Maya, a true testimony! I was listening to a sermon recently from Stephanie Ike over at One LA and she reminded us of a TRUE and SIMPLE fact. No one controls your life but God. The folks with all the "prestige and the followers" may think they have power, but they don't.
POWER COMES FROM GOD. God controls your life and open doors. Also, you don't need to get into the room for God to open the door. The door opens right to your email...your DM...your phone. It's truly the most unexpected places where blessings come from.
Cause we don't want to end up like Baby Reindeer where our insecurity is making us do crazy things to be aligned with folks who we don't want to be aligned with in the first place.
There is a Haitian term called, "san wont". We can't become san wonts. Shameless. Let the shiny people go. The people will come to you. And my favorite scripture, Psalm 118:22, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;" Get ready.
Finally, in closing, bow your heads and close your eyes.
Dear Lord, Thank you for my tribe that is down to earth and where I can simply be my entire self. They see me and we see each other. We love each other and we cry together and laugh together. May you bring me only those who have positive energy. May all the folks find their tribe. Also, Bind up all the sisters who speak diversity and sisterhood on panels but give snobbery in private. May they remember from whence they came. Cancel the plans of the enemy In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
power comes from GOD! thank u for your reflection and sharing ur wisdom. and thank u for blessing our substack with that beautiful prayer. blessings to u!
"everyone (4 people)" really sent me to my grave lol! The reality is that is how social media really makes me feel in NYC - seeing more than 3 people at event makes me feel so much FOMO but learnings to realize the vast majority people weren't there is something we need to think about more often.
Maya, Maya, MAYA… you said all the things that needed to be said because this is the season. Another layer is the spending money/going into debt to be in the rooms.
This is timeless advice. I took a decade long break from the scene. I thought it was my wilderness season but I emerged with the life I said always wanted and such a stronger sense of self and my relationship with God, that I will fear no "evil" (social media). Thank you for writing this!
Maya, My god this is such a vulnerable yet necessary post. You didn't have to write it, but I'm grateful you did. We often read stories of inspiring people, in which they talk about the valleys to their mountain tops only in retrospective. But it's refreshing to read about it happening in real time. Because truthfully, reading about something people have already overcome, makes it feel that much more unattainable. But you bring us to the trenches with you so we can see not only what perseverance in the tunnel looks like, but also to remember that not all that glitters is the light at the end. And for what I know will be your INEVITABLE triumph, I am excited to bear witness to how you got there while maintaining personal integrity.
had so much fun writing it. idk if u ever have the feeling of “i can’t believe this actually happened” when ur writing, but that’s what i felt. have to laugh it! sending u so much love! and ur substack looks so chic. i’m going to start reading it.
One thing about the universe, it will give you what you pray for. So the question is, are you really sure that dream is aligned with the life you are building?
Bravely honest. I applaud your vulnerability. This line right here: "It’s been my experience that the rooms we so wish to be in are never the rooms that actually change our life." !!!!!! When being "seen" gets replaced with being in perfect alignment with God's divine plan for your life, the superfluous fades. Your growth is the real flex, Maya!
This was incredible. I'm in a deeply transitional season, and I thank God I've been able to (with the help of a therapist) talk myself through all of the moments where I wanted to be in rooms I once had access to. I've learned to love this new season because it's something I'm building all on my own. I'm not behind; I'm exactly where I need to be.
I loved reading every word of this! So incredibly relatable. Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable experience. Keep being who you are and continue building + resting (even without the audience and the background noise)...everyone else will just have to catch up🙏🏾
Thank you for putting words to something I've felt many times, including last week in Cannes.
how was ur experience! would love to hear more. and appreciate u taking the time to read.
My experience was spot-on with what you described in this piece. I'm working on my own piece about it that I'll share soon!
looking forward to reading!
Maya, a true testimony! I was listening to a sermon recently from Stephanie Ike over at One LA and she reminded us of a TRUE and SIMPLE fact. No one controls your life but God. The folks with all the "prestige and the followers" may think they have power, but they don't.
POWER COMES FROM GOD. God controls your life and open doors. Also, you don't need to get into the room for God to open the door. The door opens right to your email...your DM...your phone. It's truly the most unexpected places where blessings come from.
Cause we don't want to end up like Baby Reindeer where our insecurity is making us do crazy things to be aligned with folks who we don't want to be aligned with in the first place.
There is a Haitian term called, "san wont". We can't become san wonts. Shameless. Let the shiny people go. The people will come to you. And my favorite scripture, Psalm 118:22, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;" Get ready.
Finally, in closing, bow your heads and close your eyes.
Dear Lord, Thank you for my tribe that is down to earth and where I can simply be my entire self. They see me and we see each other. We love each other and we cry together and laugh together. May you bring me only those who have positive energy. May all the folks find their tribe. Also, Bind up all the sisters who speak diversity and sisterhood on panels but give snobbery in private. May they remember from whence they came. Cancel the plans of the enemy In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
power comes from GOD! thank u for your reflection and sharing ur wisdom. and thank u for blessing our substack with that beautiful prayer. blessings to u!
Amen!
"everyone (4 people)" really sent me to my grave lol! The reality is that is how social media really makes me feel in NYC - seeing more than 3 people at event makes me feel so much FOMO but learnings to realize the vast majority people weren't there is something we need to think about more often.
so much fomo. literally 4 people sent me into a spiral. never again! thank u for reading 🎈
Maya, Maya, MAYA… you said all the things that needed to be said because this is the season. Another layer is the spending money/going into debt to be in the rooms.
cori! i know u know! sending u so much love and always grateful to see your face.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!
This is so good. Substack is like a breath of fresh air. You will help so many by sharing this. Thank you.
i hope others don’t spend money to learn the hard way! the rooms are never what they look like. and the people are never what u think they will be.
This is timeless advice. I took a decade long break from the scene. I thought it was my wilderness season but I emerged with the life I said always wanted and such a stronger sense of self and my relationship with God, that I will fear no "evil" (social media). Thank you for writing this!
that's exactly what happened for me too. my relationship with God got stronger so i'm no longer influenced by all this stuff.
this article will save some people years. thank you.
glory to God. thank u so much for reading. always love seeing your face here.
Maya, My god this is such a vulnerable yet necessary post. You didn't have to write it, but I'm grateful you did. We often read stories of inspiring people, in which they talk about the valleys to their mountain tops only in retrospective. But it's refreshing to read about it happening in real time. Because truthfully, reading about something people have already overcome, makes it feel that much more unattainable. But you bring us to the trenches with you so we can see not only what perseverance in the tunnel looks like, but also to remember that not all that glitters is the light at the end. And for what I know will be your INEVITABLE triumph, I am excited to bear witness to how you got there while maintaining personal integrity.
I'm rooting for you so hard. With all my Might.
i feel it. thank u so much. you have ALWAYS been there for me and it means the world.
This was both comical and beautiful and I’m so glad you shared it
had so much fun writing it. idk if u ever have the feeling of “i can’t believe this actually happened” when ur writing, but that’s what i felt. have to laugh it! sending u so much love! and ur substack looks so chic. i’m going to start reading it.
One thing about the universe, it will give you what you pray for. So the question is, are you really sure that dream is aligned with the life you are building?
Bravely honest. I applaud your vulnerability. This line right here: "It’s been my experience that the rooms we so wish to be in are never the rooms that actually change our life." !!!!!! When being "seen" gets replaced with being in perfect alignment with God's divine plan for your life, the superfluous fades. Your growth is the real flex, Maya!
This was incredible. I'm in a deeply transitional season, and I thank God I've been able to (with the help of a therapist) talk myself through all of the moments where I wanted to be in rooms I once had access to. I've learned to love this new season because it's something I'm building all on my own. I'm not behind; I'm exactly where I need to be.
the wilderness season is about radical rest, radical presence and radical truth. let it do it's work. it's just a season!
This was such a fun and enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing this.
thank u for reading. had so much fun writing it!
The way that you just said all the damn things that needed to be said. YES. So powerful. Thank you.
jonathan! miss u friend! thank u so much for reading. we all need to start telling the truth of our experiences 🎈
I love your writing style. Keep sharing your insights and intrusive thoughts. 😆 This was spot on!
letting my intrusive thoughts be seen! thank u for reading 🎈
I loved reading every word of this! So incredibly relatable. Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable experience. Keep being who you are and continue building + resting (even without the audience and the background noise)...everyone else will just have to catch up🙏🏾
amen!