"Be careful how you are talking to yourself because you are listening." – Lisa M Hayes

Happy Monday, Friends!

Life has a weird way of balancing out, doesn't it? After last week's rollercoaster: the past few days have been a beautiful whirlwind of moments that have made me smile. And I'm not gonna lie: it's only reinforced a truth I hold close to my heart: the idea that “I Am” are the two most powerful words in the English language.

Why? Because the words that follow shape your reality, define your self-perception, and impact the world you create around you.

Last Saturday, I had the honor of performing at the inaugural Pain to Power live podcast taping with my dear friend and host Marya aka Brown Girl Interrupting. It was incredible. But the best part? Closing my performance with my song I Am and inviting the audience to join me in declaring their personal “I Am” statements out loud.

Hearing people shout “I am strong!” and “I am worthy!” while I sang was one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had. So many of them came up to me afterward to share how much that moment resonated with them. And that’s why I want to talk about this today.

The words we use to describe ourselves are powerful: When you say “I am confident,” you’re giving your brain permission to believe it. When you declare “I am resilient,” you begin to embody that strength. And when you choose words that affirm your worth, you create a ripple effect in your life and the lives of those around you.

Here’s the thing: the words you choose don’t just shape your day—they shape your future.

Choose wisely.

And if you have no idea what song I'm talking about; here it is:

Here are a few lines from I Am, which I performed last weekend:

“Cos I’m a fighter, survivor I made it through the darkest weather Lover, forgiver, I’m strong enough to make me better I’m a testament to my truth And I’m enough to make it through.”

When I sing those lyrics, I’m not just sharing a song—I’m sharing a mantra. It’s a reminder that we are all capable of rewriting the stories we tell ourselves.

This theme of the power of words ties into one of my recent blog posts, The Power of Words – How the Things We Say Shape Our Reality. It dives deeper into how the language we use—both out loud and internally—impacts our mindset, emotions, and relationships. You can read the full post here.

Okay, So What Else Is New in My World?

Massive Gratitude A huge thank you to everyone who braved the cold and joined me at The Casual Pint last Friday. When I arrived, there were only a handful of folks in the room, but by the end of the night, it was PACKED! Y’all know how to make a girl feel loved.

Grieve is Coming March 15! My first single of 2025, Grieve, officially drops March 15, with the video release on March 22. If you’re part of my Patreon community, you’ll get an exclusive sneak peek next month.

Demo Release: “You” Speaking of Patreon; last Thursday, I dropped my latest vault demo over there. You is a song I wrote at 12, and it’s about the first steps of setting boundaries and protecting my energy — a lesson that still resonates today.

Join me on Patreon for a free week here

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday: Capitol Groove Collective Kickoff Event at The Music Dept in Bethesda.
• Wednesday through Friday: Performing stress management coaching at a Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid training course for journalists. Of course, much of what I teach here is cross-related to everything music: breathing, posture, mindfulness, and more. #IJS
• Saturday Night [not listed above]: Catch me live at Nanny O’Brien’s.

So, friends, what’s your “I Am” statement today? I’d love to hear it — drop me a reply or share it on social and tag me. Who knows? You might win a prize ;)

Remember, you’re the author of your story and the main character in your song. Let’s make sure the words we use build a reality worth living.

Have an amazing day on purpose,

Emma G