Your Love Story Era 🤍
Money, Faith, and a conversation with financial educator Jamila Souffrant.
Happy Sunday,
If you know me personally, you know that I’ve always been able to turn every setback into a comeback. A favorite compliment of mine is that I’m positive. It’s from a place of love and God’s constant favor over my life.
When you truly appreciate all that you are, you dare to hold your life up to the light. We are not meant to spend our time on earth focusing on every little flaw. God says that our blessings can be so abundant, we won’t even have room enough to receive them—and I believe that.
One thing I’ve realized is that when you are in between, God still shows up.
Summer is approaching, and all of these fun announcements are so exciting—the concerts, for example, feel like a promise of a full, vibrant schedule. But first, ladies, let’s prepare financially.
When I think about the times I’ve experienced financial hardships, God has still provided so much joy, generosity, and fun through other people. Going to concerts is one of my favorite things to do, but I can’t remember the last time I paid for a concert. Not because I don’t want to, but because sometimes showing up as your best self means showing up with the money you have, not the money you want to have. It’s always been someone surprising me, inviting me, or showing up for me in that way.
And I think we forget how, when we go through things, we are growing through them, God really shows up like that—through people, through generosity, through unexpected care.
I feel like when it rains, it pours. That is true. But while it pours, it’s important to be in good company.
Part of my journey with money has also been asking a harder question: what would it look like to cut back, to pause my business and focus on myself? To regroup. Sometimes stewardship isn’t just about growing something. Sometimes it’s about protecting yourself while you build.
How are you with money? It’s one of those things that can feel very uncomfortable to talk about. But I’ve been leaning into that discomfort, because sometimes that’s exactly where the blessing is waiting.
Sunday Forever is a place for anyone who reads this—a place for you. You deserve to be loved wholly and seen fully every single day. I hope you find comfort in the midst of everything happening in the world, and use this time to focus on becoming a healthier, happier, hotter version of yourself.
Good days look different depending on the season we’re in. There are so many hardworking people reading this, and I hope that in your life, you experience someone who is just as generous in taking care of you as you are in taking care of everything else.
One of my comfort shows is Sex and the City. When I first watched it, I was young, and I’ve always loved the playfulness of the women—the way they move through their city, through life, through love, through ambition, friendship, and softness. It all felt so full.
Watching it again now feels different. If I had to name it, I’d say I’m in a season where I get good with money. Being a contractor is not for the weak. There’s unpredictability, stretching, and learning in real time. But there are also blessings, especially when generous people surround you, people you can lean on.
I started listening to the Journey to Launch podcast and reading Your Journey to Financial Freedom by Jamila Souffrant, and it shifted something in me. The idea of spending freezes, keeping a record of every purchase, and being honest about your financial situation felt grounding.
I’ve had to get better at tithing, at saving, and at giving myself grace. As I mentioned earlier, even when it rains, you can still be surrounded by people, by wisdom, by support. And more than anything, I’ve learned how to appreciate what I have, how to make it enough, how to stretch it, how to honor it.
Time is valuable, and I’m starting to see that it will all make sense one day. I’m really proud of the work I’ve been doing behind the scenes. I know it’s creating a lighter path—not just for me, but for all of us navigating our 20s, 30s, and beyond. Our experiences are not isolated. At any age, we can begin again.
This week, I’m happy to celebrate Jamila’s interview, a conversation we had around money that feels more relevant now.
Sunday Forever is something I love deeply. I believe in the seeds being planted here.
So this spring and summer, I want to challenge you to think differently about money. Start with what you have. Learn how to enjoy it. Learn how to honor it. You have to fall in love with money—but not be controlled by it.
Abeni: How are you resting?
Jamila: By doing absolutely nothing. Sometimes, rest for me looks like procrastination. I’ve found peace in permitting myself just to be still. I’ll watch TV, lounge around on weekends, and try not to feel guilty. That’s how I recharge.
Abeni: For many women, especially Black women, self-care is often seen as a luxury instead of a necessity. How do you define luxury, and how can women prioritize self-care without guilt?
Jamila: Luxury is personal. It doesn’t have to be what we see on Instagram. A lot of that is commercialized. Time is the ultimate luxury. Having the space to decide what I want to do that’s when I feel most cared for. Self-care isn’t about getting my nails done or doing a beauty routine. Self-care for me right now is going for a run or to the gym after dropping the kids off at school, working only a couple of hours a day, and just choosing how I want to spend my time.
Abeni: How do you overcome rejection?
Jamila: By not taking it personally. Most people are just trying to do what works for them—it’s rarely about you. Whether it’s a relationship or an opportunity, it might not be the right fit. When it’s from someone close, honest conversations can help. If you feel rejected, saying that calmly, not from anger, can be healing.
One quote I love is from Fawn Weaver: “If it’s not for me, close the door in a way I can’t open it. If it is for me, open the door in a way no man can close it.” That reminds me that rejection isn’t always bad—it might not be mine. I trust that it’ll come undeniably if something’s meant for me.
Abeni: So, while we’re on advice, what’s the worst advice you’ve ever gotten?
Jamila: Any advice rooted in someone else’s limitations. When people say, “That’s not possible,” just because they haven’t done it.
I’ve accomplished so many things that someone else would’ve told me not to try. Thankfully, I didn’t ask, or I didn’t listen. So, I’ve learned to ignore advice rooted in fear or small thinking.
There’s still so much I want to explore. Journey to Launch started as an accountability tool—it helped me quit my job, and then I realized it was helping so many others, too. I love being that voice I wish I’d had.
But I also feel like there’s a creative side of me that hasn’t been fully tapped yet. I don’t know exactly what that looks like, but I want to stay open to it. No pressure; just doing my best in the season I’m in.
Abeni: That’s beautiful. Doing my best in the season, I’m in.
Abeni: What’s your least favorite part about talking about money?
Jamila: Honestly? The redundancy. The same foundational advice—spend less than you earn, save, budget, invest- comes up repeatedly. It’s simple in theory, but not always easy to practice. And because it’s so basic, it can start to feel repetitive.
Plus, people often want the shortcuts—the fast money tips or hacks—, but the truth is, money is… made up. When you zoom out, it’s this human-made system we’ve all agreed to stress over. Still, it matters. We need it to live.
So it becomes this weird tension: how do you take it seriously without letting it control you? The real key is remembering that money is just a tool—it’s not your identity. Even if you don’t have it, you’re still worthy. That’s something I think a lot of people need to hear.
Abeni: Let’s talk about people starting over in their forties or fifties.
Jamila: Yeah, starting over can mean a lot of different things. Life has different parts: finances, relationships, career, and health. The first step is financial stability, making sure your basic needs are covered: shelter, food, rest. You don’t need to worry about retirement or investing right away. Just ask yourself, How do I get to a place where I’m okay?
Once that’s in place, you can think about the life you want to build. Take inventory: What didn’t work? What do I want now? Be intentional about your choices—who’s around you, how you spend your time. And give yourself grace, it’s not going to happen overnight.
Abeni: What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
Jamila: I’d tell her to keep being ambitious. It is important to know that things don’t always work out how you think, but they’ll still work out. Just keep following the next step in front of you.
I’d also tell her to invest. When I got my first full-time job at 22, I started contributing to my 401(k), but I wasn’t aggressive. Looking back, I would’ve started earlier and invested more. I would’ve had more money by now, for sure.
Abeni: What is your hope for financial freedom in the Black community? Do you have a hope specifically for Black entrepreneurs?
Jamila: I want us to get the basics down before doing all the fancy stuff. And when I say fancy, I mean real estate investing, crypto, and all of that. It’s valid and has its place, but there’s a foundation we need first.
I want us to be able to pay for our living expenses and know what they are. I want us to pay off consumer debt or, if we decide to keep debt, let it be intentional. Maybe we’re earning points, or it’s a low interest rate, and we fully understand how it works. But we need to manage our current money first.
Once we have that, we can take advantage of investments that grow our money—like retirement accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and Roth IRAs. These allow your money to grow at a compound interest rate that beats inflation. Too many of us keep money sitting in savings accounts that don’t keep up with inflation, and that causes us to lose buying power over time.
Budgeting is part of that, too. Even if it’s not hyper-detailed, understanding where your money is going matters. And then, yes, we can move into things like homeownership — if you can afford it. It’s still a vehicle for wealth when done wisely. That means not buying more than you can handle and being realistic about whether it can be an investment — something that appreciates or can be rented out.
Abeni: Why is Black love important?
Jamila: Black love sets the foundation for who we are in the world. Even if you didn’t grow up seeing healthy examples, it’s powerful to know you can create that for yourself and your children.
Perfection isn’t the goal. Not everyone will be coupled forever, but sometimes, seeing what you don’t want helps you understand what you do want.
You can’t control others, but you can control how you love, how you show up, and how you care for yourself. Above all, we need to focus on love—loving our parents, our children, and our neighbors. Love is the foundation, and we all need more of it.
Abeni: How did you and your husband first approach finances as a couple? When should new couples start talking about money, and how can they make it less awkward?
Jamila: We started dating in college with very little money, but we both valued trust, integrity, and emotional intelligence, which later shaped how we handled finances. I expected him to pay for dates in the beginning, but once I saw his character, my mindset shifted. I started thinking about how we could build together, not just what he could do for me financially. That shift in perspective, seeing each other as partners, was key.
We kept our finances separate until marriage, then slowly adjusted to managing a shared pot. It wasn’t always easy, but our shared vision and deep trust helped. There were times I earned more and times we leaned on his income. That kind of balance only works when you understand and trust each other.
For new couples, I’d say start with character, not numbers. How do they show up? Are they thoughtful, consistent, and honest? You don’t need to ask for their credit score on the first date, but do talk about goals and see if their actions match their words. Openness and alignment matter most.
Thank you, Jamila for offering your time to Sunday Forever. This is an excerpt, and I’m excited to see how we continue to show up, do the work, and trust that even when we can’t see it yet, things are already turning around for us.
✨ Six Affirmations for the Week — Until We Meet Again
Great things will find me this year.
Love surrounds me every day.
I am constantly receiving good news.
I am stepping into the most successful decade of my life.
Everything always works in my favor.
I am enough, and I am doing enough.
📚 What I’m Reading
🎧 What I’m Listening To