Pause. Pray. Proceed.
As a middle school teacher at a private Christian school, I created a "Pause. Pray. Proceed." center where students could step away from any peer, personal, or academic challenges they faced that day. Each student had a personal journal for private reflection, with the option to meet with the guidance counselor or me to discuss their entries. This practice cultivated emotional safety and spiritual grounding.
As a professional Black woman, I rely heavily on the "Pause. Pray. Proceed." approach to navigate the personal, spiritual, and professional challenges I face each day. I believe that pausing to pray and proceeding with purpose transforms anxiety into clarity. I encourage you to incorporate moments of pause, prayer, and purpose into your daily routine to foster resilience and clarity.
Stress and anxiety among working Black women often exceed that of other cultural groups due to the intersecting pressures of racial bias, gender expectations, and professional invisibility. Research shows that Black women experience higher levels of workplace stress and emotional exhaustion, often linked to microaggressions and the 'strong Black woman' stereotype that discourages vulnerability (Watson et al., 2020). Emphasizing moments of reflection and faith makes resilience more attainable and meaningful.
Share ways you maintain your peace during the day.
Reference
Watson, N. N., Robinson, D., & Hargons, C. N. (2020). The strong Black woman collective: Stress, coping, and mental health. Journal of Black Psychology, 46(3), 195–223. https://lnkd.in/eT6TQ4CV (doi.org in Bing)
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