We recently connected with Anja Akhile and have shared our conversation below.
Anja , so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
As a child my mom regularly read books to me. Every book focused on self empowerment, our unique abilities, what makes us speacial, and the power of positive self talk. The book that stands out the most from my childhood is called “ What You Can See, You Can Be!” by David A. Anderson.
This book breaks down how your thoughts and your words create your reality. It makes the concept of manifestation easily accessible to kids. The story talks about wanting to be a firefighter or a pilot and other goals that might be exciting to kids. The story concludes that once you have a thought and you speak it into existence, you do not have to worry- that it will come true.
The concepts in this book stayed with me as I got older and continued to expand my spiritual knowledge. As an adult, my understanding of manifestation and discovering purpose are deeply connected. I understand now that I have unique gifts and abilities that no one else has. There is only one me. I was put on this planet to serve a specific purpose, and because there is only one me, and because my purpose is very specific- no one can stand in my way. I know that what I think about, what I speak about, becomes my reality and directly impacts my purpose. So when it comes to “hater” or folks who doubt me, I do not give them any attention or energy.
I constantly tell myself that “my road is clear and there is no one in my lane.” I daily affirm to myself that the clients that are meant for me are already mine. My success is already laid out for me. Affirming these things to myself daily not only shapes my reality, but it helps me to stay focused on the task at hand.
Now, of course I am human and I have feelings too, so there are times where self doubt might creep in or not receive it support from someone I cared about or admired but sting a bit, but I ultimately know that none of that matters in the grand scheme of things. I know that what I see, I can be!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My main focus right now is midwifery. I am currently enrolled at The National Midwifery Institute. I am currently what is known as a “primary student under supervision.” What this means is I am at the phrase of my learning where I am the midwife. I lead prenatal and postpartum visits, and I run the flow of the labor and delivery. I do all of this work under the supervision of a licensed midwife who is there to make sure I am doing things correctly and to step in if something arises that is out of my scope of knowledge and expertise. This year is my last year of school before I can sit and take the exam to become licensed by the medical board and practice on my own.
I am very excited about where I am in my schooling journey because it has taken a lot for me to get to this point. I enrolled in midwifery school when my second daughter was only a few weeks old and I had a third daughter in the thick of schooling. I have been wonderfully supported by my husband and my mom while I am away at births or needing to sleep and recover.
I got into this work specifically to support the black birthing community, because our moms are dying at a higher rate than any other race. Just this month a Black woman died at a hospital in Inglewood due to medical neglect. Many black women are scared to give birth that some are choosing to not have kids at school. I believe that midwifery is the answer so there is a sense of urgency for me to finish.
Additionally, once I become licensed it is my goal to have a physical space to welcome clients pregnant and postpartum and lead classes, workshops and seminars that focus on herbal medicine, holistic health and taking back knowledge that was stolen from our community.
While it is the black community that got me into this work, and it is the state of black maternal health care that keeps me going, I am a resource for all. I truly believe the more that we know, the better we can advocate for ourselves and make true informed health care decisions.
Right now, I am excited to offer the following services:
Midwifery support
Well person care
Doula support
I am currently taking midwifery clients for birth center birth under supervision of Faith Freeman, LM CPM in Downtown Los Angeles. I am also offering well person care under supervision of Faith Freeman, LM CPM as well.
Last but not least, I am still taking on clients who are seeking birth doula support.
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?
I think the three qualities and skills that were most helpful in my journey are
Patience- learning to trust the process and enjoy the journey. Understanding that midwifery is a calling and when you receive the calling, you have to trust the process however it may unfold.
Be open- Be open to learning from invididuals who are willing to help you even if they are not a person you originally thought you would work with. Be open to different perspectives and ways of doing things.
Ask for help- humble yourself and ask for help when you need it
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, and I tend to feel that way often- I lean on my husband to talk through things. I also spending time journaling and outside. I feel most grounded when I am hiking so whenever I get the chance, I make the space to do so.
If there is someone reading this who does not have any strategies in place for when they feel overwhelmed and do not know where to start, I say try everything.
Try yoga, writing, exercise, getting outside, start therapy- try everything until you find what works for you and understand that works not may not always work so be open to changing the ways in which you unwind and release any stress or tension.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.anjaakhile.com
- Instagram: @anja_akhile
