Woman Evolve with Sarah Jakes Roberts - Hope for a New Level of Self-Awareness w/ Kelly Rowland

Episode Date: January 25, 2023

Sis, W.E. on a new level! While many long for momentum to start the year off strong, W.E. hope for an awareness to sustain it. Teaching the girls how to become more self-aware is Grammy award-winning... singer, songwriter, actress, and executive producer Kelly Rowland! Yaaasss, this episode has us fangirling & colliding with destiny…chiiillleee! She & SJR were honest about what it takes to show up in marriage, in motherhood, in their careers, and for themselves. Let’s just say it calls for deep exploration & divine alignment! Delegation, guess who’s the most influential woman in Kelly’s life? Now, press PLAY to find out! This show is brought to you by BetterHelp.com/Evolve + Zocdoc.com/WomanEvolve + Brooklinen.com.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 God can't bless you for ten to be or who you compare yourself to. He can only bless you and the lane that was created for you. I feel that for somebody. You don't need no itch, it's a tea you need boundaries. What? I don't need your lights, I don't need your validation. All I need is a God party for me that's there for all things. All things, all things.
Starting point is 00:00:27 Try. All right, so we are continuing on with our conversations about hope for new this month, all month long. We're talking about the hope for new levels of self awareness, hope for new perspectives. But this week, specifically, we're going to talk about levels of self-awareness, hope for new perspectives, but this week, specifically, we're going to talk about levels of self-awareness. I feel like this is an underrated, rarely discussed hope that all of us must have. I think that if we are married to the same self-awareness that we had five years ago or ten years ago, then we may be hanging on to a version of ourselves that no longer exists. Hope for a new level of self-awareness is being willing to ask ourselves in this moment,
Starting point is 00:01:09 who am I? How am I showing up? Who have I been? Maybe you've never even asked yourself these types of questions, but there's something really powerful about saying, how can I become more aware of who I am, the effect I have on those around me, and is this a reflection of who God says I am, or where I am headed. Some of the changes that we need to make in our lives
Starting point is 00:01:30 aren't gonna be done exclusively by creating a list and making the plan, but it's also gonna be done by having an awareness about who we are. I have a tendency to show up and procrastinate. I have a tendency to show up and then shrink, but to have a level of self-awareness that says, this may be who I am, but it is not who I am becoming, is one of the most powerful gifts
Starting point is 00:01:51 that you can give yourself. I can only imagine how many times today's guests had to do that. When I think about Kelly Rowland, of course, I could tell you, all of the accolades, all of the achievements, we know her. She is our sister and our head. But I imagine that growing up being who she is, that she had so many moments where she had to ask herself, who am I now? Is it true
Starting point is 00:02:14 to who I am becoming and am I willing to make some changes? I'm going to mind her business and I am so excited that she's allowing you to join me in this journey of minding her business. I feel like excited that she's allowing you to join me in this journey of mining her business. I feel like this conversation is going to be one that you did not even know that you needed. If you've never seen Kelly outside of the stage and the incredible music or films or business that she does, get ready to meet someone who reminds you that all of us, no matter where we are in life, are more alike than we are different. Let's get into it. I tell this story at every birthday party,
Starting point is 00:02:51 but when I first moved to LA, I was struggling. And I didn't have a big circle. I didn't have a lot of community, and I felt like I was still proving myself and discovering myself in a lot of ways, and all I wanted to do was get my hair done. And my husband called someone, she was of European descent to do my hair and she jacked the edges up. Edge was not as important to her as they were to me and I had a nice little bald patch going on my edges. And then finally, I don't know how it happened,
Starting point is 00:03:25 but I finally was like, baby, I need somebody who understands that I need every last one of these follicles to make it. Every last one that God gave me, I need to give back to them in heaven. And that is when Kelly entered my life and sent me just not just hair, but she's like, what else do you need? Do you need doctors?
Starting point is 00:03:42 Do you need grocery stores? And so, Kelly, I love you. Thank you. You were there for me. I think at one of the most pivotal transitions in my life. And I'm just grateful to have this conversation with you. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:03:54 I love you. You know you. Always here. And I'm so grateful for you and grateful for I find. And it just continues to grow. And you know, you you my sister Naka. Yeah we stuck together like Chuck which is why I want to ask you this year we're talking about like hope just hope in general like I feel like that's one of the things that the world really needs I think
Starting point is 00:04:19 we know pressure I think we know stress I think we know defeat I know I think we know grief but I really want to spend this year focusing we know defeat, I know, I think we know grief. But I really want to spend this year focusing on hope. Where does it come from? How do we protect it? How do we maintain it? And I think during the month of January, people are really focused on like, oh my gosh, there's so much new that like I'm hoping to do this this year and that this year.
Starting point is 00:04:40 And I think that that momentum is necessary to start the year, but we want to sustain it. And I'm wondering as you have started this new year, as you're like rolling up your sleeves, like what is it that you know about yourself that you're holding onto for hope in whatever possibilities are available to you? Like what are you holding onto about yourself this new season? Oh goodness, that's a great question. One, what am I holding on to? My possibilities, I'll definitely say, and I think it's for me, 2023, is about breaking procrastination. I know that probably sounds like some people, when I say it to people, they're like, you procrastinate, I'm like, yes.
Starting point is 00:05:40 Sometimes I'll have like a little hiccup, you know what I mean? Where I'm like, well, can I do this? And I think that I'm holding on to my what I can do instead of what I can't. Because if I see something and it looks big in front of me, sometimes it's quite daunting. And I'm like, nah, I can't possibly do it. And I might like talk myself, try to talk myself out of it, but instead this time, I wanna talk myself into it. Okay, so you're holding on to what you can do.
Starting point is 00:06:13 And I feel like that takes a lot of self-awareness and definitely a perspective shift, because I think most of us spend a lot of time thinking about what we can't do. So what are some of the affirmations? Like, what do you tell yourself when you're in a moment and you're like, your initial responses, I can't do it. And then you got to like, renew that mind real fast.
Starting point is 00:06:33 Like, what do you tell yourself instead? And maybe you give me an example. Let me get in your business. Give me an example. OK. OK. Let's see. There is something that I'm working on right now. And I have to
Starting point is 00:06:47 call somebody or I have to call somebody. Um, and I was literally, yeah, I had to call somebody. I was getting ready to dial the number and I was like, oh, I had all this like angst in my stomach. And I was like, oh, oh, oh, maybe they're busy. I just said they're busy. I just did busy for now. I'll give it 30 minutes and then 10 minutes later something goes now. Why would you wait 30 minutes? Why are you why are you doing this again? So I could hear myself talking to myself or maybe spirit talking to me and just saying calm down. What are you waiting for? Calm down and so I was like I must be be like close to something great because
Starting point is 00:07:28 everything is trying to talk me out of it. But I'm like, even if it's like this, it would talk me out of it, you know what I mean? But it's like, yes, because it's like, you know, if you're that much closer to something great or doing something greater, think it's something greater. So think of doing something with yourself about yourself. Like of course, like there will be something to pull you back to what you're used to doing. And the unfamiliar territory scares the crap out of you or scares the crap out of me,
Starting point is 00:07:58 but it's the part where I grow the most. And I'm like, I don't wanna be stagnant in my growth. And I don't wanna, it's usually my kids there because I don't want them to see me stagnant in my growth. And I notice like just certain things like whether it's, like Titan is really shy in a room. And so I'm like, did he see us be shy in a room? And Tim is like, yes, he's seen me be shy in a room
Starting point is 00:08:23 where I'm like, oh, I do kind of get reserved. If I, you know what I mean? So when I see certain things manifest in them, I'm like, ooh, let me fix this quick. So it's usually my- Wow. Okay, so I am stuck at you talking yourself out of making a phone call.
Starting point is 00:08:39 We must break this down. I feel like when I view other women, they are strong, they are confident. Like I have seen you on the spot. Like I've seen videos, videos of you on social media, on the spot, using your voice, putting someone in their place, and it looked like so easy for you.
Starting point is 00:09:02 So the fact that you could have nerves about a phone call, one, it makes me feel a little less crazy, but also I just want to understand like what is it about us using our voice in a new way, an unfamiliar way, a more assertive way that makes this one a shrink before we show up. Don't you think it's past? I think for me it's past. It's like just growing up. And maybe it was somebody, or I can say for me personally,
Starting point is 00:09:33 it was possibly somebody who tried to quiet my voice. You know what I mean? And I don't think that parents try to do it. I don't think that teachers try to do it. I don't think that people who come in and out of your life try to do it, it don't think that teachers try to do it I don't think that people you know who come in and out of your life try to do it It might have been something that they were shown and maybe like that's Unfortunately their way of dealing with it, which is like you usually mock what you see which is why right?
Starting point is 00:09:59 Parenthood is like oh my gosh. Well, how do I figure out which is why I'm going through dog-owned general parenting right now. I'm trying to figure out how do I change or break the cycle. Do you know what I mean? So it's like, okay, I need to communicate with Titan this morning. Like him and his dad had his disagreement and we broke down the disagreement and then come to find out Titan left out parts of the story that his dad told me parts of the story and I'm like having to break everything down
Starting point is 00:10:25 and set up, why did you do that? Like I can't do that. I have to show him how to communicate first. Cause here I am at the tender age of 41, trying to figure out communication. You know what I mean? With anybody that I love. So let me help him at eight with his communicating
Starting point is 00:10:44 that I didn't get eight, but I'm learning about it at 41. I don't know who this is for, but stay off Beyonce's internet self-diagnosing your symptoms and sis. Stop hitting up your friends from medical opinions. They don't know. You won't find quality medical advice in your group chat, but you can on ZockDock with thousands of medical professionals to choose from.
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Starting point is 00:12:09 I'm all for gentle parenting and using your words. It's hard. And I think... Ella, I want Ella to use less of her voice. I don't want her to use less of it. Why did she give me? She gives me too much to work with and I don't want to shut it down. But and then I don't know, I don't know. I need like I'm not fluent in gentle parenting.
Starting point is 00:12:32 Like I'm still picking it up. And um, sometimes she says some things to me and I just my initial response is very generational and it's not, it's not new. It's not what I what I want to show up. I don't know. I I feel you to the upteam the power because If I like I told Titan the other day I said dude. I said if you said To your grandma. I said if I said what I said what you just said to me to your grandma the doors. I said I don't think I'd be here, but Has nothing to do with you I said yeah, what I'm telling you is please don't use your tone or your voice to talk to me like that
Starting point is 00:13:14 Do I disrespect you? He said no, mom. I said no, honestly, do I disrespect you? He said no? I said do I talk or be you he said no, I said do I raise my voice at you. He said, do I raise my voice at you? He said, you try not to. I can tell. The fact that he said you try not to, I can tell. I was like, but you, you, you try and meet him. So I know that, you know, and it's, it's so funny because somebody said in this general parenting video, no kids don't know anything about manipulation. I just tilted my head. It was like really. Really. Really.
Starting point is 00:13:49 How was that even possible? But I mean, I'm still learning about general parenting. Is it the hardest thing ever? Well, it sounds like you're also gentle parenting yourself and trying to use your voice and really assert yourself. And I don't know, I can imagine, no, I probably can't imagine what it was like living your life out loud for the world to see
Starting point is 00:14:15 and a certain level of confidence being assumed about you, a certain level of just knowing being assumed to you because your path seems so clear and maybe for somebody easy, if you're looking with one eye, maybe it looks easy because there's another part of me that looks like that was only made for the strong. How do you even hold on to yourself when everyone's pulling at you? Like literally the world is pulling at you. Like what does self-awareness look like when there's like Kelly Rowland that we see and know
Starting point is 00:14:49 and love and think we know. And then the Kelly Rowland that you're going to bed with at night. Oh, I think that to tell the different people to be honest is like, in that time, I mean, just being younger, it was just trying to figure it out, especially in my 20s. You know what I mean? Like, I think we were all trying to figure everything out in our 20s, so I fact that the rest of the world was like me, I was like, oh, it's, well, we're gonna be okay. You know what I'm mean? So it's like a lot of my esteem was brought about with the rest of the world and their opinion. You know what I mean? And when I put my hand on my pillow at night, you know, I felt blessed of anything,
Starting point is 00:15:47 but it was like, I should be grateful for this moment, and I am grateful for this moment, but it was also like, if I was tired, I don't think I thought about even being tired. You know what I mean? Whether it was tired or whether it was... And it's not to say that it was too much,
Starting point is 00:16:09 because it wasn't too much. It was more so like things were moving. And I loved the direction that it was going and I'm grateful for every moment that I have, but it was also like, it was go time. And I was with go time, but when it was time to be still and allow myself like a moment, I probably didn't know when to stop.
Starting point is 00:16:31 If that makes anything. It does. There's just like fine line between I am living a life that other people would pray for. And I am going to show up and live it out in a way that makes God proud, makes me proud, and honors the moment. But also this human side of I am tired. And I do wish I could say no without worrying whether or not I'm gonna lose the opportunity.
Starting point is 00:17:01 I feel like in my own way, I've dealt with that in different stages. And I've had moments like right before, it was time for us to go into a new city where I literally, maybe it was insecurity, maybe it was straight up truth set. Like, I'm not built for this. Like, I'm tired.
Starting point is 00:17:18 It requires too much vulnerability. Too many people are staring at me and I'm not my best. And you show up and you do what needs to be done in the moment. But like, how do you take care of yourself? Did you ever have this moment where you're like, I have to honor that two things can be true at one time, that this is a blessing that I am fortunate, that this is an opportunity of a lifetime. And I'm tired and I need better boundaries because I want to do this for a long time, not for a short window.
Starting point is 00:17:48 I don't think I ever had that job. To be honest, the one where you're like, it's two at one time. I'm like, wow, I wish I did circle my brain. You know what I mean? Because I think that I would have handled it. A lot of things would be different. You know what I mean? And it's like some of those things that you look at
Starting point is 00:18:13 at 20, like look impossible. And it's like, oh, if I do that, like you said, then I don't know if this opportunity's gonna be here. And I don't wanna just like watch it go away. And but at the same time, I loved it. On one side, I loved it, I fought through it. And another moment, I'm like, oh, you know what I mean? What did that cost me?
Starting point is 00:18:35 But at the same time, I still feel like I'm good. Does that make any sense? Yeah. I think so. I think so. Yeah. Yeah, I just feel. I think so. Yeah. Yeah, I just feel like, because I will say, I feel like our school, our school,
Starting point is 00:18:54 don't nobody work the way we work. I'm sorry. We were like, we were tired. And it's a blessing that was, I know for me, I'm still able to do shows overseas or you know people call from like all over like that's that's me that was what The hard work cemented you know what I mean was the opportunity and the opportunity continues to give here we are 20 something years from now and I still get those calls. are 20 something years from now. And I still get those calls. So that's why I say on one side, it's like,
Starting point is 00:19:26 no, I'm happy I did it. And then it's like, no, I'm just happy I did it. But it does cost you a bit, but you just have to, you know, see how you feel in that moment, I guess. Did you feel like, so maybe you didn't feel like that in your 20s, but do you feel like you honor those moments more now?
Starting point is 00:19:43 Like was there this turning point, this change, where you realize, I am gonna have to start surrendering to these moments where I don't have it, but trust that I can get it if I go on vacation, or if I say no to this meeting, like how does it show up for you now? I'll definitely tap out. I'll say untire, or I can't do it today, or I honestly, it was my kids.
Starting point is 00:20:11 My kids got me more focused to be honest. Like now, I have this thing to wear. I always say, I'm like, yes, I want to do it or yes, I want to show it for this person or yes, I love this idea. Let's try it. Let's do it. Now I'm like, let's tighten me. Well, does he have something in school?
Starting point is 00:20:32 OK, I need to be home or I haven't been home in a couple, like two weeks or three weeks, I need to go home. No, Noah is the little, you know, clinging one now. I'm like, when he calls my name, I want to be right there. So because the top of the top of the top of the top, the end of last year, I was getting ready to go on a trip and Noah saw my bags out and he said, Mama, I said, oh, no.
Starting point is 00:20:59 This kid equates me to a suitcase. This is not good. So, and how is that going to affect him in the long run? I said, I literally told my team, I'm prioritizing, like, of course, I've prioritized my kids before, but it's different now. Like, it's like, no, I'm not going to do that. And it's like great, exciting stuff. And I'm like, I want to say, yes, so bad, Sarah, so bad. But I had to say no to like four things that just came up that are really awesome opportunities, but it's just like, no, I'll be okay. And if they're supposed to happen again,
Starting point is 00:21:38 they'll happen at a different time. So just priority shift and change. I think that even self-awareness shifts and changes too, So just priority shift and change. I think that even self-awareness shifts and changes too because that same 20 year old who knew how to go and go and go is now understanding the need for pause. I feel like that happens so much in my life. Like what was the priority six months ago? Is not a priority now depending on what's happening and my life and in my world. And I feel like with the kids especially, you only have like a window, right?
Starting point is 00:22:10 Like you've only got this window of getting in right. I can't remember the other morning I woke up. I was exhausted. And I was into myself like, I don't know, like they're going to start waking themselves up. Like I don't know if this is for me. They need to grow up. L.S. They need to grow up.
Starting point is 00:22:24 They need to grow up and start taking care of themselves. But I felt like God told me, like God just got me, the Holy Spirit met me right in that moment and was like, she's only gonna be six for a little while. And in a minute, you're gonna be preparing to send her out of the house to go to college to do whatever. So you're trying to have enough energy right now for a version of her that's gonna change in three years, four years, five years, and having to remember that in those moments where things are stressful is important.
Starting point is 00:22:54 Not just for me as I'm showing up for them, but I think as a mother who's navigating career and opportunities is because you know, the sacrifice that you have to make when they're young is not the same sacrifice that you make when they're 20. And I feel like for women who are a career-minded, who have decided that they want to be entrepreneurs, they want to climb the ladder, they want to go back to school. A lot of times they're wondering, am I sacrificing my destiny for my children or is it possible that I can actually put it on pause. And it sounds like you're trusting that there are certain opportunities that can pause while you show up for the kids. And then you can resume them. Maybe it's a different company, maybe it's a different vision, but it's still a continuation of who you once were.
Starting point is 00:23:37 It is. I completely agree with that. It's so funny because a girlfriend of mine, and a girlfriend of mine and I were talking about how I think, and I'm not just saying is, I think women are the most amazing beings on this earth because just the fact that we can figure out, you know, the way the household runs, the way the motherhood and sharing ourselves with our spouses, husbands and then like it being an extension to the kids and making sure that everything is good while we are at home or not at home and figuring out work and running a company. And you know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:24:24 Like the fact that we are so many different things, like, and we show up, like, and where's we put our all into it? Like, I think we are extraordinary. Because it's like, I sometimes, and I love my team. I love him with all my heart, but he's like,
Starting point is 00:24:45 oh my god, like, did you prepare breakfast? I was like breakfast has been done. Or, you know what I mean? It's done. It's in the warm air time for you. But breakfast is done. Titan's lunch is packed. His karate clothes are laid out for when he gets home from school. You know what I mean? I ordered food already because I know I'll be gone on Thursday and Friday. So it's like, boom, boom, like we are slow. How do we do it? How do we do it?
Starting point is 00:25:11 I don't know. I don't know, Kelly. Yesterday I got up at 4.45, I boxed, I made breakfast, lunch, dinner for the kids, I took meetings, like I did all of the things and I literally went to bed thinking like, I don't know how you just did that but it was definitely a win. Yes and PS I think that we should give ourselves more grace you know what I mean
Starting point is 00:25:35 because I know for me like I still feel like like last night I went to bed and I was just like there was a moment I think where I think I raised my voice at Titan. And when he got in the bed with me because it was thundering here last night, I just took a moment, I said, Titan, I said, I was out of line earlier, man. I said, I'm so sorry, I raised my voice. I was like, and I didn't have to,
Starting point is 00:26:00 I could have just talked to you. And he said, you're right, goodnight, mommy. Yeah, and I was the moment, like I almost put my head on my pillow. That was my only regret for that day. But it was just, you know what I mean? But it was a big one to me because I don't like to have any friction with my kids before we're going to bed or my husband before we go to bed. So, but it's like we think about so much and like I, it'll weigh on you the whole day or that weight on me the whole day and that was the one thing that I worried about. At least he forgave you. At least he forgave you. It's true. At least he did. You're right.
Starting point is 00:26:44 I am on this journey of like discovering the things that bring me joy and pour back into my soul. So I have to ask, what brings you joy? What do you do for yourself? Vacation. Water. Mmm. Beach. Um, a little, uh, shoday.
Starting point is 00:27:03 Um, a nice little meditation prayer, and watching movies, or watching something that I love. Like I love watching movies, and I love watching, you know, the binge-worthy shows. So yeah, that makes me, that brings me to you. Are you a sit down and do nothing, one vacation person, or like, what are we doing this morning vacation person? No, I want to sit by the water and do nothing
Starting point is 00:27:31 Like I I want to eat I want to be doing things You know me I'm gonna eat there. Come on So yeah, I want to eat. I want to just relax and chill, maybe play some games on the beach or listen to music, just relax, just unplug, just to just be. Sis, if you're leaving bad sleep behind in the new year, I am right there with you. After learning about the benefits of sleeping with a weighted blanket, I had to give it a try. So I pulled up on Brooklyn and home of the Internet's favorite sheets.
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Starting point is 00:28:47 Visit Brooklyn in dot com today and score $20 off plus free shipping on orders of $100 plus with code evolve that's BROOK, L-I-N-E-N dot com for $20 off your order with code evolved. Okay, so we're gonna answer an advice question. But first I have to ask you, when you look at your life and all of the women who have played a part in you being who you are today,
Starting point is 00:29:19 who is the woman who is most influential, but maybe less known. I'm gonna say less known, because I know that you have a lot of different people, but who do you think is like the underrated hero, heroin of your life? Yeah, and tell me about her. Ooh.
Starting point is 00:29:42 Underrated. I'm degraded. I mean, everybody cut. Take it to the notes, sir. Well, it's okay. I mean, I don't know. But you know a version of her that we don't know. So go ahead. I mean, I definitely say it was my mom.
Starting point is 00:30:16 And the reason why I said it was, and here's a strange part, is I think my mom. Oh, God. I think she blessed me even more in her passing than her time here, even on earth. She shows up for me in ways that blow my mind. I think some of these tears are guilt so of shock. But when I never forget when we moved from Atlanta to Houston, that was really brave of her. I don't know if I ever talk about that, but I'm really proud of her because my mom was very much so like. She was, she was brave. She also like was, you know, a little bit fearful. And she didn't know anybody in Houston, Texas, but she picked up and she moved
Starting point is 00:31:39 because she wanted a different life for her child. And my life changed when I moved to Texas in dramatic ways. I just... she is that chick in my head. I often wish I could like see her face to face just to tell her how much she gave me. How much she means to me. Yes, I needed to get this out. Okay. It would definitely be my mother. Wow. This is going to get worse because I have to ask the next question. It's like a part of the season. It's going to get worse.
Starting point is 00:32:34 Okay. It's going to get worse. Prepare yourself. Okay. Um, so part of what I'm asking women this year is like, who is that woman in your world? I want you to tell us her name. And? I want you to tell us her name, and then I want you to tell us like,
Starting point is 00:32:47 what you hope she knows. Like, I hope she knows, and then you fill in the blank. Oh. I'll show our startup just like that woman is my mother indoors and tell her name. Yeah. Okay. Mm-hmm.
Starting point is 00:33:03 So that woman for me is Doris. She's had several lessons. That woman for me is Doris. Rollin' love it. I hope she knows that I'm so proud to her for. And I hope I make a problem. I was a drag. Look at you over there crying and snoring. Look at you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. No. Thank you. I don't hear about your mom often. Obviously, I knew when she passed, but it's good. I feel like you know more about a woman when you know about the women who helped to pave a way for her.
Starting point is 00:34:34 And it sounds like your mom did exactly that. And then I also feel like it's important when someone is passed to speak their name, you know, because I feel like it keeps their legacy alive in the earth. And so I thank God for doors and for the gift of you because I experienced doors through you. So thank you, friend.
Starting point is 00:34:52 Thank you. Thank you. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. What I know for sure is working with the right therapist can help you find your most authentic self. I've been in therapy for some time now and after doing the inner work, I'm feeling like the highest version of myself these days.
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Starting point is 00:35:43 Talk to your therapist however you feel comfortable, that's text, chat, phone, or video. It's the flexibility for me. If you want to live a more empowered life therapy can help you get there. Visit betterhelp.com slash evolve today to get 10% off your first month. That's better H-E-L-P dot com slash evolve. It's betterhelp.com slash evolve. We're going to mind someone's business, okay? Okay, okay. We're going to mind someone else's business. We've been far enough in your business.
Starting point is 00:36:18 We're going to mind somebody else's business. We have it. Okay. I want to invite a question. Okay. Okay, to advice question. Okay. Okay, here we go. Says, hello, Pastor Sarah or S.J. as I affectionately call you.
Starting point is 00:36:30 I'm new to listening to you and I'm hooked. There were two podcasts that hit me this season of my life longevity and sisterhood with Beast and my Honolulu me pause. Kelly, just so you know, when they send these advice questions, I tell them, don't send me to a three sentence because they want to know should I leave them. And I want to know how long y'all did together. And what did he do?
Starting point is 00:36:46 And did he buy you flowers on Valentine's Day? So this is about to be the longest advice question you've ever heard on a podcast. Take notes. Okay. Okay. I'll go. Okay. There were two podcasts that hit me in this season of my life, longevity and sisterhood
Starting point is 00:37:01 and faithfulness of sisterhood. To hear B. Simone and Megan's relationship raised the question of how come me and my sister can't get along like that and they are not even blood related. This hit home because my sister and I don't have the best if any relationship. We weren't raised in the same home. I was raised by our mother until the age of 14 and she was raised by her biological father until 15. Essentially, we were both abandoned at very young ages. As adults, we just don't see eye to eye.
Starting point is 00:37:30 I'm the oldest, 47, and she's 43. In the few years I was raised by my mother, I was raised in a very strict and structured home. My sister, on the other hand, was raised by her father, who was barely home and running a business less structured. Fast forward to now, we do things differently. We have periods where we don't speak for weeks or months at a time. Currently, we're in one of those periods.
Starting point is 00:37:53 My question is, how do I have a relationship with my sister that doesn't always end up with us not speaking? How do I manage this relationship with my sister without disrupting my boundaries and peace? There tends to be a lot of drama in her life and it is often dumped on me, but there's never an opportunity for me to share my concerns. I find myself always having to extend the olive branch even if I wasn't wrong. I don't believe she even realizes how her actions affect me.
Starting point is 00:38:19 They may be because that may be because I don't wear my emotions on my sleeves. I've considered cutting her off completely. However, our mother has been diagnosed with dementia. So we have to interact to take care of her. I know there are so many layers to this, but whatever you can advise would be greatly appreciated. And this wants to know how to manage a sister relationship. Hmm.
Starting point is 00:38:40 Go for it. What's her name? She doesn't, she didn. What's her name? She doesn't, she didn't give us her name because she don't want her sister here that they beefing. Okay. So we just got a collar somehow. So we can collar some different.
Starting point is 00:38:52 We gonna call her sister because it sounds like she needs a sister right now. So. Yeah. One, I think that I'm trying to make sure I remember everything. According to her history, it sounds like nobody's even shown her how to be a sister. So learning, you know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:39:16 It's like the abandonment, the separation. How are all these things supposed to equate you to just automatically know how to be a sister? Just the fact that you're inquiring about it goes to show how big your heart is because at least you're wanting information in wanting to know how to be a sister. So that's compassion. You have the potential. You're on the way to being a great sister if you have compassion. Two, I think that when it comes to sisterhood, it's about being honest.
Starting point is 00:39:50 And I think that you have to be honest with your sister. It sounds like you guys definitely do have a struggle in the fact that this is too completely different. My mindset, your mom was home, her dad wasn't home. So here's the unavailable dad and here's the woman with, you know, a woman who's always there. So it sounds like you've got like pieces of that, you know, female to female relationship, but she's really probably struggling trying to figure out what that is.
Starting point is 00:40:23 You might be the first person to show her what that is. Not putting all the pressure on you by no means at all. But I think that both of y'all need some grace in this walk. I think that you have to be honest. I think that the, sometimes even you have to like, excuse your like ego. You know what I mean? Because sometimes you're like,
Starting point is 00:40:45 well I know this better, I know this better. And I ain't got nothing to do with you in that moment. It has to do with your mother who has dementia. That's what I need to be coming together for to make sure that y'all are communicating like write down the things that you want to say and then maybe like make a near make your list and then see if you've been petty on some of it and see if you're like really trying to have like a connecting moment with her. But sisterhood is beautiful and it's complex because I think that naturally sometimes like there's this thing on women where we need to compete. But I think that that's so far, like you know, before us that we need to start to just remove that at this
Starting point is 00:41:26 moment and just make space for humility. You know what I mean? We're not perfect as women. We don't know everything and we're figuring it out. And I think that when you have a space to talk and connect with her, have a sense of humility. Leave everything else at the door. And just if you want to connect, you will. But I think that for me, I've prayed before meetings with my sisters. I have written things down so that we can have some clarity because I don't want it to weigh on us
Starting point is 00:42:03 individually and our relationship and your kids can fill all of that too. So I just think that it's really important to be honest, have humility, and like I said, you sound like you already have compassion. Yeah, that's where I would start. I think that's a phenomenal answer. You used a few keywords that I think are so important. You talked about if you want to connect and removing ego. And I think you have to be honest with yourself at 47 and 43.
Starting point is 00:42:40 Do I want to be in relationship with my sister? And if the answer is yes, then I think you have to go that second step of asking yourself, am I willing to change to be in relationship with my sister? Because a lot of times relationship struggle because you enter it and you're like, I'm not gonna change anything about myself.
Starting point is 00:42:58 This is the way it is. And this is how I've always done it. And then you end up having someone who's like, well then, if you can be by yourself. But if you're gonna come to her in humility and begin to ask questions, I've always done it. And then you end up having someone who's like, well, then you can be by yourself. But if you're going to come to her in humility and begin to ask questions, like, how does it make you feel when I say this or what's a better way to express that? You have to know that that may mean you have to modify versions of yourself in order to
Starting point is 00:43:18 be in relationship with that person. My sister and I, sometimes I feel like we could not be more different and then I think we could not be more like, but I think in those moments where I feel like we couldn't be more different, that I have to give her space to be on her own journey, to not control her decisions and to be a support system that's not just saying I told you so, but what do you need? Okay, maybe I knew that that one won't work out well, but now is not the time for me to express that.
Starting point is 00:43:45 Maybe instead I should say, how can I take care of your heart or what can I do to serve you? I think a lot of times siblings feel like my role is to make sure that you avoid the mistakes that I've made. And I think that your experiences can be helpful to your siblings, but it doesn't mean that they're gonna take that path.
Starting point is 00:44:02 True love is saying, even if you make your own decision because I have decided that I want to be in relationship with you, I'll go with you. Even if I knew we was gonna run out of gas. Even if I knew that this path was gonna be rocky, even if I knew it was gonna be a struggle, if it's gonna be a struggle, I want you to know you're not in it on your own.
Starting point is 00:44:22 Love is a decision. Like a lot of times we act like we fall out of love or just didn't work out anymore, but that thing is a decision every single day to choose love over division, to choose love over disappointment and you got to make that decision. I think in the best case scenario she makes that decision with you. You guys get to say that we weren't raised together. We have different ways of being, but if we are going to choose to love one another through no matter what, let's make some changes to make sure that we get to know each other and then can serve one another and to become a better woman in our 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, 100s that we want to do this thing together.
Starting point is 00:45:02 And that takes work. It does. And because she said, like, you think for me, who would she say she's 40, 47, right? is a hundred that we want to do this thing together. And that takes work. It does. And because she said like, I think for him, what she said, she's 47, right? She's 47? Like, she said in her words.
Starting point is 00:45:12 You know what I mean? So it's just like you said, it makes a choice. Right. We've got to make the choice. For sure. That was great advice here. Thank you, friend.
Starting point is 00:45:23 Okay, so before we go, I just want to know, we are coming into this new season, 2023. I know, like, you're going to do all kinds of, like, industry type interviews where they're like, what can we expect from you on, like, the business side? But I want to know, like, what can we expect from you on the wholeness, on the womanhood, on the confidence journey that you're on? Like what can we expect to see? No, I'll say what can we expect to experience from you? Because we may not see it because it may be so inner and so deep that it's just intimate between you and
Starting point is 00:46:00 God and you and your friends. But what will we experience from you as a result of the decision you're making for yourself this year? Wow, these are great questions. I think your experience, you'll see me making different kind of decisions when it comes to business. Yeah, because it's like I said, I have the thing on my mirror that I wrote, it's nothing you can't do. So now that I want to stay in this mindset, I'm like, okay, it's nothing I can't do. So now that I want to stay in this mindset, I'm like, okay, it's nothing I can't do. So what, what, what can I go out here and conquer? What I
Starting point is 00:46:51 want to conquer next? So what has been on this goal is for 10 years that I'm about to conquer. So it's literally that. Like, I want you to see the things that have been on my goals list. You start to see trickle around you. For sure. Beautiful. If that makes any sense. I can't wait. Every time it does, it makes a lot of things.
Starting point is 00:47:15 It does, it makes sense. Yeah. I think it's gonna make even more sense at the end of 2023 when we see you out here making your move. So I love you, friend. I'm excited for you. Thank you. Thank you for this. I love you. here making your move. So I love you, friend. I'm excited for you. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:47:26 Thank you for this. I love you. Thank you so much. And thank, look, thank you for the tears. I'm sitting up here and I was like, in my hands for a second as you were talking. And I was like, why did I have such a meltdown? And it's because I had this moment in the car earlier this year.
Starting point is 00:47:43 And I don't know why I just started crying. It was hard, and then I tried to get it together fast because I was with someone from my team in the car with me. And I was like, get it together. Just suck it up, suck it up. And the rest of it just came out so, so sorry. Sorry, but now sorry, but I do feel better. So thank you.
Starting point is 00:48:11 I love it. No, I think that that moment's going to help a lot of women. So I appreciate you being courageous and even sharing it. You know, allegedly, like a part of the gentle parenting and reparenting of ourselves is like it's okay to like cry and like, you know Be seen and to like have meltdowns and make she human. That's what they say allegedly. Okay. Okay, allegedly. Okay Okay, I love you have a great day. I love you. Thank you for having me. Hi.
Starting point is 00:48:46 Bye Sarah. Kelly, friend, sister, we needed those tears. It gave us permission to let a few fall ourself. Thank you so much for your light, for your love, and for your commitment to constantly living out loud. We appreciate you for making room in your so busy schedule to hang out with us. I had a blast. I will make sure that we have a vacation in some food very soon. And I know so many other women who are connected to this podcast are going to walk away feeling blessed and inspired to do their inner
Starting point is 00:49:25 works. So thank you thank you friend for doing yours. Let's continue talking next week. I can't wait to grow with you learn with you evolve with you and hope with you. See you soon. you you

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