What does surrender look like to you? For me it's allowing space for failure, owning that being a limited edition could look weird to some, trusting God's plans for my life greater than my own, blooming even in midst of struggle and redefining what womanhood and sensuality look like for me. I'm forever grateful for the gift of surrendering and today I invite you to join me on a journey of letting go. Today's guest Shakirah Hill Taylor, social advocate, author, wife and dope sista friend will be unwrapping the secrets to surrendering. Shakirah takes us on a beautiful journey of acceptance and letting go! Grab your notebook and pen and open your heart to what this episode is going to bring. Stay in touch with Shakirah on @the_dope_doula and grab her book Until My Surrender: A Story of Love, Loss and Letting Go, available at Amazon.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

We are back! During this time of reflection, recharging and stillness, alot of self-talk happened. I was reminded again of how necessary affirmations and declarations are to self-love. What you say to yourself really matters! So, I had to ask my sista friend, fellow visionary and #confidencebuilder to the podcast! Our guest Celi Dean-Toure is founder of ELLE EST FIERCE, author of Her Declarations and Her Game Strategy is Prayer journal and she brings all of her fierceness to this episode. Celi takes us on a journey of practicing self-love through the gift of self-talk. She gives us 5 icredible gems on how we can implement this practice into our daily lives and yes she throws in a challenge or two to keep us on our game. Grab your note pads because you don't want to miss a single nugget from this episode! Stay in touch with Celi by following her at @celimariedeantoure and @elleestfierce. To grab a copy of her ebook and prayer journal, go to www.lnk.bio/celimariedean. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

"There's no place like home, there's no place like home." Dorothy was right! There definitely is no place like the steadiness and comfort of "home" which is not a building but a place of being. Today's guest is Ericka Oakely, veteran, wife, entrepreneur and #MUA queen. Ericka gives us a beautiful vulnerable moment as she shares her journey through inner healing. It challenges and reminds us that we should never discount the investment in our mental, emotional and spiritual health. That investment helps us find our way and to build harmony in our relationships as well. This mini-episode is full of real and relevant nuggets that encourages us to do the inner work that gets us from the thought of sick and tired to one of Ericka's favorite mantras, " the best is yet to come." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama. How are you preserving your happy? What a question to ponder while trying to stay safe and sane in the midst of a pandemic, lol. Yet, it is one our guest, Kacie Thompson, posed to us in today's mini-episode. Kacie is what I like to call the *full package* kinda boss, as an author, podcast host, change expert, mom, wife and overall cool chick. She reminds us that being able to tune into our happy is a great form of self-care, along with not getting caught up in the optics of what others think should give you joy. This episode is packed with practical tips and tools that will help guide us to stay the course for 2020 and preserve our happiness through it all. So, I mentioned Kacie is an author and podcast host, check out more on her fun and insightful (don't let the title fool you, it's so much more) book on IG @thehitchedbitch and her podcast The Hitched Bitch on Spotify. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

"Almost all creativity involves purposeful play." This is not to say that all play or creativity has to look the same, doesn't mean you have to be an artist or dancer, it very well may be your work or passion. Today's guest, Lauren Devera, owner of the Lion's Den and host of Thrive + Thread podcast, reminded us that, "our soul lights up when we cultivate creativity in our lives." Imagine, seeing your work blossom because you allowed purposeful play to be apart of the process. On this episode, Lauren challenges us to be brave enough to trust the process of play and yes she is going to push us to move past perfectionism which often leads to procrastination. By the way, did you know that creativity is a form of self and soul care? I know, what a nugget and there's more! Grab a notepad and pen, you will need it. Want to tap into your playful side? Join Lauren for one of her dance or yoga classes @thelionsdendmv or tune into her new podcast @thriveandthread. You can also stay in touch @thelaurendevera. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

Something amazing happens when we are brave enough to ask the questions, have the simple conversations and try to understand, right? We hear the saying," be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to anger" but often times that simple phrase is so hard to do when we are unable to give space for understanding. Today, I welcome you all to a special conversation with guest Aaron Abernathy. This is the first face to face interview I've had the honor to do in over 15 weeks and what a treat it was to do it with Aaron. He is a mutli-talented artist with a gift of using his voice and passion for music to build bridges between men and women, especially black and brown men and women. We went on a journey on this episode and dove into how do we move from anger to disappointment to the final destination of understanding.  We went there y'all and it got real and Aaron dropped some powerful nuggets. He even gave us a challenge that I believe we all can do and if we do healing can occurr in our communities and families. I want to also invite you to head on over to Spotify and check out Aaron's 'Affirmation' album.  To stay connected to what Aaron is doing in the world, follow him on IG @aaron_abernathy and www.aaronabernathy.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

How many of us have gained some extra *pounds* in this pandemic? That weight may be in true pounds around our waist or a heaviness from the weight of loss or the solitude of the quarantine has exposed hidden or unaddressed pain. However, you have felt or seen the gain, it's something that if not addressed can lead to greater weight, right?!? And who wants that? Today, our guest Jamarl Clark, founder of WeINSPIRE Movement shares with us his journey of shedding the pounds of shame, fear and loss to beginning the process of self-discovery. I love the quote he shared, "I wasn't searching for something or someone...I was searching for me." Who knew that self-discovery would be apart of our weight loss program in life! Jamarl is a natural storyteller and encourager with a heart to see people thrive in life. Follow all that he is doing @weinspiremovement and weinspiremovement.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

"It is okay to grieve. Grief is a natural response to loss." But, how do we grieve in the midst of COVID-19 with social distancing, quarantine and literally we are hidden behind masks? Loss has become almost an expected thing these days. Loss of "normal", routines and some of us have experienced the loss of a job, relationship or a loved one. What we do know is that, the process of navigating through grief is not easy yet one that even in a pandemic doesn't have to be done alone. Today's guest is a Women's advocate, champion for children and my forever sista, Donna Thompson. Donna shares with us her personal journey of grieving through COVID-19 with the guidance of God, the power of community, and her #tribe of sista friends. Know that we are better together and if you are currently walking through a loss and need a community to come around you, come on, we are HERE! Arms wide up and ready to stand with you. We can be reached at [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

"BREATHE, Darling! This is just a chapter, NOT your whole story." Whew! How many of us need to just stop and breathe? No, really take a deep, long loving breath. Now, grab your pen and notepad cause this week's mini-episode is so packed you are going to want to write it ALL down. After all we have endured together in these last 11 weeks, felt we needed a *word* today! One that encouraged us with beautiful reminders of God's heart for us in the midst of crisis and chaos. Today's guest is one of my dearest friends, my in the "trenches" prayer partner and lil sissy, Fynn Coleman. She is a financial strategist, entrepreneur and ultimate fashionista. Fynn comes with an on-time message and I will admit there maybe a few tears shed, some shouting may occur and possibly a praise twerk or two from this one! As she challenges to trust the process; which is never an easy thing to do but when we do, it can change our lives and ultimately shift the lives of the next generation. Want stay in touch with Fynn, shoot her an email at [email protected] or check out all she is doing with her business at www.gen8sys.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support

Happy Juneteenth! Wow! With everything going on in the world, we can say we made it to this day! That's a greeting I don't take for granted. So, to honor that and Juneteenth, wanted to do a recap of the power, beauty and yes black goodness that's been on the podcast over the last 10 weeks. We have been on a journey with COVID-19 and the most recent racial injustices. Yet, together we have stood...we truly are better together👊🏾. Now, this hasn't been a comfortable journey, actually it's been an uncomfortable one but we got to admit there have been lessons and opportunities that wouldn't have been learned or opened if we hadn't walked through this. I always like to say, "the struggle makes for a greater capacity of joy." Today, jump in with us as we recap the goodness of the last 10 mini-episodes of 15 minutes of encouragement, focus and soul care series. Oh and you know I couldn't get on here and not share alittle bit of my story! Make sure to check out ALL 10 of the mini-episodes and follow us on IG @braveinvisionpodcast and @kenyasbryant --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/braveinvision/support