At our core, we are all stories. Stories of love, death, and life. Stories that make us smile as well as cry; stories of success and failures; stories of black, white, and grey. Story is a journey; a journey of truth and false, of hope and death, a journey of one within and one beyond.
For Yvette Bodden, stories are that powerful medium that can impact the lives of countless people and guide them towards a journey of being better.
From her own journey of healing, Yvette Bodden leveraged the power of stories to empower the lives of many.
Read this exclusive interview with the Founder of the Awakened Woman, wherein she shares her ‘story’.
What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?
Power comes in different forms. A powerful woman owns who she is, uses her voice to empower herself, and inspires others to do the same. She freely shares her thoughts with self-confidence but does it with humility and kindness.
Good leadership isn’t only about making difficult decisions. It’s about managing a team of people and making them feel valued. Bringing out the best in them and encouraging everyone around you to contribute skills and share ideas. Lastly, having the courage to listen is just as important to ensure you are staying in touch with the people with ears on the ground. We all have a superpower, think about how much stronger we can be working together than apart. I try to integrate this thought into my leadership style to remind myself, I couldn’t do what I do as efficiently without my team.
Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader/entrepreneur that you remember?
I am the daughter of Dominican immigrants who believed in the American Dream. They passed on their strong work ethic and like many parents, ingrained into our brains that education was the key to a castle. “You had to become a lawyer or a doctor,” anything other than those careers was a waste of energy.
Growing up, there was no space for alternatives. They wanted the best for me and thought these were the only roads to success.
Around the age of 19 or 20, I had a burst of creativity when I began to draft ideas about a bilingual magazine. A platform that would educate and cater to women that looked like me since I had not seen anything like it. Eventually, I gave up the dream since I had no clue how to begin to build the vision. Looking back, I don’t think that I was ready to challenge my parents, or the world or have enough experience to understand this type of responsibility but it was the first time, I was thinking outside of the box.
What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into writing?
Journaling has always been an outlet for me. Whether writing a song, poem, or passage, these have all been my way of letting the ideas flow, purging toxicity and pain, or organizing my thoughts. However, for as long as I remember, it has been a private space. Writing a book and articles for the world to read is a very different experience. Opening oneself up to opinions and letting others be witnesses to your vulnerability is scary. The decision to share my story with the world came from a desire to help others, sparking me to begin writing about my journey and finding other powerful voices to share theirs.
What was the idea behind Awakened-Woman? What is your vision through this?
Depression triggered by a painful divorce forced an introspective period in my life. I was grateful to have resources such as family, friends, and therapy to get me through this dark time. The journey to mental, spiritual, and physical well-being took a lot of work and time. Millions of people around the world do not have the same access or freedom to do the same.
Finding healing is never easy, while some know they need help there are many that may not realize there is anything wrong or prefer to suffer in silence. I wanted to create a platform that came at no cost to reach women and men around the globe and inspire their journey.
AW seemed like the next natural step, it began with the Awakened-Woman.com digital platform filled with hundreds of articles and interviews. Today, we have the Awakened Woman Confidential podcast and YouTube channel to supplement because we understand that people absorb information differently. We don’t want anyone to be left behind in their journey to better themselves.
What according to you is the impact of storytelling? How important of a role does storytelling play in your vision?
Storytelling is one of the best tools we must connect with others. Think about the power of emotion when you read, listen, or watch someone whose story is similar to yours and what they’ve overcome. We can’t help but feel inspired or consider the possibility that we have the same power.
Telling these stories in a way that honors the person sharing and helps someone else is everything when it comes to playing out my vision. There is a common thread in all our stories, the human experience. I want to tell stories that make people feel like they can be better and can do better.
What does a day in the life of Yvette Bodden look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?
Work-life balance is the goal! If COVID has shown us anything, it’s that life is not only about work; love, laughter, and the bonds that make life extra special deserve our attention, too. Soon as I open my eyes, the day begins with gratitude and a 10-minute meditation to ensure I get centered. Once that part is done, I can be ready for the day ahead.
The morning consists of a small but healthy breakfast and a written to-do list which I review every day. I’m always learning to do things more efficiently and being able to pivot at any time is incredibly helpful with the different interruptions throughout the busy day. The visual of getting things on and off the list is key for me.
The life of an entrepreneur demands we wear different hats. We do not have the luxury of getting frazzled when a landmine goes off. Stay prepared for the unexpected but don’t lose yourself in the process.
Looking back at your journey, what would you have done differently when starting out?
Honestly, I can’t say that I would have done anything, differently. Were it not for the decisions made, I would not be here, today. However, if there was one thing I’d do better, it would have to be asking for help, earlier, in my journey. I trained myself to believe that I have to do it all, but it is not humanly, possible without losing my sanity. Knowing when to ask for help and understanding that I can do everything but not simultaneously has been a lesson that took a case of burnout to learn.
What would be your advice for young and aspiring women leaders?
Whatever your dream is – give it a go! You will be afraid and that is okay. The greatest growth that will take place in your life will come from taking on the challenges and doing the things you didn’t think you could do. Early on in my journey, a friend said to me, “It is better to wake up with that little feeling of regret than to wonder, what if I had done that thing, I wanted to? What would my life be like now?” People are often discouraged by the thought of failure, but these are only lessons disguised by disappointment.
Finally, what does the future look like for you and Awakened Woman?
The beauty of the future is that I’m writing it every day. Never imagined being an author, having a book published, and building Awakened Woman as a multimedia platform that inspires others.
Currently, I’m working on a second book and leveling up the platform to increase awareness on issues that affect our mental and spiritual health. As we grow into the shoes of leaders, entrepreneurs, and life changers, it is critical to nurture overall wellness. I want to continue creating great content that empowers women to do the same.
We have the power to create the life envisioned and practice self-care that promotes longevity. Thank you to Exeleon Magazine for the opportunity to share Awakened Woman’s message.
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