<div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 et_section_regular" > <div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_0"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_0 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><h3 data-start="2087" data-end="2163"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Understanding How to Answer You Okay When You’re Not</span></h3> <p data-start="638" data-end="958"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">When someone asks you “You okay?”, it’s rarely simple, and figuring out <strong data-start="482" data-end="524">how to answer you okay when you’re not</strong> can feel like its own emotional maze. This pause sits inside that moment for Black women, because the truth behind that question is often heavier than the world realizes.</span></p> <p data-start="960" data-end="1258"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">In this episode, Shirl slows the moment down and gives you space to notice what happens inside you before you answer out of habit. She talks about why “I’m fine” shows up so quickly, how our history shapes the way we respond, and why honesty doesn’t have to mean spilling everything you’re holding.</span></p> <p data-start="1260" data-end="1553"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">You’ll hear real language you can use when you’re not okay but don’t want to explain, how to protect your emotional space, and what it looks like to check in with yourself once the world gets quiet again. This pause is a grounding reminder that you get to choose answers that care for you too.</span></p> <p data-start="1555" data-end="1744"> <hr /> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Got a story about what it’s cost you to be the strong one? We’re collecting real, lived stories for the Black Women Storytelling Series, and we want to hear yours.</span></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Submit your story here → <a href="https://forms.gle/VsfFMjNjMt6eVLJp7">https://forms.gle/VsfFMjNjMt6eVLJp7</a></span></p> <hr /> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Come back every weekday for a new Support Pause — short, soul-soothing reflections made just for you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;"><strong data-start="2044" data-end="2071">About Shades of Strong®</strong></span><br data-start="2071" data-end="2074" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Shades of Strong® is a space where Black women come to breathe, reflect, and reclaim strength without the struggle. Support Pauses are short, soulful reminders that you don’t have to carry it all alone. New episodes drop every weekday.</span></p> <hr /> <h3><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Resources to Support You:</strong></span></h3> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://forms.gle/VsfFMjNjMt6eVLJp7"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; color: #ff7300;">Black Women Storytelling Series</span></a></strong></span></li> <li><a href="https://shadesofstrong.com/support-sessions/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #ff7300;">Schedule a 1:1 Support Session</span></strong></span></a></li> <li><span style="color: #ff7300;"><span style="color: #ff7300;"><strong><a style="color: #ff7300;" href="https://shadesofstrong.myflodesk.com/supportlanguageguide"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Get the Guide: &#8220;You Know Your Support Language™—Now What?&#8221;</span></a></strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;"><span style="color: #ff7300;"><a style="color: #ff7300;" href="https://shadesofstrong.com/supportlanguages/" rel="noopener"><strong>Take the Support Language™ Quiz</strong>. </a></span><span style="color: #000000;">and learn how you <em data-start="834" data-end="844">actually</em> receive support best.</span></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;"><a style="color: #ff7300;" href="https://shadesofstrong.myflodesk.com/theporch">Get Support Right in Your Inbox</a>: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Gentle words, real-life reflection, and soft reminders </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">every week  </span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt; color: #ff7300;"><a style="color: #ff7300;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sistahs-connect-radio/id6758016687">Download Sistah&#8217;s Connect Radio in the Apple Store</a></span></strong></li> <li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #ff7300;"><a style="color: #ff7300;" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.live365.sistahsconnectradio&#38;hl=en_US">Download Sistah&#8217;s Connect Radion in Google Play</a></span></strong></span></li> </ul> <hr /> <p><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s Stay Connected:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Subscribe to <em data-start="1763" data-end="1781">Shades of Strong</em> on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;"> Share this episode with a sista who’s tired of being the strong one</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Leave a review if the episode spoke to your spirit — it helps more Black women find this space</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Submit your questions to [email protected]</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Follow Shades of Strong on <strong><span style="color: #ff7300;"><a style="color: #ff7300;" href="https://www.instagram.com/shadesofstrong/">Instagram</a> </span></strong>for daily reflections on what it means to be suppoted</span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; color: #ff7300;"><a style="color: #ff7300;" href="https://shadesofstrong.com/">www.shadesofstrong.com</a></span></strong></li> </ul> <div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"> <div dir="auto"> <hr /> <p><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Shirl  is the creator of Support Languages™ and host of Shades of Strong® — a movement shifting the narrative from Strong Black Woman to Supported Black Woman™ through language, rest, and real support.</span></em></p> <hr /> <p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://player.blubrry.com/getnakedlive/playlist/?episodes=5#mode-Light&#38;border=000000&#38;progress-000000" width="100%" height="415px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>