Meet Zonya Robinson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zonya Robinson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zonya below.

Zonya, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
Life. Life is a teacher. Life will humble you. Trials and tribulations will refine, mature, groom, and bring about wisdom. Going through life’s struggles, failed relationships, costly mistakes, losing connections and relationships whether good or bad, will indeed break you down in a way that grounds you. Life, if you allow it, will kill out ego, pride, self righteousness, and bring you to a place of understanding. You learn to speak less, judge less, manage your words with more thought. You begin to analyze and perceive people, situations, and circumstances in a more balanced way that doesn’t always benefit you. You begin to seek to understand more of the WHY behind everything that’s done or said, or needs to be done or said versus the actual act and or language. Life teaches you to look beyond face value and tap into the heart of a person or matter, or, at least it should. That’s where my empathy comes from honestly, learning through my own adversities that I too can find myself in situations that go against my moral compass, ideologies and standards. The old folks would say “Just keep on living”. I understand that more and more now that I’m a woman in her 40’s and have experienced a great deal and fair share of lifes ups and downs. In my younger years, I said I wouldn’t do or say things and I’ve definitely done and said them over the years, some more than once. It’s at those moments when you challenge yourself, the core of who you are, how you identify and what’s your new standard or moral temperature. When you experience self disappointment, that’s when you become the most gracious because you want others to extend grace, understanding, forgiveness, patience and love in those moments that you may not have given to others before that particular experience. Its when you find yourself nevering like you’ve never nevered before that you become the most empathetic of others. You come into a space where you never say never, you instead pray and hope that life doesn’t deal you a hand where you find yourself making or having to make the same costly decisions as others or finding yourself in situations that are contrary to who you “think” or “presume” you are. When life gets to lifing, you quickly learn who you truly are and what you are made of and from there, hopefully, empathy is birthed. At least that’s where it birthed for me and if I’m completely honest, I’m grateful for it. It’s made me better and is continuing to make me better as I maneuver through this side of life.

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?
I’m a multifaceted person. There are so many dynamics to my life. The most important hat I wear is Ministry. I’m an ordained Pastor and I have an online ministry called ZMR Ministries where we serve the gospel through conversation. We take what you would normally hear behind a pulpit and expound on it through dialogue opening a way for greater understanding so that one can actually walk out the word spiritually while living a practical life. Serving others and spreading the gospel will always be the most vital part of who I am. It’s priority in my life.

I’m also a film maker, actress, and writer. That’s my more creative stream. I’ve been in a number of films, have written, directed and produced films. I’ve also written two novels, one was published. There are number of projects that are in the works so be on the lookout for more information.

Here recently, I’m tapping into more of my Entrepreneurial vein. I have a company in the works that will be launching by 2024 and it will certainly serve creators and creatives alike. So definitely stay tuned, there’s great things on the horizon.

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 would say the three most important areas and or qualities that have impacted me the most is my relationship with Christ, my faith and belief system, and resilience or tenacity.

The first, which is my relationship with Christ, sets the tone for everything and every other area in my life. That’s my foundation, my roots so if I’m grounded in Him then all other things will fall into alignment horizontally. It’s my most un-secret weapon. My intimacy with Jesus is by far the most impactful area of my life.

My faith and belief system, some would say that aligns with the first, and it does, but doesn’t. All who have a relationship with Christ don’t live by faith unfortunately. Walking and living by faith is what has kept me pushing and striving for what I believe God has purposed for my life. When everything around me looks bleak, when all my resources are depleted, when nothing seems to add up to what I’m believing in, it is my faith that keeps me going. So I make every move and decision based on faith, trusting that with every step it’s leading me to what I believe.

Lastly, resilience and tenacity. Refusing to give up. Refusing to back down. Always ready and willing to fight my way through. Pushing under pressure. Travailing through trials. Fighting my way from fall back. Resisting the urge to quit after rejection. Suffering hit after hit makes you stronger and immune to things that once could cripple you. Overtime, you learn to withstand the hits and keep pressing. Sometimes those hits are coming so fast you don’t have time to nurture the wound. Some would say you learn to take a lick’n and keep on tickin. By worlds standards this is unhealthy because you’re not “dealing” with the hit, but on the contrary, you’re learning to “deal” as you continue to triumph. It’s what makes you a victor, not letting anything stop you from the ultimate goal or prize. You persevere through whatever comes your way not letting anything stop you.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The book that has played and plays the most important role in my life and journey is the Bible. That book is the book of all books. It’s the blueprint of all blueprints. It’s a manual, a guide, a cheat sheet, and stronger than any nuclear weapon. It carries the answer to all things. The wisdom that leaps from those pages would’ve saved me from myself in my younger years and in most recent times had I read it more. That book has gotten me through some of my most dark and tumultuous times. It’s counseled me when a therapist or pastor didn’t have the answer. It consoled me when I was fragile and broken. It purged me of the hidden wickedness I didn’t see in myself, and still does. It regulates my mind, transforms my thinking pattern, and shows me how to maneuver life and deal with people. There is no question or inquiry that one can surmise that the Bible does not have the answer to. It explains the past, the present and future. All of life, and the world as we see and know it lines up with the words written in that book. It makes life an open book test. You just can’t go wrong with the Bible as your reference. Whether you’re searching for answers in creativity, politics, war, science, philosophy, love, you name it, it’s there. It really is the Book of life, it’s the living word and should be everyone’s compass.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,