Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zhaklina Spencer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zhaklina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?

There isn’t just one person who fits this answer for me. There have been several people who have supported my dreams through their time, energy, money, gifts, skills and so much more. That support has felt like honey to my soul, reminders that other people value what I’m doing and want to see me continue to grow.

One memory in particular is when my family and close friends all pitched in to help me get a really great keyboard for Christmas a few years ago. The keyboard I originally had was on its last leg and I needed a new one soon to continue growing in my music career the way I wanted to grow. I remember that being such a huge blessing and I will never forget it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ll have to break this up into two categories:

– Music & Mental Health: I have been singing ever since I was a little girl and have been wanting to be a musical artist and performer my whole life. I grew up passionately pursuing music opportunities through school, partaking in competitive choirs and joining musical theatre. In college I was accepted into a competitive a cappella group that helped me continue to foster my love of music. After college, I won a radio station competition in 2015 and it helped launch my music career. I began releasing original music that year and have been doing so ever since. It’s taken me years to fine-tune my branding, genre and style. I landed on Alternative Rock/Pop and decided to revolve my branding around Mental Health Advocacy in 2017. I have been passionate about Mental Health since high school and have grown to understand its significance as I began my personal journey with awareness, healing, and advocacy. I have lost family members and friends due to Mental Health illnesses and have witnessed and experienced the effects neglecting mental health can have on our relationships, lifestyles, dreams, minds, bodies and emotions. As a Christian, I believe it is important to integrate spirituality, theology, psychology and science into our mind-sets. For me, that looks like Jesus and therapy.

Doula: I’ve been a caregiver for almost 15 years. I have always loved children and would help care for younger cousins as I was growing up. I began babysitting part-time through college as I earned my bachelor’s degree in the Behavioral Health Sciences. After I graduated, I began nannying and decided to receive my CPR certification and utilities my degree and experience to become a professional nanny. I had not realized that was a legitimate career option until I researched it and met other Nannie’s (women and men) who had been doing it for years. My passion for children grew into passion for supporting parents which grew into passion for supporting mothers specifically. I nannied for several women who were pregnant and/or had just given birth and instinctively felt this drive to want to help women through birth. I began researching the birth industry and specifically what doulas do and felt like every description described me to a T. I knew that was the next step in furthering my caregiving career. I became trained in 2022 and have already begun working with birth clients! I absolutely love the birth world and have never experienced anything as powerful as a woman giving birth.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I moved to Nashville to further my career in music in early 2018. When I moved here, I think I had $100 in my account, no furniture, only what I could fit in my car, and slept on the floor with a tiny pillow that said “Dream” and my coats as blankets for the first couple of weeks as I saved money from my new job to attend to my needs and responsibilities. I will never forget that moment and how brave, excited, and at peace I was about my choice to take that chance on myself.

5 years later and I’m now married to a wonderful man, have grown in each of my career interests immensely, and own my very first king size bed (with the best mattress ever !)

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Co-Dependency is the biggest lesson I’ve had to learn. I used to believe I was responsible for how other people felt and struggled to separate other people’s thoughts and feelings from my own. After going through several toxic relationships, traumatic experiences, having to make incredibly difficult choices and pursuing my own health more consistently, I have realized that inter-dependency is the way to go. It is important to care for your self and set healthy boundaries so that you can give your best to others. It’s also important to let your yes be yes and your no be no, and to do your best to respect which feels most authentic.

Co-dependency is a mind-set formed through dysfunctional and not so healthy relationships and family systems. At least, it was for me and I know it has been for others. It has taken every bit of mental, emotional and spiritual strength to set boundaries with my family and to continue grow with or without people that may or may not respect me.

Unlearning co-dependency is so important both personally and professionally. It allows us to uphold our integrity and be deeply balanced, leading to more fulfillment and peace as we lead our lives honestly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zhaklina.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamzhaklina?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/iamzhaklina/?wtsid=rdr_0Wup3XhwrMvzVr9GP
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhaklina-spencer-956060107
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ZhaklinaP
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@iamzhaklina

Image Credits
Rea Ariola