Happy Anniversary to Me: Celebrating Twenty Years in the Literary World

 

Single mothers struggle with feeling overwhelmed at times with the responsibilities that they must juggle alone. A Single Woman's Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits, will uplift and empower women who are on the challenging yet rewarding journey of parenting solo. This book steers clear of child-rearing suggestions, choosing instead to focus on nurturing single mothers, who sometimes forget the importance of self-care, and not making themselves priorities.

 

I am beyond excited to announce that an updated twentieth-anniversary edition of my first book A Single Woman’s Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits has been released today and ready for purchase. Truthfully, it is surreal to think that twenty years have gone by since the release of this book, but how can I forget because it is the same year that my oldest granddaughter was born. Thank you, 220 Publishing, for republishing my first book.

It seems like yesterday when I embarked on this literary journey not knowing where it would take me. I remember jumping on the internet to do some research to look for someone to assist me with this new endeavor. I spoke to someone locally, but it did not work out. However, I eventually connected with two gifted authors and businesswomen in Inglewood, California, Dr. Rosie Milligan, and Mrs. Maxine Thompson. They graciously took me under their wings and helped this amateur in the literary game birth A Single Woman’s Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits and the rest is history! 

I truly thank God that I was able to meet them both in person one year when I attended the Black Writers on Tour event in Los Angeles, California sponsored by Dr. Milligan. I have remained in contact with them at different times over the years. And, I have taken one of Mrs. Thompson’s writing workshops and have used her editing services as well. I am forever grateful they embraced this country girl from the Midwest to begin teaching me the ropes about this literary world. 

Since 2001, I have written a few other books, book reviews, blog posts, and articles for online and print magazines as well as edited and proofread books for other authors. I am thankful that I pushed my fears and insecurities aside and forced myself twenty years ago to become a part of the literary world. During this journey, I have met some wonderful and gifted folks who freely provided me with wisdom and positive and constructive feedback. There are entirely too many people to name, but just know if our paths have crossed whether, in person or online, I am thankful for you. 

Although I love writing, it is not easy and can be lonely at times, but I would not trade it for the world. My mother, rest her soul, was an excellent writer but she just did not pursue writing as a career. Plus, my mom drilled in me the importance of speaking and writing well, and it used to get on my last nerve, but I know that she meant well. So, I owe my writing skills to her.

Again, thanks to everyone that has supported me on this journey, and most importantly I thank the readers that have read my books and any of my writings that have cheered me along the way. I also thank those individuals that took the time to write reviews for my books – whether good or not so good – because either way, I have learned from what you wrote. I also thank everyone that has helped to edit, market, and promote my books. 

I digress…now if I can just get my brother, Larry, and one and only grown baby, Terra, to co-author books with me, then two goals on my bucket list can be crossed off. Larry and Terra are both excellent writers and I am sure they are going to send me a few nasty text messages for putting this out there – but hey it is the truth, and the truth shall set you free!

In closing, I ask if you are so inclined to support me and purchase a copy today of A Single Woman’s Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits – if not for yourself, buy a copy for a friend or relative. Just click the links below to purchase either a print or e-book version of the book. I would be forever grateful!

Paperback-A Single Woman's Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits

Kindle-A Single Woman's Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits

Happy anniversary to me on celebrating twenty years in the literary world. I am thankful for this milestone, and now, on to the next twenty years…

7 Benefits of Personal Transparency

 

Originally published on Medium.com, January 20, 2021

Baring our souls and being transparent about our valley experiences can sometimes feel like getting an infected tooth extracted.

Painful!

Yet, if the tooth does not get pulled out, the infection can spread to the entire body.

All of us experience times when we feel hopeless, overwhelmed, joyless, fearful, confused, nervous, and doubtful.

After all, it is normal to have these feelings.

Even so, we must not dwell on these negative experiences. We must push through and move forward no matter how difficult it may be so that we can begin again experiencing hope, joy, balance, clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

One of the ways to get through tough times is by being transparent about our current situations and not suffering alone, rather than downplaying our feelings because of the fear of being judged and rejected by others.

Below are seven benefits of personal transparency:

1. It shows your humanity.

2. It demonstrates genuineness.

3. It humbles you.

4. It makes you less self-absorbed.

5. It frees you from holding on to negative emotions that can keep you stuck.

6. It can help you feel less alone as you go through your valley experiences in life.

7. It allows you to gain authentic friendships.

What do you need to be transparent about today to gain more emotional freedom and peace of mind?

19 Tips for Preventing Relapse during the Holidays

                                                                    Sarah Lawrence for Vox.com 

Originally published on Medium.com, December 26, 2020

The holidays are usually considered fun and joyous occasions but for some individuals in recovery, they are often a struggle.

Why?

Because maintaining sobriety is not easy and during the holidays it can be even more difficult since alcohol and drugs are commonplace at some holiday gatherings.

According to writer Buddy T, “The holiday season is meant to be a joyous occasion that brings family and friends together. But even in the midst of all the holiday excitement, there are often moments of stress and anxiety. If you are recovering from alcohol addiction, this broad spectrum of holiday emotions can challenge even your best intentions for recovery.”

As a therapist and up until a year ago, I primarily worked with adults diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder, both a mental health and substance use disorder. I vividly remember many of the clients vocalizing the increase of their anxiety symptoms and their trepidation of relapsing during the holidays. I have also witnessed how being in recovery and maintaining sobriety during the holidays is often frightening and a struggle for many individuals in recovery.

Therefore, below are 19 tips not in any particular order, to help individuals in recovery maintain their sobriety through the holidays:

1. Do not overcommit and overwhelm yourself.
2. Make self-care a priority and relax, pray, engage in mindfulness, and get some good rest.
3. Monitor your thoughts and embrace positive thinking to improve your mood.
4. Eat healthy as possible.
5. Set clear boundaries.
6. Focus on your blessings and not your struggles.
7. Avoid isolation by staying in constant communication with friends and family.
8. Use healthy coping skills (journaling, listening to music, engaging in an artistic activity, exercise, reading a good book etc.) to manage stressors.
9. Increase your support by attending additional 12-step meetings or begin for the first time. Increase sessions with a therapist or if not seeking therapy make it a priority to do so during the holidays.
10. Stay in constant contact with your sponsor if you have one and if you don’t think about securing one during the holidays.
11. Watch an uplifting movie or comedy.
12. Be of service to others.
13. Develop a sober escape plan for all holiday events.
14. Be okay with saying “no” and not feeling obligated to attend holiday events and if you do inform those in attendance that you no longer drink alcohol or use drugs.
15. Limit the time you spend at holiday gatherings.
16. Have self-compassion if you find yourself struggling.
17. Continue to stay active in your recovery.
18. Commend yourself for the progress you have made on your recovery journey.
19. Remind yourself of the benefits you have received by maintaining your sobriety.

Although it is not easy to remain sober during the holidays, remember that anything worth having requires a lot of hard work, and sobriety is no different.

If you have any additional tips that can help maintain sobriety during the holidays, please leave them in the comments.

Happy Holidays!

5 Tips to Help Adults Dealing with the Death of a Sibling

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Originally published on Medium.com, December 23, 2020

For many adults, the death of a sibling equates to losing a best friend, confidante, voice of reason, advisor, peacemaker, and encourager with whom many fond memories are shared.

As a matter of fact, adults who have lost siblings are sometimes referred to as “the forgotten mourners” because in many cases little support is given to them. This is not necessarily on purpose. When siblings die, their parents, spouses, children, and grandchildren are usually the first people to be offered words of comfort and condolences. Yet grieving the loss of a sibling has at times been compared to having the same impact of losing a parent.

Although I have not lost a sibling, I have known, comforted, and offered condolences to enough people who have lost a sibling. During these times, I witnessed just how painful losing a sibling is to many people.

If you are mourning the loss of a sibling, here are some suggestions to help you get through the grieving process:

1. Remember, you are hurting too, so do not diminish the pain you are feeling about losing your sibling. Always communicate with your family members about how you are struggling. Your feelings matter.
2. Seek help from others outside of your family to process your thoughts and feelings i.e. grief support group, therapist, clergy member, or trusted friends. Truthfully, your family members may be entirely too overwhelmed with their own grief to offer any support for you.
3. Journal about how you feel about losing your sibling. Writing can be therapeutic. Writing down your thoughts can help release some of the pain you are feeling at the time.
4. Create a nice memory book with pictures of you and your sibling and under each picture write a caption of why the picture makes you smile.
5. Let go of the guilt you might have about something mean you said to your sibling or regrets you have about not spending enough time with him or her. In other words, it’s important to let go of any “unfinished business.” According to H. Norman Wright in Experiencing Grief, “Whatever is unfinished can be a barrier to moving along the path to healing.”

On the other hand, if your siblings are still living and you have unfinished business with them, remember that life is always presenting us with opportunities for new beginnings. So, why not, reach out today.

Lastly, always remember to be patient with yourself as you go through the grieving process. After all, healing takes time…

The Elephant in the Room: Black Folks and Suicide

 

Photo by Julian Myles on Unsplash

Blacks folks do not commit suicide. 

White folks do that.

Black folks just need to pray harder. 

These statements are insensitive, inaccurate, and all too familiar in the Black community. In fact, the subjects of suicide and mental illness for some are still taboo.

Declarations like this keep Black folks from even acknowledging that they may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, let alone seek help from mental health professionals.

Perhaps, you may recognize some of the names below:

• Glenn Johnson-2020 (Older Brother of Rapper DaBaby)
• Jas Waters-2020 (American Screenwriter and Journalist)
• Craig Raymond Turner-2018 (Eldest son of Tina Turner)
• Tyler Deon Honeycutt-2018 (EuroLeague)
• Frederick Jay Bowdy-2017 (Aspiring Actor)
• O.J. Murdock-2017 (NFL Player)
• MarShawn McCarrel-2016 (Black Lives Matter Leader)
• Kalief Browder-2015 (The Kalief Browder Story on Netflix) 
• Karyn Washington-2014 (Founder, “Forbrowngirls.com”)
• Titi Branch-2014 (Co-Founder, Miss Jessie’s)
• Lee Thompson Young-2013 (Young Talented Actor)
• Freddy E.-2013 (Rapper)
• Capital Steez-2013 (Rising Underground Hip Hop Artist)
• Don Cornelius-2012 (American Television Show Host and Producer)
• Kenny McKinley-2010 (NFL Player)
• Shakir Stewart-2008 (Def Jam Exec VP)
• Phyllis Hyman-1995 (American Singer, Songwriter, and Actress)
• Donny Hathaway-1979 (American Singer)

Sadly, these are some Black folks who have committed suicide. They are part of a public health crisis. 

According to the World Health Organization, close to 800,000 people die from suicide every year, and this is the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year olds. For every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide every year. 

The Trace news source reports that in the Chicagoland area alone, where I live, Cook County is seeing an alarming rise in the number of suicides among Black residents. The number of deaths has already matched the total for all of last year, putting 2020 on pace to be the worst year in a decade.

Although Suicide Prevention Awareness Month was in September, I believe this public health issue should be talked about on a regular basis. With the holiday season upon us and the current COVID-19 pandemic, this is a timely discussion. “Black Americans have disproportionately suffered from COVID-19 and the economic fallout, are also shouldering an ever-heavier mental health burden as a racial justice movement has ripped open centuries-old wounds of systemic oppression.” (The Boston Globe)

According to the article Addressing the Crisis of Black Youth Suicide by Joshua Gordon: 

As of 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in Black children aged 10-14, and the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents aged 15-19. By combining data from 2001 to 2015, researchers were able to examine suicides among children ages 12 and younger and found that Black children were more likely to die by suicide than their White peers.

Gordon also points out that the “disparities in access to mental health services are a contributing factor as well. Black folks overall are less likely to receive treatment for depression than Whites often due to negative perceptions of services and providers and reluctance to acknowledge symptoms. Black youth are also significantly less likely than White youth to receive outpatient treatment even after a suicide attempt.”

During my research, I also ran across the article In Chicago, a Steep Rise in Suicide Among Black People by Lakeidra Chavis (The Trace). After reading it closer, I realized this was about one of my cousin’s best friends, Malik Webber, who at the young age of 21 committed suicide in March 2020.

I vividly remember having a conversation with my cousin about this tragedy and her trepidation of how her youngest son was going to handle hearing this horrific news since this was one of his best friends. My younger cousin had already lost other friends to gun violence and combined with other issues like police brutality and systematic racism, it felt like too much.  

As I write this blog post, I can sadly think of eight Black people I knew personally or family members of those I know who have committed suicide. I purposely stopped counting because it saddens me to relive these moments. 

Suicide causes a ripple effect because family, friends, and colleagues are forever impacted by such a tragic loss. Their emotions are often overwhelming and heart-wrenching and can trigger intense emotions.

Within the Black community, suicide is an elephant in the room that should routinely be discussed. We should work to decrease the stigma of mental health in our community as a first step towards suicide prevention. Those individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts should not be made to feel ashamed or humiliated, but instead encouraged to seek help from a mental health professional. You can even offer support by accompanying someone to their first appointment to get help. 

With the emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent presidential election, and just dealing with life stressors, I encourage you to make it a point to call others to check on them because it could very well be a matter of life or death. Social media serves its purpose but calling someone on the phone rather than simply texting could save a life. 

If you are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out and let a friend or family member know. I urge you not to suffer alone. And this message is for anyone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts.   

If you have a family member or friend who has died from suicide, in their memory, and if you are comfortable, please leave their name and something positive about them that you miss in the comment section.

I will start.

Hattie D. – Although she took her life over 40 years ago, I still remember how loving and kind she was. I was an adolescent, and this was my first time experiencing something like this. My mother told me what happened and never talked about it again until almost three decades later. RIP Hattie.

Please do not suffer alone. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). The website is National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

A Christian Woman’s Perspective: Journeying through the Season of Singleness

 

Photo Credit Jefferey Erhunse Unsplash

Updated October 25, 2020

All too often, I have found that we single women in the church, who desire marriage, seem to think that God has passed us by when it comes to being blessed with a husband. We come to church, pray, tithe, worship, serve on committees, and want to have the company of a strong and loving Christian husband by our sides. 

And, with the COVID-19 pandemic, attending church in person has not been an option in a while. Therefore, meeting a potential mate is all that more difficult. This is not to say that you can only meet someone in the church. That is not true.

Each week we lose faith when the seat beside us we claim as our husbands remain empty. 

As the tears roll down our cheeks, we ask God, “Did you forget about blessing me with a husband?” 

When we hear the words, “You know, perhaps it’s not in God’s will that you marry,” makes things even worse. 

Then we engage in pity parties and depression sessions. 

Although it is not easy, we are to be relentless in our pursuit to live Godly lives, while remembering that we are not perfect and will make mistakes. When we stumble in life, we must remember to have self-compassion and avoid beating ourselves up. 

It is important to seek God’s will for our lives to prevent Satan from filling our heads with negative thoughts, which may cause us to doubt God. When loneliness is at its peaks in our lives, we must fast, pray, and read our Bibles even more. We should also ask someone to pray with and for us.

Being single should not prevent us from living happy, productive, and fulfilled lives. Most importantly, we must remind ourselves that being single is not a curse, as some people make it seem. It is time to thank God for this season because it will be different to consider a husband’s needs rather than just our own. 

And let us be real, some of us, including myself, can be selfish at times.

As Pastor Noah Filipiak states, "The grass isn't greener on the other side, it's greenest where you water it, even for singles."

During our season of singleness, righteous living should be a priority so that we can begin pursuing our goals and dreams. This will not happen if we are having pity parties with ourselves and other single women about the shortage of available men and how terrible the ones are in which we have been in relationships. 

In lieu of the pity party trap, God wants us to do what is necessary to build His kingdom, and not tear it down. This time of singleness is to focus on God’s will for our lives.

As single women, changing our mindset about singleness is necessary. This season in our lives is better spent to thank God for using this time to prune and prepare us to do a mighty work for Him. 

When God feels that we are ready, we will be introduced to our potential husband and we will then be ready to welcome him with open arms. 

I hope that you've been encouraged as you are journeying through the season of singleness...

4 Tips to Surviving the Emotional Journey of Widowhood

 

Hello! I am excited to share on Carla’s Reflections a blog post from guest blogger Jonathan Cox. As you know, from time-to-time, I feature a guest blogger because I enjoy highlighting the talent of others. Today I am doing just that by sharing Jonathan’s transparent blog post titled "4 Tips to Surviving the Emotional Journey of Widowhood." Please check out this blog post from a talented writer.

Thanks, Jonathan, for being a guest blogger. I look forward to your dropping back by again to share your thoughts, insight, and wisdom.

Until next time… 

Photo Credit: Sabine Ojeil

My life as I knew it changed forever on February 10, 2018.

I became a widower and single father of a pre-teen son.

My best friend, lover, and beloved wife of nineteen years, Antonett “Toni” M. Cox, was now gone. After three years of chemotherapy and countless radiation procedures, Toni lost her battle at the young age of fifty-two to metastasis cancer, which originated from her breast. Toni was a victim of the Camp Lejeune water contamination in North Carolina as a child. 

Toni was smart, strong-willed, loving, thoughtful, beautiful inside and out, and my rock. 

On February 23, 2018, we celebrated her life.

I can recall the day of celebrating Toni’s life that I expressed slight outwardly emotional expressions during the service. I had the perception of being strong for my son, which is directly related to not showing my feelings with tears and pain during my grieving of my wife. Psychologist Judith Stillion, Ph.D., CT studied the importance of socialization. There were 4 concepts which her research lead to the conclusion of dealing with grief and socialization:

 

1. Boys are taught to accept pain without complaining.
2. Men must be in control at all times.
3. Man must protect and keep safe the individuals important to him.
4. Man must be ready to overcome any challenge without fear.   

I looked into my son’s eyes and realized that this moment was not about me. I had to widen my perspective of the reality of embracing healthy habits during these turbulent times for my son and myself. This led me to accept crying is healthy; being affectionate to my son is a sign of strength and being transparent with my loved ones lessened my burden of responsibility. 

After becoming a widower, I felt fearful, overwhelmed, insecure, and lonely because I was about to embark upon being a single parent due to the loss of my life partner. My attention and focus were now about raising my son in a loving and secure environment in which he was already accustomed. 

You see, unfortunately, my son witnessed firsthand the terminal cancer monster and how it deteriorates one’s body and mind. Cancer took away his hugs, conversations, movie nights, great cooking, and the security of being loved. 

While going through the emotional journey of widowhood, I have learned the following:

You can’t do it alone. The African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” means that it takes a community to raise a child. I knew that I needed to surround my son with a village of positive people and family to assist with his teen years of growth into manhood. The purpose of his village is to provide love, support, guidance, and positive mentorship for his holistic personal growth. 

You should seek the help of professionals. Seeking counseling at the cancer center's recommendation has been instrumental in helping my son and I navigate the journey of grief. In fact, before my wife’s passing, we participated as a family to help each of us deal with her terminal cancer diagnosis. It was powerful for our son as it gave him meaning and understanding of coping with terminal cancer.

You must be patient with yourself. During times of grief, I found myself being impulsive with emotion. However, patience allows decision making to become less emotional and more informed of making conscious decisions. Lastly, patience allows growth for your holistic understanding during your emotional journey.

You have to take care of your health. Having a history of pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart complications, I learned that taking care of my health is vital. Regular physical check-ups will give you an overview of your overall health. Being committed to your physical health is all connected to your outlook during grief.

This new normal is not easy, but I’m surviving the emotional journey of widowhood the best way that I can.

If you are a widower, please feel free to share some tips that help you get through your grieving process.

Jonathan Cox is a blogger, maximizer, strategist, public speaker, innovator, and organizer. He's currently EOP/TRIO Coordinator at his alma mater, University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He has a bachelor's degree in criminology. Jonathan is well-known for being committed and passionate about mentoring, coaching, teaching, and inspiring students for the last three decades. When not working with students, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his son, family, friends and traveling. In addition, he likes reading and cooking various dishes which he finds relaxing. Jonathan can be reached at jjflexerr22@gmail.com.

The Impact of Quotes

 

Photo by Hello I'm Nik 🎞 on Unsplash

I love reading quotes.

Why?

I can be empowered and inspired, gain wisdom, become hopeful, reminded to engage in self-reflection, as well as, to refocus on my goals.

According to the “Science Behind Why Inspirational Quotes Motivate Us,” it states the following:

“Depending on whom you ask, the appeal appears to lie in a combination of good wordsmithing, motivational psychology, and a measure of self-selection.” 

Since I enjoy reading quotes, a few years ago I began creating my own and found myself enjoying it, just as much as reading the quotes of others.

Below are 6 quotes I created that I hope you will enjoy reading:

 

Let me know if any of my quotes resonate with you.

Also, please feel free to share your own favorite quote.

Until next time...

 

16 Reasons Why I Write

 

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

Why do I enjoy writing? When did I realize that I wanted to be a writer? I get these two questions often. I have asked myself the same questions, and have thought long and hard how to answer them.

As I recall, I developed a passion for writing in the late 1980’s when I first began to journal as a healthy coping skill to help me deal with stressful life events. It eventually became something I enjoyed doing on a consistent basis. And, I also love reading, and reading and writing go hand-in-hand.

However, it wasn’t until 1996 while on a flight during the Christmas holiday that I began seriously thinking about my desire to become a published author, even though my first book wasn’t published until 2011.

Here are 16 reasons why I continue to write: Writing helps me:

1. Get still to hear my own thoughts
2. Prevent emotional fatigue
3. Connect with a deeper part of myself
4. Cope with life’s stressors
5. Refocus to avoid distractions
6. Gain healing and to help others obtain their own healing
7. Inspire and empower others
8. Feel a connection to my deceased mother because she was an excellent writer and instilled the importance in me of being able to communicate both verbally and in writing
9. Record things I am grateful for as well as milestones
10. Purge feelings of fear, disappointment, frustration, and doubt
11. Create stories centered around every day and social issues and invent characters who are raw, relatable, flawed, yet have redeeming qualities
12. Connect with others around the world
13. Be transparent, be authentic and share life lessons learned over the years from the mistakes I have made in life
14. Stimulate thought-provoking conversations with others
15. Encourage others to never give up on their goals and dreams
16. Avoid overeating

I had this thought almost 20 years ago and it still sums up why I write:

Writing to me is like gasoline to an automobile, without it,

I would be immobilized.

If you, too, enjoy writing, please share in the comments why you write. Inquiring minds want to know.

7 Inspiring and Thought-Provoking Leadership Quotes

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplashed

 

The African American community is now mourning the loss of a great leader, Rep. John Robert Lewis, a civil rights legend, who recently died of cancer at age 80. 

“Rep. Lewis was the son of sharecroppers who survived a brutal beating by police during a landmark 1965 march in Selma, Alabama, to become a towering figure of the civil rights movement and a longtime Democratic US congressman, who served as the US representative for Georgia's 5th Congressional District for more than three decades. He was widely seen as a moral conscience of Congress because of his decades-long embodiment of nonviolent fight for civil rights. Rep. Lewis fought tirelessly against racial and social injustice.”

As I’ve reflected on Lewis’ death and on some of the negative things going on in the world, I’ve been thinking about what makes a great leader. 

So, while relaxing on my sofa, gripping my iPhone with my left hand, and trying to mentally block out the madness going on in the world, I opened notes and let my mind wander back to a time, more than two decades ago, when I was earning my master’s degree in managerial leadership.

 

I recalled some of the classes and coursework required for me to obtain this degree. Truthfully, this was a great time in my life; therefore, going down memory lane was an enjoyable experience.

 

I thought about the words of John C. Maxwell, considered to be one of the world's top leadership thinkers: “Being a great leader is all about having a genuine willingness and a true commitment to lead others to achieve a common vision and goals through positive influence. No leader can ever achieve anything great or long-lasting all alone. Teamwork goes hand in hand with leadership. Leadership is about people-and for people.”

 

A definition of leadership by the late Dr. Myles Munroe is: “Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration, generated by a passion, motivated by a vision, brought by a conviction, produced by a purpose.”

 

Dr. Flo, a former colleague, summed up leadership this way:

 

“Great leadership is focused on the people and the mission. Weak leadership is focused on self-preservation and public perception.” Dr. Flo Falayi, Leadership Development Expert, Slalom Consulting

 

And because I love to read quotes and come up with my own quotes, I came up with this list of what I consider essential leadership qualities.

 

1. Sound leadership requires cultural competency.

2. Empathy and compassion are prerequisites for true leadership.

3. Servant leaders value lifelong learning.

4. True leaders understand that collaboration with others is a key to success.

5. A true leader understands that having good mental health is crucial for success.

6. Leadership is being able to empower others to silence their inner critic and embrace authenticity.

7. Soulful leadership requires more heart and less ego.

 

I am interested to know which of my quotes resonates with you. Please leave me a comment to let me know. Also, feel free to share with me some of your favorite leadership quotes.

 

For your information, my blogging goal is to write and publish on the 25th of each month at least one blog post. Eventually when things settle down, I will write and publish blog posts more frequently. 

 

Thank you for taking time to read my blog post. I really appreciate it.

Until next time...

 

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