Respecting Your Struggle With Minaa B.
Meet Minaa B.
It's safe to say that People Who Do is all about the story. We commend ones that are uncommon and we acknowledge that the best kind include a good amount of failure. Minaa B of Respect Your Struggle couldn't agree more. While battling with career choices, her father's death, and mental health issues, she felt it was necessary to start a conversation around owning who we are and the stories that we tell. We got to meet up in Soho to talk more and revel in respecting our own struggles. With a personality that was like magic, she tells me her story as the next feature for People Who Do.
Name.
Jessmina Archbold, better known as Minaa B
Occupations, affiliations, and projects.
Social Worker, Entrepreneur, CEO + Founder of Respect Your Struggle
“People Who Do” focuses on those who excel at moving forward throughout their passions in life, why is it important to you to “do”?
I believe that evolving as a person revolves around “doing.” There is no need to over think the process. If I don’t allow myself to experience my journey- then I believe I will never see my passions and ideas come to life without initially planting that seed and tending to my desires.
Tell me more about why it was important for you to create “Respect Your Struggle”?
I was at a point in my life where I was struggling (no pun intended) with my career choices, my fathers death, and mental health issues. I grew up with a perfectionist mentality and I began to feel as if these issues were deteriorating my sense of self. I began feeling like a failure and I belittled myself for making the slightest mistakes no matter the situation. My imperfections made me feel like I was crazy, but I knew I couldn’t be the only person in the world going through the struggle. I had to remind myself that my struggles do not dictate the process of my evolution- and I felt it was important and necessary to start a conversation around owning who we are and our stories. So as a writer, I decided to start talking about my journey and that is how Respect Your Struggle was birthed, and it has molded and shaped me into being a better person simply by focusing on not aiming to be a perfect person.
To date, what accomplishments (of any kind) are you most proud of?
Founding Respect Your Struggle- this process involved a lot of fear, worry and doubt, but I am proud of myself for overcoming my own personal struggles and I believed in myself enough to get started on my passion. I am also proud of myself for becoming the woman that I am today- I am no longer forcing myself to follow the rhythms of the world and owning my identity is thus far the greatest choice I have ever made.
“I am also proud of myself for becoming the woman that I am today- I am no longer forcing myself to follow the rhythms of the world and owning my identity is thus far the greatest choice I have ever made. ”
I love the openness that your online platform gives to a topic that society usually tries to conceal or be ashamed of. Do you see that as one of your projects’ strengths?
I do. As a woman who works within the online publication industry I find that many companies are focused on gossip related content and highlighting irrelevant news that does not offer people insight and empowerment in their everyday life. I find it important to focus on how people can better their lives and nurture their growth- and that involves learning how to be the narrator of our stories without shame, guilt, self-condemnation or regret. And I believe that everyone makes it a priority to grow in life, which is why I see that as strength for my project.
#1 motivating mantra to get through tough moments.
Your struggles don’t define you; they equip you for the journey.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned so far this year?
Don’t be afraid to fail, and if I do, failure never killed anybody- so keep going!
What’s your favorite lesson you’ve ever learned, ever?
Not to beat myself up over negative people and their negative opinions. Tune them out and continue to enjoy my journey.
What's your go-to song to put you in a better mood?
Right now it’s either Alessia Cara – Here, or Don’t Listen to Me by Propaganda.
Favorite method for logging any kind of inspiration.
Writing in my journal and using my voice recorder on my iPhone.
Top 5 people you would invite to a dinner party.
Beyonce, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Bradley Cooper, and Propaganda.
3 words that you want to be remembered by.
Loving, Fearless, and Passionate
What’s the next goal?
We are working on putting together events here in NYC such as workshops revolved around personal development as well as informative sessions to empower and inspire individuals. We are also growing in other avenues but this has been the main focus.
By "do-ing", you create your own unique legacy. How do you want your legacy to look/be remembered?
I want be remembered as a person who lived without shame, who made it a priority to put others first, and lived fiercely and passionately through life. I enjoy connecting with people of all levels and I want people to know me as someone who lived a courageous, risk taking, fearless life.