We were lucky to catch up with Angela Flake recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Angela thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Well, I have always loved to write. I actually wrote my first “book” in elementary school and used my classmates as characters. I loved writing and thinking of ways to put words together. That concept followed me through life as I found myself falling in love with books, reading, creating, poetry, organizing events and connecting with people and events that merged with my ideas. I really didnt realize all my quirky loves would actually have my publishing a book. Along with writing I used it as a place to encourage the young women in me that never got encouraged. I saw writing was speaking back to me as the little girl who really didnt have anyone to help develop her skills that hung around in my head. I always seemed to find a way to encourage others based on the encouragement that I wanted. So, doing that came natural to me and to my writing. I stick with motivating because we could all use that on this journey. My first book was catered to the woman who needed to know whatever space they found themselves in, it was okay. Sometimes we need to park it and sit still, sometimes we need a push and to remind ourselves we can be our worst critic. And sometimes we just need to hold up our hands and say “enough,” I am going to write my own story! I have since gone on the become an award-winning book author with a few books and stepping into children’s writing which I absolutely love! Speaking to women and young people doesnt require a microphone and I dont have to have one to walk out my purpose. I really try to speak that loud because I am always talking about purpose when I speak and I encourage ladies to pull from withing. Thats a space I know all to well as I have found out that healing and wholeness cant always come from things on the outside world. That passion has really given me my own platform to speak with confidence and clarity because its things that not only have i went through, but because of life I know challenges exist…empathy gives room for change and healing. Being a book author and speaker has taught me alot about myself first and trying to figure out this mind of mine which has its ups and downs. I celebrate it all and acknowledge what is at stake when I dont take care of myself first. It has been through alot of pain and challenges that has given me the will to overcome and not give up because I know understand that my story is not just a story. Its a pathway for many to walk on and get tools that were never given to me. I truly can sit in that and be okay with it. Healing for me has come through my writing and through my speaking. Every word that I have spoken to a lady in despair or hurting, a youth that doesnt know what love looks like…I have spoken to myself first. That is where the power is and where change really starts.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I got started into writing at a young age. I actually wrote my “first book,” in elementary school about my classmates. I started entertaining that creativity early but I really didnt have many to help steer that passion. I would always gravitate towards things that dealt with writing or organizing things and doing things with my hands. I remember looking back at life and found out that my love for writing and connecting people to inspiring things was all over my timeline of life. I drew inspiration from that and really just started to create a platform on the things I loved: writing, sharing wise words, connecting people to encouraging things and I have been doing that ever since. Writing inpiring books, speaking to women and youth to encourage them to follow after their passions come from everything that spoke to me through my journey that encouraged me along the way. I began created a tshirt line to express those feelings. I created books to express those words, and I speak to remind others of what they have on the inside of them is far more important that what the world tells them to look at. I am most proud of not giving up on my visions. I have always been one to see the glass half full so that has assisted me when things were tough…really tough. Many times those mental battles can be much harder than daily living. I take those pieces and share them through my motivations and through my writings. I chose to walk through my processes and continue to do that which has helped me change habits and mindsets that no longer serve me anymore. So, as you look at my brand and products you can see this written on everything that I believe in.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I typically gravitate towards things that line up with my purpose and passions. I dont think I would have made it if it weren’t for getting resources from others who shared like ideas and concepts. Many authors that practice mindfulness and introspection were key for me to glean from. I have greatly benefited from Mindvalley coaches and training. I also have used many tools from motivational speaker Iyanla Vanzant. Reading books and re-reading. That has helped me. I am very visual so watching videos over and over again has been a tremendous resource for how I obtain knowledge.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

This was very powerful for me: Self-confidence is a skill, and you can get better at it the more you practice. Many of us think self-confidence is something you have to squint your eyes at and just get over your fears of something, but it’s so much more than that. Many of us are not taught this valuable tool when trying to find ourselves. We’re not taught how important self-confidence is when you need to use that to build yourself from the inside out. The world teaches you to go a certain way and aim for this certain thing, in order to have self-confidence. But what about when your internal meter is calling you to step off the conveyor belt of life and reach for something you cant quite see in your normal view. I had to really begin to tear down these stories that my environment told me, that life told me unconsciously, without me knowing it. Self-confidence is always ready to grow and teach you more. This was a beautiful revelation for me and continues to be my guide as I walk out my journey of purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inspirewithangela.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angela.flake.7

Image Credits
Tasha Cole Allan Aceves