Tag: dealing with change

Is It Time To Make A Change? It’s Time To Get CLEAR!

Written by SharRon Jamison on December 20, 2024. Posted in Blog. No Comments on Is It Time To Make A Change? It’s Time To Get CLEAR!

What needs to change?

Although I ask myself this question regularly, there’s something about the end of the year that makes me dig a little deeper to ensure that I am really happy—not fake happy or “just settling happy”—but soul happy. I constantly gauge how I feel because I want to experience the soul-enriching, soul-nourishing happiness that gives me peace, keeps me whole, and honors my deepest desires. I want to be happy, happy for REAL, which often means making changes.

About 25 years ago, I found myself at a crossroads and knew I needed to make courageous changes in my life. I was extremely unhappy; I was navigating life practically heartbroken. Spiritually, professionally, and personally, I had co-created experiences that de-prioritized my health, agency, and wholeness. And, I knew I craved something different for my life, but I couldn’t pinpoint the source of my chronic dissatisfaction because, for years, I had made many disempowering choices. I denied my needs, and I failed to choose ME. And unfortunately, each fear-filled, denial-based choice moved me further away from my values, voice, and vision.

As my health declined, the more terrified I became about making more poor decisions that could further disrupt my life. I wasn’t scared about stretching beyond my comfort zone, but I was afraid of making choices that would affect my aging parents, distract me from fulfilling my divine purpose, or further jeopardize my health. But no matter how hard I prayed for direction, I couldn’t hear God or access my own wisdom. Fear had compromised my faith and muted the whispers of my soul. I felt lost.

To gain clarity, I developed the CLEAR Framework, a tool to help me identify my deepest needs, wishes, and goals. I had no intention of creating a coaching tool; I only desired to create something that would help me hear my inner voice so I could follow my own path, even if it meant detouring from everything I had been taught and told to do.

The tool proved extremely helpful and eye-opening, so I wanted to share the CLEAR framework with you. So, if you feel stuck, unsure of your next step, or overwhelmed by a decision, use the CLEAR framework to clarify what changes are needed in your own life. Once you know your desires, you can navigate life with greater awareness and create more serenity, fulfillment, and joy.

C.L.E.A.R. ( Listen On YouTube or Apple Podcast)

C: Closure – Recognizing When Doors Are Closing

The C in CLEAR stands for closure. Feelings of closure are often complex, unconscious, and layered. In fact, your soul usually discerns the need for closure before your mind has words to express the quiet yearning for change.

For example, you may sense closure when you feel deep dissatisfaction with your relationships, a dwindling sense of belonging in your community, a disconnection with your faith, or a lack of passion for a job. These feelings of closure—internal calls for endings—are often a signal that you’ve outgrown your current environment and that it’s time for a change or a rebirth.

Take a moment to assess:

Are you feeling stagnant in your career or relationships? Why?
Do you sense that your ability to grow or to make an impact is diminishing? Why?
How do you feel confined by policies, people, and practices? Why?
What feels like it needs to end or be empty so you can be nourished or recharged with something new?
What do you yearn for in this season of your life?
What do you want to finish, or what feels completed?
What do you no longer wish to experience or participate in?
What needs to end so I won’t jeopardize my dignity, potential, or purpose?

Recognizing these signs of closure is not about failure; it’s about grace and growth. It’s about courageously permitting yourself to seek new spaces, relationships, and situations where you can flourish.

L: Letting Go – Releasing What No Longer Serves You

The L in CLEAR reminds us to examine what we are losing, what we have already lost, or what we need to let go of. The L requires us to reckon with the truth – our inner knowing – and honor what we feel inside our souls, know in our minds, and crave in our hearts.

For example, the L demands that we tell ourselves the truth if we feel we are losing confidence, passion, or self-esteem. It requires assessing if we are clinging to beliefs, identities, or narratives that no longer align with who we are or want to become.

Ask yourself:

What mindsets or habits are holding me back? How?
Is my current environment eroding my enthusiasm or self-worth? How?
Are people ignoring my new identity or boundaries? Why? How could I be encouraging their resistance to who I am now?
How is this situation honoring my integrity, destiny, or personhood?
What meaning am I assigning to “letting go,” and how does that interpretation support my efforts?

Letting go can be difficult, but it creates space for something new and better to enter your life.

E: Erasure – Reclaiming Your Authenticity

The E in CLEAR stands for erasure. Erasure is when we feel forced to suppress or abandon parts of ourselves to fit into specific spaces or to have access to certain groups. This could mean adapting to workplace cultures, relationships, or environments that demand assimilation at the expense of our authenticity. For some groups, it can mean code-switching, masking, or denouncing your identity in exchange for group membership.

Consider:

Where and how are you expected to have historical or cultural “amnesia” to participate or advance in specific spaces?
Are you erasing aspects of your identity to be accepted by your job or co-workers?
Do you feel you’re shrinking yourself to make others comfortable with your expertise, talents, success, or beliefs?
Are you abandoning your truth for traditions or organizational norms?
How are you compromising your integrity for inclusion?
Are you doubting, discounting, or dismantling yourself for fear of exclusion or retaliation?

Chronic erasure can erode your soul, undermine your sense of freedom, and destroy your sense of self. However, making changes to reclaim and celebrate your identity and honor your uniqueness ensures you stay healthy and whole. And, when you reclaim who you are, you RISE! You make life-expanding, soul-nourishing, and dignity-affirming decisions to support your wholeness, wellness, and well-being.

A: Anger – Listening to What Frustrates You

The A in CLEAR stands for anger. Anger is often a sign that something we deeply value—our passions, purpose, or priorities—is being neglected. Chronic anger, which can manifest as frustration or resentment, could indicate that a situation or relationship no longer aligns with our values or goals. Even though you may want to ignore it, anger is a valuable emotion that informs us that we must change to align with our deepest values and needs.

Reflect on:

Where do I feel persistent anger, alienation, or irritation?
Why and where do I feel powerless or invisible?
How is anger showing up in my body?
Where am I constantly critiquing something, and why?
Is this anger signaling unmet needs or neglected priorities at home?
Is anger fueling me or fooling me? How does it affect my behavior?

Again….never ignore anger. Instead, use it to identify your truth and as a catalyst for change, guiding you toward environments that respect your personhood and nurture your passions.

R: Rest – Seeking Peace and Safety

Finally, the R in CLEAR stands for rest. Deep emotional, physical, and spiritual rest comes when we feel safe, valued, and settled. If confusion, chaos, or a lack of safety pervades your environment, you won’t rest. You will also feel constantly exhausted if you have to continually act, compromise, or over-give in exchange for access or acceptance. So, determine if you feel rested or at ease. If not, a change might be needed.

Ask yourself:

Do I feel peace and rest in my current situation?
Where do I feel taxed, troubled, twisted, and constantly tested?
Is this a place or a relationship where I can thrive without sacrificing my well-being and wholeness?
Do I feel drained at certain places, events, or groups?
Do I have to be high alert at work or watch my back when engaging with certain people?
Do I have to hide my intentions, conceal my motives, or minimize my goals with certain groups?
Is this situation affecting my ability to sleep?

You deserve environments and relationships where you can recharge and feel at ease. Remember, rest isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for a fulfilling life.

Get CLEAR! (listen here)

Before you make another decision, get clear. And use the CLEAR framework because it isn’t just a guide for major life decisions—it’s a way to honor yourself and your needs. (listen here on YouTube)

So, before the new year:

Take a moment to reflect on your current situation (work, relationships, faith, projects).
Use each CLEAR principle as a lens to evaluate where you are and what changes might be needed.
Create a plan to address areas where you feel stuck, unfulfilled, or diminished.
Find people who can support you on your journey and remind you of your brilliance.

Remember, change isn’t about abandoning what’s familiar; it’s about stepping into what’s more fulfilling.

I also look forward to sharing more about CLEAR on Jan. 18th in the NOW What Retreat. Be on the lookout for registration information.

Thanks for reading and listening to the Deciding To Soar: Living Life Your Own Way podcast.

Also, please reply to this message and let me know your thoughts.

Blessings!

SharRon

* I have been asked how you can support my work. I would love to work with you. However, I also love coffee and tea. Click here.

When An Election Hurts Your Heart

Written by SharRon Jamison on December 5, 2024. Posted in Blog. No Comments on When An Election Hurts Your Heart

The recent election and the entire electoral process were extremely painful for many people. Not only did the results fill some with dread, but the outcomes also instilled fear and a genuine concern about the state of our democracy. Many people, especially people who have been historically marginalized, told me that the outcome of the presidential election was incredibly unsettling, and they feared for their safety, their livelihoods, and their freedom to exist in a world that demonizes their very presence. It was and continues to be a scary time.

The election and the mean-spirited campaigns were gut-wrenching for me, too. I felt disgusted, enraged, and appalled at the tactics used to manipulate, malign, and exploit people. I was even more saddened that some people believed the divisive rhetoric and harmful lies without validation, research, or corroboration. If information was shared on social media, it was believed to be accurate. If a politician shared “facts,” it was accepted that the “facts” were verified. If a clergyperson shared a religious perspective, some people believe it was a message directly from God.

Witnessing the entire process was so maddening that I had to take a break – a time out from the foolishness. And so, for weeks, I avoided the media to protect my spirit and soul from the vicious mud-slinging, myth-making, victim-blaming, name-calling, and dog-whistling that spewed a level of vitriol that I believe have irrevocably fractured relationships and alliances. I also temporarily disconnected from frazzled and angry friends in order to find space in my heart for optimism, hope, and faith. I didn’t want to abandon anyone because I cared deeply about their feelings. But I knew I had to stabilize myself because the stakes were too high to surrender to fear, hopelessness, and feelings of defeat. I also knew I needed to stay anchored in my spiritual beliefs in order to protect myself from the constant anxiety that was threatening to swallow me whole. Despite the social upheaval and the toxic political climate, I had to remain open, creative, and courageous. As a single, middle-aged Black woman, I didn’t have the luxury of feeling disempowered, worried, or apathetic. Like many of you, I had to muster up the strength to make life-affirming, soul-nourishing decisions that honored my soul, instilled hope, and fostered healing. And my decisions had to be strategic because many self-appointed powerbrokers and gatekeepers were no longer trying to hide their disdain for specific communities and identities. It felt as if the election results emboldened them to be MORE offensive, oppressive, and cruel.

Shifting my perspective to see the power of possibility amid so much malice and disrespect wasn’t easy. However, in these trying moments, I reflected on the invaluable wisdom I learned from my elders and ancestors to inspire and direct me. I recalled the lessons they taught me that anchored them through the horrors of enslavement, segregation, Jim Crow, redlining, police brutality, political abuse, and social erasure. I remembered the strength of their deep faith and resolve that equipped and empowered them to build schools, businesses, hospitals, churches, families, and legacies with limited resources and little protection. I remembered them telling me that my ancestors’ wisdom was stored in my bones, cultivated through my experiences, and strengthened through adversity. I remembered. Thank God, I remembered!

The knowledge and timeless insights I learned from my elders decades ago reminded me that no election, challenge, or person can undermine the calling on our lives. Their words of wisdom also reaffirmed that no politician or policy can undermine God’s plan for humanity if enough God-inspired, justice-minded, faith-filled people work together to effect change.

I pray these lessons inspire you as they encouraged me. I hope they remind you that you can SOAR higher than any policy, law, or tradition that tries to block, dismantle, or dishonor you. And most of all, I hope you are so inspired that you continue to inspire others to live beyond the suffocating status quo and stretch beyond social limitations so they can live fully, truthfully and peacefully.

Here are the lessons I shared on the podcast Deciding To Soar: Living Life Your Own Way. You can listen on YouTube or Apple and read below.

Elder: If It Didn’t Stop Us, It Won’t Stop You

History is filled with stories of resilience. Our ancestors faced insurmountable challenges—enslavement, displacement, wars, and systemic oppression. Yet, they pressed forward through every storm, building families, schools, cultures, and legacies. They survived with unwavering determination, proving that obstacles, no matter how towering, are not permanent barriers but mere stepping stones to a greater destiny. When the world tried to silence their voices, they sang louder. When the world tried to erase them, they let their lights shine brighter. When opportunities seemed scarce, they created something from nothing. Their endurance is a testament to the power of persistence.

Today, that same resilience flows through you and me. Our challenges may differ, but the weight of oppression is not unfamiliar to our spirits. So, confront setbacks, and remember the courage of those who came before you. Our elders thrived under laws and policies designed to break them, yet they soared. Their story is our inheritance. Their strength is our foundation. Their legacy is our leverage. Whatever you’re up against, know that it didn’t stop your ancestors and won’t stop you.

Elder: The Path for You May Be Hidden in Plain Sight

Sometimes, the answers we seek are right in front of us, yet we miss them because doubt, distraction, or societal expectations blind us. But because what we seek is also seeking us, we must slow down and pay attention to what’s happening around us and within us. We must pay close attention to the whispers of our intuition, the wisdom of our bodies, and the nudges of our curiosity. Even if what we feel or sense is not traditional or familiar, we must move in the direction of our spirit to discover and claim our paths.

My elders also reminded me that the clarity you long for isn’t always about discovering something entirely new; sometimes, it’s about recognizing what’s already within your reach and activating wisdom you already know. They always advised me to lean into my gifts, passions, or experiences that others overlook, minimize, or criticize. They told me that spiritual messages are sometimes disguised as”mess” and that I MUST maintain an open heart, spirit, and mind to SEE and SENSE God.

My friend, look! Look beyond what you see with your eyes and see with your heart. Let your spiritual vision grab God’s vision. Your path is right before you; it’s been there for days or decades.

Elder: Pick Your Own Tools to Sow the Land

Just as farmers choose tools suited to their soil, you must decide what tools work best for your unique journey. Why? God made you special, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t help you achieve your goals or fulfill your destiny. Remember, what works for someone else may not fit your vision, purpose, personality, or skill set, but that’s okay. What’s important is to be intentional about the tools you gather—whether it’s education, mentorship, prayer, or imagination—and use them creatively, courageously, and consistently to sow the seeds of your future.

Most of all, resist the pressure to conform to societal norms, cultural expectations, or artificial timelines. Your path is divinely distinct, as are the instruments, strategies, and timing you need to bring it to fruition. So, determine what feels authentic, what aligns with your values, and what empowers you to thrive. Just as our ancestors innovated with what they had, you, too, can make memories and start cultural movements with your chosen tools.

Elder: Protect Your Dream Space Because It Holds Your Destiny

Your dreams are sacred. They are not merely aspirations; they are vital glimpses of your destiny, instructions for your future, and plans for your purpose. Yet, the world tries to infect your mind and undermine your ability to hold onto your dreams. That’s why creating a mental and emotional sanctuary for your dreams is crucial, particularly in a world that often prioritizes indoctrination over critical thinking, respectful discussion, and genuine inquiry. By nurturing this sanctuary, you empower yourself to challenge the status quo and cultivate the life you truly desire.

So, be mindful of what you allow into your dream space. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision, believe in you, and challenge you to grow. Say no to influences that plant seeds of doubt, mediocrity, or fear in your heart and mind. Remember that your dreams preview what’s possible in your life, so guard them because they are the bridge to your destiny.

Elder: Who You Are Is Your Strength, Especially in Adversity

During political struggle, it can be tempting to compromise your integrity or conceal your true identity. And even though suppressing who you are or going with the flow may make your life feel initially easier, erasing your identity strips you of your superpowers and self-respect. Abandoning your unique perspective, skills, and resilience leaves you without the internal infrastructure YOU NEED to withstand adversity and attacks.

So, lean into your identity, especially when life feels uncertain. Your heritage, values, and personal journey are not just part of your story—they are the source of your strength and the foundation of your faith. Both will sustain you in the most trying moments and ensure you are anchored in the God above you and connected to the God within you.

Elder: There Is a Difference Between Salt and Salve

In life, you will encounter people and experiences that either act as salt or as a salve. Salt, while valuable, can sting when placed on wounds because it exposes truths, provokes discomfort, or highlights what needs healing. On the other hand, salve soothes, nurtures, and aids recovery. Both have an essential purpose in your life, and knowing when to apply each is crucial to your growth, wholeness, and well-being.

So, be discerning in how you engage with yourself and others. Tough love (the salt) is sometimes necessary to confront hard truths, but it must be balanced with compassion (the salve) to foster healing and facilitate progress. Similarly, surround yourself with people who can be both—those who challenge you to improve while supporting your journey with care and encouragement. Life demands salt and salve during times of change, and wisdom lies in knowing how to use them to elevate and not harm.

My friend, I hope these lessons helped you because your journey and mine—our journey—will be challenging. The next four years will stretch and challenge our nation in unprecedented ways. But just like the ancestors before us, we possess the strength to persevere, the wisdom to find our hidden path, and the courage to choose tools that align with our purpose. Like them, we can fiercely protect our dreams and our ability to dream. Like them, we can courageously lean into our authenticity and discern the moments that call for salt or salve. Just like them….we can make it.

Over the next four years, I believe that our lives will be a testament to the power of resilience and the audacity of hope. And as our valiant story unfolds with chapters that will inspire others, we will dare to soar higher! We will be the change we need and the change we seek. We will be the visionaries, bridge-builders, wisdom-seekers, truth-tellers, and leaders who speak for the voiceless, inspire the hopeless, and renew the spiritless. We will share wisdom with others just like our ancestors and elders shared with us, and we will thrive!

We will SOAR HIGHER individually and collectively … I believe….because the best is yet to come!

Blessings!

SharRon

Do You Need To Sit?

Written by SharRon Jamison on June 25, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Do You Need To Sit?

As a child, when there was a storm, my elders would say, “Go sit your narrow behind down somewhere. God is speaking.”

Now, when I look at all the political and historical storms in the world, I wonder if God is demanding that we sit, not be idle, but to sit down somewhere.

Maybe God is insisting that we sit and get incredibly still so we can hear the unique voice of our Creator, which guides and governs us.

Maybe God is forcing us into contemplation so we can see the error of our collective ways and the smallness of our love.

Maybe God is summoning us to something greater, fairer, bigger, and bolder that will support the common good.

Maybe God is showing us how our desire for domination and our denial of our corrupt systems are obliterating the world.

Maybe God is calling us to examine how society is disintegrating due to injustice, intolerance, and inaction.

Maybe God is empowering us to create strategies to dismantle oppression, confront greed, challenge exploitative capitalism, and resist all vestiges of white supremacy.

Maybe God is refueling our spirits to fight for freedom, live with integrity, and heal our ancestral wounds.

Maybe God is intervening and integrating ways to reboot, rebuild, and redistribute resources so nobody goes hungry, unhoused, or unhealed.

Maybe God is reminding us of our humanity and the humanity of others so folks can stop dropping bombs and shooting bullets at defenseless people.

Maybe God is warning us to value people over profit, power, privileges, and perks so we can remember the sacredness of human life.

Maybe God is prompting us to talk to each other and to stop talking about each other so we can see that we have more in common than we think.

Maybe God is reclaiming our attention so we can focus on solutions that instill hope, promote harmony, and facilitate healing.

During storms, my elders wisely advised me to sit. And so, I am following their advice because I realize my anger and grief about what is happening in the world are starting to consume me.

Witnessing continued genocide, horrific violence, intentional starvation, political pandering, the lack of adequate healthcare, and other global atrocities requires me to gather myself so I can determine how to participate in what I pray about and hope for.

Life has taught me that sacred sitting is a meditative posture that prepares people to be visionaries, freedom fighters, game-changers, and truthtellers. It equips them to challenge the world’s ethos, create more humane paradigms, and confront the stifling status quo.

So, I find myself sitting, thinking about my next move, determined to make a difference even if I don’t know how to help in ways that would bring transformative healing, spiritual awakening, and paths for sustainable reconciliation.

I’m sitting – thinking and praying – because I know we can do better.

We are not powerless!

We are movement-makers! We are relational innovators! We are the hands and feet of a just God!

What about you?

Blessings to you!

Reclaim Your WILL And Find Peace!

Written by SharRon Jamison on May 9, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Reclaim Your WILL And Find Peace!

Hey there,

How are you doing?

I wanted to check in because a lot is happening around the world. And honestly, the world feels a bit heavy right now. For some, it may even feel heartbreaking and emotionally exhausting as people struggle to be heard, seen, and protected.

I know many of you may be dealing with conflicting emotions and trying to make sense of contradictory narratives we hear in the media. But as you try to make sense of it all, I want YOU to remember the incredible strength YOU have inside you – the power of your WILL.

Lately, I have been speaking a lot about our WILL because our WILL helps us feel strong and grounded during difficult times. It keeps us hoping, working, advocating, and living without giving up or giving in to vitriol, negativity, and hopelessness. Most of all, our WILL ensures that we stay purposeful and focused as we navigate an evolving and sometimes turbulent world.

As you harness the power of your WILL, here are a few thoughts to consider.

YOU HAVE…..

W – Wisdom. Even though a lot is happening in the world, you have wisdom within and around you to move through complexity and uncertainty. You have inherited and acquired knowledge that you gained from your ancestors, upbringing, communities, spiritual beliefs, and life experiences that provide incredible insight and direction. So, access and apply what you know to make choices that honor your deepest values, desires, and dreams. Especially during political and social unrest, trust your instincts and intuition to navigate the path ahead, trusting that the answers you seek lie within your soul.

I – Imagination. Now more than ever, you must unleash your imagination to think outside the box and dream beyond your current reality. You must look inwardly and pay attention to the messages in your dreams, bypassing evidence, predictions, and naysayers to see opportunities for yourself and others. You must quiet the outside chatter to sense your inner hope and see a future filled with peace, justice, and dignity. Your ability to imagine is directly tied to your ability to create, innovate, problem-solve, and manifest what you need and want. Remember, tomorrow’s answers may not be limited to what you know and see today.

L – Levity. Since the world feels heavy, please make time and create space for joy, passion, play, and rest. Weekly, dedicate a few hours to drawing, laughing, dancing, and singing. Commune with nature, paint a picture, get a massage, or play a sport. Do something fun and light to rejuvenate your spirit, reconnect with your body, and renew your resolve. Levity will relax your mind, which will help you access your wisdom and activate your imagination as you pursue your path.

L – Liberation. Think and choose for yourself. This sounds easy, but opening your mind to new ideas is extremely difficult. But to operate fully in your WILL depends on your ability to listen, learn, and pressure-test what you hear about other countries, communities, and cultures. Because once you free your mind from other people’s beliefs and conclusions, you will create spaciousness for personal revelations, receive divine downloads, and unlock new possibilities for yourself and others. Remember… OPENNESS creates Opportunities.

Life is complex, and there are no easy answers, especially now. However, your WILL can ground and guide you through this unpredictable, challenging time. And when surrounded by supportive friends and fortified by faith, you will make it through this difficult chapter in your life.

I shared more about the power of our WILL in our community podcast. To listen, click here. (Choose a podcast server and subscribe to be notified when I release new episodes.)

As you navigate this uncertain time, you are also invited to join me for a free gathering next week called “Unboxed and Unbothered.” In 60 minutes, we will talk about the power of being unboxed and unbothered during times of transition and growth. It’s free, so sign up now because I am keeping the gathering intimate, so people can feel safe sharing.

My friend, I genuinely believe in the power of our individual and collective WILL – wisdom, imagination, levity, and liberation. And by activating our WILL, we can co-create a safe, secure world for all of us and a unique path just for you!

If this message resonates with your soul, will you do me a favor and share it with a colleague or a loved one? I want to ensure that people know about our community so that they can have support, too.

Remember to register for Unboxed and Unbothered.

Blessings to you!

SharRon

Rediscovering Dreams, Nurturing Growth, and Embracing Authenticity

Written by SharRon Jamison on January 2, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Rediscovering Dreams, Nurturing Growth, and Embracing Authenticity

Yesterday was the first time in 20 years that I spent Christmas with my parents. Celebrating and enjoying the holidays with them was such a blessing.

While there, I saw this wonderful picture of me when I was 7. It made me ask myself:

What did this little girl want?

What did this little girl believe about her potential and purpose?

What did this little girl hope for and believe about her life?

When did this little girl STOP dreaming big?

I don’t know the answers, but this morning I am asking myself those questions because the little girl in the picture has wisdom that the adult ME needs.

The little girl in the picture has divine insight… insight that God protected from the unconscious, ubiquitous effects of cultural and social indoctrination.

Wisdom that God protected to ensure she stayed equipped, enthusiastic, and empowered to fulfill her divine calling. To do something significant, transformative, and legacy-producing in the world.

So, the adult ME is staring at the photo, straining to see beyond the social brainwashing and conditioning to see what the little girl wanted and needed so that I CAN give it to her.

The adult ME is resurrecting and reclaiming those childhood buried dreams – the dreams that society tried to kill – so I can be the changemaker that God ordained me to be.

The adult ME is revising narratives, identifying lies, and debunking myths that tried to make me settle for the status quo and a “toxic” normal that is making the world a scarier, sicker, and sadder place to live.

Questions:

What did your little person need?

What buried dreams do you need to resurrect?

What must you remember and reclaim to walk in your authentic authority?

Our childhoods hold clues about our greatness. And when we look under the pain, trauma, historical narratives, systematic oppression, cultural domination, and gender norms, we will uncover who we were divinely created to be!

As my elders used to say: You are higher than what you heard.

Let’s Dare To Soar Higher!

Blessings.

Bet On Yourself, Not A System!

Written by SharRon Jamison on October 20, 2023. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Bet On Yourself, Not A System!

Therapist: Why do you keep betting on the system more than you bet on yourself?

Me: What systems? How am I betting on them?

Tears still come to my eyes when I think of this painful conversation. I still feel sad when I remember struggling to prove myself in an unsupportive corporate environment.

For years, I did everything to demonstrate my competency, creativity, and proficiency. And I knew people saw my value because they consistently stole my work, ideas, and strategies. But despite being trusted to train and unofficially lead others, I was repeatedly told I wasn’t “ready” for leadership roles. In other words, I was good enough to “labor” but not lead.

After being overlooked for yet another leadership position, I emotionally crashed. And during one of my therapy sessions, my therapist — a powerful Black woman – asked me a critical question that changed my life: Why do you keep betting on the system more than you bet on yourself?

For years, I had been in therapy with white counselors (they accepted my health insurance) but had never been asked about the impact of systems on my well-being. Never! There were no conversations about bias, being excluded, being overlooked, being talked over, being dismissed, or being disrespected. Even though I shared many details of my work environment, I was never asked questions about systems, racism, sexism, or any other isms.

Thankfully, I finally found a Black therapist who deeply connected with me. Tenderly, she asked me questions that made me feel genuinely heard and understood. Because of her own experiences, she never questioned my experiences or realities. She didn’t ask for painful examples or embarrassing details that made me feel more ashamed. She didn’t pepper me with questions to devalue or discount the effects of ongoing corporate abuse. She KNEW!

During my sessions with her, she gently explained how I unknowingly colluded with harmful historical systems and narratives that robbed me of my agency, health, and self-respect. And through her wisdom, love, and spiritually infused strategies, I started a powerful healing journey. I began to learn and unlearn messages that made me doubt my value, ability, and brilliance. Most importantly, I began to remember and believe in the power of MY story, identity, and ancestral wisdom.

The healing process was painful and layered, yet soul-nourishing. Gradually, I started regaining my confidence, joy, and self-respect. I regained my agency and began working differently and more courageously with colleagues and saboteurs. I also began reimagining my future as a Black professional and realized I had enormous potential that didn’t need to be validated by corporations.

My life-changing experience with a therapist who understood oppression and the sting of microaggressions – which are NOT micro at all – was one reason I started creating safe places for other Black women and women of color. I wanted to provide loving sanctuaries where women could grieve without judgment and grow without fear. I wanted to create spaces where women felt honored, celebrated, and affirmed—places where women didn’t need to compete or spiritually exhaust themselves to be seen or witnessed.

The truth is, when I entered corporate America, I unknowingly bet on a system because I didn’t know any better. For the first 10 years of my career, I played by the written rules of success, not the unspoken paths. Why? I was the first person in my family to work in corporate settings and didn’t know what it meant to bet on myself in corporate environments. Honestly, I just didn’t know how to navigate or advocate for myself; I wasn’t taught the political games. In the early 1990s and even today, there were few mentors, sponsors, or allies willing to extend a hand to support people who looked like me.

If you feel you are betting on a system instead of seeing your brilliance, I would love to help. For over 25 years, I have worked with some amazing women and have helped them rethink, retool, and reimagine their careers in ways that honored their souls.

I am still in corporate America and doing work I enjoy. But because I see myself differently and fully – I see myself BEYOND the limitations of systems – I have also been able to build a successful business, write books, coach executives, serve as a minister in a progressive congregation, and help some big-hearted people DARE TO SOAR HIGHER in every aspect of their lives.

Bet ON YOURSELF!

You have everything you need encoded and loaded in your DNA to create a soul-nourishing career inside and outside organizations.

BET ON YOURSELF!

You got this!

Blessings!

SharRon

What’s Blocking You?

Written by SharRon Jamison on April 27, 2015. Posted in Soar Higher Blog. No Comments on What’s Blocking You?

Have you ever thought about what’s really blocking you in your life? No, really. Have you thought about why you continue to stay in a joyless, sexless and unfulfilling relationship? Or, why you continue to work an unrewarding, unsatisfying and low-paying job? Or, why you continue to associate with people who have low goals, no goals or no guts? Or, why you participate in organizations that demonize, disappoint or degrade you and others? Or, why you associate with people who are envious of you and secretly covet your life? Have you truly thought about those things?

To be honest, I really did not consider those questions myself until one day I woke up and realized that I was lost. I woke up and found myself confused about my career, puzzled about my purpose, baffled by my relationship, mystified by my faith and confounded by the choices that I was FAILING to make. Yes, I was shocked when I realized that I was not making decisions at all; I was just letting life happen. I was not choosing anything; I was settling for whatever and whomever came in my life. And boy, did I settle. I sold myself short personally and professionally.

But thankfully, I have learned that living and creating a fulfilling life required that I make decisions. Yes, living a satisfying life required me to participate fully in the life process even when I didn’t feel equipped, qualified or confident enough to make informed choices. Even when I didn’t want to or feel up to it, I learned that I had to be the leader, director, and organizer of my life; I had to be the boss of me. Prepared or not, I learned that I had to guide, manage and love myself enough to make decisions that helped me SOAR.

Those decisions are not always easy to make and sometimes the options are less than desirable. But being the boss is not always easy and not making a decision is really a decision too. Something to consider right?

My clients often ask me the same question, “How do I become the boss of me?” It is a simple question, but simple questions rarely have simple answers. But here is what I offer.

I first tell my clients, who I call my teachers, to become AWARE. I encourage them to be become AWARE of what moves them, soothes them, angers them, motivates them, stresses them, relieves them, inspires them, etc. I advise them to conduct a monthly and sometimes a weekly self-inventory to learn what makes them tick, sick and stick. I encourage them to find out what makes them uncomfortable and then fully explore that discomfort. I hope I inspire them to learn what brings them peace, growth and liberation so that they can “live” in that space for the rest of their lives. Finally, I encourage them to get quiet and still so that they can hear the whispers from their souls because that is where our truth lies.

Becoming aware and staying aware won’t be easy, especially with all of the distractions that vie for our attention and challenge our minds. But I implore you to try. Try to be become more AWARE of the amazing person you already are, and try to stay committed to growing into the more amazing person you hope to be. Because once you become aware, you will better appreciate who you are, recognize your full potential, discern what’s good and who is good for your spirit, and transform your life into greater abundance.

Awareness is the first step. I look forwarding to sharing the other 4 steps in the coming weeks. So stay tuned.

I wish you success on your journey to greater AWARENESS. You can do it! I know you can. We are on this journey together.

If you are interested in working with me to gain more self AWARENESS, please contact me. I am always here to support and serve you!

Blessings to you always and remember to DARE To SOAR HIGHER!