BUILDING BLOGS

Life’s journey presents us with a blend of triumphs and challenges. Yet, it’s through intentional focus that we uncover our greatest potential. Using the seven intentions of Poetic Alchemy, you can leverage intentional growth, healing, and transformation (L.I.G.H.T.) in your life to live a more purposeful and fulfilled. Let’s explore how these seven core intentions can light your path.

1. Emotional Identification - Leveraging Emotional Clarity for Growth

Understanding and naming your emotions is the first step to healing and self-mastery. Emotional Identification allows you to recognize what you’re feeling, making it easier to process and respond to life’s experiences.

Try This: Start journaling daily, noting your emotions and what triggers them. Use Poetic Alchemy to guide this reflective practice, drawing on its poignant verses to better connect with your emotional state.

2. Self-Awareness - Tap into Your Inner Insight

Self-awareness is the foundation of intentional living. By understanding your patterns, behaviors, and thought processes, you create space for deliberate growth and change.

Try This: Practice mindfulness by observing your thoughts and actions without judgment. Reflect on passages from Poetic Alchemy that resonate with your personal journey, and use them as prompts for deeper self-discovery.

3. Starting Conversations - Foster Meaningful Connections

Growth doesn’t happen in isolation. Starting Conversations is about engaging with others to share, learn, and evolve. When we openly communicate, we create opportunities for connection and transformation.

Try This: Use Poetic Alchemy as a conversation starter in your circles. Host a small gathering or book club and discuss themes like healing and resilience, sparking dialogue that promotes mutual growth.

4. Application of Knowledge - Transforming Insight into Action

It’s not enough to learn; real change comes from applying knowledge to your daily life. This intention is about transforming lessons into actionable steps toward your goals.

Try This: After identifying personal insights, commit to one actionable goal per week. Use Poetic Alchemy as a reminder of the power of intentional growth, and track your progress along the way.

5. Defining Moments - Turn experiences into Transformation

Defining Moments are the pivotal experiences that shape your life. These moments, whether joyful or challenging, provide the opportunity for reflection and redirection.

Try This: Reflect on key moments in your life where change was inevitable. Pair your reflections with poems from Poetic Alchemy that mirror your journey, allowing these insights to guide your future.

6. Word Exploration - Harness the Power of Language

Words have the power to heal, inspire, and transform. Word Exploration focuses on understanding and using language to articulate your thoughts and emotions with clarity and creativity.

Try This: Write your own poems or reflections inspired by Poetic Alchemy. Experiment with language to express emotions that are hard to vocalize, embracing the cathartic power of writing.

7. Creative Expression - Embrace Your Unique Voice

Creative Expression is a liberating force that allows you to communicate your inner world uniquely. Through creativity, you channel emotions and experiences into something transformative.

Try This: Use creative outlets like poetry, art, or music to explore and express your growth journey. Let Poetic Alchemy inspire your creative projects, using its themes as a springboard for your unique expression.

Discover your intention status with the Seven Intention Self-Assessment. 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

The world has transformed significantly over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In this period of adaptation, have you perhaps misplaced your KEYS: Knowing, Excitement, Yearning, and Sexy? Let’s explore how these essential elements of your well-being may have shifted and how to reclaim them in a post-pandemic world.

1. Knowing: The pandemic disrupted our lives and routines, making it easy to lose sight of ourselves. Take time to reflect and rediscover your identity. Explore your values, passions, and strengths as they are now. Knowing yourself in this new context is the first step toward regaining control over your life.

2. Excitement: With travel restrictions, postponed plans, and limited social interactions, excitement may have felt distant. To rekindle it, embrace change as an opportunity for growth. Set new goals, both big and small. Find excitement in the simple joys of life, from hobbies to reconnections with loved ones.

3. Yearning: The pandemic created a longing for growth and a return to normalcy. To retrieve this key, nurture your thirst for knowledge and self-improvement. Seek out opportunities for learning and personal growth. Pursue new experiences, hobbies, or career changes aligned with your aspirations.

4. Sexy: The pandemic’s impact on mental and emotional well-being may have affected your confidence and self-assuredness. Social isolation and disrupted routines might have made you feel less sexy and confident. To reclaim this key, prioritize self-care and self-love. Embrace body positivity and prioritize mental well-being. 

Three years after COVID, it’s essential to reassess what might have shifted in your life. These KEYS represent vital components of your well-being and fulfillment. Reclaiming them involves self-reflection, goal-setting, and a commitment to nurturing your inner self.
By doing so, you can unlock a brighter, more empowered future in this post-pandemic world—a future filled with Knowing, Excitement, Yearning, and a whole lot of Sexy confidence. It’s time to find those KEYS and reignite your personal journey. 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

The remarkable artist and visionary Billy Porter inspired this blog post. I had the incredible opportunity to witness his greatness during his concert in Washington, DC, and it was far more than just a musical experience. Billy Porter’s performance transcended traditional boundaries, offering a transformative journey through a sermon, counseling, motivation, inspiration, affirmation, and a powerful confirmation that I was on the path of growth. His unwavering commitment to his beliefs was evident not only in his words but also through his fashion choices. Leaving the concert, I was emotionally fulfilled, spiritually awakened, and overflowing with insights about the profound truth that The Change Has Already Happened. Here’s what this unforgettable experience led me to discover.

In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, it’s easy to get caught up in the belief that change is something we are constantly striving for. However, the truth is that the change has already happened. It resides within each and every one of us, waiting to be recognized, embraced, and utilized to create a better world.  The transformative power of personal agency, the significance of self-love, and the importance of embracing our unique journeys are just a few ways that change can be seen in our lives. Billy Porter has it right: the change we seek has already happened or, at the very least, is within our grasp.

Unleashing Personal Agency

Change begins with recognizing our personal agency—the power we possess to shape our own lives and influence the world around us. We often underestimate the impact of our individual actions, but every choice we make, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect. By acknowledging our ability to create change, we empower ourselves to take action and make a difference.

Billy Power’s song “Fashion” reminds us that joy is an action. By choosing to embrace a positive attitude, we radiate that joy to those around us. Similarly, in “Children,” Billy Porter emphasizes the importance of guiding and enlightening the younger generation, showcasing the influence we can have on others through sharing our experiences and wisdom.

Self-Love as a Catalyst

At the core of personal agency lies self-love—a potent catalyst for change. When we fully embrace and love ourselves, we unlock a wellspring of confidence and resilience. Billy Porter’s anthem “Love Yourself” encourages us to prioritize self-care and acceptance, reminding us that we are enough as we are.

By loving ourselves, we become equipped to navigate life’s challenges with grace and authenticity. We no longer seek external validation but find solace in our own worth. This inner strength enables us to withstand the negativity and criticism that may come our way, empowering us to stay true to our values and beliefs.

Embracing our Unique Journeys

Each of us has a unique journey that contributes to the diverse tapestry of humanity. It is essential to recognize the value of our individual stories and experiences. By embracing our own paths, we inspire others to do the same, fostering a more inclusive and accepting society.

Billy Porter, an advocate for authenticity, reminds us not to let the world define us. We have the power to define ourselves on our own terms, disregarding societal expectations and embracing our true selves. When we celebrate our individuality, we create space for others to do the same, igniting a collective wave of positive change.

The change we seek has already happened. It begins with recognizing our personal agency, understanding the transformative power of self-love, and embracing our unique journeys. Through our choices, actions, and attitudes, we have the ability to shape our reality and create a better world for ourselves and those around us.

As we internalize the messages within Billy Porter’s powerful lyrics, we realize that joy, love, and acceptance are not distant goals to strive for but present realities we can cultivate. By living authentically and loving ourselves unconditionally, we inspire others to do the same, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Let’s remember that we are the catalysts for change. The power lies within us, waiting to be awakened and harnessed. The change has already happened; we must embrace it and make a difference in our lives and the world. Let’s choose joy, love ourselves fiercely, and celebrate the beauty of our unique journeys. Together, we can shape a future where change is not just a distant hope but a lived reality.

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

We tend to use the phrase “only human” to identify or justify a weakness,  deficit, or shortcoming.  When we find ourselves in situations where who we are doesn’t measure up, we offer the explanation that eludes to the fact that we’re not perfect, make mistakes, are emotional beings, and are graciously flawed.  I find it ironic that when we use the statement, we usually attempt to explain something adverse away versus embracing the greatness that “only human” provides. 

Being “only human” allows us to express how we think, feel, and believe to others.  I don’t know about you, but that is a plus if you’ve grown to a place where you can do it without pause. However, I already see how some folks can use the “only human” phrase to explain why they didn’t express themselves appropriately or hadn’t spoken up timely. Are you seeing how this works? 

Being “only human” allows us to express a wide range of emotions that can provide us with a release, balance, and other amazing things.  This is a unique human trait that, by and large, allows us to experience joy, happiness, fulfillment, and success.   We’re also given the task of managing those emotions. Of course, this is another way the “only human” phrase gets used: to justify our inability or unwillingness to work having AND managing our emotions.  

Being “only human” allows us to show and improve for ourselves and others, including family, partners, community, church, and society.
We are fortunate to exercise care, compassion, and collaboration with others for the good of all humans.  You already know where I’m about to GROW with this.  Yes, some use the “only human” phrase to excuse themselves from showing up for others and GROWING up themselves.  Usually, in this arena, an explanation quickly turns into an excuse followed by  … you guessed it, “I’m only human.”

We, as humans, have some remarkable traits and unbanning abilities for all the adversity that any human can create, maintain, and explain, as well as many characteristics and skills that can promote and foster greatness.  We’ve taken some of the unique gifts and talents that we all are blessed with and built a wall of explanations that are often excuses around them.  We quickly turn to something that can give us an out that doesn’t make us look bad to others and feel bad about ourselves. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the explanation of being “only human” isn’t valid.  However, I’m suggesting that it has also become a crutch on which we hobble around life, hoping to get us out of places where we’re uncomfortable, unable, or unwilling to do better.
Before GROWING folks pull out the handy dandy phrase to defend ourselves, we pause and consider how we can show up better because we’re “only human.” 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

Long before this pandemic, we should have all been used to putting our masks on … first.  You know the drill.  If you’ve ever flown on a plane, you’ve heard the spiel from a friendly flight attendant or someone on a video screen.  They start with if this happens blah, blah, blah, …and no matter who you’re sitting next to, they instruct you to put your mask on first and then assist others with theirs.  It took me 35 years to understand and appreciate this concept. Like most people, I thought that would be rude, selfish, and contrary to what I was taught.  Well, I’m here to tell you that the airlines taught me the most valuable and helpful lesson of my life: putting my mask on first is required for me to assist others … well. 

Contrary to what you were told, led to believe, and brainwashed to accept, it IS all about you.  Think about it!  If you don’t put your mask on first (practicing self-care), aren’t breathing correctly, or at all, what can you do for someone else?  That’s right; we go out of our way for our partners, find ourselves loyal to companies that employ us, work tirelessly in our communities and for various causes, and are at the beck and call of most of our immediate family members.  Yet, we struggle to y.  Don’t worry; it isn’t your fault; it is your responsibility.  From this moment forward, yes, even your wants.  And be clear that your unwillingness or inability to do so at this stage is your fault. 

 When I suggest that people practice self-care, many don’t truly understand what that means.  They seem confused and question how to do “it.”  They search for and seek them by providing simple care for themselves.  Let’s be clear: there is no wrench!!    

Putting your mask on first and practicing self-care requires you to) believe that you are worthy of such care, which usually means unlearning the people-pleasing skills you’ve perfected

2) Create a working definition of self-care; yes, you get to say what it is and what you want it to feel like 

3) know and understand the benefits of providing it; doing so will usually provide you with superhuman powers to save the world

4) be able to say no to others with the understanding that you’re saying yes to yourself

5) know your worth and operate in that knowing appropriately. Consistently, it’s not selfish or self-centered.  It’s called self-care. Care for yourself like you ARE the most important person in the world.  Care for yourself the way you want others to care for you.  I’m simply suggesting you fasten your seat belt, and BEFORE your cabin loses pressure, you unapologetically put your mask on first. 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

We seem more aware of mental health and wellness, so now is an excellent time to remind you to watch your mouth.  What we believe, along with what we speak, does affect our mental health.  We’ve become so humdrum about life that we settle for OK, which is not an emotion, instead of identifying a valid emotion when asked how we are feeling.  We use words like OK to determine where we are emotionally, and I’m confident as I type these words that being OK has become depressing. 

No, I’m not diagnosing anyone without an assessment.  We can have a depressed mood without being diagnosed with depression.   I have assessed that we often speak mediocrity into our lives and then wonder why we’re just OK.  We’ve become so complacent with being OK that it is our new normal, our go-to response.  We use the word, settle on the emotion, and then trek through life, unable to smell the roses because we cannot feel the thorns.  If what we think is what we will feel and if what we speak dictates how we feel, then I’m suggesting that we all dismiss OK and find ourselves some great, fantastic, unique, wonderful, and blessed. 

Yes, I know that sometimes that isn’t what you’re feeling.  And yes, I know that many things are going on in this world that make you feel depressed.  However, if you’re bold enough to want to feel better, you must be bold enough to speak better.  If OK has become your go-to emotion, change it up.  I use joy as my go-to emotion.  On those days, I’m emotionally higher; I use the word excited to describe my mood.  On rare occasions, I’m not happy, but I say I’m working my way back to those places.   I’m careful not to give into a fleeting or temporary adverse emotion or circumstance that could potentially damage my fantastic day.  

Your new go-to emotion should be something you proclaim with authority, intention, and excitement.  It would be best if you did not give yourself another option but to be what you proclaim.  It should be your only option; if you’re not there, you should always be headed in that direction.  I know that you’re thinking this is all smoke and mirrors, and if you have a depressed mood, saying that you’re fantastic won’t make that better.  My response is that you must first get there to prove me wrong. 

You wouldn’t be proving me wrong, but also all the researchers who say we can talk ourselves into and out of OK.  How do you think you got there in the first place?  The great thing about knowledge is that it gives you power AND responsibility.
You now have the power and are responsible for GROW past OK and getting lost in the land of great, wonderful, and fantastic.  Don’t forget to give yourself other options.  Don’t look now, but you’ve just been upgraded! 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

Most folks won’t know what I mean by Emotional Intelligence (EI).  Our lack of knowledge is mainly due to the vocabulary and challenges of practicing the deed.   EI is just a fancy way of describing our ability to be aware, in control of, and express our emotions while dispensing good judgment and empathy in our relationships with others.  If you think that was a mouthful to type, you can imagine the challenges of employing the practice.  Although there are many barriers to successfully practicing EI, we’re all capable of doing so. 

You can imagine that having such skills can enhance our professional and personal relational skills.  Imagine being at work, fully aware of your emotions, and using them to your advantage.  Picture yourself in control of your feelings so no one has to guess your feelings and treat you accordingly.  Allow yourself to visualize being able to express yourself appropriately; that is just what is needed to be more productive.  All these superpowers (that’s what they feel like when we folks want to work with and for us. 

In personal relationships, the ante is even higher, more purposeful, and potentially more self-fulfilling.  I can assure you that those who can nurture successful marriages, create respect and authority in their families, and foster GROWTH in their relationships have some basic knowledge, employment, and practice of EI.  Folks who are aware of their emotions can better manage them appropriately, thus avoiding many adverse circumstances.  Being able to express our needs and desires to our friends,  partners/spouses, and family leaves us at an advantage of having those needs met.  More importantly, controlling our emotions creates inner peace and self-confidence, improving our encounters with loved ones. 

I imagine that to make the tasks a bit more grueling; they threw in being able to dispense good judgment and empathy in our relationship with others into the definition.  y.  However, being vulnerable (aware), tested (in control), and exposed (expressing emotions) to the one thing that causes us the most drama and trauma in our lives is a stretch that most of us will pass on.  However, those who can see the professional, personal, and relational advantages are very interested and willing to take the risk for the reward. 

Although most of us weren’t raised by folks who spoke about EI, we should be clear that it’s necessary.  I would venture to say that although we didn’t GROW up hearing about it, we’ll be more challenged in life attempting to GROW up without it. 

When we say it out loud, it sounds ridiculous. “Excuse me, have you seen my happiness?”  What in the world do we believe we should attempt to look to someone else, something else, someplace else for our happiness? The Declaration of Independence even gives us the illusion that we must seek it by stating it’s a “pursuit of happiness.”  As noted, it appears that we have to look for it, and many of us have done just that. Searching and seeking for something that we never got confirmation of what it looks like or feels like or how to know if it belongs to us.  

Webster’s dictionary defines happiness as good fortune, well-being, contentment, or a pleasurable or satisfying experience.  In my world, happiness is simply a pleasantly elevated state of mind. 

     Here are seven places you won’t find YOUR happiness:

• In the square footage of your home

• In your checking or savings account

• In the eyes of your partner/spouse

• In your title or degree

• In your work evaluation or academic grades

• At a car dealership

• In the children

Someone decided to put happiness in the last place we would think to look for it: right inside us, our soul, our spirit, and our mind. That’s right; our happiness is accessible 24/7.  Knowledge is power, but knowledge is also responsibility.  Yes, we are responsible for our happiness and how we GROW about creating, enhancing, and maintaining it.  Did I lose you?  That’s right, no more excuses! No more blaming our mother, our father, our siblings, our environment, our childhood, our teachers, our supervisor, or our financial situation.  If we want to blame someone for our absence or lack of happiness at this point in life, we would likely have to blame ourselves.
We can’t have a testimony without a test, but the tests were never meant to be so earth-shattering that we couldn’t GROW from them.  The tests are to provide lessons, the kind that we examine and make conscious efforts to learn and grow from. 

Experiencing happiness every day of our lives is no more challenging than allowing ourselves to remain in a constant state of conscious depression, sadness, or frustration. As quickly as we can talk ourselves into believing that we aren’t worthy of greatness, that nothing good is ever going to happen for us, and that life is only filled with brief moments of being just OK, we can say the opposite and do what it takes to make it happen if I’m putting too much pressure on you … GOOD!   The key to achieving happiness is taking complete responsibility and maintaining the state of mind we desire.  We should strive to treat ourselves as good, if not better, than we treat others.  No, that doesn’t make us selfish, as we’ve been taught; it makes us happy.  So stop looking for happiness all around you and look for it inside you, then activate it.  

When I was a kid, we sang this song as we jumped rope; ‘Down in the valley where the green grass grows.’  As I entered young adulthood, I realized that grass isn’t the only thing that grows in the valley; we do, too.  Yes, when life sends us tumbling into dark places, chaos, confusion, despair, uncertainty, trauma, the valley, it is in this place that we’re supposed to GROW. 

There is likely not a day that I don’t hear someone complaining about being in the valley.  We complain that we don’t have what we think we need, someone has wronged us, or we fall short of what we wanted to accomplish. We moan and groan when we’ve been catapulted to a place that leaves us feeling disadvantaged, helpless, hopeless, embarrassed, lacking, and out of control. 

If the valley is dark enough, we’ll likely call on God, ask Him why, and then pray for the quickest way out.  We don’t want to sit in the valley, look around the valley, get comfortable in the valley, know the purpose of the valley, or consider the perks of the valley.  We want out, and likely, if we think someone else caused our trip to the valley, we’ll also want to seek revenge.  Most folks, including myself, want to spend as little time as possible in the valley because it’s also where we feel the most significant pain, hurt, frustration, anger, and sadness. 

However, from my personal, professional, and spiritual vantage point, the valley provides the greatest blessings, life lessons, and needed GROWTH.  Yes, experiencing hard times, being in dark places, and being in the valley are both excellent and necessary.
I’ve GROWN to a place where I not only surrender to my journey to the valley, but once I’m there, in the thick of things, I seek to extract as many lessons as possible.  

No, I’m not in a hurry to leave, asking why I deserved to be there or quick to point out who is responsible for my return visit.  I know well that I’m there for the lessons (duh!!), and if I attempt to run from it versus GROW through it, I’ll indeed have to return sooner than I’d like. Also, whoever assisted in my push to the valley inadvertently assisted in my GROWTH in the valley.  So I’m encouraging you to spend less time fighting your descent to the valley, and more time preparing for the search for the valuable lessons, tailor-made blessings and necessary GROWTH.  

So I’ve remixed the song a little to give you some motivation; 

Down in the valley were GROWN folks GROW

There sits Angie nervous but willing to go

She waited, then landed in the valley so sweet

Then along came her lessons that were planted at her feet

 how many lessons did she receive? 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, you should know her. Contact Angela today. 

June is pride month and you’ll likely see more rainbows than usual.  Michael Kors, Victoria Secret and yes even elected officials and diplomats will acknowledged the month.  Pride Month is the celebration of LGBTQI individuals and the LGBTQI Movement and History.  The Movement actually started much like every other movement in this country; the blatant discrimination of a group of people by another group of people who happen not to believe in equality and equity.  I know I just ruffled some feathers with that statement.  Let’s GROW deeper!!

On June 28, 1969 the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village in New York City was surrounded by police arrived to arrest those that were breaking the law; men wearing drag and women with less than three pieces of “feminine clothing.”   Yes, those were crimes punishable by law in 1969.  When the police arrived the 200+ patrons resisted, then rioted thus launching the beginning of the LGBT Movement. 

I could remove the letters LGBT and replace them with blacks or women and the blatant suppression and hatred would be the same in this country.  Although the fight for equality and equity continues on all fronts the word pride has become exclusive to the LGBTQI movement. Pride by definition means inordinate self-esteem, a reasonable or justifiable self-respect, a showy or impressive group and the quality or state of being proud.  

Unfortunately, the internal fight is as challenging for some as the external one.  Pride isn’t something that every LGBTQI person has but it is something that is encouraged.  Much like African American history month gives way to external displays of pride in the African American community and the same holds true for Women’s history month.  Pride, in my opinion is what every individual should have for any trait, characteristic or quality that doesn’t cause harm or isn’t illegal that describes who we along with our race, culture, ethnicity.   

Pride is the display of a deeper love (in my Aretha Franklin voice) as it is by definition an elevate self-esteem, self-respect and being proud of self. Although there is and will likely always be folks who believe that certain groups should not have pride this month I want to encourage us all to exude a greater sense of pride.  The task isn’t an easy one given that no matter who displays it or for what reason there will always be someone who believes it’s not warranted.

During this month I would love to see all of us stretch!!  Let’s stretch our understanding.  Stretch our capacity for acceptance.  Stretch our ability to be inclusive.  Stretch our tolerance for difference. Stretch our knowledge.  Stretch our vision.  Stretch our thoughts.  Stretch our beliefs. Stretch our desire to learn and GROW.   This is one way for us to move from a place  of needing a designated month to be celebrated and supported for being who we are.  To date, I don’t know of anyone who has had to suffer simply because someone else was choosing to take pride in being.  We should all have pride: a deeper love!

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

I say to you today my GROWING people  … we all need to dream.

1) Let’s dream that one day this nation will promote, foster and value the emotional intelligence of individuals as much they do mental intelligence.

2) Let’s dream that one day in the cities and the suburbs children and young adults will be empowered earlier in their years to acquiring the information needed to be GROW into adulthood and that it be made mandatory and not optional.

3) Let’s dream that one day GROWN folks, those that think they already know all that they need to will become aware of the essential element of constant and continual knowledge to maintain their GROWN status and more importantly for them to embrace the necessity for every GROWN person to keep GROWING. 

4) Let’s dream that one day my daughter, granddaughters,  nieces, nephews, and cousins will confidently be able to speak their truth, identify their feelings and emotions as readily as they can the capitals of states and the square root of numbers!!

5) Let’s dream that one day the school systems, large and small see the need to educate our children on the subjects of self confidence, self esteem, dream catching, relationship building, effective compromising and communication skills as they do history, algebra, foreign language and physical education.

Yes, let’s keep dreaming …

6) Let’s dream today, that our parents and their parents are forgiven by their children and that those children raise and teach their children not just from experiential knowledge but acquire knowledge and GROWTH and that the knowledge needed to show and improve is readily available, affordable and often sought.

7) Let’s dream that one day we all will understand that we don’t go from work to home but rather from work to work and without putting in the work we will never live abundantly with deserved and desired emotional, mental or spiritual freedom.  This freedom is beyond the freedom that was fought for by our parents and their parents to bring justice and equality for all men and women.  They were able to see that day.  However, we still live in bondage.  We no longer have slave masters as we have assumed their positions and without fail hold captive our emotions, spirituality, and mental health by lacking the knowledge and denying responsibility to keep GROWING up.  Being able to to express yourself, love yourself, communicate your truth, love and trust one another and realize your purpose – THAT is the new freedom.  

8) Let’s dream and pray the day comes that the majority and minority, LGBTQ and all the other letters of the alphabet can stand side by side, hand in hand equipped with the freedom that was predestined for all of us and sing in the words of the old R & B turned Gospel song, I believe I can fly.  I do believe we can fly.  Let’s continue to dream. 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

I recall a time when I worked for a healthcare organization; I came in one morning to an email stating that my department was being restructured, and my workspace would be moved.  I blew a gasket, had my personal version of a panic attack, and out of spite called off work for the second time in 11 years.  Let me be clear they weren’t firing me, not laying me off, not changing my job title, not switching my department or supervisor, but simply asking me to move my work space up two cubicles.  Don’t laugh!!  In my mind they were disrupting my comfort, removing me from what was familiar, altering my convenient reality, challenging my authority to choose, micromanaging me, and being disrespectful.  All of these things I believed were happening just because they were asking me to accept and play nice with change. 

Many folks will admit they are afraid of contracting the coronavirus but most won’t mention living in fear of another word that begins with C; CHANGE.  Many of us contain this fear in ways no one can clearly see or recognize. Although we don’t like change we don’t want others to know we don’t play nicely with it because that can shine a bright light into our dark places.  Our inability to play nicely with change keeps us from personal and professional development, adequate self care, preventative mental wellness, and many other growth opportunities.  We weren’t raised to embrace change.  In fact,  some of us were lead to believe that change was the black sheep of the family.  Change was the cousin that would get you in trouble, embarrass you, and make you feel stupid.  Change would demand that we do something different, something that makes us uncomfortable, attempt something that no one else had done, or try something no one would understand

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your cousin Change is moving in, not just for the summer but likely for the rest of your life.  We can thank Covid 19 for this; the virus along with everything it has taken and will take to effectively cope and thrive is going to require us all to love on change like never before.  This will be very difficult for many because not only do we not play nicely with change, but it makes us feel insecure and doubt ourselves.  We have a very dysfunctional relationship with change and strongly dislike the implications that it produces. For some the suggestion of change means I am wrong or not enough, something I did was wrong, or at least something is about to go wrong.  This thought process leaves many of us emotionally paralyzed, mentally paranoid, personally stuck, and professionally crippled. 

Angie Harvey is a Motivational Speaker and the creator of Operation: I.M.P.A.C.T. (Intentionally Motivate People to Acclimate, Change and Transition). Her mission is to increase productivity, improve progression, and achieve positive outcomes with individuals, employers, employees, and students.  She would love to hear how she can assist with your Change Management needs. 

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

Most of the obvious effects of this Coronavirus Pandemic and the Shelter in Place mandate are obvious.  Millions of folks have lost their jobs, the economy is close to collapse, small businesses near bankrupt, and there doesn’t seem to be any clear answers or quick solutions.  One of the not so obvious effects is the mental health of millions of people that will certainly be frazzled at best.  I’m known for pimping therapy as a healing remedy on people with the notion that we all could benefit from it.  However, this pandemic, quarantine mandate, and current state of affairs are going to leave us all needing therapy as a benefit. 

As a result of this unprecedented time businesses are going to have to provide, grant access to, and even mandate counseling and other supportive services for their employees in order for their business to become profitable and successful again.  For nearly a decade I’ve attempted to get the businesses I’ve worked with to provide trainings, in-services, and retreats that cater to the personal AND professional development of their employees.  I’m clear that the mental health and wellness of people produces more productive employees. There was always a push back as most companies didn’t feel the need to provide personal support to their professional employees.   They didn’t want the responsibility and quite frankly it wasn’t their job; that’s what the EAP programs were for.  Well, the adverse effects of this pandemic will challenge everyone from big corporations to small business owners to reconsider this concept … for people and profits’ sake.

Companies will soon come to know and understand that the employees they laid off, fired, furloughed, and assigned to telecommute left the building in one particular mental and emotional position, but will likely return in a far worse place.  As I started my Sheltering in Place video series on YouTube  (www.youtube.com/angieharveyspeaks) it quickly turned from sharing some friendly information about coping strategies to mental health awareness and self-intervention suggestions.  Sheltering in place along with everything else on the minds of employees everywhere is quickly altering the mental health of people globally, especially the workforce that will be essential to rebooting the economy.

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

When you see the word “health” I am sure that you, like most Americans, like most people think, of medical health. Mental health does not usually cross our minds although it is the corner stone of who we are as humans. We are living in an ever changing world. Feeling “OK,” which is not an emotion has become the new depressed and that being said I suggest we immediately consider our mental health as an area that requires as much – if not more care and consideration as our physical health.

I have spent the last fifteen years and I’ll spend the next fifty on my soap box attempting to get anyone who will listen to understand, accept, and believe the facts regarding the importance of mental wellness. Mental health is the foundation of your physical, dental, spiritual, financial and emotional relationships. The definition of health according to Merriam Webster is, “The general condition of a person‘s mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain.” The later part of this definition is essential as it relates to our mental health: a mind free from illness, injury, or pain. What I am asking you to consider is that your mental health is not just an enhancement but the primary and most instrumental component needed to promote flourishing conditions in any other area of your life.

I know that it will take some convincing for most of us to wrap our brain around this concept. Never fear, I have come prepared and equipped with knowledge. However in order for you to take this journey with me, you will need to be open. Yes, I am asking you to proceed without confining barriers and to adjust your mind to allow the passage of any information to be received. Oh, and I’m going to also need you to be willing to be exposed and vulnerable to attacks (of your thoughts) and questions (of your current beliefs). Got it? Alright, let’s GROW!!

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

There’s not anyone who would dispute that today’s young adults have more opportunities than previous generations AND they also have more challenges. This fact can be verified by visiting any college campus student housing, student lounge, or mental health clinic. Young adults are arriving on campus with more power and more problems. Some want to immediately blame technology and social media for their problems. But let’s be clear on a few things: some challenges–dysfunction, drama, and troubles and problems are universal and multigenerational. Most people arrive at adulthood ill-equipped to function, behave, or manage as responsible and emotionally healthy adults. Thus, most college students are arriving on college campus with more freedom, less supervision, and huge responsibilities while having less abilities to problem solve, manage emotions, and ask for help.

I could share with you some findings findings with you from some well-known publications, but we all know that it’s not necessary to prove my theory. There are findings from well-known publications that can uphold (or verify) this theory. We only have to scroll through our newsfeed, watch the local news, read our President’s tweets, and tune in to CNN every now and again to know our youths are in trouble and need more help than what’s being offered or is available. Untreated mental illness, misunderstood personality disorders, hopelessness, low self-esteem, lack of life skills and little knowledge about how to provide self-care is the baggage that’s being unpacked each fall across the country on our college campuses. Sure, these challenges are also experienced by those that who don’t attend college, but since we have these students at attention the attention of these students I think it’s a great place to begin the intervention of life. A place to begin helping grown folks grow up.

I know, I know…that isn’t the role that a college or university is able or willing to take on. Personal development is separate from professional development that students only pay for, and Colleges are only willing to educate and empower for professional development. Personal growth and development, mental well-being and healthy emotional maintenance is the responsibility of the students and their parents. This is the position of most college administrators The position most college administrators take is that personal growth and development, mental well-being and healthy emotional maintenance are the responsibility of the students and their parents. but If we don’t make a conscious conscientious decision to incorporate some consistent and available education, empowerment, and encouragement on campus for the benefit of the students there will be consequences that will be felt by everyone.

Let’s be clear, that many of the students that eagerly arrive on campus have very little knowledge about what to expect or how they can and will manage day to day. They are still mentally and emotionally adolescents with limited abilities to discern, discuss, and dissolve some of the challenges that they arrive on campus with, let alone, those that will quickly begin to accumulate during their college experience. Unresolved childhood trauma, strained relationships with parents and siblings, inexperience with love and intimate relationships, inability to balance their classes AND their relationships, blurred definition of responsibility, high, low and unrealistic expectations about life and the college experience, limited knowledge about true and long term consequences and struggle (and it’s real), and to manage and maintain friendships are just a few of the things that get put away, hung up, or stuffed in a trunk by this generation of young adults and college students. Oh, let’s not forget the real and true impact of technology and social media that helps dissolves and diminishes their communication skills, erects their jealousy, heightens their inadequacy and lowers their self-confidence, all while struggling to keep up and align with others at least through pictures, posts and snap chats.

This generation of young adults are suffering in silence, drowning in isolation, practicing “to be” what looks good to others, and becoming actors and actresses with anyone who may notice anything that looks, sounds, or feels off. Students on campuses are under extreme pressure from their families to be successful, their friends to be “cool”, their professors to be accountable, and society to be productive. They have very little room to do anything but struggle to keep up. Colleges and Universities across the country are seeing an increase in depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges in their students and can no longer deny that there is a need to create ways for students to have access to knowledge and resources, increase self-awareness and produce positive change and resolve. The effort will need to involve parents/guardians, and should be mandatory programming for all freshman and new incoming students. It should provide creative, interactive and engaging support by mental health professionals, speakers, and trained mentors. These types of programs are popping up on some campuses but not nearly quick enough to meet the needs of the students. As it stands now, the average college student has to wait weeks, if not months, to see a professional counselor on campus. Also, the student doesn’t have access to or knowledge about any self-help groups and will probably find dangerous and often deadly ways to manage emotions long before anyone notices that something is the matter.

Turning eighteen, graduating from high school, moving from their parents’ house, or going to college doesn’t magically produce an emotionally balanced, law abiding, mentally stable, responsible adult. This takes intentional intervention by all of those that have a stake in the growth and success of any young adult; that is all of us.

We must discontinue creating generations of students who find themselves professionally qualified, in debt and life deficient. These students are then released to the unsuspecting professional world who will initially believe they’ve hired a well-rounded, educated, and emotionally intelligent individual only to find out that contrary to popular belief, we don’t have to be emotionally intelligent to pass a college class nor mentally stable to graduate from college.

As a professional public speaker hired to do staff development, leadership training and personal development, I go from campus to campus and I’m not ever blown away by the situations and circumstances of the students; but completely blown away by the lack of knowledge, resources, planning, and preparation by the institutions of higher learning that have committed to taking on the responsibility of educating, empowering, and encouraging their enrolled students. Surely the responsibility to educate doesn’t end with passing a class in the students major, but now must be extended to educating and empowering the students that arrive on campus with major baggage, the emotional kind.

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

In 2007 I walked into the hotel where I had been hired to speak at a church conference. After checking in at the registration desk I was handed a name tag that said Minister Angela Harvey.
I spent the next half hour attempting to explain to anyone who would listen that I wasn’t a Minister and that I needed a new name badge. I became increasingly anxious at the thought of someone thinking I was capable or willing to lay hands on them or pray for them the way a real Minister could.

I finally found the organizer, the Bishop who hired me to speak and explained the mix up. “Bishop I’m just a Motivational Speaker,” I explained while my heart was still rapidly beating “I can’t wear this name tag.” She just smiled as I spoke and patiently waited for me to finish. “Angie,” she said while still smiling, “what do think a Minister is?” Check! Check Mate!

That weekend, I walked away with a greater understanding that everyone needs motivation, and I can and should meet folks wherever they are. Ever since that weekend, I have made it my business to GROW wherever there is a need and desire, with no exceptions. Since this declaration, I’ve been asked and spoken at bridal showers, girls' night out, family reunions, Sunday dinners, and football with the fellas. Some of the requests started as an informational conversation and evolved from there, while others knew exactly what they wanted to happen and only needed to know if I could create the vision.

You may be asking yourself how I, an invited stranger, turn a baby shower or a Sunday dinner into an environment where folks are willing to listen and, more importantly, be open to being motivated. I’m so happy you asked. Let me be clear: everyone needs, wants, desires, craves, and is inspired by motivation. Motivation provides direction, clarity, influence, encouragement, affirmation, support, and increased self–awareness, all while minimizing mental barriers. Powerful huh? Whose life couldn’t change, improve, or be positively maintained with this kind of boost? So, to answer your question, I use my s to craft a conversation that invites everyone to join in on a common or familiar topic. After just a few folks accepted the invitation and began to mentally and verbally participate, I have the beginnings of a motivation movement that continues to increase as folks are encouraged to share and respond. It’s almost magical to watch it unfold. Yes, this can be done at informal gatherings, in party atmospheres and even with unsuspecting or skeptical individuals.

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that I’m not pushing the typical or customary type of motivational speaking. No, I’m not standing or sitting and delivering a “rah–rah” speech to the fellas during the half time. What is required in small and intimate spaces is motivational conversation. The kind that is usually started by me but based on something that’s been observed, heard, or something that the host has clued me in on. This way, the group already has some common views, although they have different vantage points on the topic. Yes, everything about this type of interaction is customized and tailored. I’d also like to note that never have I heard anyone complain or get upset by my presence. Initially, there’s a little awkwardness, but then it becomes no different than joining a conversation with a stranger because the topic is all too familiar. Then poof, we’re collectively engaged and GROWING together.

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today. 

Employees are now being identified as human capital by most employers. According to dictionary.com human capital is the “skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or population, viewed in terms of their value or cost to an organization.” In other words, employees are valuable when they have skills, knowledge, and experience that they can use to benefit their employer. What happens when their personal challenges impede their ability to perform or produce at a level that adds value? More importantly, what happens when personal challenges are such barriers employees are no longer an asset but an expenditure to an employer? These are just some of the questions that are now being discussed in the boardrooms.

Consider this: for decades employees have been educated about the importance of exceptional internal customer service; providing professional, consistent and courteous service to other departments within the company. Well this concept is just elaborating on that rule of thumb that already exist. Employees are the internal customers of their employers and providing personal development for them is the best way to develop a professional.

The reality is less than one fourth of employees ever seek professional counseling to assist with personal needs and development. Even less than that have an adequate self –awareness to report all of their challenges and usually only concern themselves and their therapist with the crisis at hand. This wouldn’t normally be a statistic that an employer would be concerned with except now their business is only operating at half its capacity and generating below expected production. The new bottom line for companies is beginning to look less like their profits after expenses and more like the intervention needed before profits can be made.

Many employees experience professional impairment due to personal challenges. Today’s employees, especially millennials, are more easily overwhelmed, more likely to experience depression and anxiety, and need more coaching/catering in the areas of personal challenges than employees did fifteen years ago. Personal development relates to activities that improve self– awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, and, build human capital and facilitate employability. Therefore, many businesses and corporations will need to consider investing in programs and training that will enhance the personal development of their employees to see a profitable return of their investment and assure company success and growth.

Employers by and large have customarily only presented optional resources that are made available at the request of the employee. There are also times when an employee must engage through a company Employee Assistant Program when their ability to work is severely impaired. However, most companies don’t begin to address a personal employee concern until their work is impaired or as a last resort before having to terminate their employment. There is absolutely a trend that has been created to service the newest pool of employees: the millennials. This trend is one that seeks to provide, training, education, support and resources upon employment, throughout the work week, during off hours and that are mandatory. Yes, everyone must grow and develop. This a just a trend because most very large companies don’t yet feel the crunch or see the need, while smaller companies are unaware of the resources available and believe they can’t afford it. These reasons are in addition to the one that still exists; personal is personal and not professional.

The time has come that every employer, no matter how big or small, should strongly consider seeking services that provide ongoing training, staff support and personal and professional development to all employees. The services should be mandatory, customized, employee centered, engaging, interactive, educational and incorporated into the culture of the company. Long gone are the days that folks are able or willing to leave their personal challenges at home. Even if they wanted to, the challenges that arise in the work place have been found to be directly connected to what happens outside the workplace. Once this realization sets in what is now just a trend will become the norm. Every company will recognize that all human capital have human concerns that can directly impact their ability to grow and succeed and will ultimately affect the company’s bottom line.

Angela Harvey is a seasoned and respected social worker, motivational speaker, and facilitator with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Let's T.A.L.K. University and Angie Harvey Speaks, she is dedicated to helping grown-ups grow up by providing transformative workshops, retreats, trainings, presentations, and keynotes. Angela is also a filmmaker, poet, and author. If you need to grow, she is someone you should know. Contact Angela today.