Mindset, Mason Jars, and Hip Hop
Hello Reader,
Happy Friday. I hope you found some joy this week and stayed hydrated.
Now I have to be honest, the hydration part was hard for me this week, but not for the reason you think. I bought one of those fancy water bottles, thinking I was about to become one of those polished wellness women on TikTok, and baby, it was a struggle. I like what I like, so I am officially going back to my mason jar. I am a small-town girl at heart, and apparently, that includes my drinking vessels.
This week I started talking more about my masterclass, Rewrite Your Mindset, and I also wrote a Substack essay about the origin story behind it. One thing I have realized after more than three decades as an entrepreneur is that no one really teaches us about mindset in a meaningful way. We are taught strategy, productivity, branding, business plans, and how to push through, but very little about how our thinking shapes the way we move through life. And in my own journey of seeking knowledge and understanding myself, I have come to realize there are many layers at play when it comes to how we think, respond, and build our lives.
I also had a couple of doses of joy this week.
The first was having the opportunity to interview one of my heroes from hip hop, and her interview comes out on Tuesday. Listen, I was that girl sneaking into clubs with a fake ID just to hear my favorite artists. But beyond the music, I was also part of what we used to call the conscious movement. We went to poetry readings, spent afternoons in Black bookstores, wore dashikis with cowrie shells and incense everywhere, and thought deeply about art, politics, and liberation. So when Arrested Development came onto the scene, it completely rocked my world.
Last month, I had the honor of interviewing Eshe Light, yes, the dancer y’all, and for a moment, I was transported right back to being a teenager. I honestly had to gather myself. Whew. And let’s just say there was another moment during that interview that caught me completely off guard, but you’ll hear all about it on Tuesday.
My second dose of joy came from the company Womaness sending me a PR box full of their products, which completely surprised me. I am so excited to try more of their collection, and you already know I’m going to tell you exactly what I think. Listen, I plan on being one of those fabulous older women still wearing bright colors and shiny gold lips while living my best life, so we have to keep it together over here.
Because here’s the thing. As a Gen X latchkey kid who grew up with limited choices and a whole lot of “figure it out,” I really believe our generation is stepping into something new. And honestly, sometimes it takes a few new bells and whistles to help us get there.
I also did a lot of writing over on my Substack this week, and if you would like to read and subscribe, I’ll leave the link below.
I think next week I want to talk about deferred dreams. I’ve been speaking with so many women who are entering a new phase of life and trying to define what their next chapter will look like. I recently watched a clip with Rita Wilson, who shared that Oprah Winfrey once told her the reason she’s able to accomplish so much is that she is clear about what she wants, and most people are not.
That stayed with me.
So I’ll leave you with the same question.
What do you want?
Not what sounds good. Not what people expect from you. Not what feels practical or safe. What do you actually want for your life?
I’ve learned that when we arrive at those turning points in life, it becomes necessary to clear things out emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and sometimes physically, so we can lighten the load and become radically honest about what comes next.
If you missed any of the emails this week, check your inbox, and if you’re standing at a fork in the road wondering what your next chapter could look like, I hope you’ll take a look at Rewrite Your Mindset.
As always, have an amazing weekend and stay hydrated. (as I reach for my mason jar)
With love,
Monica Wisdom
