Meet Lena J

We were lucky to catch up with Lena J recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lena, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re very focused on here – improving our ability to make decisions. Everyday, we’re faced with decisions that can impact the future of our careers, businesses, relationships and more and so one of the most impactful areas for personal development, in our view, is decision-making. Can you talk to us about how you developed or improved your decision-making skills?

Sometime I wish that the footsteps of my ancestors were engraved in the ground to light the path I walk on. In this way, the world wouldn’t feel so heavy, instead it would be deep. Deep enough to ground me in the moments that feel like a hail storm. Instead, I and countless others go searching for answers. In the absence of their guidance, we’re left to stumble, fall, twist and turn until we arrive on land that, to us, feels like higher ground. This is what it feels like to overcome anything in life but specifically, decision making.

We spend our whole lives purchasing self help books, and I’ve personally witnessed people call fifteen of their close friends and relatives, all in efforts to receive an answer to their discomfort that firstly, aligns with their intuition, but secondly, is comforting, even if it’s not always honest. Decisions sometimes feel like double edged swords. I wish I had the answers on how to make decision making easier, but I dont. You’re often told that the sum of your life are the decisions that you make, and I agree. One other sentiment that I can also agree with is that confidence is the leading cause of success and failure. At least 75% of life is finding the confidence to be exactly who you were made to be. Folded into that is self esteem, self awareness, and self love.

The power of choice hasn’t always been in our hands. From a child you’re told what to wear, what to eat, how to speak, and how to interact. As time continues on, that lack of choice can feel like a glass ceiling. In your teen years, you fracture that glass. With some assistance, you’re able to tell the world who you’ll be, who you’ll associate with, and you’re 5 year plan to set up the rest of your life…yikes. Along the way, all of those “I statements” and demands you imposed start to feel like the wrong decision. Self doubt kicks in and you no longer know what’s for you anymore.

As a young adult I can tell you this one truism in life, what’s for you will not pass you. It’s already yours. Another thing I can tell you from a serial people pleaser is…I promise you, they don’t matter that much. They being whomever you seek to impress. Looking inward, my indecisiveness usually stems from these three ideas. Firstly, I don’t wanting to disappoint the people around me. Secondly, I don’t have enough faith in the people around me that if things were to crash and burn, they would be willing and able to help me pick up the pieces. Lastly, I just don’t want to make the wrong decision.

I think the easier choices to make are the ones that feel like they choose you back. Music always felt like it chose me and I chose it back. With hard work, a whole lot of delusion, and God’s favor over my life, no one could ever make me feel foolish for that. The harder decisions are the ones that we’re afraid won’t choose us back. If I quit this job, will I find a new environment that I actually enjoy committing my time to? Will this person wake up and choose me everyday- forever? What if I move to this new city and end up having to move back home because my dreams don’t work out? Will people support me if I open this business?

The simple answer I’m currently learning to master is, pray about it and let it go. In my uncertainty, I rely on my faith. But I understand that this seemingly dismissive answer isn’t always the most reassuring. This is where we circle back around to confidence. I strongly believe that, whatever you want in this life, you can have. Being raised by a Virgo, I’ve learned to plan out every possible outcome for every possible decision and think of every possible repercussion. But once you develop a trust within yourself, you’ll grow to understand what you can handle. Key word, you, because you’re the only one that will have to walk in your shoes. Wherever the rabbit hole leads you once you determine your threshold, is your answer.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Hi! I’m Lena J, a singer-songwriter from Maryland. My journey in music began at a young age, performing in church and participating in numerous talent shows starting at 11 years old. Influenced by the timeless voices of Mariah Carey, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, and Luther Vandross, I developed a deep love for music that led me to pursue a double major in Multiplatform Production and Music at Morgan State University. In August 2024, I proudly released my debut single, “Catch 22”.

This chapter of my life feels so exciting because I’m finally making my younger self proud. Beyond doubt, uncertainty, or life’s hiccups, I feel like I’m making it happen. Soon, I’ll be releasing a mixtape to give the world a more well-rounded taste of who I am as an artist. Through my music, I aim to share my story in ways that inspire healing and connection. I want to show young people that with determination and passion, anything is possible.

I’m just a girl who hopes others can see themselves in my journey and my music.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Faith, Determination and Confidence! These three key skills in life will keep you going when you want to give up. Faith for me ties me back to my reason/purpose. As a musician, if I ever doubt my worth in regards to my gift, I think about why the gift was given to me to begin with. These wants and desires would not have been placed on your heart if you weren’t supposed to do anything with them. So, if you ever feel lost in the process, ask for guidance. I always ask God to order my footsteps and reveal to me what it is that I should do.

Determination. I shared my debut single, “Catch 22” with someone close to me before it was first released. After much feedback, I then expressed to him my thoughts surrounding the song and the chosen journey ahead as an artist. He then replied, “If you’re going to chase the rabbit. chase it with everything you have, or else it’s not worth it”. Those words circle my brain constantly. Many people don’t like hard truths. That’s just the way of the world. Nevertheless, it doesn’t make them any less true. Though, I like to meet somewhere in the middle when it comes to my approach. Learn to balance self care and self discipline. Do that and you’ll be unstoppable. Don’t bury yourself in turmoil trying to achieve these goals but don’t go too easy on yourself either. The only one that can make it happen for you, is you. So don’t short yourself!

Lastly, Confidence…good ol’ confidence. No one is going to believe in you more than you will believe in you Becoming your biggest fan is not easy and will require a lot out of you. But, an exercise that I began to practice when I grew tired of the self depreciation was simply changing the way I spoke to myself. For so long, bad things were spoken into me. To combat that, I started saying kinder things to myself. It might feel silly at first but it truly makes a difference. You’re the first person to hear your thoughts so the sooner you control the mood inside your head, the better off you will be to believe that you deserve good things to happen to you.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am absolutely looking for others to collaborate with! Like other musicians, I started making music in a dark basement alone lol. Music is to be shared! I’m looking for serious and talented musicians who have a strong work ethic and are committed to making the best music of their lives. The exchange of music is vulnerable because we’re telling our truths. I want to hear your stories and see what we can create together! If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to send me a DM on instagram. You can find me at, @lenajmusic! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Destiny Jackson

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