She's So Lucky

Have you ever had a season or period of time that feels like an extended lonely season, which has likely been exacerbated by the pandemic? Do you jump from relationship to relationship to find your worth?Today’s episode is one that has been on my heart for a really long time. I’m diving into my extended single season. I’ve been single for 4 years now and it wasn’t by accident. Believe me, I’ve had my fair share of good and bad relationships. Relationships where I think I’ve found my person. Relationships that I knew weren’t right for me but I went into them anyway trying to find a connection, a sense of purpose. In the past four years, I have had moments where I loved it and where I hated it. I’ve had moments where I resented it and moments where I resented myself and others. And I’ve had moments of incredible peace and gratitude for where I am and where I’m at.The really interesting thing about this place of just being that I’m currently in, is I’ve felt really big shifts all around me. For the first time ever I feel like I’m slowly but surely being seen. I’m attracting new experiences and people that are truly in alignment with my standards and what I’ve envisioned for myself. In this episode, I discuss: The season of solitude Letting go of childhood beliefs about relationships that are no longer serving you Reflecting on past relationships and your behaviors in those relationships Knowing when to shift and become truly aligned with yourself Why wanting connection with others is not a sign of weakness Sponsors:Athletic Greens | Get your daily nutritional needs met with a single scoop of Athletic Greens. Visit athleticgreens.com/balalnced for a year’s supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packets.Fitbit | Fitbit Sense paired with Fitbit Premium supports total-body wellness and stress management. Get 6 months of Fitbit Premium for free with the purchase of a Fitbit Sense. Visit fitbit.com for more information. If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our hair is a part of our identity and represents our individuality. What does your hair say about you?Hair was a pain point for some growing up, especially for those who experienced not truly knowing how to do their own hair, love and accept their hair and let it be in its natural state.My guest today, Keziah Dhamma, was one of those women. Growing up in Sacramento, CA she never had anyone that looked like her that she could look up to. Everyone around her had their hair straight. So she turned to relaxers at the age of 12 and never looked back until she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in broadcast journalism and found the water in LA was so harsh on her hair, she had no alternative but to go natural! She did her big chop in 2009 from her hair breaking off so much and struggled for years on not loving her hair and herself.Almost giving up to return to straight hair. Keziah decided to give it one more shot, and exhaust all options before giving up. She turned to experts to help her understand her hair and process. She has gotten educated by some of the best in the industry: @curldoctor and @vernonfrancoisOn her journey to loving and accepting her hair, Keziah Dhamma invented the first-ever Snappee hair tie made for natural hair and founded SwirlyCurly and CurlCollege. SwirlyCurly’s mission is to make the natural hair journey easy through innovative products and CurlCollege the educational side to teach others the system to get beautiful, healthy, natural hair the easy way!In this episode, we discuss: Keziah’s hair journey and how she came to be a natural hair educator Why you need to have a simplified hair routine as your baseline How to hydrate your hair and proper hydration methods Environmental conditions and hair care Your natural hair toolkit - Things that are a must + things to avoid Natural hair care for children Hit play to learn how to transition to natural hair and find a hair routine that works for you!Resources: SwirlyCurly offers Natural Hair Masterclasses every two weeks. Keziah teaches specific topics like moisture, hair growth, transitioning, etc.  Visit SwirlyCurly.com for natural hair accessories and tools. Use the code balanced15 for 15% off your order. Subscribe to Keziah’s YouTube channel. Follow Keziah and SwirlyCurly on Instagram: @swirlycurlyhair, @curlcollegeonline, @keziahdhamma Sponsors: Seed Daily Synbiotic: Not all probiotics are created equal. Seed’s 2-in-1 synbiotic is a broad-spectrum prebiotic and probiotic that offers benefits beyond the gut. Visit seed.com/balanced and use the code BALANCED for 20% off your first month of Seed’s Daily Synbiotic. Fitbit: Fitbit Sense paired with Fitbit Premium supports total-body wellness and stress management. Get 6 months of Fitbit Premium for free with the purchase of a Fitbit Sense. Visit fitbit.com for more information.  If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE. Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has someone ever told you that you need more discipline in your life? Have you told yourself you’re not disciplined enough?Most people, including myself, don’t realize that the lack of discipline and accountability is holding us back. Reframing our mindset to take the necessary action steps to correct it, we will start to see a positive change in our lives.Discipline is something that I have been working on for a while now. It is not something that comes easy to me, it is something that I have to work at every day. I have to be disciplined in how I spend my time and it all starts with small habits that I practice daily. There is no such thing as the perfect routine or perfect balance of life but by being mindful of our actions we can achieve freedom.Discipline is not negative. Discipline can and is a positive practice that is mostly attributed to our own success. Here are four affirmations that I repeat to myself to stay positive about discipline: I find peace through discipline. Discipline sets me free. I create ease through discipline. Opportunity finds me through discipline. Tune in to hear why discipline is all about reframing your mindset and being intentional about your daily habits.In this episode, I discuss: The importance of redefining discipline for ourselves The difference between discipline and punishment Ways to create discipline in our life Why discipline starts with small, intentional habits Sponsors:Athletic Greens | Try Athletic Greens whole-foods sourced nutrition. Visit athleticgreens.com/balanced for a year’s supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packets.Fitbit | Fitbit Sense paired with Fitbit Premium supports total-body wellness and stress management. Get 6 months of Fitbit Premium for free with the purchase of a Fitbit Sense. Visit fitbit.com for more information. Resources:EP 90| Small Daily Habits That Make A Big Difference For Your Well-BeingIf you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE. Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does mindfulness mean to you? Do you integrate mindfulness into your daily routine?I have my moments of calmness and I have my moments of not being calm. It’s all a part of the human experience. Mindfulness is about understanding how to leverage certain tools to bring you back to a state of calmness and zen.Don’t feel guilty about not being calm and centered all the time because we are all human. We are all living a different human experience unique to us. But how can we incorporate mindfulness into our routines as a way to guide us and bring us back to center? My guest today is Dora Kamau. Dora is a meditation and mindfulness teacher, who uses meditation as a tool to guide individuals in experiencing who they truly are. Unshaken and impenetrable by the qualms of life, Dora utilizes her own lived experience to guide in-person and online gatherings for women to connect through intentional conversations. Over the last 2 years, she has led thousands in meditation with individuals participating from all over the world and from all walks of life.In November 2017, Dora founded Bliss Your Heart, a flourishing women’s community-based in Vancouver, in which she’s hosted workshops focused on self-care, self-love, and mental health. With a calling for compassion-centered care, Dora is also a registered psychiatric nurse that integrates holistic, trauma-informed practices for women living with substance dependence and mental illness. In 2020, she completed Sumi Touch's All Black Doula training to continue to support expecting birth folks in marginalized communities.Her work in the community has aligned her with brands such as Headspace, Insight Timer, NBC, lululemon, Reebok, Little Burgundy, Saje Natural Wellness, Call it Spring, and many others.In this episode, we discuss: Dora’s journey into mindfulness + meditation How teaching and guiding others has impacted Dora’s own mindfulness practice Keeping yourself centered when life gets tough What we can do to help others care for themselves Personal development and how to prepare yourself for growth + opportunities Hit play to learn how to integrate mindfulness into your everyday! Resources: Follow Dora Kamau on Instagram @dora_kamau To learn more about Dora and how she can help you explore mindfulness, check out www.dorakamau.ca To follow Dora + listen to her meditations on Insight Timer, head over to insighttimer.com/dorakamau Listen to Dora’s meditations on Headspace, signup for free at www.headspace.com Sponsors:Athletic Greens | Try Athletic Greens whole-foods sourced nutrition. Visit athleticgreens.com/balalnced for a year’s supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packets.Fitbit | Fitbit Sense paired with Fitbit Premium supports total-body wellness and stress management. Get 6 months of Fitbit Premium for free with the purchase of a Fitbit Sense. Visit fitbit.com for more information. If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE. Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has the past year got you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Our brains are running on overload, we are not motivated, and we’re mentally and physically exhausted. What we are experiencing is burnout. Whether the burnout is from work, friendships, family, or even school, burnout is everywhere and the pandemic has only intensified the issue.This week on the podcast, we are diving into all things burnout with Erayna Sargent. Erayna is sharing her personal experience with burnout and how she navigated her path to recovery. She learned that burnout is hard but recovery was even harder. She set a mission to encourage hustle culture to adopt the new mantra ‘Work hard. Self-care harder.’Erayna Sargent is a Burnout Coach and the founder of Hooky Wellness, the first stop for Burnout relief. Leveraging her 15 years in marketing & innovation at Nestle & Intuit, she uniquely blends leadership coaching with Design Thinking providing an approachable path to real results. Erayna has coached professionals & teams across organizations including Google, Accenture, Nestle, and Teach for America.Erayna has an MBA from Indiana University and is a member of the Mental Wellness Initiative at the Global Wellness Institute. She has guest appeared on podcasts including NPR Life Kit and Dribble and featured in Ozy Media, Hour Detroit and Architectural Digest. Erayna is a Detroit native, currently residing in Charlotte, NC with her husband and their two cats.In this episode, we discuss: Erayna’s personal experience with burnout and her recovery Tools and processes to dealing with burnout Tactics for overcoming burnout Building your burnout battle team Ways to support others experiencing burnout Hit play to learn new tools to tackle burnout and the recovery process!Resources: Social media handles -- @Hookywellness, @Burnout_whisperer, @PlyHooky Burnout Bingo Workbook: https://hooky.typeform.com/to/txKqnU5b Workplace Support Workshop for Leaders and Teams: https://www.hookywellness.com/workplace Sponsors:  Seed Daily Synbiotic: Not all probiotics are created equal. Seed’s 2-in-1 synbiotic is a broad-spectrum prebiotic and probiotic that offers benefits beyond the gut. Visit seed.com/balanced and use the code BALANCED for 20% off your first month of Seed’s Daily Synbiotic. Fitbit: Fitbit Sense paired with Fitbit Premium supports total-body wellness and stress management. Get 6 months of Fitbit Premium for free with the purchase of a Fitbit Sense. Visit fitbit.com for more information.  If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you start your day? How do you end your day? What are a few things that you do daily, weekly, or even monthly to help yourself feel energized, rested, and vibrant?These questions are more complicated than you think because not a lot of people really think about their daily habits and routines. We go through each day in such a rush that we forget to pause and evaluate the things we are doing or the actions we are taking every day. Are they serving us?In today’s episode, I am talking about habits related to your well-being. I've really been reflecting on some of the habits that have kept me going and also things that I think promote longevity for all of us. The ways that we can continue to pour in and take care as we continue to navigate these challenging situations that we're all facing.I’m taking you behind the scenes of my small daily habits that have made a huge impact on my mindset and the way I show up in the world.Tune in to hear why small habits have a giant impact on you and the people around you.In this episode, I discuss: My daily habits and how they have changed the way I show up Why doing small things each day can keep you energized and rested The importance of incorporating small habits into your daily routine Mentioned in this episode:Check out the Journey to Launch podcast for advice on reaching financial freedom.If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it mean to heal? How can you facilitate your own healing journey? How can you continue to keep yourself going? If you're someone who is going on a healing journey you have probably asked yourself similar questions. In today's episode, we're really going to talk about the necessary tools needed to truly heal ourselves and healing in a very practical sense. My guest today is Yasmine Cheyenne. Yasmine is an advocate for mental health and self-healing expert. Yasmine is also known for her transformative teachings around self-healing which she offers through keynote speeches, corporate presentations and one-on-one coaching. Her instruction has helped thousands of students take control of their financial and physical health by creating boundaries, designing their dream job, finding the love of their life and more.Yasmine discusses how we can break the cycle of negative self talk and empower ourselves. And we also dive into discernment, boundaries, looking after ourselves.Yasmine’s knowledge on boundaries, self-awareness & self-acceptance, and healing ourselves comes at a time when women are feeling out of alignment. Hit play if you’re ready for a real discussion on boundaries, making space for ourselves, and being worthy!In this episode, we discuss: Understanding the difference between intuition and ego. The power of discernment and trusting red flags. Why self-healing is so important. Establishing healthy boundaries. What it means to protect and refill your sugar jar. Resources: To keep in touch + get started on your healing journey, sign up for Yasmine’s newsletter and receive 2 free workbooks!  Listen to Yasmine’s podcast, The Sugar Jar Podcast Follow Yasmine on Instagram @yasminecheyenne  Episode Sponsor: Skillshare | Visit skillshare.com/balanced for a free trial of Skillshare premium membership. After you sign up, check out Yasmine’s course Writing for Self-Care.If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is rest important? How can you incorporate more rest into our day? What does rest look and feel like to you?Rest is something that is often overlooked even when it's planned. Chasing rest can feel like a never-ending cycle which causes you to feel more exhausted. Giving yourself grace and taking a break to rest is something we need to incorporate into our everyday lives.Recently, I took a month off from recording new episodes for this podcast and creating new content altogether. I knew I needed rest but what I didn’t understand was what was I taking a break from? What does rest look like to me? Yes, it was amazing to not be on social media or creating new content but I still didn’t feel relaxed and rested. I thought taking a break was going to fix all my problems. But I realized I was burnt out. I realized I was experiencing decision fatigue. Even though I was taking a “break” from putting out new content, I was still holding space for making decisions instead of communicating my boundaries to other people in my life that support me.Understanding what you're taking a break from will help you feel truly rested and at peace.In this episode, I discuss: What does it mean to rest? 3 mistakes I made when taking a break to rest Ways to incorporate more rest into our daily lives How to be intentional about getting the rest you need Skillshare | Explore your creativity at Skillshare.com/BALANCED and get a free trial of Premium Membership.Vega | Head to myvega.com/BALANCED to check out Vega's full line of plant-based nutrition.If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our thoughts are powerful. The way we think about ourselves, consciously and subconsciously, controls every aspect of our lives. How are you speaking to yourself? Are you holding on to childhood trauma and emotions that have led you down a path to burnout, living up to other people's expectations, and unhappiness?In this episode, Les is diving deep into mental health, your subconscious, and how to heal ancestral trauma using hypnotherapy with Master Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner Juliet Obodo.To Juliet, hypnosis is the key to unlocking your potential through mental alignment & inner child healing. Her work with FWRD Institute offers Collection Brain Trainings, Kindred Leadership Programs, & Conscious Culture Trainings. Juliet is a Master Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer with a mission to help treat, heal, and transform racism as well as facilitate individual and corporate transformations through brain training. After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology she went into tech sales instead of medical school for Psychiatry. After 10 years in corporate, she left to run her own design agency & a business funding startup. However, running two 6-figure businesses led to severe burnout. During her search for a cure, she re-discovered NLP & Hypnosis. She began to coach other stressed-out business owners but wanted to make more impactful transformations which led to her certification as a Master Hypnotherapist & NLP Practitioner and studying for her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Ancestral Trauma.If you’re struggling with holding onto childhood trauma, unworthiness, or you’re ready to reframe the way you’re thinking about your life, hit play now!In this episode, we discuss: Why we need to have healthy coping skills Using hypnosis to release the emotional blocks and limitations we put on ourselves Ways to retrain our brains and the way we think The power of our thoughts and manifestation How to reprogram your subconscious mind using NLP How ancestral trauma affects the way we live our lives Resources: Follow Juliet on Instagram @julietcobodo Connect with Juliet on Twitter @julietcobodo Check out Juliet’s website to learn about her work: www.fwrdinstitute.com Episode Sponsors: Skillshare | Get a free trial of Skillshare Premium by going to skillshare.com/balanced Vega | Check out Vega’s full line of plant-based nutrition at myvega.com/balanced If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Having boundaries is a healthy habit. It's something that we all have to work on every day. Having healthy boundaries within ourselves and with others leads us to a more peaceful and happy life. Do you struggle with setting healthy boundaries with family and friends? How do you navigate challenging situations?Today’s guest is Nedra Glover Tawwab. Nedra is diving deep into the importance of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries and how to navigate shifting your boundaries as we move through this new normal.Nedra Glover Tawwab is a licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert. She has practiced relationship therapy for 12 years and is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Kaleidoscope Counseling. Every day she helps people create healthy relationships by teaching them how to implement boundaries. Her philosophy is that a lack of boundaries and assertiveness underlie most relationship issues, and her gift is helping people create healthy relationships with themselves and others.You don’t want to miss this episode because Nedra isn’t holding anything back. She dives deep into family dynamics, navigating the boundaries within ourselves, and why it’s necessary to use our voice and ask for what we want. After this episode, you will be ready to take charge of your life and stand up for yourself, even when the people around us disagree.In this episode, we talk about... The foundation of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries Ways to shift your boundaries when challenges arise Navigating boundaries in family relationships Empowering other people in the relationship Using your voice to stand in your power Resources: Order Nedra’s book Set Boundaries, Find Peace Follow Nedra on Instagram @nedratawwab Check out Nedra’s Website: https://www.nedratawwab.com/ Sponsor:This episode is sponsored by Vega Nutrition. Check out their full line of plant-based nutrition products at myvega.com/balanced.If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Keep in touch with Les on Instagram @balancedles, follow the show @balancedblackgirlpodcast.PS: If you really want to take your self-care to the next level, snag our free glow-up guide. This free guide has everything you need to implement a self-care practice that works. You’ll get daily journal worksheets, inspiring quotes, affirmations, and a bonus workout. Get the guide HERE.Our Sponsors:* Check out Babbel: http://babbel.com/balancedSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/balanced-black-girl/donationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.