Love Yourself Know Yourself

The path to professional and academic success is a journey filled with unique challenges, especially for women of color. While the world may sometimes present a façade of ease, the truth is that the journey toward healing, growth, and success is not always smooth. Many of us face higher levels of stress, anxiety, frustration, fear, and, at times, even anger. These feelings are valid, as the weight of discrimination, from microaggressions to systemic biases, continues to impact our lives in significant ways.

Without a strong support system, these challenges can feel even more overwhelming, sometimes even isolating. Navigating the barriers of discrimination, invalidation, and societal stigma, along with inadequate healthcare, requires a deep well of resilience, inner strength, and an unwavering belief in the possibilities that lie beyond our current circumstances.

For women of color striving for advancement in life, it’s crucial to recognize the difficulties we face. But just as importantly, we must honor the collective strength that enables us to rise above these barriers. By sharing our stories, supporting each other, and building a community rooted in empowerment, we can overcome these challenges and reach our goals while also advocating for the change we deserve. Together, we can create a space where we not only survive but thrive.

As we continue this journey, we’ll revisit the difference between simply understanding something and truly knowing it. True self-understanding is about deeply connecting with the nuances, idiosyncrasies, and qualities that shape our identity. However, knowing ourselves isn’t just about self-awareness; it's about how we present ourselves to the world. This section will explore the importance of nurturing this self-understanding as a foundation for our journey toward self-love, along with methods to help facilitate that process.

Reconnecting with our roots is an essential part of our path to self-love. We are encouraged to delve into our personal history, tap into our innate power, and embrace an inward-out way of living that aligns with our truest selves.

What Does "Getting Back to Our Roots" Mean?

The journey to reclaim our true selves is about adopting an inside-out approach to life. This means understanding that reaching our fullest potential comes from looking inward, rather than seeking external validation. "The Path and the Power" aims to help us realize this, while supporting those who feel unseen, unheard, or unprotected.

Reconnecting with our roots is central to this. It brings us to a profound self-awareness, where we embrace the truth that lies deep within us. Cultural awareness plays a significant role in this process, allowing us to tap into our heritage, honor our lineage, and connect with the strength passed down through generations.

Before we begin this journey of reconnection, here are a few steps that can empower us to fully embrace the path to self-love:

• Acknowledge that everything we embody today—our culture, family traits, and challenges—has been passed down through generations.
• Release the internalized stereotypes that limit our potential and success.
• Heal from generational traumas rooted in systemic injustices.
• Recognize the resilience embedded within us, passed down from our ancestors who faced oppression and hardship.
• Free ourselves from societal expectations and myths that have forced us to conform in order to succeed.

Why Is This Important?

Reconnecting with our roots is not only vital for self-love, but also for understanding our intrinsic strength. By learning about the powerful, resilient women in our cultural heritage—queens, warriors, nurturers, and matriarchs—we connect with a deeper sense of pride and power. These ancestral narratives offer a counterbalance to the limited and often stereotypical portrayals of women of color in mainstream media, helping us craft a more authentic narrative about who we are.

As we embrace the diverse, feminist roles our foremothers embodied, we begin to recognize the incredible strength and grace within our lineage. Reclaiming these powerful stories enriches our sense of self-worth and belonging, reinforcing our understanding of who we are and where we come from.

Embracing the Feminine Divine

Reconnecting with our roots as women of color is deeply intertwined with both feminism and the concept of the feminine divine. Feminism advocates for equality and social change, while embracing the feminine divine honors the sacred, nurturing qualities of femininity. These two concepts can coexist, as feminism seeks justice, and the feminine divine values the depth and power of feminine energy.

Embracing both feminism and the feminine divine helps us reconnect with our true power. The strength and essence of the feminine divine have always been tied to the experiences of women of color. Our resilience and courage in navigating the complexities of life have shaped the feminist movement in ways often overlooked.

Our most profound act of love is to rise into our authentic power, showing the world that we can thrive even in the face of adversity. By embracing our true essence, we illuminate the path for others to follow. The journey to freedom begins with understanding ourselves and reclaiming our roots, while the road to collective liberation starts when each of us rises into her full potential.

Paths for Returning to Our Roots

Exploring the stories and practices of our ancestors offers a deeper connection to our identity. By understanding the victories, challenges, and sacrifices of the women who came before us, we recall the strength and regality within us. Knowing where we come from helps us understand our purpose, path, and power.

Here are a few ways to start reconnecting with your roots:

• Conversations with Matriarchs: Engage with the elder women in your family, learning from their wisdom. Record these sessions for guidance during your journey.
• Old Letters and Documents: Explore family history through old letters and documents. Connect with relatives who may have records of your ancestry.
• Ancestral Tree Exploration: Investigate your family tree to deepen your connection with your lineage.
• DNA Registry Exploration: Explore your heritage through services like Ancestry.com or 23andMe.
• Visit Ancestral Land: If possible, visit the lands where your ancestors lived to connect with their culture and history.
• Study Language and Traditions: Learn about the language or religious traditions of your ancestors for deeper cultural understanding.
• Explore Ancestral Lives: Research the lives of ancestors who have passed to learn from their experiences.
• Consult with Spiritual Guides: Seek insights from spiritual leaders or guides to deepen your connection to your roots.
• Study Orisha Goddesses: Learn about the Orisha goddesses for inspiration and to connect with your inner power.
• Musical Influences: Listen to the music that has inspired movements and change throughout history.
• Explore Women's Contributions: Study the contributions of women of color globally, not just in the U.S.
• Visit Cultural Museums: Engage with the exhibits at museums that honor the history of women of color.

By reconnecting with our heritage, we empower ourselves to walk in the fullness of our truth, unburdened by societal expectations and limitations.

Until next time, embrace peace and love on the Journey Up! 

And so it is...

Here's Your Daily Journal Prompt:  

Reach out to an elder in your family or community and simply have a conversation. Invite them to share details about their upbringing, and even their relationships to your foremothers and forefather. Journey with them as far back as they can go in their memory or sharing of stories.  In your journal, jot down your experience. Share some of the following details: Who did you talk to? What did you discover? What avenues did you take? Do you identify with anything you learned? How do you feel now that you know what you know?