This Clip About Finding Yourself Through Failure Is The Cure To Your Midweek Slump
Oprah was fired from her first job as a newscaster in Baltimore. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. In 1993, Beyoncé was a part of a group who competed on Star Search and lost. One thing all of these icons have in common is that they were able to see the beauty in failing forward.
Anybody who's ever had a vision or a dream knows that the struggle hits a little different when you're passionate. Getting out of bed some days is rough, and I've hit rock bottom more than a few times. After overcoming a prescription pill addiction in college and wasting years of my life in a fruitless, toxic relationship, sometimes I wonder if I failed one time too many; and then suddenly, almost like magic, I remember who I am and persist in my hustle.
Life after trauma often triggers a spiritual rebirth that can elevate you to your highest potential. You will never be who you were before you failed, and according to the latest episode of CLEO SPEAKS LIVE, that's a good thing, sis.
CLEO SPEAKS LIVE | Finding Yourself After Failure | “Trauma Will Wait For You…"www.youtube.com
On the show, Sway In The Morning host Tracy G. host, sat down with our CEO Necole Kane, as well as former ESSENCE Relationship Editor, Charreah K. Jackson, and The Grio Editor Natasha Alford to share how they found themselves after experiencing tremendous failure in their lives.
While Necole gave us insight how she bounced back times 10 after going through the most emotionally-devastating point in her career with the entire world watching, and award-winning journalist and Harvard graduate, Natasha Alford explained how it felt to be broke and diagnosed with lupus at age 30.
Check out the episode above to get the boss up boost you needed to remedy your midweek slump.
Featured image by YouTube/CLEO TV.
- 10 Habits That Are Affecting Your Ability to Bounce Back from Failure ›
- 5 ways to bounce back from failure like a boss - Happier ›
- 10 Ways to Come Back from Failure ›
- 4 Proven Ways to Bounce Back From Failure | Psychology Today ›
- How to Bounce Back From Failure ›
- Talent Anarchy » Finding Yourself Through Failure ›
- Reinventing Yourself: Life After a Business Failure ›
- 8 Things to Tell Yourself When You Feel Like a Failure | Psychology ... ›
'Sistas' Star Skyh Black On The Power Of Hypnotherapy & Emotional Vulnerability For Men
In this insightful episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Sistas star Skyh Black, as he opened up about his journey of emotional growth, resilience, and self-discovery. The episode touches on emotional availability, self-worth, masculinity, and the importance of therapy in overcoming personal struggles.
Skyh Black on Emotional Availability & Love
On Emotional Availability & Vulnerability
“My wife and I wouldn't be where we are today if both of us weren't emotionally available,” he shared about his wife and Sistas co-star KJ Smith, highlighting the value of vulnerability and emotional openness in a relationship. His approach to masculinity stands in contrast to the traditional, stoic ideals. Skyh is not afraid to embrace softness as part of his emotional expression.
On Overcoming Self-Doubt & Worthiness Issues
Skyh reflected on the self-doubt and worthiness issues that he struggled with, especially early in his career. He opens up about his time in Los Angeles, living what he calls the “LA struggle story”—in a one-bedroom with three roommates—and being homeless three times over the span of 16 years. “I always had this self-sabotaging thought process,” Skyh said. “For me, I feel therapy is essential, period. I have a regular therapist and I go to a hypnotherapist.”
How Therapy Helped Him Heal From Self-Doubt
On Hypnotherapy & Empowering Self-Acceptance
Skyh’s journey is a testament to the power of tapping into self-development despite life’s struggles and being open to growth. “I had to submit to the fact that God was doing good in my life, and that I'm worthy of it. I had a worthiness issue and I did not realize that. So, that’s what the hypnotherapy did. It brought me back to the core. What is wrong so that I can fix it?”
Watch the full podcast episode below:
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube