

4 Millennials On How They Found Success Through Purpose
In today's day and age, social media has increased the number of millennials who are becoming widely recognized.
Instagram has 800 million active users that include poets, activists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, spiritual leaders, and social media personalities, providing content ranging from beautiful lifestyle photos that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye to parody videos and makeup tutorials. The accounts that I personally find myself most drawn to are people who have the qualities of tenacity, humanitarianism, reclamation of self, inner light, and authenticity that I aspire to.
The four rising gems included below are reflections of the vulnerability and inner light, and reminders of the success that can follow when you live your purpose.
Latasha
@callmelatasha
Her Instagram:
@callmelatasha, 9K followers
Her Purpose:
Entertainer
How She Found Her Calling:
"I actually became a hip hop artist by accident! As a young spoken word artist and poet, I found myself at a New York City Cypher that went viral! A few unexpected viral mixtapes later, and I was given opportunities to open up for artists like Kanye West, Ghostface Killah, Q-tip, and Nipsey Hussle.
The beginning of my personal journey begun with getting through body image and bullying issues surrounding what society says a WOC rapper should look like.
After dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide in 2012, I embraced self-acceptance, and committed myself to fulfilling my dreams. Coming from a family of immigrants that had to grind 9 to 5, I had to transform my mindset to surviving by doing what I Iove. Through expressing gratitude to the universe, positive affirmations, and hard work, I'm still working toward living my dream."
What Matters To Her:
"Resonance. It is what keeps my heart feeling full and proud everyday."
Her Advice To Finding Your Purpose:
"Journal. Write out all that is in your head. Clear your energy at the start of your day with affirmations of gratitude. Be present even through the tough days. Trust the process... It's so hard, but it's worth it!"
Nnenna Stella
@nnennastella
Her Instagram:
@nnennastella, 16.3K followers
Her Purpose:
Entrepreneur
How She Found Her Calling:
"I am the founder of, The Wrap Life, a head wrap wear company that features authentic African print wraps that inspire women to be creative through self-expression and self-love. Coming from a place of struggle, where my family had no heat or hot water at times, I never had any intentions of becoming an entrepreneur until I realized my desire to express myself through creativity. I had never worked for myself before and becoming a business owner was a totally new concept. I had to push myself to deliver my absolute best.
As an entrepreneur, I recognized the need to not place mental barriers on my strengths and capabilities.
Through the process of becoming a entrepreneur, I learned the importance of asking for help."
What Matters To Her:
"As far as my personal journey, walking in my truth by aligning my personal values with my brand has become a part of my business structure; realizing that feeling good about what I put out has to match my company's value has awarded me the opportunity to evolve as a human being in service to others. It has also kept me grateful, humble, and sound in mind."
Her Advice To Finding Your Purpose:
"Start with what you have. Be honest with yourself. Silence is golden! Don't get into the habit of talking yourself out of things, and work your ass off!"
Kamil Oshundara
@k6mil
Her Instagram:
@k6mil, 34.9K followers
Her Purpose:
Spiritual Leader
How She Found Her Calling:
"Today, I'm a IYA 'Priestess' of Shango, initiated in the Youruba IFA tradition, but from a young age, I became interested in world religion. I was raised as a Baptist in Georgia and made a conscious decision to get baptized at the age of 8. By the age of 10, I renounced Christ as my savior and wanted to find other modalities of spirituality. I struggled with Christian beliefs, and I felt it denied the power in questioning. As I developed my own understanding of the world around me, I embraced an indigenous spirit, which felt closer to my truth.
I had to work through the stigma of being an African-American queer woman who sought reclamation of African religion, surrounded by people who felt the practice of indigenous traditions were negative, evil, or not belonging to me.
Through my own personal spiritual transformation, I teach ritual and sacred study to people looking to gain a deeper connection to their indigenous roots."
What Matters To Her:
"Abundance and success career-wise should be seen as reciprocity... It's saying I believe you are worthy, and you do that in exchanging energy."
Her Advice To Finding Your Purpose:
"Don't just rest on your DNA test, follow your spirit. Look for tribes or spaces of groups that reflect who you look like. Start with the mirror, start with yourself... Get grounded in yourself and dedicate yourself to transformation."
Aja Monet
@ajamonet
Her Instagram:
@ajamonet, 18.8K followers
Her Purpose:
Spoken Word Poet/Activist
How She Found Her Calling:
"As a child, I knew that I had a purpose. Early on, I recognized my desire to become someone great in this world. I found motivation in wanting my family to be happy and live better lives. I really found an outlet through school, where I gravitated toward writing and English. I was fascinated by how stories were told and found solace in learning to question and challenge the world around me.
I found power in using my voice.
In high school, I found mentorship and political education in a program called Urban World NYC. Through this program, I was given an opportunity to travel and broaden my scope of the world in the midst of 9/11. With the energy of young voices all around me, I learned that I could change the world through the power of poetry, in the same way that Langston Hughes affected people. I found my purpose."
What Matters To Her:
"The most important form of abundance that I receive is in the Arabic term, 'Shukran,' which translates to 'thank you,' and the idea that giving things when you feel most grateful takes humility to be grateful for the smaller things."
Her Advice To Finding Your Purpose:
"Spend time in nature. Nature is powerful. If we can learn the humility in that, that could help us love each other more and stay true to yourself."
Have you found your purpose? Name it, claim it, and share it with us in the comments down below!
- 3 Unexpected Ways to Find Your Life Purpose | HuffPost ›
- 7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose | Mark ... ›
- Five Steps to Finding Your Life Purpose | Psychology Today ›
- Talks to help you find your purpose | TED Talks ›
- How to Find Your Purpose in Life | Greater Good Magazine ›
- Life Purpose: 10 Tips to Learn How to Find Your Passion | Jack ... ›
- You Don't Find Your Purpose — You Build It ›
- How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes | Adam Leipzig ... ›
- Six Ways To Discover Your Life Purpose ›
Fontaine Felisha Foxworth is a writer and creative entrepreneur from Brooklyn New York. She is currently on the West Coast working on creating a TV Pilot called "Finding Fontaine", that details the nomadic journey of her life so far. Keep up with her shenanigans @famoustaine on IG.
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Have you ever been in a relationship with someone and felt so deeply connected to them? Everything about the relationship was intense – good or bad? Then you might be in a part of a soul tie.
The concept of a soul tie binds individuals on a level beyond a relationship's physical and emotional aspects; it’s more than a mere connection. You can form a soul tie with anyone – lover, friend, colleague, etc.- but we are discussing romantic partners for this article. Think of you and your partner as an intensely burning flame. The flame can burn passionately to light the relationship’s way or chaotically burn everything in its path. Either way, it leaves an indelible mark on the souls involved.
A soul tie should not be confused with the term “soulmate.” The main difference is that a soul tie can be positive or negative, while a soulmate is a mutual, harmonious connection. Unlike a soul tie, a soulmate relationship is generally characterized by mutual understanding, support, and shared values.
However, the more we learn about soul ties, the more it becomes evident that they are not monolithic; they vary in nature and intensity. As someone who has experienced a negative soul tie, it is crucial to discern whether they contribute positively to personal growth or hinder you from flourishing.
If Your Soul Tie Is Positive
A positive soul tie creates a deep and affirming connection between individuals. One key indicator of a positive soul tie is effective communication. If you’re experiencing a positive soul tie, a shared understanding fosters open and honest dialogue, contributing to a sense of connection and support.
Mutual growth is another hallmark of a positive soul tie. When individuals in a relationship encourage each other's personal development and evolution, it signifies a positive and uplifting connection. This mutual support leads to an environment where both parties can thrive individually and together, contributing to the overall health of the soul tie.
Emotional security is a crucial element in identifying a positive soul tie. In such connections, individuals feel a deep sense of trust and comfort with each other. This emotional security forms a stable foundation for the relationship, allowing both parties to express vulnerability and foster a strong, positive bond. These three indicators—effective communication, mutual growth, and emotional security—underscore the positivity inherent in a healthy and affirming soul tie.
If Your Soul Tie Is Negative
A negative soul tie manifests as a detrimental and draining connection between individuals. One clear sign of a negative soul tie is the presence of emotional turmoilwithin the relationship. When the connection becomes a source of constant distress, causing emotional upheaval and hindering personal development, it indicates a negative soul tie.
Codependency is another red flag for a negative soul tie. In such connections, individuals may become overly reliant on each other, impeding their ability to thrive independently. Codependency often leads to unhealthy dependencies and can result in a toxic dynamic that hinders both individuals' growth and well-being.
A lack of effective communication is a third indicator of a negative soul tie. When there is a breakdown in communication, misunderstandings and unresolved issues can fester, contributing to a strained and unhealthy connection. In negative soul ties, the absence of open and honest dialogue can perpetuate a cycle of negativity and prevent the resolution of underlying issues. These three indicators—emotional turmoil, codependency, and poor communication—point to the negativity associated with an unhealthy soul tie.
Putting Out The Fires And Breaking Your Soul Tie
Unfortunately, my deep, intense connection only caused destruction. And despite the obvious red flags, it took a minute before I broke the connection. Why? Because I was addicted to the relationship, we both were. But it is possible to break a soul tie if and when you are ready because if you are not, pretending you are when you are not is a waste of your time.
Breaking a soul tie requires intentional and purposeful actions. Establishing clear and firm boundaries is a fundamental step in severing the connection. By limiting contact and emotional engagement with the person involved, individuals can gradually weaken the tie and create space for personal growth.
Seeking professional support is another effective strategy to break a soul tie. Guidance from therapists or counselors provides valuable insights and coping strategies. Professional assistance can help individuals navigate the emotional challenges associated with breaking a soul tie, offering a structured and supportive environment for healing.
Redirecting energy toward personal growth is important in breaking free from a soul tie. Engaging in activities that promote individual well-being and create a sense of independence allows individuals to refocus their attention on their own growth and development. This redirection of energy is essential for breaking the emotional bonds of a soul tie and moving towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.
The last step I advise everyone to go through is the mourning period. My partner and I did our song and dance for years before I walked away. And I would be lying if I didn’t say that I mourned our relationship while I healed.
Recognizing the presence and nature of a soul tie in your relationship is crucial to understanding its impact on your well-being. Whether positive or negative, the intensity of a soul tie can shape the course of your personal growth and happiness. Breaking free from a negative soul tie demands intentional efforts, from setting clear boundaries to seeking professional support. Redirecting energy toward personal growth and allowing oneself a necessary mourning period are vital steps toward healing and liberation from the intricate ties that bind.
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Feature image by JD Mason/ Unsplash