“Just be grateful.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “It could be worse.” Maybe you’ve said it. Maybe you’ve heard it. But here’s the truth: Positivity, when used to silence pain, becomes a barrier to growth. In the latest episode of Her Next Power Move, I explore the trap of toxic positivity and how it disguises itself as motivation—while denying us the space to feel, grieve, and grow. Based…
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is get your hopes up. When everything around us feels uncertain—when crisis hits or change comes too fast—it’s easy to believe that staying guarded is smarter. But research tells a different story. Hope Theory, grounded in positive psychology, shows that hope isn’t naive—it’s strategic. It fuels resilience. It builds pathways where none seem to exist. It keeps us moving when the…
What makes you feel joy and clarity… might not work for me. That’s the beauty of happiness triggers—they’re personal. Rooted in your values. Aligned with what you care about most. Backed by brain science. In this video, I’m sharing how to find your own happiness triggers and why they’re essential for leading with clarity, connection, and purpose. Research shows just one moment of positive emotion can reshape your…
Since March, I’ve been moving at a pace that only purpose can justify. And it’s been powerful. Here’s just a glimpse of the journey: ✅ I submitted the full manuscript for my fourth book, Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church—a love letter to cultural leadership, steeped in science and soul ✅ I spoke at and moderated multiple impactful leadership events ✅ I offered a…
Tomorrow’s episode is for anyone leading in uncertain times and wondering if they’re built for it. Here’s your reminder: You are—and neuroscience agrees. We’re talking resilience—not as something you’re born with, but something your brain can build. Let me be the voice on your shoulder reminding you: You’re not broken. You’re becoming. Subscribe: lmichellesmith.substack.com
With so much beyond our control, how can we as leaders steer our teams, families, and ourselves through the unknown? Here are three tips to manage uncertainty effectively: ✅ Cultivate Emotional Agility Emotional agility is about staying in touch with what you’re feeling without judgement and adapting as circumstances evolve. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that leaders who practice emotional agility make better decisions in high-stress situations.…
Some days, we hold it together with one deep breath and a quiet prayer. Grief comes in waves, not always from loss of life—but from the fading of dreams, jobs, roles we once found meaning in. And yet, beneath the ache, there’s a whisper: You are still becoming. There’s beauty in the breaking. There’s strength in the pieces. In the newest episode of Her Next Power Move, we’re…
Election Day is upon us, and for many, it brings a surge of uncertainty, fear, and stress. With so much beyond our control, how can we as leaders steer our teams, families, and ourselves through the unknown? Here are three tips to manage uncertainty effectively: 1. Cultivate Emotional Agility Emotional agility is about staying in touch with what you’re feeling and adapting as circumstances evolve. Research from Harvard…