Empowerment Hacks: We’re All Just Figuring It Out

There have been mornings when I’ve woken up in a fog of self-doubt so thick I couldn’t tell if I was burnt out or just stuck in the loop of being “strong” for everybody else. Today was one of those days. And in the midst of it, here I am. Coming to the realization that I’ve had to show up on stages, at conferences, in meetings, as the author, the CEO, the veteran, the advocate, the woman, the titi, the student, the entrepreneur, the friend, wearing a smile and a hand full of "positive vibes" while quietly holding my own pieces together.

Some days, I've crushed it. I muster just enough energy to do the things and no one notices me dragging a$s. Other days, I was barely functioning and end up ghosting everyone and their momma for two or three weeks. I own it. And you know what? That duality doesn’t make me a fraud. I'm only human!

We live in a world that celebrates the highlight reel, inlcuding but not limited to perfectly curated victories, public wins, the filtered success stories. But behind every “I made it” post is someone who doubted their worth, procrastinated for days because the weight of perfectionism was just too damn heavy, or cried in the shower for a good 10 mins.

I’ve learned that healing, growth, and purpose rarely look like neat checklists. They look like messy progress. They sound like conversations with yourself in the mirror when you feel like you are all you got. They feel like showing up anyway, even when you feel like an imposter.

What nobody tells you enough is that you can be a work in progress and still be powerful.

You can be changing careers, starting over, grieving, reinventing yourself and still be worthy of grace. Grace from the world, yes. But more importantly, grace from yourself.

This mural reminded me of something vital: none of us really has it all figured out. Not the people you admire, not the people you envy, not even the people who look like they do. We’re all navigating our own inner landscapes some rocky, some sacred, some colorful, some under construction.

Empowerment Hack:

You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Keep showing up as you are. Your persistence is proof of your power. And your breakthrough is imminent"

The Empowerment Hack of the Month:

Celebrate your persistence. Perfection is not a measuring stick.

Persistence through pain. Through setbacks. Through slow days. Through doubt. Through healing. Through trying, failing, and trying again. That’s the perfect recipe for a woman to be in their power.

And sis, if today all you did was get up, take a breath, and keep going. Trust me, that’s enough. That’s more than enough. Take it from me, I'm speaking from today's experience! (9/30/25)

I said all of that to say this: you don’t have to have your sh*t together to be deserving of peace, love, or progress. Just keep going. I’m right here with you.

With love,

JM