Sarah Jakes Roberts

And I think in the process of doing that, I just wore myself out.

And so now I just focus on like, what is true for me?

What is authentic to me and my delivery and my studying and the way that I connect and relate to people.

And in the process of doing that, you know, people make whatever choices they make about whatever lane I'm in or whatever it is they see.

But I want to be able to lay down at night and say that I was true to myself and true to what I possess.

Mm-hmm.

Well, as it relates to the speaking and being able to talk to people, I really look at them.

I think in a world where we can become consumed by seeing people as figures and numbers, that we miss out on the opportunity to really see them.

And so when I'm in a room and I'm speaking, I'm looking at what moves people, what resonates with them, to really see them as people.

I'm asking myself when studying, what does this mean to the guy who sits on the second row?

What does this mean

to the person who's going to watch this on YouTube.

One of the beauties of social media, and it's got a lot of complexities, but one of the beauties is it allows you to see how people think, how people receive what's happening in the world.

And so I get to ask myself, how does this message translate to all of these different people that I get to be exposed to?

And I think that that evolves me as a woman.

You know, I am in a position where I get to meet people in some of their most vulnerable moments and some of their most vulnerable dreams and aspirations.

And the fact that they would trust me with that makes me want to be as well versed as possible about the obstacles they face, practical, emotional, spiritual issues.

and to give them the types of tools that empower them to take agency in their lives.

That's part of the reason why I've gone back to school is to understand what interventions work, which ones don't, and how do I create the types of programs that allow people to really feel positioned to grow into the best versions of themselves.

And so I see my teachers as the people who are on the streets as much as my professor, as much as it is my Bible and the books that I read.