Part 1: Unlearning Limiting Beliefs: The First Step Toward Reclaiming Your Power

Recognizing Limiting Beliefs

      For me, the journey of reclaiming my power began with the recognition of fear as a belief that no longer served me. The fear of not being enough, coupled with the pressure to constantly prove myself, shaped many of my actions and decisions. I drove myself to achieve feats like acquiring 3 degrees, halfway through my doctorate, doing a presentation with a 103-degree fever, completing chef training, and even driving a 1,400-mile trek from the South to the Colorado Rockies with a 9-year-old and an aquarium. As far as I can recall, I’ve always questioned if I was doing enough.

     This fear—particularly around my self-worth—pushed me into action, but also prevented me from fully embracing the joy of my achievements and trusting my own voice. I’ve come to realize that this constant drive was more about proving something to myself and to others, rather than being rooted in genuine fulfillment. It was only when I started unlearning these fears and beliefs that I began to feel a sense of peace with who I was and where I was heading.

Challenging Societal Messages

     As a Black woman in leadership, I was faced with the deeply ingrained narrative that overwork is tied to worth. Society often teaches us—especially those of us who consider ourselves to be outliers—that we must work ten times harder to be seen, valued, or successful. This exhausting belief played a significant role in my personal and professional life. During my time as an educator and business owner, I found that rest was labeled as laziness, and hard work—even at the expense of my mental and physical health—was celebrated as a badge of honor.

     This pressure wasn't just from the professional world—it also appeared in other areas of my life. As a classically trained violinist, I was raised in an environment where perfection was expected. My violin training was rigorous and demanding, with every note, and every performance needing to be flawless. I learned early on that success required sacrifice, but at what cost?

     This societal pressure often ties success to external measures—salary, titles, accomplishments—but does that really define who we are or what we are capable of? As I questioned this mindset, I began to recognize the damage it was doing not only to my career but to my mental health and overall well-being.

     These deeply ingrained messages affect many of us. We internalize them, not realizing how they hinder our growth. My invitation to you is to challenge that narrative. How do you view your own worth? Is it wrapped up in how hard you work? It's time to consider how you can shift your perspective and value yourself beyond external expectations.

Turning Point: Reclaiming Power

     For me, the realization that reclaiming my power wasn’t about becoming someone new, but shedding what wasn’t mine, came during the tumultuous time of COVID-19. Amid the global pandemic, I questioned the entire system—its intent, foundation, and the outdated ways of thinking and operating that kept it in place. I found myself frustrated by leaders who were unwilling to change. I started to ask myself deeper questions like: 

• 'Why do we continue to trust a system that hasn’t proven itself to support us?'

• 'What makes us hold on to systems that are clearly no longer serving us?'

• 'What are we afraid will happen if we step outside the boundaries of these broken systems?' 

• 'What would happen if we dared to reimagine systems that aren’t built for our success?

     This turning point was pivotal for me. It wasn’t about changing who I was, but about unlearning what no longer served me. Unlearning outdated beliefs, systems, and structures became the key to personal growth and authentic leadership. I invite you to reflect on your own systems and beliefs. What do you need to let go of to move forward? Sometimes the path to reclaiming our power is through the process of unlearning.

My Approach to Unlearning

   Quite often, true learning happens when we challenge what we think we know. I enter into experiences, relationships, and opportunities with a deeper level of humility and grace, fully aware that growth only occurs when we allow ourselves to question our assumptions. By shedding the beliefs, systems, and structures that no longer served me, I made room for new ways of thinking and being—ones that supported my true power and purpose. This shift in mindset has allowed me to approach unlearning with an open heart and mind, embracing transformation.

     While learning encourages us to expand our knowledge, unlearning demands a different kind of curiosity. It's not about adding new information, but about questioning the beliefs and assumptions that have shaped our identity. Unlearning is a redefinition of ourselves, where we dismantle both the structures and the essence of who we are. It’s about transforming the very foundation of our thinking and replacing outdated frameworks with new ones that align more closely with our true values, authenticity, and purpose.

      For me, embracing unlearning meant stepping into the discomfort of not having all the answers and accepting that as part of the process. I began to ask myself deeper, more reflective questions—challenging the beliefs that had long shaped my decisions and actions. This shift required me to approach each situation with humility, questioning long-held assumptions and letting go of old patterns that no longer aligned with who I was becoming. While unlearning and relearning is often a challenging journey, it has led me to a more profound understanding of myself and has brought me closer to living in alignment with my true values and purpose.

     If you’re ready to dive even deeper into reclaiming your power and unlearning societal norms, I encourage you to listen to my latest podcast series, Eclipse That Series: Reclaiming Our Magic, where I have insightful conversations with Non-Violent Communication & Liberatory Consultant Dianna Cartwright. This series explores the roots of capitalism, how it stole our power, and the journey of reclaiming our true selves for liberation and newfound purpose. on Spotify, Apple and YouTube!

Part 1: Astrology, Capitalism & Liberation
In this episode, Dianna and I explore how our power astrology and capitalism intersect, and how we can liberate ourselves from the limiting stories we’ve been told.
🎧 Listen on Spotify        Listen on YouTube 

Part 2: How Capitalism Stole Our Power
Here, we take a closer look at how capitalism has shaped our beliefs about power and success, and how we can begin to reclaim what’s rightfully ours.
🎧 Listen on Spotify       Listen on YouTube 

Let’s continue this journey of unlearning, healing, and stepping into our full power. Join the conversation—together, we can reclaim our magic!