We recently connected with Leticia Jones and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Leticia, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
It is critical to begin on a macro level to address the concepts of confidence and self-esteem. Big picture, then bring it home to a micro level. I am keenly aware that the development of both self-esteem and confidence impacts everyone, regardless of gender. The journey and narratives are different for those born or who identify as female.
We are all born with a clean slate, an innate sense that we are brilliant, one of a kind, and here for a purpose. We may need to wait to know our purpose. The journey is different for everyone. External chatter overpowers our sense of brilliance, uniqueness, and mission. It causes internal struggles and conflicting messages. Before long, a narrative begins to take root. The new narrative drowns out the original narrative.
Words are so powerful. They can build or destroy. The gender narrative. The “tribal talk,” the conversations that happen within our homes and communities of origin from the time we are born.” It has dramatically impacted the confidence and self-esteem of women since the beginning of time.
Messages like girls don’t excel in math or science; that’s for boys. Researchers in this field prove that teachers choose boys to respond to questions in science and math more than girls. Girls have shorter wait times. Meaning boys have more time to respond. Our intellectual prowess is challenged and diminished at every turn.
A prescription for beauty and how our bodies should look is imposed on us. And in 2023, our right to make choices regarding our bodies was also stripped from us by legislators. We are sending the message that we don’t have the right or clarity of thought to make informed decisions about our medical needs and our own bodies. The power and reach of social media amplify all of these harmful macro messages.
A tiny waist, large breasts, and a large buttock is the “standard.” We have girls and women of every age surgically altered to meet the “standard.”Unfortunately, many are dying to achieve this “standard.” They are willing to pay for a standard they had no role in developing. As a therapist, I see the daily impact of this. It takes the form of declined academic performance, strained peer relationships at best, self-harming, which is hate turned inward, and suicide.
If you are a woman of color, the self-esteem and confidence journey is intensified by the fact that the “standard” portrays and is determined with a European design in mind. So, how have I, a woman and a woman of color, returned to my original brilliance, uniqueness, and purpose?
At the core, confidence is a firm trust, like when sitting on a chair. We never question its ability to hold us. We fully trust the chair. I had to embark on a journey of fully trusting myself, my voice, and my intuition (gut). The journey is ongoing, and daily intentionality is a must. I took some time to self-reflect and deeply dive into who I am. Who is Leticia?
I was determined to silence the voices (including my own) that had been telling me who I was not. The word that kept swirling in my mind and spirit was resilience. I, like many, have a story of tremendous pain, loss, and tragedy (lots of great stuff, too). I took a hard look at how I bounced back from challenges. This would eventually evolve into my, How I Win Formula. The challenges began to teach me, stretch me, and, most importantly, build trust in myself. The themes or patterns that evolved were consistent. I remained focused and determined; “no” was never an option. I leaned on internal and external support, visualized the future, and remained organized, resourceful, and unwavering in listening to God’s voice.
These truths about myself began to delete the old playlist and the new songs written. Building confidence meant taking the scary step of deleting the old narrative. Now, this may sound like a no-brainer. As humans, we are reward-driven. It doesn’t matter if the reward is positive or negative. So even the uncomfortable becomes comfortable. Toxic relationships. Toxic jobs. Toxic behaviors all become our security blanket. Familiar is safe and comfy.
The measure of who we are is revealed when faced with a challenge. My epiphany happened amid deep discouragement with my business. Things were going or growing differently than I planned. Which meant the old “throwback” playlist tried to start playing again. Being reminded of who I am and all I have overcome empowered me to stay in the game. I fully trusted myself!
Confidence organically feeds and nurtures self-esteem. We are uncovering how I have developed enormous self-respect and confidence in my abilities. Beneath the pain, disappointment, and discouragement were hidden treasures—tools designed for my journey and my light to radiate.
It has been my experience that society’s systems attempt to erase our brilliance, uniqueness, and purpose as a form of control and oppression. When you think little of yourself, you do little under the radar. When you think BIG, you live BIG. People that live big become influential, powerful, and pose a threat. People who live big with good intentions and motives can change their sphere of influence. Make the world a better place.
I remember the conversation with my Assistant Principal the year I was up for Teacher of the Year. It has been 10+ years since that conversation. It changed my life. Although I am older, her words were clear, firm, and almost mother-like. She instructed me to brag about my work as an educator. Share the passion and commitment they see daily. Shine your light! I sat before the panel and did just that. I was named the 2013 Teacher of the Year. This pep talk and award was the catalyst for BIGGER living.
I went from impacting hundreds of students each year to tens of thousands as I co-led district-level initiatives that impacted the entire district. I would go on to have a district-level impact as a leader in recruiting teachers and district leaders. Now, I’ve been able to marry my many roles, teacher, district leader, and therapist, into the role of CEO. BIGGER influence.
Rebranding myself began with rebuilding my confidence and self-esteem. Challenges and setbacks do not shield or exempt me from business or life challenges. However, I am more than equipped to bounce back. I can now exhale, knowing that I have returned home and returned to my brilliance, uniqueness, and true purpose.
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?
reignitED was launched to rebrand the teaching profession one healthy teacher at a time. As an educator, therapist, and HR professional, I bring my trifecta skills to tackle this enormous task. We provide solutions that help organizations create healthier spaces. We are committed to creating tailored solutions to address culture and climate challenges through innovative consulting, customized professional development, coaching, and a holistic lens that redefines what workspaces can be. Starting with people is the first critical step. Equipping teachers with the tools needed to prioritize their well-being is revolutionary. Then, we work with leaders and tackle processes and partnerships. An ecosystem of wellness begins to take shape. At reignitED, we are laser-focused on solving the challenges of teacher turnover and attrition. This challenge is, of course, not unique to the teaching profession. However, it is shrouded in secrecy, often minimized, and often assumed that the teaching brand is healthy. It is not!
reignitED is unique because we have a 3D view of the issues and robust solutions. For instance, we support leaders in identifying the effectiveness of their processes. A poor process or system impacts productivity and morale. These eventually lead to disengagement. Hence, mass resignations and “silent quitting.” An organization is a living, breathing organism; poor processes can cause disease. We help schools, districts, and organizations make those connections.
The quality I appreciate most about our approach is the intentionality around building relationships and connecting with our clients. This creates an environment that fosters collaboration and trust.
This leads to strategic partners and how the right partners are essential. Strategic partners are vital as they can provide financial and human resources. While resources are crucial, aligning values, vision, and purpose must solidify the partnership.
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?
This is a tricky question because so much goes into developing anything. As I reflect on my journey, the three most essential qualities are to remain teachable, embrace being uncomfortable, and be vulnerable. As a child, I loved learning. My love of learning was not limited to what was in a book or taught by a teacher.
Life is the most outstanding teacher. I would often be within earshot of my grandmother’s conversations with family, friends, and neighbors. The talk was rich, colorful, and full of wisdom. My father was a brilliant man and a prolific writer. His love of language and inspirational speaking instilled the power of words and learning. Being a student is a privilege.
Being flexible and comfortable with the uncomfortable is so critical. My undergraduate work as an aspiring teacher taught me to be flexible. Human behavior is unpredictable, and starting a business has many unpredictable days. Being prepared at all times helps, but embracing the discomfort requires less energy than resisting. Take it from me! The third is being vulnerable and willing to know that it’s okay not to be okay. That we don’t always have the answers. Setbacks are inevitable, and we are made strong in weakness.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I am a big supporter of learning to read your body and approaching our well-being from a proactive stance instead of a reactive one. When we are overwhelmed, we are now in a reactive position. The first big move I made was to take control of my schedule. For me, the first two hours of the day are intentional recharging. I realize that not everyone can carve out that much time. But I encourage taking control of some time daily, even if only 15 minutes. I remain proactive by following my wellness rituals and routines. I pray/meditate each morning, journal gratitude and reflections, and often practice silence. I walk the trail with my dog or practice yoga to move. Throughout the day, I check in with myself and gauge my physical and emotional needs, etc. Good sleep and hydration. I have a very supportive team of people, “my trusted tribe,” who hold me up and give me the space to be authentically me. I also do a lot of laughing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://projectreignited.com/
- Instagram: @reignit_ED
- Facebook: reignited.now
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/Leticiajones
- Twitter: @ProfesoraJonz
- Youtube: The Teacher Wellness Lounge
Image Credits
Najeé M. Mathis
