Stay the Course: Remember Why You Started

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By: Jamila Gomez

Life has a funny way of testing you when you’re chasing a dream. That passion that once lit a fire in your soul can sometimes feel like a burden when challenges come knocking. The excitement you had when you started can fade under the weight of doubt, exhaustion, and the pressure to make things happen—especially in a world where Black excellence is expected to be twice as good just to be considered enough.

But let’s pause for a second.

Think back to why you started. What was the vision that kept you up at night? What was the dream that made you step out in faith, despite the odds? That fire you felt in the beginning is still there—it’s just waiting for you to fan the flames again.

The Weight of the Journey

Let’s be real: sometimes the journey is heavier than expected. Maybe you launched your business, but the sales aren’t rolling in the way you hoped. Maybe you started school, but the workload is pushing you to your limit. Maybe you set out to create change in your community, but the resistance has you wondering if it’s even worth it.

We’ve all been there.

The pressure, the setbacks, the moments of doubt—it’s easy to lose sight of the original vision when you’re knee-deep in the process. But don’t let temporary obstacles make you forget the long-term goal. You didn’t start just to quit.

Reconnect with Your “Why”

When the road gets tough, it’s time to ground yourself in your “why.”

• Remember who you’re doing it for. Is it for the little kid who looks up to you? The ancestors who paved the way? The future generations who deserve to see what’s possible?

• Revisit the passion. What made you excited in the first place? Sometimes, stepping away from the grind to reflect can reignite that passion.

• Acknowledge your progress. You may not be where you want to be yet, but you’re not where you started either. Celebrate the wins, no matter how small.

Keep Going—Your Future Self is Counting on You

Success isn’t about avoiding obstacles—it’s about pushing through them. Every great Black entrepreneur, artist, activist, and leader we admire had moments where they wanted to quit. But they didn’t. They kept showing up, pushing forward, and staying the course.

And now it’s your turn.

So take a deep breath, straighten your crown, and remind yourself: You are capable. You are worthy. And you didn’t come this far just to come this far. Keep going.

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Failure Isn’t a Full Stop: Keep Going

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By: Jamila Gomez

First things first: failure doesn’t define you. It’s not the period at the end of your story; it’s a comma. Messed up on a project at work? Got ghosted after putting yourself out there? Launched a side hustle that flopped? Cool. That just means you’re doing something. The people who never fail are the ones who never try.

The trick is to stop seeing failure as a reflection of your worth and start seeing it as part of the process. Every success story you’ve ever heard is full of “almost didn’t make it” moments.

The Lesson in the L

Here’s the secret sauce: failure is only a waste if you don’t learn from it. When something doesn’t work out, ask yourself why. Was it the approach? The timing? The effort? Take a hard look at what went wrong—not to beat yourself up, but to figure out how to move differently next time.

Think about it like this: every time you fail, you’re gathering data. That “bad” relationship taught you what you don’t want. That “lost” job showed you what kind of environment you thrive in. That “failed” business idea taught you a skill you’ll use in your next venture. The L isn’t a loss; it’s a lesson.

Keep It Moving

The key to failing forward is momentum. Don’t let fear of failure paralyze you. If something doesn’t work out, pivot and try again. Successful people aren’t the ones who never fail—they’re the ones who keep going, even after they fall flat on their face.

Picture this: you’re riding a bike. If you stop pedaling, you fall over. But if you keep moving, even at a slow pace, you stay balanced. Life works the same way. Keep pedaling, even when the road gets bumpy.

Failures That Built Legends

Need proof? Look at some of the greatest success stories:

• Michael Jordan didn’t make his high school varsity basketball team on his first try. Now he’s literally synonymous with greatness.

• Oprah Winfrey got fired from one of her first TV jobs. Fired. From a job in the very industry she went on to dominate.

• JK Rowling got rejected by 12 publishers before someone gave Harry Potter a shot. Now it’s a billion-dollar empire.

These people didn’t stop at failure. They learned from it, adjusted, and came back harder.

Rewrite Your Story

Failing forward means giving yourself grace. You’re going to mess up—it’s inevitable. But how you respond to failure is where the magic happens. You can either sit in the wreckage and throw a pity party, or you can sift through the rubble, grab the tools you need, and start rebuilding.

So, the next time you fall short, don’t get stuck. Get up. Look back, take the lesson, and keep stepping forward. Fail forward, and watch how those L’s start looking more like stepping stones.

Because here’s the truth: failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s a part of it.

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You Are More Capable Than You Realize

Photo Credit: JIgor Alecsander via iStockPhoto.com

By: Jamila Gomez

We all have moments of self-doubt, times when the road ahead seems daunting and we question our ability to navigate it. Maybe it's the fear of a new challenge, the weight of past failures, or the sheer uncertainty of the future. Whatever it is, these feelings can make us forget something profound: we are far more capable than we realize.

The Power of Underestimation

One of the most surprising things about human nature is how often we underestimate our own abilities. We see others achieving great things and assume they possess something special that we lack. The truth is, we all have incredible potential within us, often lying dormant, waiting for the right moment to shine. The key is not to wait for a crisis or a major life event to discover this; it’s about recognizing and nurturing our capabilities every day.

Strength Through Struggles

Think back to a time when you faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable. Perhaps it was a difficult project at work, a personal loss, or a time when everything seemed to go wrong. Yet, here you are, having overcome it. You found the strength, resilience, and creativity to get through it, even if it didn’t feel like it at the time. Each struggle you’ve faced has added a new layer to your strength, shaping you into the capable person you are today.

Embracing the Unknown

The fear of the unknown is a powerful force that often holds us back. We hesitate to take that leap, fearing failure or embarrassment. But the unknown is where growth happens. Every great achievement began as a step into uncertainty. When you embrace the unknown, you tap into resources you didn’t know you had. You start to realize that you can adapt, learn, and thrive in ways you never imagined.

The Role of Self-Belief

Believing in yourself is not about arrogance or overconfidence; it’s about recognizing your worth and your potential. It’s about understanding that you have the ability to learn, grow, and achieve whatever you set your mind to. Self-belief is the foundation of resilience. When you believe in yourself, setbacks become stepping-stones, and failures become lessons.

Unlocking Your Potential

To truly unlock your potential, start by setting small, manageable goals. Each time you achieve one, you build confidence. Over time, these small wins accumulate, and before you know it, you’ve climbed a mountain. Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you. Their belief in you will reinforce your own.

Take time to reflect on your achievements, no matter how small they seem. Write them down, celebrate them, and remind yourself of them often. Each one is proof of your capability. 

You Are More Than Enough

You are more capable than you realize. Your potential is not something that needs to be discovered; it’s something that needs to be unleashed. It’s within you right now, waiting for you to recognize it, trust it, and act on it. So, the next time you face a challenge, remember that you have already conquered so many before it. You have the strength, the resilience, and the creativity to overcome whatever comes your way. All you need to do is believe it.

Embrace your hidden strengths and watch as you achieve more than you ever thought possible. The world is waiting for your unique contributions. It’s time to show just how capable you truly are.

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Boost Your Motivation: Strategies to Overcome Procrastination and Achieve Your Goals

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By: Jamila Gomez

What does it take to motivate yourself? You set goals, make plans, get excited, but then procrastinate when it comes time to do something. Many of us are cursed with the ability to feel good about the planning process, but awful about acting on those plans. There’s a disconnect that few people understand how to address.

Master this ability and you can do anything. However, if your ability to tie your planning and action phases together is poor, you’ll struggle immensely.

Enhance your motivation and your results with these strategies:

1. Give your attention to those things under your control. You can’t control much, but there’s no reason to focus on anything else. Doing so will only lead to feeling overwhelmed. For example, receiving a promotion isn’t under your control. The behaviors that improve your odds are under your control.

• Put your time, energy, and attention on the things you can manipulate. Avoid wasting your resources on anything you can’t influence.

1. Find a purpose that inspires you. Going into work on Saturday to complete a report might sound like the least enjoyable way to spend part of your weekend, but if excelling at your job could lead to the promotion you’ve been dreaming of, it’s easier to be motivated.

• Most people don’t like to work out, but the prospect of being healthier and more attractive is motivating to many people.

• Avoid judging the task or activity in the short-term. Think about what you’ll get out of it down the road. Find a way to take inspired action.

• Your inspiration might be a product of what you’re doing for others. How does your goal benefit others?

1. Focus on small wins. If your goal is to lose 50 pounds over the next year, it’s easy to become burned out. After two hard weeks of hitting the gym, avoiding late night snacks, and drinking only water, you’ve lost a total of two pounds. You’re right on schedule, but you realize that you have 48 weeks and 48 pounds to go. It seems like too much to bear.

• Break the goal up into smaller pieces. Depending on your ability to focus, it might be necessary to break up the goal into segments that last anywhere from one week to 12 weeks. This way your brain can experience success and logically see a positive long-term outcome. You’ll procrastinate if the path looks too challenging.

1. Act first. It’s a mistake to wait for motivation to strike. You might find yourself waiting for a long time. Avoid thinking too much about the work to be done. If you wait too long to get started, procrastination becomes more likely. Before you can stop yourself, get started. You’ll find that motivation is easier to experience after you’ve acted.

• Every minute you wait under the guise of “planning” or “strategizing” saps what little motivation you may already have. Jump up and get busy!

1. Enhance your mood. It’s much harder to be motivated when you’re in a bad mood. Studies have shown that a negative mood increases procrastination behaviors.

• Procrastination enhances your mood in the short-term, but at the expense of the future. Put yourself into a better mental state and procrastination becomes less likely to occur.

• Happiness increases productivity and success. Monitor your progress. Research suggests that nothing is more motivating than progress in a meaningful endeavor.

Without motivation, you can make spectacular goals and plans and still come up short. The smallest obstacle could stop you. Learning to manage your motivation is a key component of effectively handling challenges and moving on to accomplish great things. Motivate yourself and you can do anything!

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Strategies to Keep Going When You Feel Like Quitting

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By: Jamila Gomez

The most successful people have an uncanny ability to keep going when everyone else would quit. Your success is tied to your ability to keep working after you have the urge to quit. Quitting is a negative habit, and it’s often learned at a young age. Learn how to continue making progress no matter how strong the urge to quit grows.

Consider the reasons you feel like quitting in the first place:

1. You lack energy. A lack of energy isn’t just a reason one might quit a marathon. It’s also a common reason for quitting other pursuits. Exhaustion can be physical or mental. To help counteract your exhaustion:

• Get a full night of sleep.

• Get better control over your schedule.

• Streamline your life.

• Eat more nutritious foods.

• Learn how to relax.

1. You lack focus. Too many distractions can result in the desire to quit. Are you trying to accomplish too many other things? Some people can deal with more goals than others. If you feel overwhelmed, narrow your focus to your most important goals.

2. It’s not that important to you. Do you have a good enough reason to keep going? Why are you doing this activity in the first place?

• Remind yourself of why it’s important to keep going. Maybe the best motivation you can find is setting a good example for your children. Maybe the most important issue is self-respect. Find a good reason to continue.

Understand the reasons you feel the desire to quit. Whether it’s a bad job or a horrible diet, there are times we all consider quitting. However, quitting isn’t always an adverse choice.

We’ve been taught to believe that quitting is synonymous with failure, but some activities or relationships aren’t worth continuing. It’s important to arrive at a decision to quit or continue consciously, rather than making a reflexive decision.

Try these techniques to avoid quitting prematurely:

1. Hit the pause button. Most poor decisions could be avoided by taking a short pause. When you’re stressed, overworked, overtired, and fed-up, rash decisions become the norm. Give yourself the time you need to make a wise decision. Allow your head to clear before you make a decision that changes your life. Most decisions can wait.

2. View the situation objectively. Try to be objective and weigh the situation carefully. Enlist the help of a friend if necessary. It can be easier to evaluate someone else’s situation accurately than your own.

3. Consider the worst-case scenario. Think long-term. Quitting is an easy choice when you only consider the short-term ramifications. You can relieve your stress almost immediately! However, what are the long-term consequences? If you quit your job, what will happen if you can’t find another one?

• Reconsider quitting if the long-term consequences are too severe. A little relief now isn’t worth long-term pain.

• Who will be impacted by your quitting? Your boss? Coworkers? Family? The members of your church softball team? Who is affected?

• What message are you sending to your children? What would you recommend to a child in a similar circumstance? Your children are always watching. Be sure to set a good example.

1. Ask yourself if a new approach is warranted. Maybe you shouldn’t quit. Maybe you need a new plan. Not getting the results you desire isn’t necessarily a sign that you should call it quits. Poor results indicate an ineffective process. Perhaps all you need is a tweak to your approach. Major accomplishments are accompanied by numerous failed attempts.

2. Ask yourself why you’re considering quitting. Is it because you don’t believe you can be successful? You don’t have the resources you require? Do you not enjoy the job, activity, or relationship in question? Are you lacking the necessary time?

• Some reasons for quitting are better than others. Quitting a second job you don’t need so you can spend more time with your children is a good reason to quit. Ending your marriage because your spouse won’t pick up his dirty socks might be a bit extreme.

• Is there another solution besides quitting?

1. Consider the times you’ve given up in the past. How do you feel about those events today? Was quitting a good idea or do you regret it? How are you likely to feel in the future about quitting in your current situation? Sometimes it’s necessary to lower your head and keep going. There are times when quitting is the best choice. However, when it’s not the best choice, it’s necessary to be strong and keep going. Stick with that horrible job until you have something else lined up. Give counseling a try before quitting on another relationship.

Take a moment before making a hasty decision. Quitting isn’t to be taken lightly. Before making the decision to quit, consider the consequences, consult with a trusted friend, and consider your history. In some instances, quitting is final. Avoid creating long-term challenges to alleviate stress in the short-term. Give yourself the time you require to make a wise decision.

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Need A Boost? 10 Ways To Stay Motivated And Energized

By: Lauryn Bass

During this pandemic, it has become easy to fall out of routine and find yourself feeling stuck in a pool of laziness. Don’t let this stop your progress! It’s okay to have cheat days; it’s always important to rest and take some time to self-indulge — but your journey doesn’t have to end there. When you find yourself lacking motivation and needing a boost, try these things to get you back on track!

1. Keep water in your space. 

Staying up past midnight and sleeping in until 3pm has become such a routine that our bodies start to miss the essential water intake during the irregular sleeping cycles. This can lead to dehydration, which then explains the sluggishness that we all are experiencing. Keeping water in your system as much as possible during the day can help you keep your energy high. 

2. Try eating fruit for dessert. 

Late night sweet tooth is REAL! But it doesn’t always have to be full of calories. Try reaching for the foods with natural sugars to tame this craving in the midnight hours. You can even search up different ways to make cool snacks out of fruit that mimic the style of a classic dessert. 

3. Find quick 10 minute workouts on YouTube. 

Going to the gym during the pandemic is a NO-GO! This has led to many families incorporating an at-home gym. If you don’t have access to this kind of equipment, exercise videos are the way to go. Many trainers have posted various workouts that target specific areas of the body that are perfect to perform right on your living room floor. I guarantee a couple laughs along the way as you listen to each trainer who are also very good entertainers as well. 

4. Commit to a personal challenge. 

Challenging yourself can bring excitement and fulfillment once it is completed. Some can be mental and others can be physical, nonetheless, results of growth are always the end-goal. Some examples of challenges found in the threads of social media are the #GallonWaterChallenge, #JumpRopeChallenge, #SquatChallenge, #YogaChallenge, and #Plexers. There’s plenty to research and try that will surely get you out of a funk. Different challenges can range from 3-30 days and of course when you’re done, try another! 

5. Try a challenge with your friends. 

It’s always more fun to do things with others! We’re all quarantining together, so invite your friends to track their progress of a detox with you. Try an oatmeal-banana facial mask, stretching until you can do a split, a detox lemon-water, and take pictures along the way. 

6. Pick up a new sport. 

Social distancing doesn’t mean that you can’t go outside. So try a new outdoor sport! Roller skating has become super popular lately and can be practiced in the empty streets of your neighborhood or in your driveway. Find that dusty hula hoop in your garage from years ago and shake those hips in the sunlight. This is sure to get your heart rate going faster than when you’re sitting on the couch. 

7. Keep records of your achievements. 

The year of 2020 will go down in history. We need to have stories to tell our children about what all we experienced during the pandemic. In all seriousness, journaling or taking pictures are great ways to express the feelings of the memories that will be with us forever from this moment. 

8. Visionboard to keep inspiration around you. 

It’s always good to keep a visual representation of your goals in eye-view. As much as hearing your affirmations is a great way to keep things positive, seeing them in their true form is as well. Get out your arts and crafts to begin creating posters of where you want to be in life. Look at your art and work towards it! 

9. Buy your dream outfit. 

This is an old trick from the book for if you’re looking for a change in your physique. Trying to fit into those pants you’ve been eyeing or that dress you’ve been dying to purchase? Go ahead and buy it in the size that you’re trying to achieve. Try it on and visualize how much work you have to do until you reach your goal, and then use it as motivation. 

10. Remember why you want to be healthy. 

Your body has been through everything with you. In order to continue this journey, you have to give it all the tools needed for success. Everyone’s version of success is different, and once you find what yours is, your health journey will feel more like one of self-love.

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Get It Done! | 5 Tips To Staying Motivated And Accomplishing Your Goals

By: Tasha Hough

Hey guys, so it's the end of the year and everyone is on a frenzy trying to get their New Year's resolution together right? Right. Here's the thing... Don't do that. You put so much pressure on the first of the year that you forget to just actually live your life how you want to live. Most importantly, you put so much pressure on January that by February you’re over it so you’re back to the old habits. I have a few tips of what helped me this year to actually completing things & staying motivated.

1. Write It Down

The first thing is actually writing it all down. Although we are in technology age I'm a firm believer in “Write It Down, Make It Happen” (This is also a book by Henriette Anne Klauser but based off the title alone you catch the drift). Once you write exactly what you want to do, with clear intentions, no matter if it's in a planner or on a sticky note on your wall, you're eventually going to get it done. Why? Because you see it you will constantly be reminded that something needs to get done; it feels good to cross things off a to-do list. I personally have a to-do list everywhere specifically to hold myself accountable.

>> RELATED: 7 Powerful Affirmations For Black Millennials

2. Stick To A Schedule

Put yourself on a schedule. For instance, I am a single mother, I work full-time, I create things & I’m also trying to change the mind/lives of people in urban communities all while maintaining a social life AND dating (which is a job in itself). Were you tired reading that? I was tired just typing it lmao (send help !). I can't do all of it every day, all day. To make sure everything I want or need to do gets completed in a timely manner, the schedule comes in to play. I put all of my creative things to do on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday before 12 pm. I put all of my business things on Tuesday, Thursday. That simple. I'll go over all things on Sunday. That way I'm actually getting things done as opposed to only taking a nip off of my to do list per day because I’m trying to do everything all at once. You do what's best for you but for me it's better when I stick to certain things. It also keeps stress levels DOWN because you are pacing yourself. Rest periods are also very necessary.

3. Want It Bad Enough

Stop having resolutions that you think you should have, fully think about what YOU want to improve, have, accomplish for yourself. Write it down with CLEAR intentions then you work on it daily (or according to your schedule). I emphasize CLEAR intentions because I find that some of us are just not precise on what exactly we want. When you really tune into yourself, find out what you want to do, get real specific with things, it’s much easier to make a change. The reason some of us can’t accomplish things after the 2nd week of January is simply because we don’t want it bad enough. It hurts to come to that realization but trust me, once you get to the point that there is no other option YOU WILL MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. PERIOD. There will be no room for excuses or fear.

4. Kill Off The Procrastination

Have you ever had an idea, procrastinated, then saw your exact idea happen with someone else doing it? That is top five worst things on earth to me, especially as a creative. Remember all of that doubt you had about the idea, thinking people wouldn’t gravitate towards it, or just simply thinking it wouldn’t be successful……. Well, look at how it’s succeeding elsewhere. I read about this in a book called “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. I believe it is a real thing. Granted, all ideas aren’t for you but you really never know which ones are if you don’t try on any of them.

>> RELATED: You Attract What You Are: Using The Law Of Attraction To Better Your Life

5. Just Do It

Finally, JUST DOING IT. I read loads of self-help books, I like to look at documentaries or interviews about how people started off, how they got to the point of success and the common factor is JUST DOING IT. You start by starting. You may not know how to start. You may not know where to start. Nonetheless, if you don’t start we know for sure that you will STAY in the position you are in. Don’t let 2019 pass you by with things you wanted to do in 2016, 2017, 2018

GET TO IT .

Happy New Year everyone. Let’s all KILL it in ways we never imagined. Start today with changing your life.  You got this, I promise.

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