If you listened to Episode 22, you know we covered Energy Levels 1 and 2 from Bruce Schneider’s Energy Leadership framework — the spaces where life feels heavy and reactive.

Today, we’re moving higher, into Levels 3 and 4: Tolerations and Gratitude. These are the spaces where you start reclaiming your energy, making intentional choices, and seeing hope again.

In this episode, I’ll share:

• How to decide what you’ll no longer tolerate — and what you’ll tolerate on purpose

• Why gratitude is a resilience strategy, not just a nice idea

• How both concepts are so important to me, I’ve literally made them part of my story and identity

📖 Scripture References: Galatians 6:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 📝 Journal Prompt: What’s one thing I’m no longer willing to tolerate, and one thing I’m grateful for that I’ve been overlooking?

✨ FREE Giveaway! I’m giving away five free Bounce Back Journals to new mailing list subscribers — drawn randomly from anyone who signs up by Sunday, August 17th. Sign up here for your chance to win and to get my weekly “Behind the Mic” newsletter: HERE

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Join the Bounce Back, Black Woman! Facebook Group → [link to group]

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After a painful experience — whether it’s the end of a relationship, a major loss, or a moment where life didn’t go as planned — it’s easy to stop trusting others. But what happens when you stop trusting yourself?

In this episode, I’m sharing three powerful shifts that will help you rebuild self-trust from the inside out — not from perfection, but from presence, compassion, and clarity.

• How to recognize when you’re stuck in survival-mode thinking

• The energy levels that shape your confidence and decision-making

• Why gentle curiosity is your secret weapon for growth

• The mindset shift that moves you from self-doubt to self-trust

Where have I stopped trusting myself — and what’s one small decision I can make this week that reflects who I truly am?

Each Thursday, I send a short, soulful note straight to your inbox — with behind-the-scenes reflections, journal prompts, and more. https://bit.ly/BBBWInsiderEmail

Who Am I Without Them? When someone or something you loved is suddenly no longer a part of your life — whether it’s a relationship, a job, a friend, or a dream — it can shake your entire sense of identity.

In this episode, I’m sharing how we begin to rediscover ourselves after loss or separation. We’ll talk about what heartbreak can really look like (even when you’re still functioning), how to recognize when you’re drifting emotionally, and what it means to reclaim your sense of self without guilt or shame.

• Why heartbreak doesn’t always look like a breakdown

• Subtle signs of emotional disconnection: numbness, overscheduling, social scrolling

• How to untangle your identity from the people or titles you’ve lost

• A faith-filled reminder that grief has a season — but so does rebirth

“Who was I with them? And who am I being invited to become now?”

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• Join the Bounce Back, Black Woman! Community → https://www.facebook.com/groups/1311791060186451

Not every bad relationship is narcissistic. But some are.

In this follow-up to Episode 19, I walk through the story of how I entered a marriage that was full of red flags—and the difference between selfish behavior and narcissistic manipulation.

If you’ve ever struggled to trust your own gut, this episode is here to help you name what you felt, understand what you saw, and stop carrying shame for what you didn’t know yet.

Mentioned in this Episode: – Proverbs 19:2 (NLT) – Isaiah 30:18 (NLT) – The Bounce Back Journal: https://amzn.to/45iBuAX – Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bouncebackblackwoman

Journal Prompts: What red flag did I ignore that I now recognize as protection? What truth do I need to stop explaining away?

What happens when you are the one who caused the heartbreak? Not because you wanted to... but because you made a decision that hurt you—and others.

In this episode, I share the story of a marriage that happened too quickly after the death of my second husband, and the ripple effects it had on my family.

If you've ever struggled with regret, self-blame, or grief over your own choices... this one's for you.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Psalm 51:17 (NLT)

• The Bounce Back Journal: https://www.bouncebackblackwoman.com/journal

• Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bouncebackblackwoman

Journal Prompt: What decision did I make that broke my own heart? And what do I need to forgive myself for?

EPISODE 18: Life Is Short — Maybe Shorter Than You Expect Pillars: Healing + Resilience

In this deeply personal episode, I’m reading the exact words I wrote the night my husband passed away unexpectedly — a post that ended up going viral. I didn’t share it for attention. I shared it because everything changed… in an instant.

This is a spoken-word-style reflection on what it means to face loss, to let time slow down, and to stop postponing the things that matter. We’re talking about legacy, presence, and living with intention — now, not later.

In this episode:

• The raw truth of losing my husband without warning

• Why we can't keep saying “someday” to the things that matter

• A scripture-led reminder that life is brief, but still purposeful

• Journal prompts to help you reconnect with what matters most

🌿 Scripture References:

• Psalm 90:12 (NLT) — “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”

• James 4:14 (NLT) — “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

✍🏾 Journal Prompts:

• “If I truly believed time was short… what would I stop postponing?”

• “And what would I start making room for today?”

💌 Resources + Links Mentioned:

• 🎧 Join the Bounce Back, Black Woman! Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bouncebackblackwoman

• 🧵 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: https://bit.ly/bouncebacknews

You are not your productivity. In this episode, I’m inviting you into a deeper kind of rest — the kind that restores your soul, not just your body.

Together we’ll talk about:

• Why rest is a necessary part of your healing

• How “work” looks different in every season (and every woman)

• What scripture teaches us about pausing on purpose

• The guilt we carry… and how to finally let it go

📝 Journal Prompt:

“What would it look like for me to give myself permission to rest, without guilt?”

🌱 Mentioned:

• Join the Bounce Back, Black Woman! Community

• Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter

Title: Starting Over: It’s Never Too Late to Reinvent Your Life Pillar: Resilience

Description: Have you ever looked around at your life and thought, “This is not where I thought I’d be by now…”? You’re not alone. And you’re not behind.

In this episode, I’m unpacking what it really means to start over — not from scratch, but from wisdom. Whether you’ve walked through a divorce, a major career change, a cross-country move, or a spiritual awakening after deep loss… this conversation is for you.

Together we’ll explore: • Why starting over is not failure — it’s divine timing in motion • The emotional grief of reinvention (and how to honor it without getting stuck) • Why God doesn’t ask for comfort — He asks for courage • What Ecclesiastes 3:1 + Isaiah 43:19 say about stepping into a new season • How to reframe “I’m behind” into “I’m right on time” • A journal prompt that’ll help you release the old and embrace the next

💛 Plus, if you're already part of the Bounce Back, Black Woman! community — this is your invitation to lean in. Share. Be seen. Help shape something beautiful.

Mentioned in this episode: → bouncebackblackwoman.com – for journal info + to join the community → 🎧 Want a little extra encouragement each week? Sign up for my newsletter and get behind-the-scenes reflections, journal prompts, and podcast updates—straight to your inbox. Subscribe today --> HERE!