Erica Campbell Is No Longer Worried About Being Seen As Strong: 'I Want Us To Be Released From That'

"I'm super excited about Laugh, Cry, Heal. One, because this is a part of my own journey of being honest with the fact that I was like, I don't cry, I'm not emotional, I'm not that kind of chick. I was very proud of it, but not realizing that I was locking away a part of myself, the ability to let go, the ability to release, the ability to be vulnerable," she tells us.

"As a believer, the Bible says when I'm weak, that's when He's strong. But if I'm always pretending that I'm strong, when do I ever call on His strength? So learning that it's okay to cry, it's been a wonderful revelation for me. I know that there are many women like me who work and travel, maybe you're in your local church, or you're an entrepreneur, whatever it is, and you almost apologize or hide when you cry or feel bad for your tears. So I want us to be released from that. Not that I want to create cry babies, but I want us to be honest about what we feel."

"As a believer, the Bible says when I'm weak, that's when He's strong. But if I'm always pretending that I'm strong, when do I ever call on His strength? So learning that it's okay to cry, it's been a wonderful revelation for me."

For so long, the Black community has been inundated with images of the strong Black woman and men have been taught that "real men" don't cry. Research has shown that this way of thinking is more than likely a trauma response that has been passed down generations. The "I Luh God" singer is challenging it and has learned the freedom of shedding tears and not worrying about what others think of her.

"Once you pass 50, it's just this new liberation and this new freedom. But partnering that with Laugh, Cry, Heal has truly, truly changed my life. My willingness to try new things, my willingness to be daring, my willingness to to share it with other women, and knowing that I have something to say that is valuable for this next generation. That's what it's done for me, which is so encouraging" she shares with xoNecole.

"Like I was saying about the music, it doesn't die when you plant a seed of faith in a girl, it doesn't die. When you plant a spirit of fighting and pushing and being forgiving and gracious and kind in a girl, in a woman, it never dies. So I'm happy to be a seed planter to encourage people to walk in their freedom, but to also walk in their joy."

With all that Erica has experienced in her life, she encourages others to trust God and have faith. Having a support system as well as seeing a therapist are also ways to help when life gets tough. She has this to say to her younger self. "Girl just keep living. Stop tripping. Everything is going to work out as it should. Not saying that you won't go through, but everything is going to work out. Not saying that it will be the day you want or the way you want, but everything is going to work out," she says.

"You have to remind yourself daily, or the enemy will steal your joy and you'll find yourself doing nothing. You'll do nothing because nothing is happening. You know what I mean? Don't that sound weird. Nothing has happened. So you just sitting waiting on the start point. It's you all the time, it's you who has to start, it's you has to start changing your mind. So I would tell myself, just keep living girl, everything will be okay. He gonna leave and it's gonna be okay. She gonna trip and it's gonna be okay. Just keep living."

Laugh, Cry, Heal will make its first stop in Birmingham on October 3. Followed by Phoenix Oct 24, and Chicago Oct 31.