Maybe you're like me and you’re staying ready.

In this season finale episode, I felt led to share a dream/vision that I had last month. This particular vision was one that I thought was given to me as a creative idea for a short film, but I was wrong. It was more of a warning and I received more clarity about it's meaning after I decided to watch BIack is King (spoiler: I didn't watch it).

As believers we don’t battle against flesh and blood. The battle is spiritual.  I believe that we all have a purpose as believers, that we who have found the Lord have been tasked to make disciples, to stand in the gap for others, to be God’s hands and feet on the earth according to his will. This vision reminded me that when we are lax about our calling and purpose, lax about staying ready, prayed up and prepared to fight, people who we love and whom we are responsible for may suffer the consequences along with us. I definitely don’t want that. Do you? 

Real talk I want to watch BIK really bad. I want to marvel at the imagery. I want to be able to contribute to a relevant conversation. I want to learn dances and sing lyrics. I want to be inspired for my own artististry. I feel like the kid who can’t go to the sleepover because my parents are overprotective. Everyone else gets to enjoy things and it doesn’t feel fair. But everyone else might not have your call and everyone else might not have the same level of spiritual responsibility for others. So no, I won’t compromise that for pretty visuals, dope beats and vocals and to be up things. It’s not worth it for me. It’s not even worth a conversation about WHY it’s not worth it for me. What I am focusing on is staying ready, keeping distractions down, my house swept clean and my doors locked. 

I think readiness looks different for all of us and looks different through different seasons of our lives, but I don’t know that it starts with and is sustained by staying current with God. Read your Bible, pray, meditate on scripture, praise and worship, show and speak gratitude and seek his wisdom and knowledge on a regular basis. We’ll all be better for it, as a body. 

You know what this reminded me of?
Two passages Matthew 12: 43-45 and Matthew 25 1-13 both about staying watch and staying ready.

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and you're an introverted powerhouse.

Self-awareness and self-acceptance are so clutch. Over the years I have learned that I am introverted and while that was an issue at the start, it's something that I have come to embrace and even consider one of my stronger personality traits.   

I love being introverted because we introverts know how to listen and to hear. That totally helps in business. Being comfortable with hushing up and letting others ramble on in peace without feeling guilty can reveal ways that you can serve them and solve problems that they have and ones they may not even realize they have. You become a truly valuable player on their team because at our core most people simply want to be seen, heard and understood. Introverts do that well because we typically build deeper relationships.

People think I am shy and quiet. I am not shy or quiet. It’s just that my thoughts and antics are reserved for things that matter to me, and for people I feel comfortable around. The same can be said for most introverts. We are not the life of the party, until we are the life of the party. Small talk makes itch. 

With the understanding of how I function as an introvert, I have worked on structuring my business and personal life in a way that allows my strengths to help me and stops my weaknesses from haunting me. In this podcast I encourage listeners to use your own signature style to win the fight, to accomplish your goals, to grow into the person you were made to be. It’s in you. Tag yourself in. You have everything you need to win. 

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and you’re not afraid to fail.


As we grow older I think we have less capacity for discomfort. Less bandwidth for uncertainty. We live more life and then grow more cautious. We get more sensible but also just more jaded and cynical. We become realistic and don’t allow ourselves to dream or  take risks because the stakes are higher if we fail. We have a spouse now. We have a  house now. We have kids now. We’re not as young and energetic now. We trust ourselves less to take bold action because there’s more weight on the win. So we settle down and settle in and start accepting the life we live. We don’t want to lose “this” but “this” is also not what we want. Huh? How does that work? It doesn’t, it only leads to us feeling stuck and miserable. 

In this episode I talk about a time where I failed very publicly and was not only able to brush it off but laugh about it too. That moment didn’t define me. Your failures don't define you. They do give you definition though, like the pain and struggle of working out and eating well eventually give you a six pack if you do it consistently enough. In that same vein, we should fail often and fail consistently because failure helps us grow. It  builds up our resilience to take more risks, bigger risks and to potentially reap bigger rewards. 

For many years I’ve countered my fears with 2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

I’m putting it back in rotation because there’s too much work to be done to be scurred. I hope you enjoy this episode and that it gives you the motivation you need to fearlessly go after your goals and dreams. 

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and you know that small steps with consistency lead to big wins.

In this week's episode I share a story about how I was convicted about overlooking small blessings in my life and how I became so inspired to instead view small things like finding change, taking small steps towards our goals or starting right where we are, as some of the best and most viable ways to achieve big dreams and accomplish lofty goals.

Sometimes we merely dream because we don’t trust our small actions or small resources can change our situations or the trajectory of our lives. It’s why so many people invest in the lottery or go to the casino trying to hit it big. A large jackpot could change their lives and situations for sure. But by using what small (by comparison) amounts we have, setting a specific goal and committing to work toward it consistently it we can experience life-change on so many other levels simaltaneously. There’s a level of self-discipline that comes with doing it this way, an increase in self-confidence, a sense of accomplishment in one area that can cause a snow-ball of goal setting and achievement in other areas. 

Before we know it, we come through that season fully changed, with changed circumstances, new habits, and more optimism about life overall.  

You know what this reminded me of?
Zechariah 4:10.

It reads, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.”

Even if we can't how a small beginning can bring about the outcomes we want God sees it and rejoices. Every small step you take gets you closer. Small and consistent beats grand and occasional a lot of times because you’ll have more opportunities to be small and consistent than grand and occasional during the course of your life. It’s our small decisions that determine our life’s direction.

It’s not too late to start. You just have to start. It will take discipline and belief that your small effort will make a difference. It will take consistency and patience. But we will get there if we stay focused, determined, and open.

I hope this episode encourages you not to despise, overlook or neglect the small, but instead to use it to get you closer to where you need to go.

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and you refuse to be overwhelmed.

With many places starting to reopen in phases, including my own business Ali Watson Media, it feels like we're starting to get back to business as usual. But as I shared in episode 15, there are some gains I want to retain from our time being quarantined. Not being overwhelmed is one of those things.

Over the last few weeks as I started to open my calendar to new clients and perform services for my current clients, while having my kids at home full time, podcasting, being a wife, marketing, building two other brands as well as all of the other hats I wear, I started to feel those familiar feelings of a racing mind, rushing, anxiety, never-ending to do lists, snappiness, frustration, fatigue, guilt and the list goes on. All of these feelings I refuse to live with; the quarantine reminded me I didn't have to. It showed me we could focus on the the most important things and still flourish. These feelings are only reactions, symptoms of a greater problem or problems.

So I slowed down and evaluated what was going on. At first I thought it might be that I needed to hire more people, which, in a sense, is the case.  Except, I'd need to do it in the way that I had been instructed to do so. But digging deeper, I realized that my mindset was guiding habits that were leading to overwhelm. In this episode, I explore and share three ways I actively create new habits to fight it.

They are:
1. Giving realistic timelines and expectations to my clients, children and husband
2. Tackling my to do list one item at a time (physically and mentally)
3. Future casting and envisioning the positive results of the tasks that I am tackling

You know who this reminds me of?
Mary and Martha.

I didn't have any supporting verses during the episode, but if I think about it, the biblical account of Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha, parallels well with what I have been feeling. My overwhelm stems from where my priorities lie; people pleasing, trying to get my value from doing vs. being and not keeping the main thing, the main thing. You can find the story in a few places, but Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) reads:

At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(source: Bible Gateway, emphasis my own)

In staying aligned with God, his will and purpose for me, my children, marriage, relationships and business, I can make decisions based on His wisdom with expectation that He's got a plan for any fallout or push back I might experience as a result.

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and you're keeping your gains.

With the world opening back up and great weather that makes you want to play outside all day, it seems that more people are coming around to the idea of things getting somewhat back to normal.

While it's been a crazy ride, I have to admit that there are some things about pre-quarantine life that I'm not in a rush to welcome back. In fact there were actually quite a few  positive things that have come from being quarantined for the past few months. There were things like forming new habits, getting more connected with friends and family and developing an appreciation for the little things we tend to overlook when we're always on the go. In this episode, I muse about some of the things that I actually gained during our time inside that I want to hold on to.


We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and you haven't given up on 2020.

Short and sweet, this week’s episode was unplanned. I had planned to release an episode on something totally different. But I prayed and felt led to share these thoughts. I love when that happens because I know it's meant to touch at least one person specifically. Is it you?
 
2020 has been rough but I believe 2020 is still ours for the taking. We can still comeback in the second half and pull out a win. Be encouraged! We still have 2020 vision, we still have our missions and purposes and we still have God's favor, love and calling on our lives. Here's your reminder to pull back, look at the big picture and all of the ways God still intends for us to win and for Him to be glorified.

In this episode, I talk a bit about current events (though not in depth). This one is especially for those people like me who may have felt that they were not doing or saying enough. I offer a different perspective, in that maybe what you've been doing and saying have been exactly enough. Staying focused on what you've been called to do when there seems to be more pressing things to address is really tough. But by staying out of the way and in your lane you may very well make space for people who can actually bring about solutions and changes because it is what God has called and burdened them to do.

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and you're kind of a hater.

Are you cringing? I’m cringing. I just admitted to being one of the worst things to be. A hater. No one’s supposed to admit to that. No, we are all supposed to be fierce, confident, crown-adjusting, chin-lifting hand-extending queens secure in who we are, rocking t-shirts that read "community over competition" in bold pink letters. All. Of. The.Time. I’m not that all of the time. I am that most of the time. I am genuine, I am kind, I am empathetic and I want people to win. Sincerely... most of the time. But the rest of the time I am hating and trying to put it in check when I realize I’m doing it.

I haven’t always been able to coach myself through bouts of envy and jealousy. It’s a rather new development that came after writing my book Secret Donuts: A Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose. This episode is the fourth and final episode in a four part series dealing with themes related to the book. In it I share a section of my book that is an open and honest admission to how I zeroed in on a particular sister in Christ and hated on her because I viewed her through social media goggles and the lens of my insecurities. Over time I was able to heal, apologize directly to her and to stop viewing her (and many others) as competition.

I began to live by the wisdom of Proverbs 14:30 (NLT):
"A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;  jealousy is like cancer in the bones."

You know who this reminded me of? 
Saul and David.
 In 1 Samuel 18 a jealous Saul is tormented with jealousy and throws a spear at David trying to pin him to the wall. Twice. But David escaped both times. Just like Saul I was throwing spears. And Homegirl was ducking and dodging just like David. I was obsessed like Kady Heron was with Regina George and I could not stop the word vomit that would come up. I was a mean girl.

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and your insecurities are ruining your marriage.

Since it’s our anniversary month, I included in my Secret Donuts series here on the podcast the section I wrote about our marriage. My husband, Ray and I are celebrating 11 years of marriage this year and it’s been a beautiful journey. We are meant for each other. Seriously, during pre-marital counseling we agreed on basically everything, held all of the same beliefs, had similar ambitions ...the works. We worked at the same job for years on location, in the same room teleworking, shared the same after work hobbies, share household and parenting responsibilities and all of that. We could be around eachother nearly all the time and never grew tired of one another. We hardly ever argue, never raise our voices, and just get along really well. I believe God made our marriage and our children so easy because He has so much work for us to do as a unit and he didn’t want us to be distracted.

Yet where there’s a will there’s a way.

You see, in my mind, my husband is like Jill Scott’s character’s husband in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married.” He’s utterly disgusted with her weight, disrespectful about it, disappointed in her and has stopped loving her because she let herself go. But in my mind my husband is also like Jill Scott’s character’s other husband in Tyler Perry’s, Why Did I Get Married. He’s supposed to love me into self-care, invite me to work out, encourage me, root for me and hold my hand until I get my ish together. My husband is neither. My husband is simply my husband. He doesn't exist to focus on my weight in one way nor the other. But depending on the day and let’s face it, my hormones, I’m treating him like he’s one or the other of these husband characters instead. My insecurities and obsession with my weight have been projected onto my poor husband time and time again and has unfortunately caused unnecessary tension in our marriage through the years. 

Over the course of writing the book I realized I needed to zoom out and get in alignment with God on the subject of myself so that I could apply what I learned to my marriage. Doing so brought so much more peace to our relationship.

Proverbs 14:1 says "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands."

I apply this scripture to my life in many ways. I build myself up and get secure in Christ so that I am not giving Ray a load he’s not supposed to bear. I’ll be honest and say that I am not there yet. I still slip up from time to time. Everytime I get insecure, I end up feeling crazy about and angry with myself. And I am reminded that it’s me not Ray. I go back to the principal that God loves me unconditionally. From there I can accept that my husband does, too. Believing that stops me from tearing my house down with my own hands.

This episode is part three of a 4-part series that tackles some of the themes from my book: Secret Donuts: A Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose. Through it, I want to affirmpeople in the fact that God loves them no matter what size they are. He loves us all UNCONDITIONALLY. And from that space, from that understanding, we can confidently and unconditionally love ourselves and accept love from others.

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Maybe you're like me and and you know God loves fat girls.

*Gasp*
That should not be a bold statement. When I’ve said it to some people, it’s met with ehhh, or pondering faces that look like they’re trying to find a way to explain to me why that statement is wrong. 

And that’s the problem. Being overweight has been turned into such a villain in our society that people can’t even fathom such a cut and dry declaration of God’s love for fat people. I was one of these people. And God revealed to me that this was something that I needed to understand. 

God DOES love fat girls.

Because I couldn’t believe that I chased weight loss instead of chasing after him. Made me postpone the plans he had for me, until I lost weight because in my mind I was an unacceptable vessel. But if God is telling you to do something now. That’s what he means, NOW. 

I want to be clear in saying that I am not against weight loss. I’ve just learned the danger of focusing on it, of worshipping it, of deriving our value from it or assigning our identity to it. People will clap for you when you lose weight and mean-spirited aunties will bring it up anytime you gain 1.5 pounds. Seriously, pick a day and keep a log of how many times you hear or see weight or weight loss being brought up in a negative light. From the weight loss commercial, to the reality show star, to your grandma, your kids, your hair stylist-- we have been conditioned to constantly focus on weighing less. 

This episode is part two of a 4-part series that tackles some of the themes from my book: Secret Donuts: A Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose. Through it, I want to affirm people in the fact that God loves them no matter what size they are. He loves us all UNCONDITIONALLY. And from that space, from that understanding, we can confidently and unconditionally love ourselves.

We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose 

Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!