While social media can be described as both a gift and a curse, one thing's for certain: it's successfully transformed the way we consume content and fashioned a wave of content creators in the process. Jasmine Nicole is one of the content creators who managed to carve out a unique space in this ever-growing lane. Like many creative individuals, Jasmine left home to embark on an exciting career in L.A..
This bold move led her to multifaceted opportunities, such as becoming the digital and marketing manager for Black Love on OWN, producing the EST Music Festival founded by rapper Machine Gun Kelly, and co-founding More Juice, which is a social club for minorities that focuses on bringing people in the arts and entertainment industry together to network in non-traditional ways as well as More Juice: The Podcast.
While she has seen much success in this realm, believe or not, Jasmine never sought to work in this industry. She told xoNecole, "I went to Ohio State and I studied Speech and Hearing Science, so essentially I wanted to be a Speech Therapist. I loved working with kids so that was my whole track and then obviously the path changed a little bit."
While attending Ohio State, the Cleveland native planned several types of events, but it wasn't until after she graduated that she realized that she could turn her afterschool hobby into a flourishing career.
"I was doing events in school all the time and when I graduated, I really missed doing that and so I started doing it on the side. I had art events for charity. I was taking the profits and sowing back into the community."
Discovering this passion led Jasmine to further develop her brand in hopes that it would lead to bigger opportunities, but she also uncovered a few new talents in the process. She said, "I started creating content because I had to figure out a way to sustain and push myself. Basically, [I wanted to] create opportunities and showcase what I'm doing and how well I can do it, from branding entire movements or events, to literally the production of them, and to understand how to market myself."
As she continued on this path, she decided to team up on an exciting venture with a fellow Cleveland native Marissa, who she met prior to her move to Cali. After trading stories, they learned they shared common interests and experiences, which prompted them to create a podcast aptly titled More Juice.
"We started it to really build community. The podcast is a newer element to the brand, but we started doing events. The first one was a brunch series and so we continued with doing different day parties, style, networking type [events], but in the least traditional sense. We wanted to create an environment with people like ourselves. People who are creating, collaborating, and essentially trying to build something and that can really mean anything."
"We wanted to create an environment with people like ourselves."
More Juice events have been held in Cleveland and LA, and they plan on taking it on the road for a multi-city tour. Their mission is to give others the opportunity to network in a laid back environment filled with dope energy. In the meantime, fans located outside the aforementioned cities can get a taste of juice through their motivational podcast via the Internet, where they talk about experiences and answer listeners' most pressing questions.
With social media giving so many people a platform to speak their minds and spark conversations, it can be easy for content creators to get lost in the midst of others, but Jasmine isn't worried.
"Honestly, I think there's two folds to that. The first fold is I'm just telling my story with the hope that it reaches somebody and it inspires them to go after whatever it is because, like I mentioned, none of this was planned. But the second fold is also, I don't like to follow rules," she says.
"I don't like to follow rules."
Breaking the rules is just one of the many ways Jasmine has been able to live out her dreams, but her best advice is simple: just create.
"My greatest stuff should be accessible and the easiest thing is, you have a digital business card in your social [media]. If you're writing copy, you're on Twitter and Instagram and you have to have visuals if you do video, [this is the] prime time," she concludes.
Follow Jasmine on Twitter and Instagram @reallyjsmn and More Juice @morejuiceplz.
All images courtesy of Jasmine Nicole
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The origin of the word "discipline" can be traced back to the Latin word "disciplina," which means "instruction" or "teaching." Over time, however, discipline has come to be synonymous with punishment, with parents relying on shame, fear, and/or physical pain to curb undesirable behavior.
Teaching takes time, so nipping it in the bud in whatever fashion parents deem necessary (within reason) has become the norm. But is this what’s best for children? And when does it become less about curbing undesirable behavior and more about getting our licks back for offenses we feel our children should know better to do?
In my work as a parenting coach, I’ve often heard parents say, “I asked him nicely three times before spanking him. He didn’t stop doing it until I did, so clearly talking doesn’t work.”
And the parent isn’t wrong. Talking often doesn’t work the first, the third, or the even the 10th time. And the reason is directly tied to brain development.
Children cannot and do not process information the way an adult can. Auditory processing is not fully developed until a child is 14 or 15 years old. And even then, if a child has auditory processing delays or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), they may always struggle with processing auditory commands. According to Susie S. Loraine, MA, CCC-SLP, the term auditory processing refers to how the brain perceives and interprets sound information. Several skills determine auditory processing ability—or listening success. They develop in a general four-step hierarchy, but all work together and are essential for daily listening.
Without this understanding, discipline can easily become revenge because parents will then view their child’s misdeeds as a personal slight. Instead of teaching them to do better, parents now want to show them the consequences of not doing better. This is why it's imperative for parents to discern between discipline and revenge to maintain healthy relationships with their children.
5 WAYS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PARENTAL GUIDANCE AND RETALIATION:Â Â
​Understanding The Intent
Discipline is rooted in love and concern for the child's well-being. It focuses on teaching lessons and helping children understand the consequences of their actions. Conversely, revenge-driven actions stem from a desire to inflict pain or punishment as payback for perceived slights or disobedience. Parents should reflect on their motives before taking disciplinary actions. Ask yourself whether your intention is to help your child learn or to make them suffer for upsetting you.
Example: If a child accidentally breaks a valuable item, a disciplinary response would involve discussing the importance of being careful and working with the child to come up with a way to replace or fix what they’ve broken. On the other hand, a vengeful reaction might involve yelling, harsh punishment, or bringing up past mistakes to intensify guilt.
​Maintaining Emotional Regulation
Effective discipline requires parents to remain calm and composed, even in challenging situations. It's natural to feel upset or frustrated when children misbehave, but responding with anger or resentment can escalate the situation and blur the line between discipline and revenge. Before addressing the issue, take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts.
Example: If a child cannot follow instructions, a disciplined response would involve calmly explaining why their cooperation is necessary in working with the child to accomplish the goal. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve shouting, name-calling, or resorting to physical punishment out of anger.
​Promoting Growth and Learning
Discipline should always aim to promote growth and learning. It involves guiding children toward making better choices and understanding the impact of their actions on themselves and others. Effective discipline strategies include positive reinforcement, setting clear expectations, and providing opportunities for reflection and growth.
Example: If a child repeatedly forgets to complete their chores, a disciplinary approach would involve discussing the importance of responsibility and finding solutions together, such as creating a chore chart or setting reminders with Siri or Alexa. In contrast, a revenge-driven response might involve imposing overly harsh punishments or belittling the child, which can undermine their self-esteem and hinder their ability to learn from their mistakes.
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Building Trust and Communication
Trust and open communication are essential components of a healthy parent-child relationship. Discipline should strengthen this bond by fostering trust and encouraging children to confide in their parents without fear of judgment or retaliation. When children feel safe and supported, they're more likely to accept discipline as a form of guidance rather than punishment.
Example: If a child admits to breaking a rule or making a mistake, a disciplined response would involve listening to their perspective, discussing the consequences of their actions, and working together to find a solution. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve accusations, blame, or shutting down communication, which can erode trust and damage the parent-child relationship.
Seeking Professional Guidance
Parenting is a learning journey, and, disciplining children is a delicate balance between guiding them toward responsible behavior and nurturing their growth. By understanding the intent behind our actions, maintaining emotional regulation, promoting growth and learning, building trust and communication, and seeking professional guidance when needed, as parents we can help our children built on love, respect, and understanding.
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