Becoming Undeniably You: Reflection Series, Part 1

Which poem or line in this collection resonated with you the most? Why?

One of the reflection questions at the end of Undeniably Me asks:

"Which poem or line in this collection resonated with you the most? Why?"

As the author, you might think this would be an easy question for me to answer. After all, I wrote every poem in the collection. But the truth is, it's difficult to choose just one. Each poem represents a different chapter of my journey, a different lesson, and a different version of myself.

If I had to choose, however, I would say the poem that resonates with me most is "More Than Enough" from the first section of the book, Crowned in Confidence.

One stanza reads:

"When the world whispers, 'Shrink,'

she hears, 'Expand.'

She does not contort for the sake of your comfort;

she blazes her own trail, rebelling against the norm."

Every time I read those lines, they remind me of a lesson I am still learning: I do not have to make myself smaller to make other people comfortable.

For so many years, I questioned whether my voice was too loud, my dreams too ambitious, or my presence too much. Like many women, I learned early on that confidence can sometimes be mistaken for arrogance and that taking up space can make others uncomfortable. Yet growth requires us to reject that narrative.

"More Than Enough" serves as a reminder that confidence is not about proving your worth. Inspired by Elaine Welteroth. This poem is about recognizing the worth that has been there all along.

This poem is especially meaningful to me because the accompanying artwork is featured on the back cover of Undeniably Me. It represents the spirit of the entire Crowned in Confidence section, a woman stepping fully into herself, unapologetically.

It is also the first poem I performed when I returned to the stage after more than four years away from spoken word. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to perform at a nonprofit in Orlando called the Timucua Arts Foundation. I remember feeling nervous before stepping onto the stage, wondering if I still had it in me.

Then I began reading.

Within moments, it felt as though I had never left.

The rhythm returned. The connection returned. The confidence returned.

More importantly, I realized that the stage was never something I had to earn back. It was a space that had always belonged to me. I simply had to be willing to stand in it again.

You can view the performance here.

That experience taught me something powerful: sometimes becoming undeniably yourself is not about becoming someone new. It is about returning to the person you have always been beneath the doubt, fear, and expectations.

As you reflect on this question for yourself, I invite you to consider:

• What words, stories, or experiences have reminded you of your worth?

• When have you felt most confident and most yourself?

• Where in your life are you being called to expand instead of shrink?

Take your time with these questions. There is no perfect answer.

The journey of becoming undeniably you begins with the courage to take up the space that was already yours.

Reflection Prompt

What poem, quote, lyric, book, or life experience has resonated with you most recently, and why?

Share your thoughts in the comments or journal your response. Your story matters, too.