inner voice is not in alignment with where you are trying to be use the following affirmation to jump start your positive thoughts. I am enough. I’m flawed and make mistakes but that is ok. I don’t need to be perfect. I accept myself. Everybody has struggles and makes mistakes. I’m completely loveable just as I am. I don’t need for others to validate my self-worth. I don’t need to please everyone all the time. I know in my heart that I am enough. My struggles and imperfections don’t define me. I will continue to change and grow from a place of self acceptance. I will offer myself love and compassion. I am completely loveable just as I am today. I am enough. Understanding the power of your inner voice and how it affects your life is a critical step in taking charge of yourself, developing positive self-talk, setting healthy boundaries, and creating meaningful relationships. Learning to recognize what your inner voice is telling you can be challenging but with practice and patience, you will slowly start to become more aware of its influence. With this newfound understanding of the importance of listening to your own intuition, you can use it as a powerful guide on the journey towards making lasting changes in all areas of your life. Join “The Vault” Do you need guidance, motivation, direction, and a strong shoulder to lean on? Under the coaching leadership of Spiritual and Mental Health Wellness Coach Angela Lightfoot, The Vault offers you the space to speak to other women similar in age, with similar experiences and challenges. Learn More!

Being Grateful Being Grateful is the most positive and enlightening feeling I believe one can ever experience. To be grateful is to feel alive, present, authentic, at peace, joyful, satisfied, less stressed, not in charge, safe in God’s arms, prepared, equipped, empowered, in order, and victorious. Being Grateful is about looking around your environment and realizing how truly Blessed you are…….despite the challenges you face. You are breathing, therefore, you still have unused gifts inside of you that were created for you to share. Being Grateful is realizing that you have the capacity to help others BE GRATEFUL. Think about the words I used to describe Being Grateful. Do any of these words describe you in any part of your day? Choose any two of those words, and keep them in front of you today. When you ask people how they are, do they ever say…I’m Grateful? Most people respond with complaints. They use words like “struggling,” or “holding on,” or “could be better.” Those are all victim phrases. They speak as though there is no hope, no way that life can be better, and that kind of thinking is unacceptable. Life is already better because today is a new day, and it’s an opportunity to learn from yesterday and make things right. You must believe it in order to achieve it. You cannot allow your negative situations to define you. Look beyond them and remind yourself often of JEREMIAH 29:11 – God knows the plans He has for you, and they are for good and not for evil. You just have to follow the plan. What does it take to create a constant state of BEING GRATEFUL? It takes a lot less effort than living in a constant state of chaos where you’re never satisfied. Being Grateful is about recognizing your blessings and truly knowing you are blessed rather than just saying it because that phrase is the flavor of the month. You can create a constant state of Being Grateful in your life. You know the feeling of gratitude when someone does something nice for you, and you say thank you? Gratitude is just as it sounds: gratefulness. It is a particularly great feeling that we can all feel when honored or appreciated. That human emotion can be harnessed to change your life, forever! The benefits are so great that it can actually make you healthier! We already know how good it feels to do something for someone else, but why don’t we use it more often as a tool to make ourselves happy? What actions must you take in order to create your constant state of Being Grateful? Keep a Gratitude journal with you at all times so that you can record the blessings that are all around you. Keep your spiritual eyes and ears open so that you can see beyond the human experiences and circumstances and begin to see and understand how God is moving in your life. This is why silence is such a critical part of your everyday activity. You have to become conscious of what’s happening around you – the opportunities which are right in front of you, the path that God has you on, are all for your own good. Sending out words and feelings of Being Grateful will be returned to you. I don’t know the author, but this is the perfect ending for my blog on Being Grateful… “It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.” I am Rita…speaking to your Spirit Save the Date The 4 Ps To Help You PERSEVERE Are you ready to go down a different path? Join me virtually, at 7:00 EST on May 3rd, to celebrate you and your PERSEVERANCE. There is no cost to this workshop. I believe as we move to midway 2023, it’s ok to alter our course. Join me! Learn More! OUR Services Transformation Tribe Transformation Tribe – the only online community designed specifically for women, offering a safe and inspiring space to share your goals, experiences, and journeys. Learn More!

Most Common Reasons You’ve Failed To Reach Your Goals: Overcome and Succeed! At the beginning of the year, when we get a great revelation or after being unmotivated for too long, we get a great idea to make a list of goals we want to reach. Some goals are personal; some are professional; and some are things we have put off for years. Let’s take a quick look at that list. It’s okay, I’ll wait while you remember where you put it. Got it? Okay! Let’s take a look and see where you are. You may not have checked off as many things as you had hoped on that list as you look back on it now, weeks, months, or years after it was made. That’s because you didn’t set yourself up for real success in the first place. Those lists weren’t enough to get you really motivated. Continue reading to find out why you may not have been successful in reaching your goals and what you should try to do differently. Lights, Camera, Action… I said ACTION. Your list of goals shouldn’t just be a jumble of nouns – make sure to make them actionable! Doable. “Get closet organized” rather than just writing “organize” and set yourself attainable deadlines for each goal. For example, if you’re looking to organize your closet, make sure you spend some time sorting and purging, get storage containers and maybe labels, and organize your outfits by season will help you map out the goal and give you a clear list of tasks to complete it within the timeframe. You’re doing this.. Great.. but WHY? If you don’t feel motivated or even excited to reach your goals, then it is likely that you haven’t determined WHY you are striving for them. For instance, expressing the will to lose 15 pounds is one thing but WHY? At the end of the day, what are you hoping to acquire by losing that weight? Take into consideration what motivates and drives your goal. There will always be something that you wish to attain, avoid, or lose when attempting to accomplish it. Are you looking to enhance your self-confidence? Become healthier to prevent health problems down the road. Wear that two-piece bathing suit with extra confidence on your upcoming vacation. Take some real time to examine the reasons behind why you’re making a goal list and recognize the advantages of what you’re trying to achieve. Are you even close? How close? In order to determine how well you are doing, you need milestones or markers that track your progress. A lofty goal may take some time to accomplish. Work at a steady pace, and don’t try to do too much upfront. This is the fastest way to burn yourself out and run from your goals. Burnout is real, and you should try to avoid it. When you see you’ve accomplished part of your goal, you can celebrate your progress and encourage yourself to keep going. I believe in celebrating small wins. We all could use a little more motivation! Wait, it’s gonna cost me something? How much? Not all goals are centered around money, such as saving a certain amount each month, but there’s some kind of financial angle involved with all goals. Consider the example of owning a house – you need to save enough money, assess your budget and mortgage amount, and so on. On the other hand, if you want to find a new job, then it’s important to consider how much you’re looking for in terms of salary. Through my experience shopping at Ikea and Target, I can tell you that completely redecorating a closet doesn’t come cheap! Eating healthier also requires more expenditure – fresh fruits and veggies cost more than processed food. The bottom line is that hard figures give a much clearer insight into goals and should be taken into account when planning ahead. I know you can reach your goals if you follow these tips. If you haven’t made progress towards your goals this year, don’t give up. Give Rita or me a call, and we can help you see what barriers are holding you back. We will help you strategize and help hold you accountable. Join “The Vault” Do you need guidance, motivation, direction, and a strong shoulder to lean on? Under the coaching leadership of Spiritual and Mental Health Wellness Coach Angela Lightfoot, The Vault offers you the space to speak to other women similar in age, with similar experiences and challenges. Learn More!

FINDING YOUR PURPOSE What is your unique purpose? How do you determine your purpose? Is it possible to fulfill your purpose? I always want you to take away something from reading my blogs. This particular topic has five steps. It’s going to take you a while to get through it. It’s going to challenge you like no other blog I’ve written. But you have to complete the assignments. Take as much time as you need with each step, and think through the question before responding. Read till the end because I have an offer for you. STEP ONE: Ask yourself, what is it you really want to do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next?   What would you enjoy spending your days doing?  What would bring you joy and peace and allow you to feel fulfilled and purposeful? Hold tight to these three questions and speak to them every day. Ponder these questions in your silence. Allow the thoughts and ideas to flow thru your head. Don’t stop to judge or critique, just allow them to flow. If you get off course, re-focus on any or all three questions. Record in your journal, what you experience while in the silence. STEP TWO: What thoughts and/or ideas have been in your head for years?  Which ones are pulling on you? Which ones make you smile? Is it really what you want to do?  Do you feel led to spend your days manifesting that idea to fruition? Do you think this is the purpose you were sent here to fulfill? Do NOT, spend time, right now, on HOW you will make this happen. Right now, take your time to sift through the ideas/thoughts. Picture yourself doing exactly what it is you think you want to do. How does it feel? STEP THREE: You may be wondering, “WHY – is it so critical that I fulfill my purpose?” And my answer to you is that Your Creator brought you from Eternity and placed you in this time and space for you to do your part to grow His Kingdom. Each day you spend not fulfilling your purpose is another day the World is without all that you have to offer.  Let me Be very clear, you are fully equipped TODAY – to fulfill your assignment. Because Where God guides, He provides. I want you to Ponder the effect your purpose has on the planet. Your purpose is not about you – it’s about how it will benefit the rest of us. STEP FOUR: HOW do you manifest your purpose?  The first step is to Create a plan. The second step is to follow the plan.  The plan begins with completing the following two sentences: Sentence 1 – My purpose is_______________ Sentence 2 – I’m living my purpose when______________  Rewrite your answers until they feel good! STEP FIVE: Your purpose is your assignment, it is your journey. No one else can do this but you. Continue to remind yourself why you must do this as well as the value you will bring to yourself and to the planet. Celebrate every accomplishment and enjoy the ride. This is what Living life is all about…it’s about loving what you do.           It’s your purpose and ONLY you can fulfill it. JOIN ME, FOR A FREE WEBINAR entitled, THE 4 PS OF PERSEVERANCE!! The PURPOSE nourishes the PLAN THE PLAN nourishes the PASSION THE PROMISE is a manifestation of THE PURPOSE I am Rita…speaking to your Spirit Save the Date THE 4 PS OF PERSEVERANCE Join me virtually, at 7:00 EST on May 3rd, to celebrate you and your PERSEVERANCE. There is no cost to this workshop. I believe as we move to midway 2023, it’s ok to alter our course. Learn More!