Girl, Listen to This!

Lotus shares her journey back to hope and how having hope improved her life. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠girllisten2this.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

In this episode, Lotus encourages you to start where you are and use whatever you have at your disposal to make steps towards your dreams, rather than waiting until everything is "perfect". Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠girllisten2this.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

Black women in America are socialized to give ourselves very little, if any, grace. In this episode Lotus talks about what giving ourselves grace looks like and why it is important for our well-being. ⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠girllisten2this.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

Do you go through life thinking every bad thing that happens to you is a punishment? This week Lotus talks about growing up believing that, how it affected her, and how she adopted a healthier mindset. ⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠girllisten2this.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

In this episode Lotus defines what it means to think highly of yourself and discusses why it is important for us to do so as Black women. ⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠girllisten2this.wordpress.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

This is a post-inauguration check-in where Lotus shares how she is dealing with the bad behavior happening in Washington, DC. ⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠girllisten2this.wordpress.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

In this episode, Lotus discusses what forgiveness is not and clarifies what forgiveness actually is. ⁠⁠⁠Visit girllisten2this.wordpress.com ⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

In this episode I talk about how I am finding my way through a period where I often feel lost. ⁠⁠Visit our website⁠⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

Though our conditioning for instant gratification may convince us otherwise, small steps over time are what will help us achieve our goals. ⁠Visit our website⁠ to learn more about the podcast.

Because of guilt and shame, it can be challenging to plainly name your painful experiences and emotions. But doing so allows you to break the curse and heal. Visit our website to learn more about the podcast.

I was conditioned to wait for other people's permission to live my life. In this episode I talk about the effect learned helplessness had on me and how I am thankfully unlearning it.

It's important that as we search for meaning and a sense of reverence in our own lives that we avoid appropriating spiritual, religious, and cultural practices that are not ours.

I have always been moved by the idea of a contemplative religious life in spite of being raised in a religious tradition that did not leave much space for quiet contemplation. This is how I have managed to incorporate contemplation into my life in ways that are meaningful for me, even as an atheist.

The holiday season is upon us, and the social interactions during this time of year can be very stressful. In this episode we talk about ways to reduce our stressors and navigate the holidays in ways that are meaningful for us.

Ronni Davis is a YA author with two novels under her belt: "When the Stars Lead to You", and "This Night Is Ours", both published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. She joins us this episode to talk about her journey from childhood storyteller to published author. Learn more about her and her novels at https://ronnidavis.com.

It's normal to dream of the kind of lives our loved ones will live. But when they choose paths and experiences that may be wildly different, we can feel massive disappointment. In this episode I talk about letting go of my dreams for other people's lives.

Words of compassion in the wake of the 2024 election in the United States.

Becoming your own parent, or reparenting, is a process where you can heal inner wounds from childhood. It has been an important part of my healing journey and could help you too. If you want to learn more about reparenting, you can start with this article on Positive Psychology entitled " Reparenting: Seeking Healing for Your Inner Child ".

Many women are conditioned to believe focusing on their needs instead of giving their all to everyone else is selfish. In this episode we talk about why focusing on yourself is an important part of self-preservation.

Before a teacher shared this gem of wisdom with me, I spent most of my life feeling as though life just happened to me. Adopting the viewpoint he shared with me helped me reclaim my sense of agency over my life.

My name, Lotus, is different from the name I was given at birth and holds special meaning for me. In this episode I share where my name came from and what it means.

Ursula Renée has published several historical fiction novels set in the early to mid-twentieth century. In this episode she shares a little bit about her writing journey and what she hopes people get from her writing. You can learn more about her and her novels at www.ursularenee.com .

Whenever I fail at something I feel as though I have also failed as a person. But a friend's wise words helped me see failure in a more positive light.

Have you ever felt as though you don't belong where you are? I've felt that way as a Black woman in the United States for most of my adulthood, until a trip to Ellis Island changed my mind.

It is ironic that leaving Christianity freed me to more perfectly follow the teachings of Christ. ⁠Visit our website⁠ to learn more about the podcast.