Owning My Identity As an Inspirational Blogger with #InspiredMobility

Sometimes when we can't find space for our unique talents, we feel pressured to place ourselves into boxes that don't represent who we truly are. When participating in blogging surveys, I always felt uncomfortable because I didn't fit into the pre-defined blogger categories of "Beauty, Entertainment, Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel, Food, Technology, or DIY." I was forced to place a check next to "Other," without any opportunity to write that I am an inspirational blogger.

This feeling of not belonging wasn't exclusive to only surveys, it was also present during meet-ups and conferences when the breakout sessions for blog niches never included inspiration. The few times I was brave enough to share my niche, people would say, “What is an inspirational blogger? So what do you even write about?” Instead of utilizing it as a moment for expanding the knowledge of others, I began questioning the need for my voice in the blogging arena. I simply didn't think there was a community for people like myself.

When these small voices of self-doubt arise, I remind myself of my mission, "Empower individuals to realize their circumstances don't hinder their future. They are just stepping stones to success to show them how resilient they truly are."

"When your mission is clear, nothing can stand in your way- not even self-doubt. #DontDieAfraid"

During AT&T's #InspiredMobility Session at Blogging While Brown in Washington D.C. July 15-17, I finally found others who wanted to uplift and inspire people daily. L. Michelle Smith, Director, Public Relations, U.S. Diversity, Citizenship & Sustainability and Jason Caston, Faith & Mobility Expert led the group in a discussion about how people are using mobile technology to connect with their faith or inspiration.

AT&T's Inspired Mobility initiative realizes, "Inspiration is no longer just analog. People are picking up their mobile devices to connect with it, and it has never been more popular. Inspired Mobility is another way to see how people make our products and services a part of their lives so that everything works better."

I was thrilled to be introduced to Inspired Mobility because I enjoy using my mobile platform to share positive vibes with my Resilient Family and also receive inspiration from others. Thanks to AT&T, I will be attending my first National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) & National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Convention, (#NABJNAHJ16) from August 3-7.

On August 5, I will get the chance to meet Rev. Run after his exclusive chat with Alfred Edmond Jr. about how he uses his "Words of Wisdom" to reach millions daily. I'll share live updates from the conference on social media with the hashtags #NABJNAHJ16 and #InspiredMobility.

Stay connected on social media so you don't miss a minute of the excitement! Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Now Tell Me What's On Your Mind: How do you use technology to find inspiration? You can join in the conversation by sharing an inspirational thought, photo, meme or video and using the hashtag #InspiredMobility

Disclosure: Thank you AT&T for sponsoring this post. You my Resilient Family know that all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that value my unique voice!

World AIDS Day Hotline Bling

Today is December 1st, World AIDS Day! The best way to celebrate is in song and dance. So of course, Hotline Bling is the best choice for this. But I'm not talking about the regular Hotline Bling- I'm talking about the safe sex remix! World AIDS Day Hotline Bling REMIX! Oh yeah! This jam is guaranteed to get your inner Drake to shine.

#BlackMHM: Inspiration from #HillDay15

Happy 1 Month Anniversary #BlackMHM ! I love celebrations, so of course I'm going to honor the one month creation of my Black Mental Health Makeover social media campaign.

Every other week on Don't Die Afraid, will be dedicated to a topic around mental health.

Did you think I was joking when I said #BlackMHM is going viral? I hope you didn't, because I was serious.

The first couple of posts/videos will give you a foundation about why mental health is important to me. My passion for mental health has always existed but #HillDay15 reignited my fire. I am pursuing my Masters in Public Health, which is a degree that allows me to work in a plethora of career fields. After attending #HillDay15, hosted by The National Council for Behavioral Health I became seriously interested in careers around mental health. The event was dynamic, I learned about policy, various organizations in the field, took a blurry selfie with Dr. Oz, shared my experiences on camera for a PSA, and met some amazing people.

The room was full of professionals who dedicate their lives to advocacy, providing service, and breaking the stigma. Then there was me- I found out about the event through Twitter and didn't have class that day so I signed up to attend. Before arriving, I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was open to the public but once I was there, I felt a little under-qualified.  That feeling quickly dissolved after hearing how impressed people were after I told them that I attended out of pure passion for behavioral health. Although we all care about the topic, they were attending based on this opportunity being "a part of their job", whereas I attended because it was "a part of my heart".

After an assessment of the room, I no longer felt out-of-place. I belonged there. Others like myself belonged there too those who are not in the field but have a genuine passion, millennials, and black people. This realization gave birth to #BlackMHM, Black Mental Health Makeover.

Through the social media campaign, over 20 people have posted photos about mental health and started the conversation on their social media with friends. I have been able to reach those individuals who should have been in the room with me for #HillDay15. It is eye-opening and refreshing because I never imagined to receive all this support. A lot of the people who joined the campaign, don't frequently discuss mental health on their outlets so I had no clue that they were interested. Seeing my idea become a catalyst for in-depth conversations about these issues warms my heart. I HOPE to host an event in July 2016 for Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, *fingers double crossed, speaks it into existence*.

Thank you to The National Council for Behavioral Health and all of the partners (DBSA, The Jed Foundation, Mental Health America, NAMI, and Sunovion) for adding fuel to my fire for mental health and to everyone who has joined my movement. It's not too late to participate; all you have to do is post a black and white photo on social media with a caption about mental health to spark a conversation with your followers. Then include the #BlackMHM and tag me @DontDieAfraid.

You do not have to be black to support my movement. It is titled, "Black Mental Health Makeover" because that is the community I identify with, so I know the deeply rooted issues we have with mental health stigma. My amazing Italian high school friend, Amanda participated to show her support and her caption spoke about why she feels mental health stigma should be broken.

Now Tell Me What’s On Your Mind: Have you ever initially felt out-of-place at an event but in the end, you realized it was exactly where you needed to be? Comment below to let me know; I would love to hear what you have to say.