As the new year- the new DECADE- draws closer to us, we see all of you making those New Year Resolutions! 

Not to sound discouraging, but did you know that the failure rate of New Year Resolutions is around 80%?!  One of the reasons for so many broken resolutions may be that you are holding on to past hurts, past failures, past negative experiences and not letting them go so that you can GROW!  In this episode, we talk about how to move forward by letting go of your past.

 

Have you ever met people that are positive ALL THE TIME?  You know, the ones that can find the silver lining in any circumstance?  The annoying people who seem to find joy in everyday, mundane tasks and chores? Well nice to meet you, friend!  You're in good company with two positive souls! 

 

We know that it can be hard to remain positive in today's world. Politics, broken dreams, terrible stories on social media, boring jobs that seem like they're going nowhere- all of these can contribute to feelings of negativity and depression.  So today we're here to talk through what it's like to be positive all the time (honestly- a practiced trait!); where we find our joy; and also give you some practical tips to focus on the positive in every circumstance!  

How do you build appreciation into your life?  What are you thankful for, what makes you content?  In this episode we explore the things we've been learning to really appreciate recently.  If you want to learn how to be happier in your day-to-day, you don't want to miss this episode!

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

The Five Love Languages in the Workplace: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/2017/09/love-languages-workplace/

 

The holiday season is usually the pursuit of "perfection":  we want the perfect Christmas tree, the perfect decor, the perfect holiday outfit, the perfect holiday party, the perfect gift, the perfect meal, and on and on.  It's exhausting, really.  But we know a thing or two about perfection.  Tune in to this week's episode to learn how perfectionism can affect your life and what to do if you just want to chill and enjoy the season!

 

We finally sat down to talk through all of the feedback we received after our now infamous Codeswitch episodes.  You don't want to miss our answers to your burning questions like:

"Aren't you afraid of becoming a target at your job?"
"What's the best way to embrace diversity without seeming like an imposter?"

And more!

 

Resources mentioned:

Codeswitch Part 1: https://podcast.successinblackandwhite.com/e/54-codeswitch-real-talk-part-1-of-2/

 

Codeswitch Part 2: https://podcast.successinblackandwhite.com/e/55-codeswitch-real-talk-part-2-of-2/

 

Scene on Radio, Seeing White series: https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/

 

Adopting an "attitude of gratitude" has literally turned my (April's) life around.  I went through a terrible, awful, no good, very bad work situation (shoutout to one of my fav childhood books); my kids were whiny-er than ever; I felt like I could never get the house clean; I never had time to cook; and the piles of laundry were insurmountable mountains of folding I could never defeat. 

However, what I didn't realize for a long time is that all the toxicity that came from the above things was actually toxicity coming from MYSELF.  I was the toxic one. And so, gratitude was one of my last options to change my situation.  And it worked! In this episode we talk about the little ways you can show gratitude and begin to turn your life around.

 

If any of you follow me (April) on social media, you'll have seen a maybe-surprising post from me this past Friday.  As Darryl and I have been exploring our values and our faith, we've come to some not-so-culturally-popular understandings of the way we need to continue forward in our lives and with this podcast.

Listen now for our candid and raw conversation about what we've discovered.

 

Ever wondered how we "do it all"?

Wondered how we pick our podcast topics?  Or on top of that, how we even started a podcast?

Or do you follow us on social media and wonder why in the WORLD did we go plant-based (vegan) and how do we maintain it? 

This week, we answer these questions and more in our first FAQ session!

 

This week, get ready for more real talk regarding codeswitching.  Darryl talks about his experiences in work settings and honestly answers my (April) questions about if he's ever used codeswitching language or behaviors in our relationship. 

 

If you prefer to watch rather than just listen, subscribe to our YouTube channel NOW! We started recording full episodes and you'll be able to watch us interact with each other and with you! Closed Captioning available. You can subscribe here: YouTube Channel - Success In Black and White.

Don't forget to follow us via social media for more motivation, leadership & success tips, and a view into our everyday lives.  Darryl: @iamdarryllovett on all platforms; April: @aprildawnlovett on all platforms.

NEW:  We've create an online community for interracial couples and multiracial families!  Join our community here: Facebook Group