Mahara Wayman [00:00:05]:
Welcome to the art of badassery where I explore what it takes to live life on your own terms. Break free from the status quo and unleash your inner badass. Whether you're a rebel at heart or simply seeking inspiration to step outside your comfort zone, this podcast is for you. I'm your host Mahara Wayman and each week I dive into the stories, insights, and strategies of those who've mastered the art of badassery and are living life to the fullest. They smile when no one is lucky. The art of badassery welcomes the unstoppable Tamika Jones. Born in Tampa and forged in the grid of a small town near Myrtle Beach, Tamika didn't just dream big, guys. She conquered big.
Mahara Wayman [00:00:54]:
As a little girl, she dreamed of being a pediatrician, but her warrior spirit led her down a more explosive path when she answered the call to serve in the US Air Force, where she dominated the ranks and emerged as an Air Force officer. Now commanding her territory in San Antonio, Texas, Tamika continues her mission with fierce determination as a life coach, nurse, and author. She's not just passionate. She's relentless about shattering limitations, igniting others to seize their purpose, and charging headfirst into life's wildest adventures, all the while being an absolute force as a mom. Get ready to dive into her epic journey of raw resilience, unapologetic purpose, and pure unfiltered badassery. Tamika, welcome to the show.
Tomeka Jones [00:01:41]:
Thank you for having me, and I'm glad to be here. Thank you.
Mahara Wayman [00:01:44]:
It is my absolute pleasure. Okay. The show is all about badassery. When did you first realize that you were a badass?
Tomeka Jones [00:01:53]:
Oh, when did I first realize that I was a badass? After I retired from the military I know I know it's yeah. After I retired from the military and, I, put on this whole self love journey trying to figure out self identity journey trying to figure out who the heck is Tamika. Right? Twenty three years in the air force, all I knew was the air force. Right? So my identity was a airman in the air force. Right? I I follow instructions, gave instructions, did my job, press repeat. Right? Everyday, day in and day out. Right? But after I retired, I'm like, what do I do? What is my passions? What do Tamika like? What does, how do I feel? What I all these emotions, right, came about. And I decided to go on a self healing, self love journey to discover who, Tamika really, really was.
Tomeka Jones [00:02:50]:
And after that, man, just a whole new person came about. And I look like, I am a badass. You know? I am me. Right? There's only one me. Right? One only one DNA, that that only one person that has my DNA. Right? So once I tapped into that and and and and, prior life coach to help me do my journey, and discover my passions, my purpose, my true identity, that's when I realized I was a badass. Right? My DNA is badass.
Mahara Wayman [00:03:22]:
What I find so interesting though, and thank you for sharing that, and we are gonna do a deep dive on your journey then. But when you joined the Air Force, what did you think of yourself then?
Tomeka Jones [00:03:34]:
Oh, when I joined the air force, I didn't even I was a broken young young young woman. I I I came from a childhood, you know, had some trauma in my childhood, and, I really didn't know who Tamika was during that time. I didn't know what love meant. I didn't know I didn't have a father in the home. I, you know, I had a mother who, you know, struggled with substance abuse. Right? I have have a older brother and a older sister, which thank God for them. But I was a a broken young young lady going into the military not knowing who I was and what to expect. And I don't really think my mom really knew, that I even was in the military at that time.
Tomeka Jones [00:04:20]:
So, and then rewind back before the military, I was in I had went to college for a couple years. And during that time, my mom didn't know because she was on the couch and, you know, sleep. And, my brother actually took me, drove me eight hours to Daytona Beach, Florida to Bethune Cookman College and dropped me off and say, here's $20, sis. I I can't stay here with you because I gotta go back to work tonight. You're gonna have to figure out orientation. You're gonna have to figure this thing out, but you got this. So he left, and it was a a auditorium full of parents and, you know, students. And, it was, you know, it was it was an experience that I I, had by myself.
Tomeka Jones [00:05:05]:
Right? But, I was able to get through it, and, thank God for my roommate. Her family had, you know, we had once I went through orientation, I got to my my room and at at school, at the college, and, my friend came in. She wasn't my friend at the time. She was another another girl coming in, my dorm mate. And all her family was there, and they bought her all type of cakes and cookies and snacks and everything. And, after they left, we, you know, got to know each other. And she was like, Tamika, if you look to my snacks, you're more than welcome. Mind you, I didn't have anything.
Tomeka Jones [00:05:40]:
I only had $20. I didn't have anything. So I said, okay. So late night, she heard me, like, in her snack. She was like, Tamika, is that you? I'm like, yes. So but we bonded and we became best friends, but I I didn't have anything. But I was able to get through it. Right? Working, work study, I found myself working work study for 4.25 an hour.
Tomeka Jones [00:06:01]:
Right? That wasn't enough to get through, so I took a job off off, campus working at a KFC, say fried chicken, just trying to make ends meet. I ended up leaving, which was a saving grace for me, moving back, with my my sister in Myrtle Beach, working at night at Krispy Kreme, seven to eleven, eleven to seven, and trying to go to her go to college during the day, community college. So I was that wasn't enough for me. That was not enough. So I knew there was something greater. So yep.
Mahara Wayman [00:06:35]:
I wanna jump in here because where did that young woman find the grit and the wherewithal to do all of that? Because that takes guts. And it I mean, to me, when you tell the story, I'm thinking, of course, you're a badass. You walked with you walked in, your head held high with $20, and that's it?
Tomeka Jones [00:06:56]:
Yeah. That's it.
Mahara Wayman [00:06:58]:
So where did that grit come from, do you think?
Tomeka Jones [00:07:01]:
I would say, we grew up in the South. Right? And it's either do or die back then. It was not literally die, but it's either you go with the flow or you don't. Right? So, throughout school, you know, my my young adult life and and throughout school, I just I just knew there was always something, out there for me. Like, I always had a purpose and passion in life for something, but I didn't know what it was. Right? So with the resilience, I think it was just brought up in me, just in me because my mom has gone through a lot. My mom was shot six times. My mom was kidnapped and thrown from a bridge.
Tomeka Jones [00:07:38]:
My mom was taken to the dumps and was gonna be mutilated in New York City. My mom, was, shot by lightning. My all these things. Right? So so she's going through a lot. So I think part of that, I have some of her DNA. Right? Just some. So I think it was her and then I think, God. Well, I know God is is the one that, you know, has kept me and to say, okay, Tamika, you can do it, you know, in spite of this, in spite of that.
Tomeka Jones [00:08:06]:
You have something deep rooted in you. You got this. You can do it.
Mahara Wayman [00:08:12]:
What a fantastic story. And, I mean, shock value aside, without a doubt, you grew up in a you grew up with this. Right? You've seen it in action, and and there's this idea of necessity. And I talk about necessity a lot when I coach because often what forces us or invites us to be badass or to be brave, whatever term you use, is we finally recognize the need to be. Even if we can't articulate it, something inside us is like, I gotta stand up for myself. I've gotta keep looking. I've gotta face my fears. I've gotta walk into an auditorium with a thousand kids, and I'm the only one by herself, for example.
Mahara Wayman [00:08:55]:
Right? Mhmm. I wanna I wanna call out that that even such a young age, you were displaying real badassery even if you didn't know it.
Tomeka Jones [00:09:05]:
Yeah. I guess I was. Yeah. But I I now that you mentioned that, I know, growing up in the Southwest again, you know, my mind would always say, you know, go to school, head down, don't cause no smoke, sit in the back of the class, don't don't raise your hand for anything, just go to school to learn. Right? So I kind of live my life like that, not speaking up for myself. Even in the military, I felt where there were times where I'm like, hey. I have a great idea. Get my hands slapped.
Tomeka Jones [00:09:39]:
Right? So I go back to, okay. I don't have a voice. But I always knew I had a voice, but I just never tapped into it until, like like I said, after the military. And I'm like, wait, I'm a badass. I'm I I I can do this. I'm me. Right? I have a voice. You know? I'm all these things.
Tomeka Jones [00:09:55]:
And even with my birthmark, I do have a birthmark that I struggle with, insecure all these years. Right? So darker pigmentation on my back, neck, arm, all the things. And I've never worn a swimsuit. I've never worn a tank top or anything. Right? Until here recently. And I'm like, this is me. God created my flaws and all. Hence, the word flawless.
Tomeka Jones [00:10:19]:
Right? So that's where flawless came to fruition, which everything I own is is flawless. Right? I'm like, this is me. My flaws are my superpowers. And if I can't show up for myself, how do I supposed to show up for my eight year old, my seven year old? So when I had this vision of my business and I started in apparel. Right? I started with apparel because it's funny, because I was too afraid to speak in public. It goes way back. Right? So after doing the work and peeling back the layers of what why am I so fearful of public speaking and all the things and showing the world who Tamika really is? What? Why? So, I started doing the work. It came from childhood, right? It came from, you know, humble beginnings, right? Like, is it Kendrick Lamar? Stay humble, sit down once again.
Tomeka Jones [00:11:09]:
Well, you're done. So when I tapped in into to who who I who I really was in, in this word flawless, you know, came to fruition here and, it's not the definition that society uses. You know, we think of something flawless. We say, oh, it's aesthetically beautiful. It's the JLOs, the Beyonce's, the Celine Dion's. It's something so beautiful. But, no, my definition of flawless is being the best version of yourself, walking in your truth, and just being authentically you while discovering your purpose. That's that's my flawless.
Mahara Wayman [00:11:47]:
Mic drop. Mic drop.
Tomeka Jones [00:11:49]:
That's how I cultivated and and started to embrace my flaws because they are my superpowers, and they are your superpowers as well. You just have to embrace them. Whatever your flaws may be. Mine was public speaking, my birthmark. Right? Those things.
Mahara Wayman [00:12:04]:
That's so, so good and so powerful. So I might understand that you started a clothing business first?
Tomeka Jones [00:12:11]:
I did. I started that. And a year later, god was like, that's not where I call you, Tamika. That's where you went because of your own, you know, fears, but that's not where I call you. And that's how our coaching came about. Right? Helping others, other women get through their struggles and walk with them through through loving who who who they are, who they're meant to be. Yeah.
Mahara Wayman [00:12:33]:
Tell us about the business now. Did you stop the business, or is it just a sideline?
Tomeka Jones [00:12:38]:
The apparel? Yes. It's just complimentary to, it's still woman empowerment, but it's just complimentary coaching. So yes. Awesome. I still have it.
Mahara Wayman [00:12:46]:
Let's talk about leaving the air force. Was that a set I mean, I know nothing about the air force. Right? I'm Canadian. Jamaican living in Canada. I'm Canadian as well. But was retirement set? Was like, do you just service that amount of years and then you get to choose to retire, or did you start to get a wake up call internally that this wasn't right for you and you were ready to go? Tell us a little bit about that.
Tomeka Jones [00:13:11]:
So twenty twenty years, you can retire, in the the armed forces. So for me, I served twenty three years, and I had had, a, a baby, a child. Right? And, like, 2017. And I retired twenty twenty two. So I only stayed in a couple years after, I had my child. And I I made a conscious decision to actually exit the military, to be able to, you know, I'm a I'm a single mom, so tag. I'm it. So I wanted to be able to, cultivate a beautiful relationship with my daughter and not have to send her off somewhere when I had to deploy or something because I didn't have any family close to me.
Tomeka Jones [00:13:55]:
So I will and I that happened. Right? I had to deploy or go off, and I had to figure out where my daughter was gonna go. Right? Because I I had no family close. So I end up having to send my brother my daughter to my brother in Charlotte, North Carolina. Would she know my family, but she don't know my family. So that was hard for me to have to leave my child, you know, my, two year old with family. So that was one of the reasons why I said, okay. I served my time, you know, and and, you know, it's just time for me to do other things because I have a little one to think about and it's just me and her.
Tomeka Jones [00:14:30]:
So that was one of the reasons and then two, I was just ready to do something different.
Mahara Wayman [00:14:35]:
What did your time in the military teach you?
Tomeka Jones [00:14:40]:
My time in the resilience. Resilience again, again and again and again. Just to, there was times where, you know, you have conflict and that's in any job. You have conflict with your supervisor or just with any any any person. In the military, it taught me that this too shall pass, right, because I'm only here at this base for a short amount of time. Either I'm gonna leave or my supervisor, whoever the person is that I'm gonna have a conflict, what gonna leave. Right? Or we figure it out. Right? And but we set the boundaries and, respect the rank.
Tomeka Jones [00:15:15]:
Right? And do the job. So mission is first. Key. That's key with anything and everything in military. Whether you get it wrong or you don't, the mission is first. But for me, every base, that I that I, was stationed at, it tells a story. Yeah. There there's a journey in every every base that I've I've I've been to.
Tomeka Jones [00:15:37]:
And I think I've been to maybe eight, nine, stationed eight, nine bases. Yeah.
Mahara Wayman [00:15:41]:
Would you say that your work today, not not as as not is a reflection of what you've already been through, but what you've been through has supported where you are at today? Like, you needed to go through that? Did you need to go through that to get to this, I guess, is what I'm really saying?
Tomeka Jones [00:15:58]:
Yes. Yes. I think in life, a lot of times, we we have to go through certain things to get to where we are at. And then we have the valleys and we have the highs, but I think with every valley, you know, that that we've gone through, I think it helps us, you know, become the best version of ourselves. You know? We may look at it like, oh, man. Yeah. That was nothing. I didn't have to go through that.
Tomeka Jones [00:16:23]:
You know? I didn't have to to go that route to do that. But I think I think, yeah, we do because that helps us, you know, develop to who we're supposed to be. Nothing's done or, what do you call it, unintentionally. I think everything is is is done with a purpose or a reason. Just like with people that come in our lives for a season, reason, or a lifetime, we just have to figure out which category to place those people in. Right? So even with my identity, figuring that out throughout the military, because identity what we see in others, we see in ourself. Right? The the the world reflect that back on us to us. Right? So if it's broken relationships, bad habits, we have to shift our perspective, throughout that experience and say, okay.
Tomeka Jones [00:17:14]:
What did I learn from this? How can I grow from this? Right? Because the world is is but a self looking glass. What we see in Judge Others is is really we see in ourselves. Right? A lot of things.
Mahara Wayman [00:17:26]:
As enlightened as I am in my journey of self development, I still can find myself falling into that trap where I forget to go, okay. What can I look from this? Right? I'm I'm in the moment going, what the w g f? Like, what? I don't know. Right? So I'm curious. When did you when did you get to the point where you could recognize that in yourself in the moment rather than five months down the road?
Tomeka Jones [00:17:52]:
Oh. The self awareness. Right? So just doing the work, doing my, after the military when I hired a life coach, invested in a life coach. She was there to walk with me, hold my head and walk with me. But most importantly, she held me accountable for, you know, my actions and, you know, all the things and to be able to be more self aware. You know, we go through things and we miss the mark, but it's two things I ask myself when I go through these, even relationships. Right? Whatever. It's like, why am I going through this, and what's the lesson behind it? Right? So once I find those two, and you might not find it right away.
Tomeka Jones [00:18:29]:
It might not come to you right away, but it will. You know, it's like, oh, now I can move different. Right? Because I have my answer.
Mahara Wayman [00:18:36]:
I think one of the challenges that that we face is our willingness to look inside. Right? Because that hurts or it can hurt. And I don't know about you, but I know that I got caught up in that trap of just doing, doing, doing. Ugh. Just doing it. Just doing it. Getting it done. Like, you know, get the relationship, get the marriage, get the kids, get a job, pay the bill, blah blah blah, lose the weight, look good, blah.
Mahara Wayman [00:19:04]:
You know, all of that crap. And
Tomeka Jones [00:19:07]:
Yes. Sometimes
Mahara Wayman [00:19:09]:
it can be overwhelming. Like, wait a second. On top of everything else, you now want me to get to know myself? I'm sorry. I don't have time to get to know myself. Right? I got fucking housework to do. Right? I got bills to pay. Yeah. I I can appreciate your your recognition that that that that can be tough.
Tomeka Jones [00:19:28]:
Yeah. But but in times like that, you know, many times many many of us do hit rock bottom. It forces us to take a step back and look at all these things. Right? Because a lot of times we pour, pour, pour so much into other people and other things, our career, all the things. And then we look back and our cup is empty, and we're like, what about me? You know?
Mahara Wayman [00:19:50]:
Have you ever hit rock bottom?
Tomeka Jones [00:19:52]:
I did. But it was during the time, a dark, dark time when I was in the military. I did. Uh-huh.
Mahara Wayman [00:19:59]:
Okay. How did you get out of it?
Tomeka Jones [00:20:01]:
I can only say God because I I didn't have any I was stationed in England at the time. So, just praying and being hopeful and knowing once again this too shall pass. Either I'm gonna go to a different base or, you know, however. Right? This too shall pass. But it was hard. It was hard. Yeah. That was the darkest moment, during my military period.
Tomeka Jones [00:20:26]:
Yeah. Other than me having a loss, you know, I lost I lost my child. She's 19, also as well. Before before this child, I was pregnant before, and I had a loss. But, yeah.
Mahara Wayman [00:20:41]:
I'm sorry that
Tomeka Jones [00:20:42]:
you had that
Mahara Wayman [00:20:43]:
couple of those experiences.
Tomeka Jones [00:20:45]:
Yeah. That's
Mahara Wayman [00:20:45]:
it. I I know that a lot of my clients and even people that have been on the show have experienced rock bottom. And, of course, it's different for everyone. But one thing that has been consistent, which is why I, you know, I asked the question. The one thing that's been consistent was faith and belief that there was something better. Right? And and maybe those two go together because sometimes people didn't have the faith, but they just knew. They just Yeah.
Tomeka Jones [00:21:11]:
To myself.
Mahara Wayman [00:21:12]:
There was something better, that there wasn't the other side. And I grew up in a household where my dad always said, well, there's two things that he said. He said bless them and release them.
Tomeka Jones [00:21:23]:
Yes.
Mahara Wayman [00:21:23]:
And this too shall pass.
Tomeka Jones [00:21:25]:
Yes.
Mahara Wayman [00:21:25]:
I've been a young woman, a young teenager getting really pissed off at my dad for saying that to me. I'm like, no, dad. This will not pass. This is not passing. This is right now. Like, I can't even I I was I was so angry and kind of obnoxious actually if I'm being honest. But and I I I smile now because I'm in my I'm almost 60 and I've got, you know, adults.
Tomeka Jones [00:21:46]:
Oh, so good.
Mahara Wayman [00:21:47]:
And I think, oh, my dad was so wise. He had no idea how I I don't think he knew how just how wise he was because everything passes. Right? And and but we have a choice as to how long we hang on to it. Yes. I sometimes things could pass a lot quicker if we weren't so damn holding on to the anger Yes. The fear or the regret or the disappointment or the shame. Yes. These things human nature, we we can often hang on to it really tightly.
Mahara Wayman [00:22:18]:
And I don't know where I'm going with this other than I really appreciate that you've taken your dark times and you have moved to catapult yourself into a place today, which is, of course, much different and much brighter. Tell us
Tomeka Jones [00:22:33]:
about today.
Mahara Wayman [00:22:34]:
What are you doing today, Tamika?
Tomeka Jones [00:22:36]:
So today, I am doing podcast. Doing podcast. I'm trying to get more involved in the community, doing community, seminars and just networking in the community. I'm coaching. I have a coaching program, one zero one coaching. Also, quarterly workshops. I put quarterly workshops as well. So just trying to get my feet wet.
Tomeka Jones [00:23:01]:
Also, writing books, self help books. I have just recently launched one, and the other one I launched, a year ago, which my goal is to do three. Right? The pillars of flawless. The pillars of flawless is self love, confidence, resilience, you know, all embodied all embodied in mindset. Right? So my book of I have the confidence one that's out. The self love book, that just came out and it's here. And then my book of resilience that I'm gonna do, which is gonna be a ways from now, that's gonna be my military journey. Yeah.
Tomeka Jones [00:23:35]:
That's that's gonna be, really gonna talk more about how I, got through my journey, throughout the military.
Mahara Wayman [00:23:43]:
So what do you what type of advice could you give some upcoming authors? I've also written I've published one book, and I just finished my second. And I'm gonna chat with an editor today, actually. I'm very excited. But what kind of advice can you give for anybody that is thinking about writing?
Tomeka Jones [00:23:59]:
You are the author of your story. If you don't use the pen to write your story, someone else will. Right? And it's important because your story may change, you know, that young lady life that's who's just holding on with with their life. Right? Something you say in your book or maybe she, you know, hear it from a friend or either you doing a you talking about it on social media. That may change her life, you know, you may save her life, you know, or his life. So it's so necessary to get your story out. And however you do it, do it. Do it.
Tomeka Jones [00:24:40]:
And then we have, like, goes back to choices. I, I know you mentioned choices. Right? In life, we have two choices. Right? Or or there's two real emotions that we we have in life. Right? We can tap into fear and let that continue to to to to rule our life, or we can tap into love and embrace all those feelings that that's that's, cultivated through love. Right? And I chose love because I was tired of living in fear, you know, fear to public speak, fear to do all the things. So as a aspiring author, you have to get out of your own way and just do it. Just do it.
Mahara Wayman [00:25:17]:
That's awesome. Great advice. And I really like that you you pointed out this idea of you're either going towards what you want or you're running from what you don't want. Right? Yes. Yeah. Fear or love. Two two very powerful states of being.
Tomeka Jones [00:25:36]:
Yes.
Mahara Wayman [00:25:37]:
How do you and this is here's I'm just gonna throw this question out. Okay. People are thinking it. It's all well in one, and I get I get this feedback as well. It's great that you say that, Maher, but how the hell do you do it? So I wanna put this out to you. It's it's Okay. Great to recognize that there's either fear or there's love. But if you have had a lifetime or even a powerful time in the fear, how do you break out of that and see even even see the love that's available? Like yes.
Mahara Wayman [00:26:11]:
Let's talk about that.
Tomeka Jones [00:26:13]:
With me, for the the fear, you have to do it scared. I was here recently on a interview, at a news station, NBC in California, and I was so nervous. And I and I'm I'm pretty sure I totally bombed it. Right? But I did it. And I did it scared, and it's okay. Right? Because I did it. I did it. I did it.
Tomeka Jones [00:26:35]:
Right? And then what helps me is to peel back the layers. Right? Okay. If I go up there and I trip, okay, then what? Get up and, you know, finish the interview. What if I say something that I didn't mean to say? Okay. Then what? Corrected. It keep going. So nothing as bad as it seems when you kinda walk walk back with you you know, think different, positive thoughts. Right? So that's kinda how I've been been, doing it.
Tomeka Jones [00:27:06]:
Just do it do it scared. And then also affirmations. I'm an affirmation queen. I have affirmations everywhere. Affirming all the things. Right? But once again, you could affirm all day long, but if you're not if you don't believe it, right, it's not gonna happen or it's not gonna change. So not only do you affirm it, but you have to believe it. Right? And embody it.
Tomeka Jones [00:27:26]:
Be that. Right? Be it every day, day in, day out. Practice it. You know? So yeah. And then journaling. Journaling helped me a lot, journaling my thoughts, you know, because thoughts, you know, becomes, your thoughts become your, what's that saying? Your thoughts become your Become
Mahara Wayman [00:27:47]:
your feelings, become your actions. Actions become your life.
Tomeka Jones [00:27:51]:
Yes. So taking taking inspired actions through your thoughts. So yeah. So I journaled. And that's pretty other than, you know, hiring a life coach, investing a life coach to help me along the way. Those are some of the tools that, you know, I use. And just reading all type of, professional and personal development books helped me along the way as well.
Mahara Wayman [00:28:13]:
Yeah. Okay. So what would be are there any other tips that you'd like to share with our audience today about how you live your life as a badass? We heard journaling, positive affirmations, a mental reset, you know, going down the road and just imagining the worst and then realizing that what you imagine probably isn't gonna happen. But even if it does, it's not the end of the world. The end
Tomeka Jones [00:28:35]:
of the world.
Mahara Wayman [00:28:35]:
Yeah. You've already given us three things. Is there anything else regarding emotional, physical, mental, spiritual health that helps you to feel badass on a regular basis?
Tomeka Jones [00:28:44]:
That's pretty much it. And just every morning, I choose to wake up and say, who do I wanna be today?
Mahara Wayman [00:28:49]:
Oh, that's
Tomeka Jones [00:28:50]:
cool. Every morning, I'll and I have my daughter doing it. She said, mom, who are we today? I'm like, who are you today? I want kindness. I'm showing kindness today. I'm gonna be, a little girl kindness. I'm like, okay. Good. Let's talk about it when you get home today.
Mahara Wayman [00:29:04]:
I love it.
Tomeka Jones [00:29:05]:
Right? Because we can say these things once again, but if we're not embodying it and and and and taking inspired action, not just action, but inspired meaning you you doing everyday, taking action with intention and purpose. Right? So, yeah. Who how am I showing up when I do, you know, be this person? That's the biggest thing. How am I showing up? Right? Because we can say it, but we're showing up totally different from what we're saying we're gonna become. Right?
Mahara Wayman [00:29:30]:
So It's one of those words that I I think it's easy to say, but it's not quite as easy to live it or to even really understand it. So what are some tips would you say to embody in your truth? Because it's one of those phrases that I think we're beginning to hear a lot of. And I've full disclosure. My coach says that to me all the time. Are you embodying your message? Now I I sometimes I just wanna flipper the bird and go give me a break. Right? Just give me your break. But it's such a powerful it's such a powerful concept. But what does that actually mean for you to embody?
Tomeka Jones [00:30:03]:
So body means to become it. You do it so much or you or you believe it so much till you become it. And I I've had to do that with self love. Right? I am self love. I am love. Right? I in my affirmation, I have the capacity to receive and give love. Right? Pure authentic true love. So embody to me means owning it, becoming it, eat, breathe, sleep, all the things it.
Tomeka Jones [00:30:28]:
You know? And when I think of the word embody, and once again, like you said, it's so hard because we get pulled in so many directions in our minds just, you know, on, overdrive. But it's okay to take a step back and say, hey. Let me restart this thing. Okay? And every morning, we have grace and mercy. Every morning we get up, grace and mercy to do it again. Right? To continue to do it again. So to me, that's what embody means. But I know with with my clients, I wanted to say with my clients, I have a a FLOS method that I use, and each acronym is we break down each each letter in my FLOS method, and that helps them, to to become the the woman that they deserve and desire to be.
Tomeka Jones [00:31:12]:
Right? To live an abundant life. So, that's another method that I use is my FLAWS method.
Mahara Wayman [00:31:20]:
You wanna tell us about it?
Tomeka Jones [00:31:21]:
Yeah. F is love yourself first. Right? No. The f is face your fears. The l is love yourself first. The a is accept your true authentic self. W, right, is work on your struggles. Whatever that is, you need to take time.
Tomeka Jones [00:31:43]:
It's messy. I know it gets messy, but you have to work on your struggles. And then s is the stepping into your purpose. Right? And we'll go through each one of those. And, it's transformative, man. It's it's powerful. It's powerful.
Mahara Wayman [00:31:55]:
It absolutely sounds like it. So that's that is great to hear. Tamika, thank you so much for spending a few minutes with us today, sharing your story. Guys, check the show notes because all of the ways that you can connect with Tamika will be in the show notes. Please share this episode with anyone that you think would benefit from hearing it, and we wish you all the best with your upcoming book. And Thank you. Thank you again for joining us today on The Art of Badassery. My name is Mahara.
Mahara Wayman [00:32:25]:
This has been my guest, Tomika, and check out all of her links below, guys. Thanks so much. Take care. Thanks for tuning in to another badass episode. Your support means the world to me. So if you enjoyed what you heard today, don't forget to like, share, and rate the episode on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback keeps the badassery flowing. And, hey, if you're ready to unleash your inner badass and conquer whatever life throws your way, Why not book a complimentary badass breakthrough session? Just click the link in the show notes to schedule your session, and let's kick some serious butt together.
Mahara Wayman [00:33:08]:
Until next time, stay fearless, stay fabulous, and of course, stay badass. This is Mahara signing off.
