About the Author
Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
My conversation with Changemaker Jenna Banks was a powerful one. Jenna is a keynote speaker and best-selling author who strives to help women reclaim their inner power. Jenna’s journey began with a traumatic upbringing and a nearly fatal suicide attempt. These experiences brought her to her lowest, yet were the same experiences that led her to a pivotal change in her life. Despite her challenges, Jenna found a way to reclaim her power through self-love. She realized that much of her worldview was the result of her conditioning as a child. She was taught to surrender her power by being a people-pleaser. Once she began to practice self-love, Jenna was able to share her story with other women who were taught to give up their power.
In this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” Jenna shares her “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”. Watch the video of our conversation, listen to the podcast, and read the summary! I encourage you to be inspired by Jenna so that you can rebalance power in your life. Then, you can join the movement to help other women reclaim the power in their lives and bring greater harmony to the world.
Homegrown Jenna
Jenna was born into a strict religious family. She was the oldest of five children, where her father ruled with an iron fist and the “spare the rod, spoil the child” passage from the Bible was translated literally, and often. Even though her stepmother was a stay-at-home mom, she was deeply religious. She would prioritize God first, then her husband, followed by the children. Her stepmother rarely put her needs first, as self-sacrifice was seen as a virtue.
That was my model at home for what a woman is.
Growing up, Jenna attended a Christian school and went to church every week with her family. They struggled financially so they relied on food stamps, coupon clippings, and church donations to get by. When Jenna was 14, she realized she could not stand to live in her father’s house another day. Filled with fear, she confronted her father and told him she could no longer tolerate this oppressive environment.
The truth is, once I said my piece, it felt good to me. I felt empowered for the first time.
To get by, Jenna worked a retail job after school. She would bounce between the homes of her friends and family. At 17, she dropped out of school and got her GED. When she was 19, she found out she was pregnant and decided to marry the father of her child. However, three years later, she found herself divorced and struggling with money.
You would think that the cards were stacked against me, but literally I saw it as an opportunity to have a fresh start.
Jenna’s early experiences were profoundly wounding. She struggled with suicidal feelings and attempted to take her own life. Her final attempt put her in a coma for a week. At the hospital, Jenna realized that she wanted to turn things around. She decided that this would be the moment she would persevere for herself and her son.
Jenna started reading books on psychology, spirituality, and personal development so she could expand her worldview. She knew that she needed to grow beyond what she was taught as a child. Over time, she stepped into the corporate world, where she had a successful 6-figure career. She developed multiple businesses, one of which she sold for half a million dollars.
I wanted to make an impact in the world. So I decided to write my book and began public speaking.
Solution Focused Jenna
When Jenna started writing her book, she knew she wanted self-love to be the core of it. So she aptly titled her book I Love Me More: How to Find Happiness and Success through Self-Love. Jenna realized that the world often encourages us to be ever-giving to others. That is what she was taught as a child, but that is not self-love. To Jenna, self-love is about putting your needs and happiness first.
We must love ourselves more than our partner, the boss, kids, or family.
When we love ourselves first, we power ourselves up from within.
Jenna saw that this concept applied in all relationships. Whether they are intimate, work, or family relationships, self-love is how you retain your personal power. If you allow others to walk over you, you surrender your personal power to them. Loving yourself enables you to be respected as a human being.
Self-love gave me an even playing field in the corporate world because I wouldn't let others have power over me, and I had power within.
Jenna breaks down power into two categories. There is external power, which refers to power over others. This idea references the hierarchical power structure in business, politics, and even families. It can come in many forms: money, fame, religion, charisma. The other form of power comes from within. The internal power within yourself is what fosters self-respect, self-trust, and confidence. It is the intuitive voice within that guides you towards being your best self. When you listen to that voice, you will have the power to live life on your own terms.
I didn't have money or power over anybody else. I had power over myself, and that really is a game changer.
Today, Jenna strives to help other women reclaim their inner power. She recognizes that many women in the world struggle with the same cultural upbringings that she went through. Jenna knows that each woman she helps will create their own ripple of change in the world.
Jenna's Patchwork
One of the most profound influences to Jenna came when she was reading books on personal development and spirituality. Her curiosities led her to Deepak Chopra’s book, Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.
Mine is so worn out. I've read it probably 50 times. It's had such a massive influence on my life.
Jenna reads the book often as way to remind her about her purpose and to lift her up when she is feeling down. In the book, she learned that her spirit is her internal reference point. If you are aligned with your spirit you will feel strong within yourself. Jenna also shared another huge insight from the book known as “external objects.” Fixating on external control is a sign of personal fear and insecurity. These teachings were reinforced as she continued to learn more about spirituality and personal development.
I learned that 95% of our beliefs and behaviors are programmed into our minds by the age of just seven years old
Learning to challenge behaviors as an adult is difficult. After all, we become accustomed to the way we have always done things. Jenna discovered that most of these behaviors she developed were conditioned behaviors learned as a result of her upbringing. She had the power to change that.
Changemaker Jenna
My goal is to get more women into leadership roles because we need to figure out how to be in our power at work.
One thing Jenna has seen in her career is the absence of women in senior leadership. She believes that when women support each other and celebrate each other’s accomplishments, it will be easier for women to pursue their career goals.
You can connect with Jenna on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. Her books are available in major bookstores like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also visit her website https://jenna-banks.com/ as well.
Without a doubt, Jenna’s work as a Changemaker is helping advance the Global Sustainable Goals #3, #5, and #10. Jenna’s work in goal #3 Good Health and Well-Being is most prominent as personal power is so important to stay in good heath. I hope Jenna’s story inspires you to take a second look at your life. Are there moments where you might be surrendering your power? If so, is that something you were taught when you were young? What can you do about it now?
I also hope you'll get in touch to let us know what YOU and people you know are doing to realize these Global Goals by the year 2030. We can sure do it if we all work together and take our place as Changemakers!
CHECK OUT our CHANGEMAKER YOU course to help you get started today!
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Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
