Anthony M. Wiley Jr. of Chattanooga, TN on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Anthony M. Wiley Jr. and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Anthony M., it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Yes, I have. When I spoke up about the culture and work environment at my previous employer, it cost me my position. I knew raising those concerns might put me at risk, but I could not ignore what I was seeing or experiencing. Sometimes standing up for people—and for what is right—comes with real consequences. I lost a job, but I kept my integrity. And for me, that is the part that matters most.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Anthony M. Wiley Jr., and I am the founder and CEO of Welcome to Today, a company committed to helping people experience freedom in mind, body, and spirit. I move between several worlds—leadership development, mindfulness, storytelling, and music. As a producer, I create soundscapes that carry the same heart as my coaching and my writing: healing, honesty, and movement toward wholeness.

My work sits at the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and creative expression. I guide individuals and communities through healing, leadership growth, and mindful living, always with an eye toward equity and human dignity. I am also the author of Magron’s Quest, a children’s book that mirrors the inner journey many of us face—meeting fear, choosing courage, and stepping into who we were created to be.

Much of my story has been shaped by military service, ministry, fatherhood, and the work of healing from generational trauma. Those experiences continue to anchor everything I create, from music to meditation events to community partnerships.

Right now, I am focused on expanding Welcome to Today through meditation experiences, coaching programs, and creative projects that bring people back to themselves. Whether through a book, a beat, or a moment of stillness, my goal remains the same: help people Get Free, Stay Free, and Set Free.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
A part of me that has served its purpose is the version of myself that learned how to survive by shrinking. The part that stayed quiet to keep the peace. The part that held on to fear because it felt safer than being fully seen. That version helped me make it through some hard seasons, but he cannot come with me into the life I am building now.

I am letting go of the instinct to overwork, overexplain, or carry everything alone just to feel worthy. That mindset was born out of survival, but I am not living in survival anymore. I am stepping into spaces where my voice matters, where my presence carries weight, and where I do not need to make myself small to be accepted.

I am keeping the wisdom, the resilience, and the strength that came from those years. What I am releasing is the belief that I have to earn my place. I am choosing to move forward as the man I am becoming—steady, grounded, and whole.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Aeschylus said, “We suffer our way to wisdom.” Success can make life look good on the outside, but suffering reaches the parts of you that you usually keep hidden. It shows you what still hurts, what you have been avoiding, and what needs real healing.

Suffering slowed me down long enough to see myself honestly. It taught me patience, compassion, and how to lean on God instead of trying to carry everything by myself. It reminded me that strength is not about holding it all together. Sometimes strength is asking for help, setting boundaries, and letting old habits fall away.

Success can hype you up, but suffering will shape you. It helped me grow a clearer mind, a softer heart, and a deeper understanding of who I am becoming. I would not choose the hard moments, but I cannot deny what they gave me: wisdom I would have never learned any other way.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One truth I rarely say out loud is that my peace is my responsibility. I have to guard it on purpose. It does not just happen. It shows up in how I talk to myself, what I allow, and what I walk away from.

Another truth is that love needs boundaries. I grew up thinking love meant showing up no matter what, even when it drained me. Now I understand that real love also protects your energy and tells the truth about what you can handle.

I also carry this quiet truth: God is steady, even when life is not. I do not always say it, but that belief keeps me centered.

And the last one—healing is a lifelong journey. Some days I am further than I think, other days I feel like I am starting over. But I can look at my life and see that I am changing, little by little. That truth stays with me, even when I do not speak it.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What light inside you have you been dimming?
The light I have been dimming is my confidence. Not the loud kind, but the quiet knowing of who I am and what I carry. I spent a long time trying not to take up too much space, because I did not want to make anyone uncomfortable or look like I was doing too much.

I have dimmed the part of me that knows how to lead, create, and speak with authority. I have dimmed my gift to teach, to guide, to heal, and to walk people through hard places. I have dimmed my own brilliance because I was trying to survive rooms that were never meant to hold the full version of me.

The truth is, that light was never meant to stay small. It was meant to grow, to serve, and to help somebody else see their way through. I am learning to stop apologizing for who I am and let that light show.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.welcometotoday.org
• Instagram: @brophesorx
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awileyjr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freeblacksociety
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/2WrUjSRoS0rCY7DguKXT04?si=d41Xy4-6TYKN285BQ-zzbQ