Embracing Enough

In this episode, Dina sits down with new friend and fellow writer Isabelle Fitzgerald about her "unexpected" journey into motherhood. Isabelle hails from New York City and lets us into what it's like to be a mother of three, embarking on an exciting journey as a writer, and what's more - shows us some of the less favorable topics about motherhood (like grief, anger and shame) that few people are courageous enough to talk about. Dina and Isabelle muse about how enoughness shows up in motherhood and how the hardest thing to do is to reconcile perfectionist tendencies. Isabelle has a poetic way to share what her unexpected path looked like and how she continues to show up bravely and unapologetically for all that it offers. 

Dina sits down with Dr. Brooke Harris Garad - an education researcher, travel enthusiast, and a friend and co-adventurer of hers that goes back 13 years. Both talk honestly about motherhood in the pandemic, juggling being a full-time academic, and finding intentional ways to explain racial inequality to Brooke's two daughters. The conversation is an opportunity to unpack different parts of motherhood for Brooke and an opportunity to discuss her recently published chapter in a new book titled Mothers, Mothering and COVID-19: Dispatches from the Pandemic. Her chapter, "Walking the Talk: (Counter) Narratives for Pandemic Parenting Young Black Children" offers insight into what the last year has felt like and how her family has been purposeful in the ways they create joy and celebrate excellence.

You can follow Dr. Harris Garad @yintibug for parenting inspiration and head over to www.enoughlabs.com/mama-you-are-enough/ for information on the upcoming cohort of Mama: You are Enough group coaching experience offered by Enough Labs.

Life is made up of a series of experiments. And your life is considered a lab - if not the most important of labs. Because we get to experiment witin our human experience. Dina talks about what this idea means for her, how it connects with Enough Labs, and asks what would it feel like if we explored what we seemingly held to be our failures instead as experiments in possibility?

In this raw and vulnerable episode, Dina peels back the curtain and lets you into her reflections on what this new move into her home means for her. In the hours before the movers arrive who will help her to make this huge change, she reflects on what it feels like to finally put roots down – the very thing she's avoided for so long.

Dina sits down on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon with her friend Najiyah to kick off Arab-American Heritage Month celebrated annually in April. In this special episode called Ana kifaya, which means, "I am Enough" in Arabic; Dina and Najiyah swap stories about their adolescence, reminisce about their travels together to Morocco and Egypt, talk about the ways they navigated the workplace in their early 20s, and muse about life's many transitions. The episode comes to you from Najiyah's backyard with their dogs in the background. You'll feel like you've just pulled up a chair to a conversation with two good girlfriends. 

In this episode, Dina unpacks her thoughts on the origins of self-trust. She muses about how trusting yourself is not about becoming invulnerable to fear or eradicating self-doubt. Rather, it’s reclaiming the power that we surrender to our fears and choosing each day to show up from a place of faith, rather than fear; of self-trust, rather than self-doubt. It’s about taking the ultimate risk, placing a bet on ourselves that within us is all that’s needed in order to rise to the demands of each moment as it arises.

Consistency is harder when no one else is clapping for you. We all love the applause; but is it necessary to have in order to be motivated? In this episode, we talk about the importance of becoming your own biggest fan. We talk silent fans (because we all have them) and how to learn to cheer for yourself before needing others to cheer for you. The truth is...no one is going to be as obsessed as you are about what you're creating, so you better be unapologetically obsessed with it yourself!

In this episode, Dina goes all in on self-sabotage. We unpack what it looks like, how it shows up, and what can we do about it. Leaning on words of wisdom from RuPaul, Dina muses about how the self-destructive habits that sabotage our chances for success are oftentimes rooted in self-worth and fear. Our sabotaging ways may show up because on some level we don’t feel like we deserve to be successful. Perhaps, we're plagued with feeling inadequate or unworthy. Whatever the reason, our awareness of our self-sabotaging patterns may be the key to shifting the trajectory of our own fate and in turn, blowing our FREAKING mind! 

In this special episode, we speak to Ameenah Asante (Love and Intimacy Coach, Dance Professional and Instructor and Reiki Healer) about the power of joy and why it is absolutely necessary to celebrate it. Joy is a powerful emotion and seeing Ameenah embody it so beautifully and unapologetically gives others permission to experience it. Ameenah reminds us that we just need to let that version of ourselves come out and play a little more. (Ameenah Asante can be found on IG at ameenah_loves)

Perfectionism doesn’t lead to results. What it does lead to is fear, anxiety and stress. In this episode, we unpack perfectionism for what it truly is - a defense mechanism that is more about seeking external approval than it is about doing your own best work and learning and growing in the process. Dina unpacks her experience and ties in the research that supports that the search for external validation wrapped up in a perfectionist mindset will NEVER be enough. Why not let go, embrace the messy, and have fun in the growing and learning?