Welcome back to the show, my fellow starring Americans. For today’s guest, we have Haseena Jackson. Haseena is an author, trainer, speaker, and certified coach. She has spent 30 years in positions of leadership and management, where she developed the skill of helping others make the invisible visible and turn their dreams into real-world possibilities through her business—Faith, Hope, and Spirit LLC. 

Haseena offers training, coaching, and speaking in growth, development, communication, and leadership. She’s also the founder and executive director of Ava’s Pathways, which is a nonprofit organization for women supporting women who face traumas and adversities of life. She also authored three books: Created to Soar, Messages from the Spirit, and Reflections. From her, she says that we should not allow anyone or anything to place us in a corner to be forgotten and cause us to believe that we are insignificant. She’s an extraordinary American, and I’m glad. You have her on the show. 

Haseena, are you there?

Yes, I am. Thank you so much for having Me today. Thank you.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this podcast with me. I appreciate you being on the show.

It’s an honor. Thank you.

So, Haseena, can you tell me the audience a little bit more about yourself and your background and how you got started?

Oh, my background. I always have this one story that I share because this was the sad point of my life because I was the baby, and so I was taught to have the follow Me syndrome, follow my brothers. Follow my sister to high school. And then after that. Just get a trade and move on and become a housewife or whatever. And that was the plan. 

However, I had a gym teacher who was no more than four feet 11, and she said she used to see me going home from school every day with a little folded-up sheet of paper in my hand. What are you doing with your life? And I said, what do you mean, what am I doing with my life? I said I’m going to school, man. In my business, I will graduate, get my degree, and get a job. And she says no. You’re more than. And I looked at her, and I didn’t understand. 

And so, the next thing she said, you’ll meet me in the principal. ‘S office tomorrow. And tomorrow will change my life forever. Seeing that I didn’t have to settle for just getting my diploma opened my eyes. I went on to receive my bachelor’s degree and received my first master’s in business administration, all because she showed me that there was more in life than what I could just really see in front of my face.

Well, can you tell me more about what happened that day and, from there, how the trajectory happened, where you became, where you went into coaching and training, and all of that?

So then, from there, I always had a spirit of wanting to inspire and lead. And so, I graduated, got my master’s, and worked a little while in corporate America. And I always coach and mentor the people on my team. God just told me there’s more for you that I have than just working this job, and I want you to get out there and help other people find more in them to understand that there’s more that they can do. 

They have gifts they Are to use to live on purpose, and you can help them by becoming their thinking. Partner and help to raise their awareness to see things that are just beyond their natural sight. And that’s how I started on my journey.

I find it interesting that, as you did, you took a path that very, very few people take because most people want to settle for, like, you know, what society tells them to do. Go for, like, a career in corporate America or, like, just do the thing of going to school, getting a job, settling down, and all that stuff. 

But Your path took you differently than helping others, right? What motivational factor drove you to take the relatively less-taken path?

Well, I did work for a little while. I did work full-time in jobs, but I was always restless. I always was. I felt that there was something else more for me to do. I had some challenges in my life, so I’m wearing them today, too. And then I got more. In tune with my father, I called. I called him my dad. You know, God and he and I just kept talking to him and saying, what will I do with my son? What am I going to do with myself?

And he says well, Have a plan for you. But you need to be obedient and follow me. And it’s hard to do because I left behind a six-figure job. I was making good money. Don’t think I wasn’t. However, there’s more to life than making money. To me, success means being able to see that smile on someone else’s face because I helped them to become aware of something that they never even thought could be possible—or being able to have a conversation with someone who felt like they were stuck and going down the path that they didn’t have to go. 

Instead, there was another option for them. So, I find fulfillment in being able to. Talk with others and help others to see. The strengths and the power within them let them realize that they have a purpose and can follow it. And I’m not saying that you quit your job. What I’m saying is you use your job to fund your purpose. So don’t get stuck thinking that that is all you must do for the rest of your life. Develop an action plan and follow through with it so you can go. You are going to greater and higher levels in your life.

So Haseena, to find your purpose right, I completely agree with that. Many people don’t; they don’t seem to go through life without knowing their true purpose. Right. And then what they’re passionate about. 

So, if you were to advise the audience on how to find their purpose and know their true calling, how would they do that?

There are many different things, but first and foremost for me is spending time to reflect and meditate. And just being silent and listening, I recently, maybe about a year or two years ago, had the opportunity to go and speak at a women’s prison, Logan Correctional Facility. 

And at that time. I was still really not sure. I knew I wanted to be a coach. I still didn’t have the big picture of where I would go with being a coach. And after I gave my speech, I met a woman who had been in prison. 35 years. 

And she was looking to get out—the prison now to myself. You’ve been here for 35 years. How can I help people like you not turn back because the re-entry rate is about 30 to 40% for people to return to incarceration? 

And so, at that time, I was still trying to figure out where I would go in terms of my business because I was speaking, training, and doing those things. And God said, well, I want. You to go back to school. So I went back to school and am now in school for my second master’s in human services counseling. And then I was saying, and my husband said, well, we’re going to do with that degree. 

And I said I don’t know yet. So then one day I was walking because that’s what I do. I spend time walking and praying, and I meditate. And I said, God, well, what will I do with this degree? He said to me, remember that woman you Met in pro.

And remember, as you said, what will I do with this degree? You’re going to take this degree and open up a foundation that will help women move forward in their lives to go through and above their life challenges to help them with transformational thinking and being their thinking partner so they can think outside the box often. We fall into the trap of being told what we have to do, and we’ve been placed in the box, and I’ve been placed in the box before, so all the things that I’m doing and what I’m helping people do, I’ve walked that path myself. I was the victim of domestic violence back at some point in my life, and I thought to myself. 

Well, man, God said he hates divorce. I should stay in this relationship. But then God says no. But what I brought together let no man pull apart. He didn’t bring us together. That was something that I did. So, we have to spend that time reflecting and asking God what we want to do, looking at our talents and gifts, and seeing how we can put them to use in the world. Then, we see what impact we want to make because everything is about what has to be beyond you. It’s just about myself. It has to be how I can help someone else. 

So, those three things are vital to me. What am I? What is my gift? Listening to God? And what is the impact? And then taking that and putting that together. And seeing how I can create something that goes just beyond myself.

I mean that that is true. A lot of times, we have to take a look into what impact we can make. And I’m sure that a lot of people want to. Make an impact, but They go to this thing where they just feel like they’re so pressured by circumstances which are outside their control, like whether they have like family kids or like, they have like friends and family that They want to do something, but they feel like it’s kind of like the crab bucket theory, right? Like many people, they have these dreams that they want to make a reality. But their environment around them is not. It is usually against that. 

So what would you advise somebody who wants to make an impact or has all these dreams to make a reality, but their environment does not support that?

Well, then, I asked them about their environment. Is that environment really for you?

If your environment is holding you back, because that’s one of the things I’m doing with Avis, the pathway is creating community. 

So, it would be best to consider who you allow to be part of your circle. You know your circle will lift you to help you be accountable and commit to doing what you want. Join forces with like-minded people; don’t join forces with people who are naysayers. I mean, yes. And you have your commitment to your family. But there are some people out there whose circle you can get into. 

Because we limit ourselves by focusing on the circle we have, that we maybe got from when we were a child, the same people that I grew up with in grammar school, I think I have one person in my circle today. I’ve expanded that circle to continue to sharpen myself by placing me in communities and networks. That allows me to become better. 

So, you hold yourself back because you place a lid on your potential and growth by being surrounded by an environment that keeps you down. Instead, you have to get into an environment that lifts you. Who sharpens you? Who encourages you? Who will encourage you to go forward and do what you want to do? 

My husband is my biggest cheerleader, and I thank him so much for what he says to me every day. What do you want to do? And that’s what you do. He doesn’t hold me back and say, oh, we can’t do that. We don’t have the money. I mean, it’s not like money. We have a tree in the backyard. But I will say. I’m a firm believer that if you put your mind to it. The resources will come, and the people will come. I have found that out myself with my foundation. I was scrambling, trying to find a board of directors. The Perfect example I had was my co-founder, Alice. 

And I was hacking my brain to find additional board members, and suddenly, I found this one woman. I found another woman. I found two more people. They just fell into the mix, and now I have about 11 people on my board. I am so excited because you just have to believe in that vision. And continue going forward, and don’t allow the setbacks to hold you back. Instead, use those setbacks to move you.

I agree with the last part; people often look at setbacks, but they have. They look at it in a certain way. But suppose you put a positive spin on it and use it as fuel to move forward. In that case, that changes everything ultimately, even in extra America, like when you realize in business and entrepreneurship that it’s all about mindset, right? 

The environment is usually out of our control, but it’s how we look at things, the narrative we put in our heads, and how we deal with failures and setbacks. That usually makes a difference.

That’s a big difference because if I look, I mean, I’ve done it. I’ve had some setbacks along the way. And I could have chosen to just sit in a corner and cry and moan about it. Instead, I just say, well, I have to keep going. I cannot allow this one hiccup because the setback will help you move forward. People say they bounce back, but you bounce forward because you move past that setback to the next step, and then you take the next step and take the next step, and then you just keep thinking about putting that one foot in front of the other. 

I run at least three or four days. And if I were to look at the end of the line, I probably would give up. Instead, I look at I’m putting 1 foot in front of the other, and then I reach the end of my run. And I feel so. I feel the success and fulfillment of reaching that run, and that’s the same thing with any task. You just keep putting one step in front of the other. And it will come to pass.

It’s very interesting you say that, right, because many people look at a daunting task, and they’re like, oh, how can I do this? It’s like a huge task. But what? But what you’re suggesting or the analogy of running is that you divide that daunting goal into little steps and one step at a time. And you, and then that’s what makes it easier. Then, part of you focuses on that one step, and you go when that is complete. It’s like an incremental kind of thing. 

So, it’s interesting that you say that.

It’s so true. It’s with anything you think about going to the store. There’s a process: you have to get up out of the chair, you have to put your shoes on, you have to get your coat, you have to grab your keys for one. 

You got to grab your purse for a guy, you might grab your wallet, and look at all those different steps you had to take to get to the store, right? It’s the same thing with opening your own business. The first thing you have to do is think about what you will serve. I’m going to provide what is the problem I’m going to solve. What is the impact I want to make? Who do I need to have involved in this with me? Invite those people to the table. Then collaborate.

Because it can’t just be about you; if it’s just about you, what’s the point of having the go? Or what’s the point of having the business? It’s really about the impact and who you will be involved in your community.

When you’re presenting it like that, it makes sense because many people think of business; they’re like, oh, I got to deal with taxes. And like, all these other problems and all that stuff, how am I going to do this? Do that and. Like what I what? One of the things I’ve noticed is, like, there are many people. They want to do the thing, but they do something called. Paralysis by over analyzing and then just their negative thinking backs them out. 

If so, my question would be, what advice would you give somebody who tends to analyze everything and then get into a negative spin and back?

Well, the first thing is that you cannot get stuck and over-analyze because over-analyzing will cause you to stay where you are and never take any steps. It will never be the right time. All the things are not going to be in alignment. The stars are not going to shine brightly. You must tell yourself, OK, what’s the first step I must take? Just look at the steps. The first thing you need to do is the company name. 

The next step is the EIN. The next step is developing the mission and the goals. The next step is who is your niche that you will be serving. But all those things are important. The niche, I mean, all these things are in there together. I’m not putting them in order. But you just look at each one of those steps, and then you get a thinking partner. I am a big proponent of you having to have someone with you on your journey. If you are walking this alone, it will be daunting because you have no one alongside you. 

First of all, I will always have my father in my circle. But I’m talking about people. Who else can you involve in your program? That is like-minded like you, and then it and you, and you’ll know who that person is. The spirit will let you know this is the person I need to talk to. And you need to follow that urging. Don’t be disobedient. Go. I’m not talking to them. And I have done that. 

I was laughing because I finally reached out to someone the other day. Because they had been like a month, and God kept saying you need to reach out to you need to reach out to. And I finally did. And she said, why did you reach out to me? I said God told me to reach out to you. And I finally did because the spirit led me to conclude that I needed to connect with you. And I follow through. So, it would be best to obey those urgings because they tell you how to go.

Like many people, they’re not in tune with their intuition, right? Because I’m sure they’re intuitive, many people, their intellect or their mindset or parents, shut off that inner calling or voice to the point that intuition often tends to be true. If there’s something that you’re moving towards and there’s an inner voice like that, I think it was like a story. Like I read this book called. The laws of human nature and or it’s something else. Then, Robert Green talked about Martin Luther King and his inner calling to fight for civil rights. 

And it was God urging him to do so. But then there was this. He conflicted with his mindset and the logic of how he would get such a daunting task. But then God within the inner voice was like. I will be with you. No matter what.

And then, ultimately, he succeeded in his goal. But there were a lot of hurdles because, you know, like your intellect or your mind. It says Oh, how can this happen? Like, look at the practical realities. Right. And then there is the inner voice that comes from a higher power, and it tells you that it can be done. That you have to have faith in a higher source. So that’s all. There’s usually a conflict between our mind, intellect, and intuition. But that’s something I’ve noticed.

But we have to train our minds. We have to train our minds because our minds are training us. So, instead, we have to reverse it. You must train your mind because your mind is natural, and your inclination is focused on the negatives. 

So, instead, you have to train your mind to focus on the positives. So, for every negative thought, you need to replace it with two or three positive thoughts, have some words, or have some mantras that you recite to keep you going. Because we all have those, we all have those periods, but you have to reverse it. By saying instead, this is going to be incredible. I am confident about what I’m doing when that voice is well, you don’t know what you’re doing. You go. I am confident about what I’m doing. You don’t have the skills you’re doing. 

Yes, I have the knowledge to do these things. I have a degree. I received an award. You know, you. You counteracted. I’m able to write. I can read. So, think about the positive things that you can do. To counteract those negative voices that tell you that you cannot, you have to ask yourself, well, what happens if I don’t do this instead of saying what will happen if I do it? What happens if I don’t do this? Because then you’ll have regrets.

And I would like to add to that right because I think the way our mind, like most minds, is designed to help you survive. It leans towards the negative wall: looking for environmental dangers or what could go wrong. But it’s meant to like to survive. But ultimately, I would like to get to a higher level. We have to get our mindset into a thrive and abundance type of mindset, and that’s when positivity comes in. 

So, you’re right; we have to train our minds. But many people don’t have the right mentors to show them how to do that. It’s a pattern, right? Going towards negativity is a pattern, and we must ultimately Alter that. 

That’s a significant mindset shift, especially when it comes to business because, in business, you’re going to have a lot of things going wrong, like your environment not being the ideal environment. Still, it would be best to push through, and how you look at the world plays a huge role.

Yeah, I mean, you must, you have to find, like, for me, I’m a big proponent of how I started my day. If you start your day in a rush or feel overwhelmed, your whole day will be. Be that way. You have to set the controls if it’s just a matter of. If you take 20 minutes at the start of your day just to get into a place of peace, understanding, calm, and joy, then focus on the words you will have going through your mind throughout the day. 

Like today, I thought about confidence. I’m going to have success. Abundance, credibility, creativity. Those are the things that I’m thinking about as I go through my day and how I can then put those words into action. How can I be creative with something that I’m writing? How can I go about having abundance, not in terms of finances but abundance? I want to help others or spread the joy, peace, and love that I have.

To add to this, I want to ask you what was the greatest lesson you’ve had during your time, like you’ve learned, like during your career and also coaching clients? About business and life in general.

My greatest lesson? My greatest lesson is learning how. To pause and reflect. I think that that is so important because a lot of times. I know I do. I want to take action immediately. Instead, I’ve learned how to take a step back. Take some time to reflect on it. 

So that I don’t make a rash decision that places me in a predicament, I have to figure out how to get out of the mess that I made. So, I think the best thing I’ve learned is how to do it. It reflects, pauses, evaluates, and celebrates. I think all those things are important to me because. I had overcome milestones. I think about schooling. Perfect example, I just. I went back to school maybe a year ago, and it’s been maybe—two thousand twenty-five years since I’ve been in school. And I was shell-shocked. Because it was, you had to write papers in a certain format. 

And I was overwhelmed, I thought too. Myself. Oh my. God, did I do this to myself? How am I going to get through this? And so. I said I’m going to get through this. I’ve just said I can do this. And do you? Now I have the time of my life. I enjoy writing the discussion boards and papers and reading the books. I am like a sponge; I just see every class I take as a new adventure. 

So, you have to turn. I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve had to learn: to turn your perspective around from seeing something daunting to being a challenge and a new opportunity to learn and grow. So, it’s changing. My perspective would be the biggest thing because my reflections help me. It helps me change my perspective on the situation and how I see it.

I’m pausing and reflecting on this because it’s true. A lot of times, people go through life, and they. Don’t pause and reflect. And they just keep doing things that lead to mistakes and more mistakes. And if you pause and reflect. Then and then you can have an opportunity to know where you’re going wrong and then change accordingly. Today, it is very important.

But a lot of people don’t do that.

No, we keep going like that steam engine. You know, I got, I gotta go. I gotta go. I go. I gotta go. But then what happens is we turn around and. We and we keep. I am making choices that keep adding to that first bad choice of that, the decision that I have to go back and try to unravel. But if you just take a second and go. 

Now I know there’s another way, and that’s the whole point because when you stand back, you can get a different perspective and view than what you have because your mind is so focused on that one path that you lose sight of that. There’s another way.

Yeah, like, there’s a lot of things like in my own life, like, I wish I could have paused and reflected, like taking a 30,000-foot perspective and seeing how things would go on like a larger scale and also listen to the inner voice, you know because one of The examples is I know my parents wanted me to do engineering right, but I was never really passionate about engineering; it’s just something I did because it would make my parents proud. 

But yeah, I wish I had paused, reflected, and realized I needed to do something else. That is like my inner calling. The guy should have gone for something I was passionate about and forgot what other people thought. About it. And then taking a degree in that field, like maybe economics or finance and or psychology because I was passionate about all three, and if you had, if I had done that back then like it would, it would actually, I would have had more a more fulfillment during my time in university or like in the years after that but. No, it was only after I graduated. 

That’s when I Was thinking, and I was like, OK. You know what? I need to pause and. Reflect: I need to think. What do I want out of it? What impact do I want to make? At that moment, I had a meditation practice where it was always about pulling back inwards and understanding that the next moves cause many people to jump into the water and learn how to swim. But sometimes it becomes important to like. Like, check the perspective. On how you’re looking at things and ultimately. A lot of failures and successes. I hinge on doing that. What you’re saying is very relevant, you know.

I mean, it’s like when you get angry, and you know if you argue with somebody, you keep going. Keep going, keep going. But both people. Somebody. Just be quiet. Look what can happen if somebody just be quiet. Then the other person runs out of steam, and you just go. Now, do you feel better? Now. Can we talk, or do you want to? Talk later. You know what I’m saying?

No, I mean, I would like to add something like a meditation practice or like the kind of like a Zen mind that helps with reflection, pausing and thinking, you know, good, because that’s when on a when you’re calm, and you’re cool, and you’re collected, that’s when. That’s when all the intuition, like I’ve noticed that a lot of like the inner voice that comes like it’s allowed to flow through when you’re in a calm state of mind versus any other state.

Yes, so true. I was thinking I was working on a project last night, and I said I would get up. From there, I went and took a shower. At the same time, I was taking a shower; my. My mind was Just open, and I Said yeah, that’s. What do I need to add on there? See how the thoughts come if you just take that time to step back, and I can’t, like, this makes sense now, you know? 

So, it’s just taking that time to pause, pull up, and reflect. And you will be amazed at the thoughts and ideas that come into your mind.

So, Haseena, let’s say you had a time machine and could go back and talk to the 10-year-old version of yourself. And if you had all this experience that you had right now, like, what would you, what advice would you give to the younger version of yourself?

So, ten years old. First of all, I must remember what I was doing when I was ten years old, cause, you know, look, but I will say this. Interestingly, you asked this question because I was reflecting on this question just yesterday about my life, and if I could go back in time, what would I change and I wouldn’t change anything? I would tell myself to live. Enjoy life. Don’t get caught up in the weeds. Don’t think you must do it all, because I have learned those things. And surround yourself with people that sharpen you. Be vulnerable. You know, I’ve learned that. The people that. I am in my circle today. 

I am so grateful for them. I’m going to say this because. I was thinking the same thing yesterday, and it’s humbling that you’re asking me this. I am so thankful for where I am today and the people I have in my circle that I don’t think I would change anything about my life. The only thing I would change is that I might have been slightly lighter. You know, maybe lose a couple. More pounds. But other than that, I have a wonderful life and no regrets. You know, I’ve made decisions where afterward I thought I made the biggest mistake, but I just had a conversation with someone the other day, and she sent it to me too. A video that I was listening to. And it says we have to be patient. We have to get comfortable with being an uncle. 

And that’s what I would tell myself one thing. Another thing is to be patient, but the most important thing I just said is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That’s what I would tell myself.

Let’s see. I love that you said that you wouldn’t change a thing. It caused a lot of people to wish they could have done things differently, and they wish they sometimes have regrets, right? And the reality of the situation is that sometimes. Like you go. Through negative experiences, your life takes a journey the way it is, making you who you are. Today, right? If you hadn’t gone through those challenges or setbacks? Along with the good times and the combination, you would not have all the wisdom and life experience we have right now. So even if, like for the audience, you have had setbacks, know that they shaped who you are, and you can learn from all you know.

I agree with everything. Everything happens in alignment with what our father said was going to happen, he says. I knew you before you were in the room. 

So, everything has already been predestined and determined, and what it is for you is to follow that path. And to move forward and do what you are supposed to do with your life, learn from your experiences, and use them to add to your character and build that resilience. I have an acronym that I live by; it’s called Elmore, and it’s part of my coaching program. It’s your existence. You lead, you’re motivated. You have optimism. And you have resilience, and you put it all together. Those five things that make the six, you’re empowered. Now, you can move forward to become the person you were created to be.

Definitely, like that is like we have to, we have to go about in that thing. So, you have a formula for that. Like I find myself. I’m thinking about that right now, and it’s it. It’s making sense, you know.

I admire you. You are someone I see doing great things, and I want you to keep doing—those great things.

No, I appreciate that. For some reason, I like this conversation. It got me to pause and reflect on many things, like how my life went in a trajectory, right? Because, uh, like, when I asked you that question about would you like, what would you advise your 10-year-old self if I had to go back because I came from? The country, like in the middle, like I grew up in a country in the Middle East, like in Kuwait, right? And if I had to go back, I had to advise my younger self I would be so that, you know, like God had a plan for you. 

That’s why you’re in this country: you must see a lot of injustice and how people mistreat us. It is for you to please do something about it later on in life, and then it will be part of a great story. There are a lot of times when God has a story or a plan for you, but we cannot comprehend it at that time.

No, but first of all. It says to lean not on your understanding. Lean on his understanding. So our understanding cannot even touch his. So stop trying to think about what you see and instead just lean into him and allow him to take control, and you will go places you’ve never dreamed of. You could go before.

It’s interesting you say that, right, because a lot of times, like it’s, it sounds simple enough, but many people have difficulty letting go of their egos like they want to control their world. But ultimately, when you’re saying, right, when you let go, life goes a lot smoother because now God is in control. 

And I often say that because of our gifts, we want to use them in places we’re not supposed to, and I see this. It was an experience that I. I live by it because I’m a leader by nature. It’s just something in me. I just want to come in and think I’m supposed to take control and do things. But God said to me one day, he pulled me to the side, he says. That’s not yours. That’s not your program. It would be best if you sat here, participated, and helped, so we must understand our place. You know what we’re supposed to do?

Haseena, on a different note, I wanted to ask you this right: a lot of things we’re talking about are about God, and like ultimately, spirituality is about the pursuit of happiness, and it is also the central core of American identity that Americans should pursue happiness. So, from your perspective, how should somebody? It is all about pursuing happiness in their lives.

But first, the person needs to find what happiness means to them. Because happiness can mean many different things to various people, you must find out what happiness means. What happiness means to me is being able. To have freedom. Freedom in terms of not being bound by what’s. People want to say what I should do or be bound by what man wants to control what I do. That’s to me, happiness. But then happiness is also being of service to my community and others. Happiness is being in good health, knowing that I made a difference and I’m making an impact. And so that’s what happiness means to me. So, I asked the person they have to define what happiness means to them.

So, there’s something that makes me want to say that a lot of, like, what are you talking about? Happiness is ultimately serving others because there are a lot of times when people think of happiness in terms of, like, oh, serving themselves. 

But ultimately, that causes unhappiness. But if you are making a difference in other people’s lives. As you mentioned, making an impact ultimately, like the people that do that end up being happy in the Long term, that’s what I noticed, like from my own life experience, that there are like two types of people, right, people that are going about like serving themselves versus their people that are going about serving others and the pursuit of happiness ultimately comes in, you know, like the higher, like listening to your inner voice, like doing the higher. How long does God want you to do it? Also, I don’t usually end up serving others.

Yes, I mean, so that’s something a person must take that journey to uncover. Because a lot of times, it takes you to get into that place. I think that before COVID-19, I was a big shopaholic. I mean, I would. I love shoes. I still love shoes today, so I’m not going to tell that either, but I would love to, but it took a minute for me to go. What are you going to do with those things? You can do nothing with those things, so you must get into a place where you start shedding. The things that you don’t need for you to pursue are the things that you need that bring you fulfillment. That’s what we do. All have to take that journey down. That road to figuring things out.

Yeah. Ultimately, fulfillment comes from within and from helping other people, but many people these days try to find it in, like, you know, shopping. And like getting a lot, but ultimately, it’s like a duality, right? Like, there’s the American dream of, yeah, like. If you are, if you’re famous and you have all this material wealth and everything, you’re going to be happy. Ultimately, it’s serving others, making a difference, and having an impact that leads to more fulfillment. 

And so, in my mind, happiness and fulfillment are intricately tied to making a difference and making an impact. You know, because I think that’s how the higher power designed us like we would not get happiness by just serving ourselves.

No, I mean wealth is good. But what are you going to do with that wealth? I mean, we have—a lot of people out here who are hurting. And I look at how I can take my money and put it to use to help others who are hurting, not to hurt anymore. Yeah. So, heal, you know.

So, Haseena, I know you wrote this book, Reflections from Within, right? Can you tell me the audience a little bit more about the premise of that book and how it got you to write that book?

Well, I used to, and I still do today, but I’ve moved up a little bit in technology I used to. Do a daily—text message to friends. I would send them. Take a scripture. And there was just a meaning behind it, and I would text maybe two or three sentences. And so, I did this for. It’s about maybe a year. Two years. I don’t know how long. 

And one girlfriend told me one day, where do you get those messages from? But I said, what do you mean? Where do I get them from? She says, yeah. Who writes them? And I said I do. She said you wrote, and I said yes. And she said, Girl, it would be best to publish your book. Then I thought. And I’ve always loved writing so that you know. You walked. We talked about it before. How do you find your purpose? I’ve always been a writer since I was a kid. I love to read, and I love to write. 

She gave me that prodding to heart, and I wrote reflections from within because I wanted to give to individuals. A word that would spark them to reflect and take that time to pause and then think about what they need to be doing for that day. And developing goals for their life and then taking and developing a plan to move forward. So that’s what it’s all about my books—reflections on within, and the ones that follow deal with how I can help you. Take time to reflect. Listen, listen to those messages so that you can. Soar to higher? Levels in your life, and it’s ironic that my books went into that order, too.

Yeah, it’s interesting how you started writing the book because the headline is fascinating. What are the reflections from what? What’s a book that comes to mind? Yeah, it’s like Marcus Aurelius. 

So the book, like, I forgot the name of the book. There was something like, it was kind of like reflections or something like that where he talks about, like, the like, deep, what he found out during his entire life. But it’s a very intriguing headline altogether.

Yes, because if you like what you said before, just take your time. To reflect, you’d be amazed. The ideas and the awareness that is a result of just that time away. That will help you move forward and identify the next actions and steps that you should take.

So, Haseena, I know you. You have the foundation, the nonprofit, for Ava’s pathway. Can you tell me the audience a little bit more about that and what it is about?

So, it goes back again to me pursuing my second Master’s in Human Services counseling and then that woman that I had the fortune to meet. And God has me put it all together now he’s saying, OK, we have Ava’s pathways, and Ava is. The phoenix rising. 

So, think about the Phoenix rising. That’s what Ava is. And then the pathways are. You get to decide the direction you need to go in your life, but your direction will be based on the foundation of making good choices. Based on your beliefs, solid beliefs in yourself. And you have the identity that allows you to move forward and return to the past. It is for you. That has been destined pretty well for you, Stein. And so that was what Ava’s pathways are all about. 

We are so; I provide life coaching where I’m a thinking partner to women undergoing life challenges and adversities to help them undergo transformative things. While also creating restorative circles where we come together, women where we can be accountable, have someone, and be vulnerable and not take those masks off. So that we can be our true selves. So that we can then identify. Who we are, and how we can go forward in our lives. And that’s what Avis Pathways is all about.

That’s, you know, what you’re doing is amazing. And I hope that others will be. That inspired me. Because what you’re doing is helping a lot of people. And yeah, I appreciate it for that.

You know, and it’s funny. I still do a weekly blog. I mean, so. But I’m not antiquated anymore, you know, because I used to be texting on my phone, so now I have a weekly nugget that I text out to people, and they can go to my website and get that. But it’s just the fact that. I am a big proponent of giving you a word that will spark and ignite you to move forward in the direction you need to. Be going in your life.

That is amazing, and Haseena. How can Our audience connect with you and learn more about you and your work? And what are you doing?

Well, you can visit my website at hsjackson.com again. It’s hsjackson.com, or you can email me at hsjacksonbook@gmail.com or hs.jacksonbookbooksingler@gmail.com. But the biggest way is hsjackson.com because you can sign up for my mailing list. I do a Biweekly newsletter, and I’m doing a weekly Nugget. That’s text to your phone. That just gives you a word, and then the newsletter is just a message that helps you to keep going forward, and like they’re all just messages that help you keep going forward; like I said Before, one of my purposes is to write. So that I can help inspire and motivate individuals while also with the coaching being your thinking partner to help you uncover. Where is that? You need to go and believe in who? You are and what? You can do that.

I’ve seen it, that is amazing. I want to let you know that I’m grateful that you took the time to come on the show and share your wisdom with the audience and me. And I would like you to be on the show later.

Well, I thank you so much for having me today.

Yeah, thank you, Haseena, and I would like to conclude this episode by letting my fellow extraordinary Americans know that, hey, look, there’s an extraordinary within every one of us. We must awaken it and unleash it until next time. Bye for now.