Preparation and Push

Reader, I’ve been in a season of preparation for a while. You might have heard me mention that God told me a few months back that I was like 14 months pregnant. I think that makes this about 16 months pregnant now. If I wait any longer, I might as well have two special deliveries.

In retrospect, I didn’t want to leave the preparation period. I felt that there was more to learn there. You may have heard the term “nesting.” It refers to the time when you are creating the best environment for the new arrival. Part of that was God’s direction, and the rest was my own combination of exploration, introspection, and fear.

What if the book doesn’t sell well? What if it doesn’t resonate? What if people challenge me on what is written and how it flows? What if it would benefit from more of my own healing or stories that provide more context? What if…

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The season of preparation could have lasted much longer. But let’s be honest, it has been long enough. There are two more books that will follow Healing Is Required, and the longer that I sit with this one, the further those two will be away from their birthing day.

And you need these books. The world needs them. I need them.

Healing Is Required will be a catalyst for conversations that heal families, communities, and companies. It will help you give voice to what you have been feeling and serve as a reference point for your healing evolution. It will be your companion as you explore the inner work you want to do, but don’t know where to start. It will be on your nightstand or favorite shelf in your library, one that you reach for again and again. It will spark a precious connection time between you and your favorite journal. It will help us advance the societal shifts that need to happen. You know, the ones that are brewing just beneath the surface, ready to erupt at a moment's notice.

It’s that book.

And I’m not selling you on it (at least not today), because this message is simply about you.

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Reader, It’s time to realize that what you are doing is enough. It doesn’t need more time in the incubator. You don’t need more time to polish what is already brilliant. You don’t need more practice or a longer gestation period. You just need to say yes. It’s time to declare your readiness and launch the thing you’ve been preparing to birth. It’s time to pull together a think tank or ideas board. It’s time to call the person whose face you keep seeing. It is time to write the plan, breathe on the vision, and step out of the boat.

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But Anika, “what if…”

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Yes, my friend. “What if…”

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Reader, What if it is exactly what they need? What if it blows your expectations out of the water? What if it opens the door to the resources you need for what’s next? What if it is the thing that lands you an invitation to the stage you want to walk on? What if it creates the awareness that births a movement? What if it is simply the next stone in your path?

Whatever it is, it belongs in the world. Kiss it and lift it above your head as a gift to the world (IYKYK). Release it and let it breathe. Choose to embrace whatever comes as a result, because that too is a gift.

Opportunity is a gift.

Time is a gift.

Experience is a gift.

Wisdom is a gift.

All of those things combined give you what you need to keep going. Choose to receive whatever the outcome is as a gift, and the opportunity before you will be your biggest blessing yet. And yes, it is really that simple.

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​Reader, It’s time to push.

Push past your fears and discomfort. Push past the desire to stay hidden, small, quiet, or in the lab- whichever is your current vice. Push past the need for a full blueprint and turn-by-turn directions. You don’t need it,Reader. Any of it.
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You were born for this. You came with all that you need. The resources are available; you just have to ask. The support exists; you just have to invite it in. The win is in your hands. You just have to let it go, so what you are birthing can finally take flight.

Say it with me. The gestational period and nesting are over. It’s time for the push.

Happy Birthday to your biggest blessing. Let go and let the Divine do the rest!

Peace and Blessings!

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I Have Big News!

Healing Is Required is headed to the bookstores, shelves, and Amazon soon and as a member of the inner circle, I want you to have all the deets! In early August we will share the book launch plans, pre-order lists, social media sharing and some really cool advance purchase bonuses.

But, you've gotta be on the list! Be a Book Insider and get early access to everything we release before we open it to the public. Take a moment to join the waitlist below. You'll be glad you did!

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"The Leader’s True Journey"

This week on The Anika Apple Podcast

Let’s be real, who actually feels fully prepared for everything leadership throws at them? The truth is, none of us are ever completely ready. Whether you're leading a team, launching a business, or stepping into something new, the journey rarely looks neat or predictable.

In a recent episode of The Anika Apple Podcast, I opened up about what it really takes to prepare as a leader. And I’m not just talking about strategies or leadership playbooks, I’m talking about the deeper preparation: healing, self-awareness, and the courage to grow from the inside out.

Here’s a look at the core messages I shared, each one a cornerstone in becoming a leader who’s grounded, whole, and truly ready for transformation. Click the image below to watch the episode:

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Healing Is a Leadership Foundation

I’ve been talking a lot about my upcoming book, Healing Is Required, because that message is central to my life, leadership and my divine assignment.

You can’t lead people further than you’ve been willing to go in your own healing. Period.

The wounds we carry, whether from our past, our upbringing, or our experiences, don’t just fade. They shape how we see the world, how we respond, and how we lead.

If we want to build authentic relationships, trustworthy environments, and purposeful businesses, we have to do the work. Healing isn’t something you do after the business plan is in place, it’s the foundation. When we choose to evolve inwardly, everything around us changes for the better.

Transformation Isn’t Comfortable, and That’s the Point

Growth isn’t easy. In fact, it can be downright painful.

I’ve gone through seasons where I had to let go of old behaviors, shed relationships, and release identities I had clung to for years. It felt like loss. But that’s transformation.

I often compare it to the caterpillar becoming the butterfly, because there’s pressure in that process. There’s struggle. There are days when it feels easier to retreat than to keep going. But on the other side of that discomfort is freedom. Expansion. Purpose.

That tension? It’s not a sign you’re off-track. It’s the very proof that you’re experiencing growth.

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​Don’t Take It Personally, But Do Take It Seriously

One of the biggest blocks I’ve had to overcome in leadership is taking things personally.

When dynamics shift, when people fall away, when things don’t land the way I hoped, it’s easy to feel like it’s about me. It's easy to look for someone to blame. It's easy to dwell in unworthiness. It's familiar, but it's not productive. It keeps me stuck when I want to grow through the moment.

But I’ve learned to ask: What is this moment showing me about myself?

When the same triggers show up, it’s a sign to go inward.

I draw inspiration from The Four Agreements, especially the lesson about not taking things personally. When I shift from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What is this here to teach me?” that’s where real growth begins.

Everything is not about us. But everything has something to show us.

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Breakthroughs Are Born in the Valleys

I’ve had valley moments, plenty of them. One that sticks with me is the time I launched a business program and it completely flopped. It hurt. But instead of letting that stop me, I reframed it.

That valley became a classroom. It showed me where I was still seeking validation, where perfectionism had crept in, and what still needed healing.

And the truth? Every single breakthrough I’ve had was birthed in one of those valley moments.

Leadership isn’t about avoiding failure. It’s about being willing to stay present when it gets messy, because that’s where the gold is.

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​Open Yourself to Support

This one is huge. I’ve spent so much of my life being the one others came to for answers. I wore that strength like a badge of honor, and yet I wasn’t letting anyone in.

I wasn’t receiving love, support, or even divine wisdom, because I had walls up.

But something beautiful happened when I let those walls down. When I allowed myself to be seen, to be helped, and to receive guidance through my community and through God’s divine nudges… everything shifted.

You are not meant to walk this path alone. Sometimes you need someone to confirm what you already know. Sometimes you need to be reminded, through a human, of what your soul already believes.

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Let Go of Perfection, Embrace the Process

I’ve worked in both corporate and entrepreneurial spaces, and perfectionism shows up everywhere.

But here’s the truth: Trying to get it perfect the first time is the fastest way to stall your growth.

Leadership isn’t about getting it right, it’s about launching, learning, and iterating. When something doesn’t go as planned, it’s not failure, it’s feedback. It’s insight.

And often, it’s revealing an internal block you didn’t know was there. That’s the real work: finding and healing what’s within you. Because no strategy, no plan, no perfect pitch can replace inner wholeness.

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The Real Difference-Maker? Healing

I closed the episode with a reminder I hold close: Working on your vision isn’t enough. Working on your business isn’t enough.

You have to work on yourself.

Healing is the leadership differentiator.

When you do the inner work, when you own your process, your struggles, and your breakthroughs, that’s when you become the kind of leader who changes lives.

So if you’re in the thick of it right now…​
Lean into the discomfort.
Seek the lesson.
Stay open to being in community with others.
And above all, don’t be afraid to heal what’s standing in your way.

Because everything you dream of, the leadership, the impact, the remarkable life—it’s on the other side of your healing.

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What's Inspiring Me This Week: Let Spirit Lead, Inc ​ The visionary collaborative model of Let Spirit Lead is the divine work of founder, Felicia Brown. As a Founder, CEO, Community Collaborator and mother, Felicia is a great example of living her assignment, evidenced by the current grant program. Imagine, investing in others as you grow your own organization, It's divine, right? ​ Let Spirit Lead is a 501c3 nonprofit organization on a mission to ensure that every American has access to safe, decent, affordable housing in a thriving, resilient, and sustainable community. We are revolutionizing the community development and affordable housing space using innovation, coaching, and consulting. ​ The organization recently launched a grant opportunity for small business owners. It is inspired by you and the work that you do. It's for all of the change-makers, business builders, and creatives doing the work they were designed to do in the world. The application closes soon so make sure you apply today! Let Spirit Lead has a grant opportunity for you. Apply Here Let Spirit Lead was conceived as a platform for collaboration among community partners, aimed at developing thriving communities and increasing the affordable housing supply. We also focus on preparing community members to take advantage of housing opportunities, ensuring they’re ready when the right home becomes available. One of my favorite programs focuses on Faith-Based Housing solutions. The YIGBY program (Yes, In God's Backyard) is the beautiful solution for faith-based organizations who want to get involved in the development of affordable housing. The collaborative model addresses the key components that prepare leaders to expand their ministry into community solutions. Donations and volunteers are the engine that helps Let Spirit Lead continue to grow. As a board member, I have the blessing of working with Felicia to see God's vision within her continue to evolve. What I am certain of is that affordable housing is critical need and assignment from God. There are many ways to get involved and to support the initiatives of Let Spirit Lead. Click the link below to learn more or click here to donate. ​​ Get Involved

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