“I want to be transparent and share that during my keynote, I experienced a moment of vulnerability that caught me off guard.”

Hey Y’all!

I hope this post finds you well and filled with positivity. Today, I want to share a personal experience that I recently had at the Essence Festival, where I had the honor of delivering a keynote speech. This event held immense significance for me, professionally and on a deeply personal level.

First, I want to be transparent and share that during my keynote, I experienced a moment of vulnerability that caught me off guard. I became emotional as I poured my heart out, sharing my story and insights. At that moment, I felt like I had let myself down. I struggled with my appearance, worrying that it may distract from my message or make me seem less credible. It was a battle against the relentless perfectionism and imposter syndrome that so many of us face.

However, what I discovered afterward was both surprising and heartwarming. My family, who had attended the event to support me, reassured me that my keynote was impactful and resonated deeply with the audience. This was a special moment because it was my mother and sister’s first time seeing me speak. Their presence and encouragement meant the world to me. My sister also shared something with me that touched my soul. She said our father, who passed away last year, would be proud of me. Hearing those words filled me with a sense of joy and purpose.

Their feedback reminded me of the importance of practicing what I preach – embracing imperfection and loving myself as I am.

This experience reinforced a valuable lesson: seeking external validation should never be the driving force behind our actions. Instead, embracing our true selves, flaws and all, is essential while sharing our authentic stories. Perfectionism and imposter syndrome can hold us back from realizing our full potential, but we can inspire others to do the same by acknowledging them and pushing past their constraints.