Building Your POWERHOUSE! (May 2021) by facetoface-marketing

MAY 2021

MOTHER’S DAY EDITION

PAGE 11

A WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT MAGAZINE

“HEALING THE MOTHER WOUND” FEATURING SHAMAN, IAMA PRICE & HER MOTHER, DR. PRICE.

Presented by Premier Leadership Foundation

Greetings! Powerhouse Builders, thank you for checking out the Mother's Day Edition of Building Your Powerhouse Magazine. You are in for a treat. This issue is not your typical holiday magazine, our focus is on healing. Given the times in which we live, and the general issues experienced in the family, I thought this would be a great time to address areas that often go unspoken and unaddressed. It is essential that, as women, we discuss our pain, because we cannot heal what we will not confront. If my mother, Denise Sullivan James, were here, it would thrill me to sit down and discuss every topic found within these pages with her, pick her brain, and talk healing, wholeness, and hope with her. I would say I am sorry and please forgive me; but I know she is here in spirit and cheering me on, along with my grandmothers, Lillie B. Sullivan, and Georgia Mae Green. I sincerely believe they are my ancestral angels, and I am delighted to dedicate this issue to them, and all the women in the upline of my family tree.

FROM

THE

EDITOR

I know Mother’s Day can be sorrowful for both mothers and children who have lost their loved ones. I hope you find solace here. All the authors have provided rich, uplifting content on healing the mother/child relationship, love and loss, leaving a legacy, building your muscles and yourself, confronting your true feelings and getting help if you need it, and daring to dream again. Essentially, this issue is a major dose healing inspiration for all women. Take your time to peruse the pages. Then, remember, sharing is caring, and pass the magazine on to your mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, coworker or girlfriend. Hold women's circles and discuss pain and healing, sisterhood, and the importance of mental health. Finally, subscribe to Building Your Powerhouse Magazine and if any of the content blesses you, send a note and let me know DrK@PremierLeadershipFoundation.org. Until then, Love & Blessings to you and yours! Happy Mother’s Day!

#PowerUp

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

HEY, HOW ARE YA?

Introduction and welcome words from Dr. Kreslyn

Mrs. Arrogance Winton Wright

WHEN THE HEALING IS DEEPER THAN THE MUSCLE

THE G-TREE

Each Branch Goes Higher and Higher

HEALING THE MOTHER WOUND

UNBREAK”ABLE” FAITH A Mother’s Journey of Love & Loss

DARE TO DREAM Dr. Kreslyn Kelley-Ellis

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AWARENESS MONTH

Happy May, Powerhouse Subscribers! Mental Health Awareness month has kicked off! The vibrant green ribbons dawned throughout your community are likely what they represent. Keep reading, and you’ll see that this effort probably “hits home” for you or someone you know. First, read this question, be interactive and answer it before you continue: “Hey, how are ya?”.

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Now, what’s your typical response to that inquiry? Most people reply, “I’m good, how are you?” even when they don’t feel good or are in a bad mood. How about you? Have you ever “faked the funk” out of shame or lied to avoid appearing unstable? Just like this daily greeting, Mental Health Awareness relates to numerous simple behaviors. However, since there are stigmas about having a mental weakness, many people wear a daily façade at work, school and home just to appear well kept. Unfortunately, individuals’ replying, “I’m good” out of habit versus honestly expressing their true feelings, often lose an opportunity to momentarily improve their emotional state. Given, it may not be appropriate to always respond with details of personal matters to some greeters, but sometimes it’s proper to genuinely say, “I’m not having a good day”. Then, it’s up to you to whether or not to elaborate. Either way, speaking such a small truth can actually help lift your spirits. Try it sometime!

BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 05

The question, “How are ya?”, is a simple, yet realistic illustration of how most people, through daily dialogue, can easily cover up the true status of their mental, emotional and behavioral well-being.Now, imagine how difficult it may be for someone with mild, moderate or severe mental illness to be forthcoming in daily living, which is why Mental Health Awareness is so important. Therefore, consider advocating for persons with mental illness and promote improved policies supporting those in need of mental health treatment.This month and forward, endeavor to raise your awareness of self and any personal thoughts or feelings that might cause concern and get suitable help if needed.

BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 06

We would all go to the hospital for a broken arm, right?Well, it is also necessary to seek clinical intervention for fractures that are so obvious.Know that symptoms can vary between men and women depending on diagnosis, and some diagnoses are specific to only women due to physiological makeup.Mental status can also be altered by other medical conditions, another reason to seek professionally trained mental health workers (licensed therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist).

Finally, as a sign of empowerment, wear a green ribbon sometime this month to raise Mental Health Awareness and post it to social media with the #PowerUp hashtag. If you’re interested in reading more on the history of Mental Health Awareness, you can find ample information online. Most importantly, if you experience harmful or unusual thoughts, odd behavior/abnormal routines that affect daily living and interaction with others, now is the time to get the help you need. Contact your local community mental health facilities or your health insurance company to learn of providers in your area.

Seek immediate treatment if suicidal or homicidal thoughts onset. Mrs. Arrogance Winton Wright, MS, Associate Licensed Counselor under the Supervision of Jonathan Williams, LPC-S Email: alc35808@gmail.com

BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 07

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C in

co de M

o ay

When the HEALING is Deeper than the Muscle How could Curves, a woman’s 30-minute cardio, strength and agility fitness & wellness center provide a deeper healing? What more could an exercise studio offer beyond the visual and physical changes? Ten years ago, I was immediately enamored by the community and togetherness a Curves environment provides; what it actually thrives on. I was smitten by the immense knowledge, experience and support gained within half an hour of a fun, fast and safe workout. This is a key attribute of our facility; a force of women like you, like me, like her, like us. Fitness equates to physical change, but often most important is the unseen effect. The real treasure. The release of endorphins (feel goods), hormonal balance and overall focus. Constant surroundings of like-minded, strong females. Combined with conditioned endurance, stronger muscles and posture, tight and taller. Your image and self-confidence following suit, with a clear mind to take on all of life woes each and every day. Does this not equate to healing? Throughout the last year we have survived history. We have been tested and our faith questioned. Yet we have emerged stronger willed, determined and yearning to live longer, beating odds and seeing out the life already written for us. It is nothing but imperative that we continue to overcome this time and those unforeseen. This wasn’t easy, we know. It is of utmost necessity that we not only heal our body but our spirit.

Women are consistent and accountable. We are mothers, wives, partners, friends, neighbors, church sisters, associates, teammates, volunteers. We are the community. It is my passion to provide a place to heal, place to escape, place for structure, a place for fun and your source to refuel. We are all ages, all races, all women. And most important, we are stronger together!

Marie Fletcher, Owner & Coach Curves, 7902 B Louetta Rd, Spring, TX 77379

BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 09

Congratulations TO ALL MAY 2021 GRADUATES

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Healing the Mother Wound

Interviewed by Jaida Steele

Iama Price is a Shaman, Energy Healer and Soul Detox Specialist. She is also the writer and producer of "The Black Mother Monologues" stage play, She and her mother, Dr. Sherrell Mitchell Priceshare their amazing story of love and healing. Jaida: Dr. Kreslyn has asked me to interview you for the Building Your Powerhouse Magazine to capture the essence of healing the mother wound. Iama, please explain the “mother wound.” Iama: In laymen’s terms, everyone comes through this life experience with trauma and every person comes through this experience through another person, our mothers, who also experience trauma. The mother-wound is the amount of trauma or unhealed baggage, generationally, that your mother may have been experiencing pregnant with you, before you, or while raising you, that you, on your path and journey, have to unravel and heal from because we pick up those same behaviors from our childhood. So, the mother-wound is basically that space within all of us, within our mothers, and within every person because every being comes here through a woman who is healing. Those parts of our mother that were healing while we were inside our mother were also healing in us, but we have to still finish those out as we live. That’s the mother-wound. Jaida: How did you realize this was an area that needed to be addressed between you and your mother? Iama: For me, it didn’t happen until after I had healed my father-wound. This is where I went through a deep depression concerning my father in my early adulthood. In my healing process, I forgave him for not being in my life for 15 years and for some issues I had because of his upbringing and childhood issues that were coming through me. From there, I thought everything was going well, but in becoming a woman as I exchanged womanhood with my mom, things clashed. I started having a series of issues where I was having a hard time forgiving my mother, which made me realize I was creating a place within me I needed to address; because for a lot of us, it’s NOT normal to have resentment towards our mothers. That’s not a place of inner peace, and it’s not a place I wanted to operate in. Growing up, I loved my mother, and to me, she was perfect. I decided I didn’t want to have a dysfunctional relationship with my mother or myself. BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 11

CONTINUED... Jaida: How did you approach your mother with the idea of healing the mother/daughter relationship?

Jaida: Mama(Dr. Price), what did you think about Iama’s suggestions concerning the need to heal you ladies’ relationship, and how did it make you

Iama: Well, that didn’t happen until about six years ago I didn’t even address her about the healing, because how can you address someone about healing, and you haven’t done it yourself. I think that’s a problem for many; we get up in somebody’s face about how we need to fix the issue with them, but we haven’t even fixed the issue with ourselves. I spent years working on that within myself. What happened was, I got married and became a mother; I started realizing that I didn’t resolve some of these issues that I had with my mother. I didn’t want to have that. The deep depression of postpartum after the birth of my son made me understand it was not at all the mother because I thought; I didn’t even want to be one. That’s when I approached her at the beginning of my healing process and I told her I didn’t need her to do anything but take part in what I was doing, meaning I didn’t go to her and say you need to change

feel? Mama: I believe in Therapy and felt that it was needed, especially since our communication had gone to “none” we needed a 3rd party. Jaida:Compare your relationship today to your relationship prior to healing. Dr.

Price

Now

respect

each

other’s

boundaries, which is hard for me because of my “Masculine Energy”, (no, I am not a man and I have no desire to be one). I am always in solve-itmode. I had to learn that when a person shares their problems, they don’t always want you to solve them, they want you to listen. New for me being,

not

opinion

unless

requested, which makes me come across as aloof. So,I had to discover a way to communicate concern without offering suggestions.

Jaida: Describe you and your mother’s process for this healing and tell me exactly what you hoped to accomplish by it. Iama: Since I was experiencing depression, when I first reached out to my mother for help, I was getting counseling and I was having my own Spiritual Awakening, so really,I was reaching out to her for help. I had to admit to her that part of my process was going through my issues with her, so I really approached her concerning my own process, which included her. Dr. Price: She began to have mental breakdowns and appeared to be losing it. One day she went off in the driveway and my response in my head(and it was just in my head), was, “What is wrong with her?”; but you would have to know me to know that I don’t make anybody do anything, I knew I could NOT talk her into being nicer. Plus, that’s not my makeup. I’m just not going to respond in that way. I am non-confrontational, and I dislike expending energy.

BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 12

CONTINUED... Jaida: Mama(Dr. Price), what lessons have you learned from this process that you think other mothers should know? Dr. Price: 1) What you say to a child (and by child,I mean offspring, not a 6-year-old) is not always what they hear.2)Your daughter wasn’t there when you were growing up. So don’t expect her to act like you acted. I’m not sure if other mothers already know this, but since I did not grow up with any yelling and screaming, (Yep, a houseful of Phlegmatic personalities. whining yes, yelling...no), I had no idea how to respond to being cussed out, since I had never been cussed out before. I took that as “oh ok, you obviously don’t expect me to ever talk to you again”. So let me try to line up someone to come live with me to help with Elijah... “Solution mode”. I did not know that folk cuss each other out and are still good, and they get past it. Who knew?? So now I know if she cusses me,I know how to cuss her back... and we can still be ok. Not that I want that kind of relationship, but I know it is not the end of the world... world meaning relationship. Jaida: Wow, that’s good stuff. Thank you. Now, Iama, how would you suggest other daughters approach their mothers with a “healing the mother wound” conversation? Iama: There are two parts.1) Focus on yourself. It is so easy to blame someone else, but you cannot go to your mother with a blaming heart but go looking for a solution to your own process. If you’re blaming your mother, don’t talk to her yet. Blaming only keeps the mess slinging around. You must come to terms with, it is not all your mother’s fault before you approach her. If you are not there, don’t go because you will NOT go with an open heart that’s ready to heal. 2) Begin dealing with your mother like she just another woman. Once you become a woman, if you looked at your mother as a woman, you would become much more understanding. Just like you view your friends, you will say, “This is how she is.” instead of “This is what she is doing to me.”

END

This does not apply to situations where mothers are abusive and attacking you where you need to get some physical help; but I am speaking of the average experience of pain and trauma experienced by coming from a woman going through your own thing. Jaida: This is powerful as I can relate to going through things with my mother, but I also have male friends that have similar experiences, so this not just about mothers and daughters but also mothers and sons. Iama: Absolutely! This is about everyone born from a woman. We all come through a biological woman that goes for male, female, masculine energy, feminine energy, even if the woman you came through has lots of masculine energy.This is important for men, because lots of them are carrying around the mother wound and instead of healing it, they are using it to f*** women over: Since he is so mad at his mama, he can’t stand women. But that is another conversation for another time.What is also interesting is people who don’t think they have a mother wound, that they have never been mad, hurt, or traumatized by their trauma or their mother’s trauma. Dr. Price: If they have never been mad at their mother, they probably don’t know her or haven’t met her. (LOL) Jaida: Is there anything you would like to share, that I have not asked? Iama: We’ve said a lot already, but in the end, everyone needs to understand that your soul asked to be here, God said, “yes”; and your mama said, “come on through me.” It’s your process, which includes your mother, but you cannot blame your mama for your process. Do the work to heal yourself.

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From

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Each Branch Goes Higher and Higher

Very few people know the genesis of their generational tree. For there are many parts of it that reach further down than the generational roots that break ground, showing the world signs of a living thing we call family. Our lack of knowledge regarding the deep shoots of our extended family stems either from our choice not to dig them up or because generations before us, withheld information. Maybe because some roots’ contributions to the tree fell short of

It is quite interesting to focus on the entire family

what family members thought they should have

tree, but I am particularly fascinated when

been. For all of us, there was a beginning of

reflecting on just the part nearing my branch

which we cannot change, but acceptance of our

type.

responsibility to contribute to our families,

grandmother, it intrigues me to study the

through our own personal branches, can be our

beautiful

source of peace, power, and proud legacy for the

However,

generations to come. Every generational branch

grandmother’s portion of the tree. I call her

goes higher and higher.

branch, the G-Tree!!

Since

blossom I

a of

woman, women

especially

mother, in fond

my of

and tree. my

BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 15

The G-Tree Continued

Historically, we see the beauty in our relationships with grandmothers because they are filled with such wisdom, patience, and calm sweetness. We admire, adore, and value them above most because of their stature, presence, and substance. My G-Tree experience has much reach to my remembrance. Paradoxically, my Great-Great-Grandmother, whom I did not know personally, was full-blooded Native American. She is where I get these beautiful high cheekbones. My Great Grandmother was a mean woman, not just to me but everyone. She was short in stature, and I am just over 5’3. However, to my benefit, my grandmother was the very opposite of her Mother. She was an amazing woman of God, Family and Community. I get the beautiful red undertones in my melanin skin from her. She was the one that when I became a grandmother, I wanted to model her love for family, God and community. Although, I did not favor or even know every grandmother in my Generational Tree; it does not matter how my existence arrived: All things worked together for good and every branch on our tree extended higher and higher. Therefore, in remembrance of Grandmothers this Mother’s Day, express gratitude for the role they played in your life and embrace your tree with gratitude, acceptance and above all love. It is your branch in your tree and you who contribute to the next generation’s ability to soar higher and higher!!

-LaSonja Winns Greene

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Remember AND HONOR

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Unbreak”ABLE”Faith A Mother’s Journey of Love & Loss

by: Angela Monger-Kerney We encounter many twists and turns in life’s journey, but we find the beauty in embracing them all. As a mother, I never profess to be a perfect parent, but I am always a praying one. Through reflection, I realized the traits, lessons and values that I set out to instill in my daughters didn’t become clear to me until experiencing the darkest times in my life. Of course, these were the times I prayed most.Currently, through prayer, I am learning that grace and mourning can co-exist, as I delicately balance mothering a living child and a deceased child. I have experienced, firsthand, the emergence of agility, endurance, long suffering and other characteristics I didn’t even know I possessed, as I have dealt with the most devastating blow I have ever had to face, the death of my daughter Cece. Because Cece was a genuine giver of love and compassion in life, she continued even in death: As an organ donor, she poured into others, who were yet alive. During this time, I spent countless moments in the shadow of doubt, praying and believing for the Unbreak”ABLE” Faith I desperately needed to push through this tragedy. In my quiet moments of meditation, prayer and reflection, God revealed Himself to me in an intimate supernatural way. “Blessed are they that mourn...”(Matthew 5:4). I am here to tell you there are blessings and lessons on the other side of mourning. Today, what I know is, love lasts forever, and so will Cece, in my heart, soul and through my service to others. The pruning and grooming done at the Master Gardener’s Hand will help mold you into a life of service as you grow and bear fruit. Fruitful living is marked by a life of purpose; so mothers don’t be discouraged by the planting, uprooting and plucking. Inevitably, God uses it all for our growth.As a Hope Restoration Coach, Author and Speaker let me assure you, your fruit will outlast your life. A Mother’s love is forever.

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DR. KRESLYN KELLEY-ELLIS

Dreaming is an amazing way to escape moments of current reality, but materializing our grandest vision does not come so easily. As little children, we freely dressed up and played the roles of the imaginary superstars we saw in our minds and on our television screens, but as adults we often block the liberty to venture into that unknown space. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we write limiting narratives and experience life in ways that cripple our capacity to see beyond the now; block our hearts from hoping for more than we think we can attain; and hinder us from taking steps towards a life we once believed was our destiny.

We stop dreaming and begin calling our fears, reality. We hold the worry of failure so close to the vest that it becomes our companion. As bad as we detest doubt and discouragement, they become our very best friends. Fret not, this is the way of most people. Those who bought into it before you knew it for yourself passed programming of the limited life story down. No one is to blame because everyone writes and manages their own life narrative. We all have been given the ability to dream, plan, believe, and work towards our highest vision; but not all take the dare, the possibility of loss and failure is just too frightening.

BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 21

Ponder for a second, “What if there is nothing to lose?”One thing is for certain, without a try, loss is inevitable. The good news is, not all losses are detrimental. Some losses, failures, dreams and goals are simply rerouted, reformed, and even released in ways that bring much life satisfaction. Some people are living their dreams while others stopped dreaming and

reaching,

yet

they

still

live

extraordinary lives. They have accepted their current state as enough and would declare, “My life, as it is now, brings me ultimate joy and fulfillment!”To that I say, what an amazing place to be! However, if you are not there and you still possess a lingering dream in your soul that whispers, “remember me” or “you’ve still got time”, then I want to challenge you to take the dare. I dare you to dream again, to play again, to become as a little child again and not take yourself so seriously, so that you too can reach your ultimate place of joy! Will you be afraid? Absolutely! That is why it’s called a dare. What if a million people desperately need your invention, long to hear the story in your book, or have no clue that they are waiting to taste that delicious cuisine prepared only the way your grandmother shared it with you? No matter what that little boy or girl inside you is jumping up and down to realize, have a talk with him or her, today. Simple say, “I dare you!I double-dog dare you!” Then, dream again, my friends, and take the jump. You’ve got people waiting! BUILDING YOUR POWERHOUSE | 22

Building Your Powerhouse

Premier Leadership Foundation, Inc.

Programs & Services Building Your Powerhouse Magazine (BYPM) This is our newest project which has been in the works since 2016. The BYPM is a publication for women that provides information, inspiration, and empowerment. The magazine is comprehensive in that the content will span the most important areas in a woman’s life. LIFE (living with ease), LOVE (living in unity with all mankind), and LEADERSHIP (living in a life worth modeling). We intend its contents to nourish the mind, body, soul, and spirit. Believing that all people have the potential to realize their greatest version of themselves but do not always have access to the resources that help attain it, we have made this personal development tool “FREE” and easily accessible. There is a minimal fee of ($2.99) to download a PDF file of the magazine. All fees go back to PLF and help support publishing the BYPM.

Project Uganda We have been fortunate to partner with local Rotarians and serve women and children in Uganda. Since October 2018, we have contributed $1,400 to student uniforms (the children only had one); $3,500 to sponsor the education of nine girls for years, and $700 for a year of free internet for a small private school, online training for the teachers, and $400 for a week of food for 80 women boarded at Set Her Free.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES CONT... MAGUC

Mentoring Adolescent Girls Under Construction Two years ago, we launched our girls

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Our 2021 goal is to host a Sisterhood

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