Typhanie Alexander

First and foremost, I would say my mom and my village - my mom and the folks who helped to raise and support me, and that's everyone from family to family by choice. Some of my mom's best friends growing up, from when I was young, supported me in lots of ways, so I would say, for sure, my mom and my mom's village, no question. Beyond that, I do believe that being a parent has grounded me in ways I couldn't have ever planned or expected or described. I also believe in really learning from people who come in and out of your life for a season, and honoring that time that you have with them, learning what you can from them while they're here. Presently, my husband is my rock, he's my anchor, and I'm grateful for him. I've known him since I was young, so he's always been a part of that support, too. I would say, hands down my mom and my mom's village, but then also the different relationships that have come in and out of my life. I've learned something from every single person.

I think it's kind of two-part. One is from my coach who was with me on my certification journey, and she told me, you know, don't look back, you're no longer being that way, and her intent was in regards to regret. So don't look back with regret. If you look back, look back with thanks, look back with gratitude, look back for a lesson, but not with regret. And the other was from a business coach of mine who told me, you know, don't overthink it, do it scared. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be present. I hear them each at given moments, especially because it still pops up, you know, every now and then you still get that little twinge or you still get that little doubt. So they're little, kind of like little angels on my shoulder. I hear each of them every now and then in the middle of a situation.

I would say, number one, to know yourself, know yourself inside and out, and to show up in that authenticity, because someone needs exactly who you are. Not a cookie-cutter version of what someone else out there is doing, not something that's perhaps diluted to be palatable, or even marketable. There's someone who needs exactly who you are, and what you love, and what your gifts are, and to show up in that way, and your people will find you.

I think that coaching and training and self-development, self-love, self-growth, self-promotion is not currently considered as a need in society. Coaching and trainings are currently competing with essential needs like safety, transportation, security, and home. I think that the idea that you're worthy and deserving of putting yourself first is a difficult message right now because of everything that people have to juggle on a daily basis that they feel responsible for. It's difficult for people to put themselves first when they're responsible for others. So I think breaking through that noise that, hey, you know, you are worthy and deserving of having the life you desire and deserve - you don't always have to put yourself last, you can choose yourself, and you deserve to choose yourself, and investing in yourself is not something to feel guilty about. As a mom, that's something I struggled with also. It's difficult for people to choose something for self-growth, self-promotion, self-development, self-care when they're already battling so many other things that are commanding their attention, their energy, and their resources. Some of this stuff is not covered by insurance, so you're talking about out-of-pocket expenses for self-love and self-care. However, I believe that there is some collective acknowledgement that there's more to life than just work and bills, and that there's a hunger of people to reconnect after the impact and effects of COVID for so many years. I think there's an opportunity for people to reconnect in community and to seek where they fit in. Some of that self-care journey could look like coming together in community with other people who are also seeking connection, who are also seeking wellness, like holistic wellness. Sometimes it's not just about fixing one area of your life, sometimes it's looking at your whole life in all of its facets and doing a little bit to improve each area. By doing a little bit to improve each area, the whole thing starts to feel better, and in my experience, it feels better in community and in cooperation with others. I think that there is an opportunity now to connect in community and to help more people.

I think that it's really important to, number one, be true to yourself, and sometimes that's not easy, right? Because there may be aspects of ourselves that we may not be proud of, but those are aspects that also contribute to who we are as people. So it's being true to yourself and appreciating and loving yourself in totality, not just for the quote-unquote good stuff, but to really love and appreciate and honor yourself. And then to allow that same thing for others. We are not in a place to control others, and we're not in a place where we can, by will of force, change others. But if we walk in our own gifts, I believe that the people who are in need of those gifts will find us, and who it's for will receive it.