We were lucky to catch up with Jan Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jan, really appreciate your meeting with us today to talk about some particularly personal topics. It means a lot because so many in the community are going through circumstances where your insights and experience and lessons might help, so thank you so much in advance for sharing. The first question we have is about divorce and how you overcame divorce and didn’t allow the trauma of divorce to derail your vision for your life and career.
Overcoming divorce has been a journey of reclaiming my peace and refusing to be pulled into anyone else’s chaos. I’ve learned that my well-being depends on aligning my thoughts and actions with my core values, not with the expectations or dysfunction of others. This chapter has taught me to choose clarity over confusion and self-worth over settling. I am no longer willing to accept less than what I deserve—from love, from partnership, or from life itself. My peace is now my priority, and protecting it has become both my healing and my power.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the founder and creative director of the Bella Grind Brand based in Atlanta, GA. My mission is to provide black women a space where their voices will be elevated and their stories celebrated via digital media platforms, inspirational apparel, and empowerment events. The Bella Grind Podcast and Magazine is a space for black women’s voices to be elevated and celebrated. The “SIMPLY JAN” Vlog captures a day in my life as a content creator as I share my daily grind while balancing family and friendships. Bella Grind Apparel is empowerment clothing with positive messages of self-love, awareness, and POWER. Fashion is a true form of expression, and this capsule is for the woman who lives out loud and stands boldly in her truth. Bella Grind Alliance is an outreach initiative to give back to others via signature events, service projects, mentoring, and speaking engagements. I’m also an educational leader and community leader in Metro Atlanta, known for my work with community engagement and wraparound support for educators, children, and families.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
When going through divorce, the qualities you need are self compassion, self love, and realistic positivity. When going through divorce, the qualities you need most are self-compassion, self-love, and realistic positivity. It’s a time when your heart feels fragile, and your sense of identity can feel shaken, so offering yourself grace becomes essential. Self-compassion allows you to acknowledge the pain without judgment, while self-love reminds you that you are still whole and worthy, even as parts of your life shift. Realistic positivity doesn’t ignore the hurt—it balances hope with honesty, helping you see that endings can also be beginnings. With these qualities, you move from merely surviving to rebuilding with intention, strength, and a deeper understanding of who you are and what you truly deserve.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
During this critical time in my life, having a sister-friend circle has been nothing short of essential. They are my helpers—the ones I can lean into without fear or hesitation. In their presence, I find community, comfort, and understanding that words alone can’t capture. They meet me exactly where I am emotionally, offering empathy instead of judgment and strength when mine feels depleted. On the toughest days, they stand in the gap for me—praying, encouraging, and holding space until I can stand on my own again. Their love reminds me that healing doesn’t have to happen in isolation; it can unfold within the safety of sisterhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellagrind.com
- Instagram: bella_grind_
- Youtube: Bella Grind TV
Image Credits
Sky Wonders Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
