Episode 16 - Living in Excellence Instead of Perfection with Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell
By Jessica Garrison
Our guest this week, Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell, is a loving, kind, generous, and empowered woman. From the first few minutes of her conversation with Melissa, I was engaged in her stories and lessons; it’ll have you taking notes up to the very last moment.
The first talking point on the podcast, “Prioritizing Self Care”, really kicks off the theme of this episode of living in excellence rather than perfection. We have been met with the common issue over the podcast of women always putting others first, even if that isn’t in the best interest of herself. From a young age, we feel responsible for other people’s feelings or their happiness, and Lynita was no different. She says that women feel the need to take care of everybody, forgetting that we are also a body that deserves to be taken care of.
Lynita changes the phrasing of taking care of herself from being selfish to being soul-focused. Being soul-focused allows space for honesty and authenticity, and I absolutely love this phrasing. I think it is the perfect description for self care in the way it nourishes us, and there is nothing wrong with putting focus on the health and energy of your soul. This kind of switch can be difficult for some people in your life, especially if they’re used to you always putting their needs above your own. It’s a challenge for yourself as well because it is nice to be that person for a loved one, but you have to remember your own wellbeing. Lynita also reminds us that not everything is our responsibility. If you’re not there to help this person, then that doesn’t mean they won’t get what they need—they will just get it from elsewhere. It is life changing when we learn to take that weight off of ourselves and know that we are not responsible for other people’s happiness, even though it definitely feels that way sometimes.
I have quite a few quotes written down from this episode, but one I keep coming back to is, “Success is about joy, and that is an internal job.” Of course everyone is constantly trying to find happiness in life, and it shows itself in different ways. A lot of times we think it’s about money—the more money you have the more successful you are and therefore the happier you are. Lynita puts this into great perspective because if money is your scale of happiness, then that goal will always be shifting. Treating success and happiness as a priority for yourself, rather than putting it onto someone else or into a material item such as money, makes it more manageable and reachable. I definitely needed to hear this reminder, especially living in a time where finances continue to be a struggle for millions in the world.
This conversation Melissa had with Lynita is so powerful and full of necessary information. This blog reflects only the first talking point, so you can imagine how much impact this episode has once you’ve listened to the entire story. Lynita’s website is full of information and ways to participate with her in the field. Her story is one that is so important for not only women to hear, but anyone who is on a journey to feel more whole and fulfilled in life.
Ways to Engage: What has your idea of success been in the past? What is your idea of success now, and do you think of yourself as successful? Consider these after listening to Lynita’s episode and see how her mindset shifts your idea of success. It’s important to remain balanced and give yourself credit for how far you have come in your life.