We all woke up in our own beds and prepared to slay the day in our respective industries, and although I'm sure our backgrounds are all very different, there is one thing we all had in common when we opened our eyes this morning: purpose. Angela Bassett reminded us of this fact in a speech she gave at the 2019 Black Girls Rock ceremony last Sunday which was a true reminder of the power of perseverance.
Channeling the energy of Betty Shabazz, Tina Turner, Katherine Jackson and the Queen Mother of Wakanda, Auntie Angela has epitomized Black excellence both on and off the big screen, and it's only right that she was the recipient of the Icon Award at this year's celebration of melanin.
Hosted by Niecy Nash, this year's award show featured appearances by industry giants, social media influencers, and up-and-coming artists alike who were all gathered together with one goal in mind: paying homage to the relentless beauty of Black women, and no one room should have all that power.
Angela was introduced by fellow entertainment legend, Regina King, and gave us our entire lives in her low-cut, sparkling dress. While taking the time to relish in her moment, Angela didn't leave the stage without dropping some knowledge about walking in your destiny.
While as a child, the now 61-year-old actress had no idea that she would one day become one of the most celebrated entertainers in the industry, something special happens when you say "yes" to your purpose. In her speech, she explained:
"My purpose as a Black woman, as an actress, has always been to portray excellence on the screen, to be proud, unapologetic and without regret."
As the first black student at her high school to ever be inducted into the National Honors Society, Angela was warned that she was wasting her Yale education on a degree in fine arts, but she is living proof that you can't listen to people that don't have your vision to see your dream, sis. Angela says that although during her journey she considered giving up, today, she's damn sure glad she didn't.
"It hasn't always been easy, and there have been tough times, days when the phone didn't ring, even after What's Love Got to Do With It. As well as moments of uncertainty and doubt. But what women like my mother, Betty Jane, and my Aunt Golden taught me was that there will be times when you seem to face insurmountable obstacles but that's when you dig deep into your soul with confidence and fortitude."
While it's easy for even the most magical Black girl to feel stagnant, Angela shared that the key to getting out of your rut is taking a second to remember who you are and adjust your crown:
"So when you're told you're not good enough, you tell them, not only am I good enough, I'm more than good enough. When they say send her back home, you tell them I am home. I am the foundation of what you call home. When they tell you that you're angry or nasty, you tell them that they're mistaken. This is me. This is me being resolute and standing firmly in my truth. And when they say you're not beautiful, you tell them that you are the descendant of royalty."
The actress also had this advice for women who sometimes feel weary when walking in their own truth and accepting their potential for greatness:
"We have much work to do and, together, we are unstoppable. Always remember that our voices, the very power that we hold individually, and all of us collectively, it does matter. Now is not the time to be silent. Find your purpose, pursue it relentlessly, passionately and loudly. Be persistent and win."
Watch Angela's full speech below!
Angela Bassett Gives An Empowering Speech As She Accepts The Icon Award | Black Girls Rock 2019www.youtube.com
Featured image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Those myths that you keep telling yourself, and believe to be true may be what's holding you back, boo. Most of the time you're thinking these things on a subconscious level and may not even realize the damage that's being done. But once you gain clarity and call out your limiting beliefs for what they are, you'll finally be able to break free and reach new levels financially.
Let's dig into a few myths that have a direct impact on your money and are keeping you BROKE.
1. “Money is the root of all evil.”
Nah, this right here is a straight-up LIE! The truth is this: the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil. When you think that money is the root of all evil, you're limiting yourself from keeping money, as well as receiving more of it. Without even knowing it, you might be scared of going after opportunities that will get you to the money.
Think about it. How can money be evil? Money is simply a resource that we control. Instead of believing and saying that money is the root of all evil, replace it with this supporting belief instead:
"Money is a resource and a means to do good and live well."
2. "I'm broke."
Broke is a mindset, boo. Your financial situation is shaped by how you think about money, which influences how you manage your money. Guess what? If you keep crying that you're broke, you're going to remain that way. All you are doing is reinforcing that limiting belief into the universe and your actions aren't gonna line up with what you need to do in order to get ahead.
It's imperative that you get a grip on this way of thinking and behaving, or else you'll never be able to break the cycle. I challenge you to think more in terms of abundance and believing that you can be wealthy. Are you up for the challenge?
3. "I can afford it."
You say that you can afford that pair of shoes and then turn around and realize that you don't even have enough money for gas the morning after. You can't just look at your checking account balance in the moment and think that everything is all good. Trust me, I've been there. This is where having a clear-cut, written budget comes in handy.
A budget is really just a spending/savings plan. It's a strategic system that lets you know how much money is coming in and going out every month. In reality, a budget can:
- Help you understand your financial situation and whether you can really afford something or not.
- Help you save for the things you want and do more of what you enjoy.
- Help you avoid getting caught short by bills you can't pay.
- Help you escape the paycheck-to-paycheck life.
4. "I deserve to treat myself."
GiphyHow many "treats" do you need, sis? If you really sit down and keep it 100 with yourself, do you really deserve those so-called treats? Are you taking care of your responsibilities like you should be? Instead of buying things that you don't need (with money you don't have) and labeling them as a "treat," you should be treating yourself by investing in your future and saving some coins.
If you spend all of the money that you earn instead of saving and investing it, you will never create the financial abundance that you do desire to have.
Here's a tip: Try putting both your short-term and long-term savings on auto-pilot so you don't even notice the money that you could be missing. When you don't have to look at it, you aren't tempted by any "excess" that you might have.
5. "I need to make more money and then I'll be better with my finances."
If you can't manage the little that you have now, what makes you think that you're gonna be able to manage more money? The more money you make, the more you're gonna spend if you don't get those habits in check early on. You're going to go right back to complaining about your finances and crying that you're still broke and in need of even more money. You'll never be satisfied. There will never be enough money. Remember, there are former millionaires who are struggling out here in these streets because they wanted to live a "fake fancy" lifestyle and ball out of control.
Start by being content with the income that you currently have and handling it with better care. Learn the ins and outs of sound financial management now, so that when you're finally blessed with more, you'll be able to manage it with ease.
I challenge you to start thinking better, which will ultimately lead to you doing better. It's time to prioritize your finances in a way that you haven't done before if you want to level up this year. It's time to activate your discipline. It's time to finally do something different.
Make the commitment to yourself and decide that absolutely nothing's gonna stand in your way of breaking that broke mentality.
What’s better than being in love? Building an empire while doing it. Watch Making Cents to see how real couples turn their money dreams into money moves.
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Originally published on January 5, 2018