The Soft Life with Saddie Baddies Saddie Baddies

true change happens outside of your comfort zone, baddie.

this week, we’re diving into the art of letting go: releasing attachments, embracing change and setting new intentions for the season ahead. we’re in the last stretch of winter (at least on the east coast), and with spring on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what you’re releasing, accepting and embracing change with open arms, and what intentions you’re setting ahead.

this episode is for you if you’re:

feeling stuck in certain areas of your life and seeking guidance on how to break free from limiting patterns or beliefs.
curious about exploring mindfulness practices and rituals for releasing attachments and setting intentions.
ready to embrace change and transition into a new phase of growth and renewal.

ready for a mini therapy sesh baddies?

in this episode of The Soft Life, [Dr. Alicia Hodge](https://www.instagram.com/helpmehodge/) shares her origin story and educational background in psychology. She discusses the creation of her business, ‘[Slay Your Anxiety](https://www.slayyouranxiety.com/)’, and the intention behind creating this safe space. We also dive into:

- the difference between anxiety and stress
- what cognitive distortions are (aka filtered thinking styles), and how neurodivergent baddies can navigate these thought patterns with softness
- how Black women often face additional barriers to mental health care due to the intersectionality of race, class and gender
- how anxiety in the workplace can manifest as perfectionism, overachievement, and hypervigilance and more
- why creating a safe space for mental health and addressing misconceptions about anxiety are crucial for supporting Black women’s mental well-being

timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Origin Story
05:12 Educational Background and Career Journey
08:28 Creating Slay Your Anxiety
10:47 Creating a Safe Space for Mental Health
14:09 Understanding Anxiety and Stress
17:35 Exploring Cognitive Distortions
20:23 Misconceptions about Anxiety in Black Women
22:04 Anxiety in the Workplace

download the episode to tune into the convo

today we have the honor of speaking with our guest, Imani McGee-Stafford (she/her): professional athlete, lawyer, model, poet, and global mental health advocate. in this podcast episode, Imani shares her present state of mind, origin story, and the inspiration behind her impactful mental health advocacy work as well as her nonlinear professional and personal healing journey. from her deep connection with basketball to graduating from recently graduating law school, Imani reflects on the evolution of her journey. In this episode, Imani shares:

1. 1. how she handles her own mental health on and off the court, healing her experience with childhood trauma, and living with bipolar disorder.
2. her strategies for balancing self-care in a hectic schedule, and a glimpse into her morning and night routines.
3. her mental health awareness advocacy, self-discovery, and the invaluable wisdom Imani imparts to her younger self.

happy 2024 baddies! we’re starting the year softly and leaning into what our intuition is showing + telling us what to embrace this season- including when and what to quit and pivot. quitting gets such a bad rep, but is it really so bad when it can unveil a new, more aligned outcome? in this episode we dive into the art of quitting and pivoting and discuss:

-how to know when it’s time to quit and why quitting isn’t always a bad idea
-pivoting with ease and learning to carve out your own lane and embrace the unknown
-how to start the year softly despite the #hustleculture norms

buckle up baddies, we’re getting back on the saddle after falling tf off.

if you’ve been in a slump lately, believe us when we tell you you’re not alone. this year has been incredibly challenging for so many of us (for obvious reasons), but even moreso- when we’ve gotten thrown off our rhythm, it can make us spiral into not taking any inspired actions or baby steps towards our goals. in this relatable and real af episode, we discuss:

1. navigating challenges, overcoming slumps and normalizing the post-holiday dip in motivation
2. managing the year-end pressure to “finish the year off strong” and the inevitable Q4 rat race
3. rediscovering your purpose, exploring your “ikigai”, and remembering your why

no you’re not crazy for thinking we’re probably living in a dystopia. we’re starting with an emotional pulse check first, and diving deep into how we can unpack cognitive dissonance and move through feelings of anger and hopelessness into tangible action items that initiate change. the collective efforts for liberation cannot be done in silos, and it takes every single one of us to recognize our role in social and justice movements worldwide.

in this episode we share:

1. how to recognize cognitive dissonance and reconcile with a conflicting value/belief system
2. how to transmute feelings of anger and hopelessness into action
3. community care and self care from a decolonial perspective