Confidence coach and communication expert Amber Rose West is joined by April Jefferson “AJ” to talk about discovering your authentic self and how to support each other as women of color as we learn who we truly are and as we share ourselves online or in real life.

As young girls, Black women are often taught that it’s their role to provide for others above all else. As the only daughter and the oldest of her siblings, AJ was taught it was her responsibility to help take care of her younger brothers, even after she had left home and started her own family.

Learn how she broke away from the “others first” mindset and tapped into her Black girl magic - losing 85 lbs and finding herself in the process. Discover how you can take your power back, too, gain confidence, and set important boundaries without tapping into the stereotypes that often follow Black women and steal our ability to stand up for ourselves.

Highlights in this Episode:

• AJ talks about her background and how she is rooting for women, especially WOC.
• The two talk about how Black families typically don’t teach boundaries very well, if at all.
• Why self-care is so important and discovering what self-care means to you.
• How weight loss empowered AJ to help others learn that taking care of your health is not selfish, it’s crucial.
• The two get real about unrealistic expectations from family and generational patterns that they want to see broken.
  -No matter how trapped you may feel, you have the choice to make yourself a priority.
• Others are also afraid of seeing you change because it means you may not be there for them.
• Surround yourself with people who are aligned with you and detach from those who drain you.
• How writing and journaling can not only help you develop yourself but can become a work of art.
• The two talk about AJ’s book, “Allowed to Be Me,” which she wrote after a particularly low time in her life.
• How AJ wants to be known for making people uncomfortable because that is the only way to create change.
• Why women are afraid to change, even if it doesn’t serve them to stay in their old habits.

Connect with April Jefferson “AJ”:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilthenewyear/
TikTok: tiktok.com/@aprilthenewyear
Find her book, “Allowed To Be Me,” on Amazon here.

Connect with Amber Rose West:
Facebook: @wocconfidence
Instagram: @wocconfidence
YouTube: Women of Color and Confidence