Jacinda Phillips

I attribute my success to being intentional in my own relationship and applying what I've learned through 27 years of marriage. My husband and I have been students of our own marriage for 25 of those 27 years. We've read countless books, and I'm big on psychology on my own personal terms. My example is how I live my life and how I've applied it, and then sharing that with others and how they've applied it and shared feedback with me saying, 'Hey, man, that's some really good advice. I wouldn't have thought of that.' I feel like I'm a forward thinker when it comes to how I move in my life. I'm not a person who's a quote-unquote realist, because I'm a change agent. So I'm about making change, and sometimes you can't be realistic when it comes to being an agent of change. My experience in my relationship, being intentional, has been the experience that I've grown from through trial and error and everything. That's where my education comes from, the school of hard knocks, if you will, and I'm very confident in that.

I would say to her, understand and connect to who you are as a being. That's going to be your first point of contact, not relying so heavily on outside influences to help you determine how you want to move in your life. I feel that the best way a young person or anyone can inspire others is to be internally inspired, to be more introverted in how they are, more introspective, internally perspective about who am I? How am I moving in the world? How am I contributing to the world outside of how is the world adding value or taking that value from me? So for me, it's always about, as a young woman, who are you internally before you try to show up in the world and perform and be everything the world needs you to be? Are you who you need to be first?

Many people still have a limited view of relational help. The moment support is mentioned, they often think of therapy or counseling tied to crisis or failure. What’s rarely understood is the value of proactive relational development — helping couples strengthen their relationship before major challenges arise.

We’re not saying couples can predict every obstacle they may face, but we do believe having communication tools, relational strategies, and a plan of action can help them navigate difficulties more effectively when they come. One of the greatest opportunities right now is helping people shift their mindset from seeing relational support as a sign that something is wrong to recognizing it as an intentional investment in the health, growth, and longevity of their relationship.

The most important value to me is intentionality in relationships. When I got married, I didn't want a mundane, mediocre relationship. I wanted something that was fulfilling throughout my life with this person. My husband and I are both intentional in how we move forward in our relationship together and in our relationship with our children. I believe in being proactive rather than reactive. I wanted to give people tools and resources that were more in a space of proactivity, so they can be intentional and purposeful for how they move in their relationship. I'm also a forward thinker and a change agent. I'm about making change, and sometimes you can't be realistic when it comes to being an agent of change. For me, it's about helping people connect to their greatness and their wholeness, and empowering them to take bold and courageous action in their lives.