How do I speak up about racism as a white person?

Hey Blogger, Angela Davis said, "In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." To me, this quote highlights the fact that we can't consider ourselves part of the solution if we are staying silent about racism -- we have to be actively and vocally against it. You've probably seen that we are undergoing a massive revolution when it comes to racial injustice. In your heart, you may want to speak up, but you might not know how to do so or what to say. I recently asked my Instagram followers what is holding them back from speaking up during such a critical time and I received responses like… "I don't feel like I know enough to share helpful information. I don't want to just repeat someone else." "I'm afraid to say the wrong thing." "As a white person, I'm not fully aware yet what I can do." "What do you do if you're not American? I want to help, but I feel like it's not my place." "I'm afraid of being shamed or criticized for my lack of knowledge and experiences." As a white woman myself, I can empathize with how you're feeling -- the fear, shame, guilt, and confusion about where to begin. But as Desmond Tutu said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." If you are new to this work, but want to learn more, I compiled a medley of guided resources to help you educate yourself on systemic racism, white privilege, and how you can begin to take action and be part of the solution. You can check out the free guide right here! This guide includes definitions that are important to know, links to helpful articles and books, anti-racist educators to follow, and more. Virtually all of the resources in this guide were created by black and BIPOC leaders (not myself) because their voices are the ones we should be listening to most right now. I wanted to create this guide because I noticed that so many people in my community want to speak up, but don't know how, and are overwhelmed with where to start. I hope this guide helps you to begin your journey to understanding the complexities of racism and how you can begin to dismantle it within yourself and the world around you. And if you'd like to hear more about my personal perspectives on what's happening in the world right now, I share frequently in my Instagram Stories (you can check the Social Justice highlight for past stories, too). If you identify as a white person, I believe that the first step is to educate yourself. Read the definitions in the guide. Read the suggested books. Follow people who are speaking up and learn from them. Click here to check out the free guide to learn more about anti-racism work. Please feel free to share this guide wherever you'd like. I encourage you to share it with white friends, family members, and your communities. No credit to me is needed. I'm also going to be matching donations up to $5,000 total to organizations that are supporting black lives and racial justice. Some of my favorites: Black Lives Matter Black Visions Collective Minnesota Freedom Fund Loveland Foundation In order for your donation to be matched, please donate to one of the organizations above, screenshot your receipt, and send it to me in an email response. I will match it! I know this email is different than what I normally send you, but it matters tremendously. Your voice is needed. Your self-education is needed. It's time to stand up for a better world. <3 Love, Melyssa If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click here. Melyssa Griffin, LLC, 520 Broadway Suite 200, Santa Monica, California 90401, United States

"Create With Confidence" Challenge Starts Tomorrow! 🔥

Hey Blogger! I noticed you haven't grabbed your spot inside my new 5-day Create with Confidence challenge -- and we start tomorrow! Did ya forget? Sign up here before it's too late. And if you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, here's a quick refresher :) I'm hosting a free, 5-day challenge called Create with Confidence to help you stop procrastinating and finally take action on The Thing you've been avoiding (a.k.a. that project you REALLY want to do, but are too nervous to take on). If you're someone who feels like… You're busy doing All. The. Things. in your biz except for the thing you really want to be doing. An imposter. Everyone else seems so much more qualified! If you knew things would turn out well, you'd show up differently. You just need some assurance! … then this challenge has your name all over it,  Blogger! I'm going to be sharing methods for saying F-it to fear and creating a plan to achieve your goals that you'll actually follow through on. And yes -- I've seen creators take MASSIVE action in their business after going through these exercises! Here's what's waiting for you inside: 5 days of content and action items to help you identify The Thing you want to do and take aligned action toward it A daily workbook for journaling and brainstorming texted right to your phone Live group coaching in my intimate Facebook community to help you get unstuck and move forward every single day Text messages from yours truly (I will seriously text with you! As soon as you register, I will send you my personal phone number!) So my only question to you is… what have you been putting off that you'd love to pursue? In just 5 days, I have a feeling you'll be in a much different place than you are now. Join us before we kick things off tomorrow. I can't wait to find out what you create when you start living in your confidence instead of your fear. <3 See you soon! xoxo Melyssa If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click here. Melyssa Griffin, LLC, 520 Broadway Suite 200, Santa Monica, California 90401, United States

I wish I had gotten the mohawk.

Confession, Blogger: When I was in junior high, I desperately wanted a mohawk. Like a shave-the-sides-of-my-head-and-dye-my-hair-blue kind of mohawk. And it felt like such a MASSIVE decision. My mom's boyfriend at the time, a counterculture rebel at heart, was all for it. "Honestly, you're just going to look back on junior high and it will feel like a small blip in your life!" He was right. But at the time, I couldn't stop thinking about what other people would think. What would my friends at school say? What about my classmates? My teachers? The fear of being judged and rejected completely took over. So I never did it. I'm not alone in letting fear drive at one point in time in my life, am I, Blogger? Is there something that you've been dying to do, but you haven't, because you're afraid of what people will think? Maybe it's a project you've held yourself back from working on. Or maybe someone you've wanted to connect with, but haven't. Or maybe it's even launching your business to begin with. Whatever your "Thing" is, the fear probably feels engulfing, doesn't it? Like if you do The Thing that scares you, you might lose everything you've built. But here's what I can tell you: I wish I would've gotten the damn mohawk. I know that right now, when you think about doing The Thing (a.k.a. That project you desperately want to work on, but keep resisting because you're scared), your fear may be screaming, "Don't do it! What if people reject you?!" But years from now, do you really want to look back on this moment in your life and wish you'd taken a chance? The longer you live in fear, Blogger?, the longer you live in a way that's smaller than what you're created for. But here's the good news — you actually DON'T have to stay stuck here. You can ditch the doubt and step into a more confident and bold version of you… and I'm making it my personal mission to help you do just that, because when I decided to do this in my life, limitless opportunities arose. So, I'm hosting a free, 5-day Create with Confidence Challenge starting May 25th to help you take aligned action toward your dreams. Holla! It's time to do The Thing you've been feeling called to do — and I'm going to be with you every step of the way to help you overcome those fears and take action. You only get one shot at this life, my friend. Why not live it full out? Join me inside The Create with Confidence Challenge, and let's release the fears that are preventing you from going after everything you've always wanted. It's time to let 👏🏼 that 👏🏼 shit 👏🏼 gooooo! You with me? See you soon :) Melyssa If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click here. Melyssa Griffin, LLC, 520 Broadway Suite 200, Santa Monica, California 90401, United States