What happens when childhood trauma plants seeds of rejection and abandonment in your life? How do you break free from cycles that have shaped your identity and relationships for decades?

In this deeply moving conversation, Pastor LaToya Chrisman takes us through her remarkable journey from foster care to freedom. Placed in the system at just four years old due to her parents' substance abuse, LaToya shares how growing up in South Central LA led her to join a gang at 14, witnessing violence that no child should experience. Yet through it all, God's hand of protection remained.

LaToya reveals the profound truth that our early experiences create patterns that follow us into adulthood. "We become magnets," she explains, attracting what feels familiar even when it's harmful. Host Mariana connects through her own story of growing up with an alcoholic father who passed away when she was ten, showing how different paths of trauma can lead to similar struggles with identity and belonging.

The discussion ventures into territory rarely explored with such honesty – how the absence of parents creates voids in our understanding of ourselves. "A man is what gives a young girl her identity," LaToya shares, explaining how father wounds impact relationships with men, while mother wounds affect our ability to nurture and process emotions.

What makes this episode especially powerful is the hope it offers. Both women have transformed their pain into purpose, becoming beacons for others still walking through darkness. Their candid exploration of forgiveness reveals a liberating truth: our parents could only give what they themselves received. This understanding opens the door to breaking generational cycles.

The conversation culminates in a challenge about legacy: "What will people say about you when you're gone? How are you showing up day in and day out?" It's an invitation to consider not just healing for ourselves, but the impact our healing journey can have on generations to come.

Ready to transform your pain into purpose? Connect with LaToya through her website or social media to learn more about her books, counseling services, and ministry.

Resources Mentioned:

EmpowerHer Purpose Program

Interested on coaching but still not sure? Grab your free copy of:
EmpowerHer Purpose Guide

MAMI on a Mission LLC: info@mamionamission.com

Grab your Copy of my book MAMI on a Mission - A Guide Towards Healing, Self-Discovery and Walking in Confidence

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