"To thine own powers appeal."

― Nannie Helen Burroughs

I often hear well-meaning people intimating that people of certain socioeconomic positions, ethnic/racial groups and/or those who have not attained certain levels of education should not be expected to persevere, achieve or overcome. The words may not be spelled out that plainly, but that is the crux of the sentiment.

I think people believe that we do others a favor when we lower society’s expectations for them as a whole. We do not.

Nannie Helen Burroughs knew that. At a time when African Americans were not permitted to freely and openly access education in this country, Ms. Burroughs not only dedicated her life to educating African Americans, she specifically focused on educating African-American women--perhaps the most marginalized, disenfranchised and underserved group in the country at the time.

However, Ms. Burroughs didn’t educate these women from a place of sympathy, pity or lowered expectations. She was quite clear in her expectation that all of her students would achieve. The school’s motto read: “Work. Support thyself. To thine own powers appeal.” Ms. Burroughs believed that her students did not need to wait to be saved or to be helped by those better situated. She taught them that they were organically and naturally capable.

We can learn a lot from Ms. Nannie Burroughs. Women, particularly women of color, still face hurdles in professional and educational environments that others do not. However, we know that we cannot be defined by what others think about us. We cannot be limited by what they say, do, or believe. We should not look for or expect external validation. Nannie Burroughs never got mainstream validation and yet she persevered. And had she not, generations of Black women would not have received an education.

Notwithstanding what anyone thinks about who you are, or what you can achieve, know that you descend from greatness. You can do anything you put your mind to. You do not need the help or validation of others.

Power is in your DNA.

"Rest must be non-negotiable."

― Kimberley Baker Guillemet

I’ve been going through an analysis lately of determining my point of maximum efficiency and productivity. I believe that a person should go hard, that they should run with perseverance the race set before them. If we’ve been assigned a task, we should see it through to completion and we should do it exceedingly well. On the other hand, when we go too hard, there is indeed a point of diminishing returns. It is imperative to find the appropriate balance.

Continuing with the analogy of a race, let’s envision ourselves as runners. Track and Field athletes are quite intentional about their training regimen, as well as the timing and the level of effort they expend at various points during any given race. Depending on the type of race, there are points during the race when they give maximum effort and points at which they do not. Both the periods of maximum effort and reduced effort are key to optimal performance during the race; and after the race is over, adequate rest and recovery are imperative to ensure overall health.

How do we apply this to our lives? How do we find that balance? How do we find the sweet spot that produces maximum efficiency? On one hand, it’s important to fully exert ourselves at times--to do things with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, but on the other, it’s important to rest and recover. Here I must acknowledge that I have not been very successful at engaging in rest and recovery. It has been a lifelong challenge for me, partially because I legitimately have difficulty finding time to rest and partially because I have difficulty giving myself permission to rest.

I tell myself that I will try to rest, but when I am short on time and I start prioritizing, time for rest is the first to get cut. This is the worst thing to do because I find myself exhausted and frustrated and by no means ready to start the next cycle of work all over again.

What it has taken me a long time to learn is this: Rest must be non-negotiable.

In that vein, I have decided that I will take a cue from one of my daughters’ favorite characters, Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.” My goal is no longer to try to rest, it is to rest. Full stop.

To you, dear readers, I challenge you with the same instruction: find rest.

"Be anxious for nothing."

― Paul the Apostle

Over the past few months we have weathered the storms of various legal battles, wars, civil unrest, extreme acts of violence, hate and racism, in addition to our daily stressors and challenges. It has been a lot to process. And in the midst of it all, we are somehow expected to conduct ourselves as if it’s business as usual. The reality is that we’re human, and this level of trauma, whether we’re experiencing it on a primary or secondary basis, is a lot to bear.

I just want to leave a few words with you that get me through challenging times: “Be anxious for nothing, but in all things, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7) This sage advice from Paul the Apostle reminds me that many of the things that make me anxious are outside of my control and that remaining in a place of anxiety and worry doesn’t help me resolve them. The best thing that I can do is to make my requests known to God and leave them there. There is no quick fix for the tumultuous terrain that we are navigating these days, but I want to remind you that you are not walking through this season alone.

Many of the things taking place these days are difficult to stomach and to witness. We often can’t fix them, which makes them all the more disturbing. However, not being able to fix them is OK; that’s not your job. Give yourself the liberty of leaving these worries and anxieties at the feet of someone who can.