Meet Kita Barksdale!

 Introduce yourself and profession to our readers:  I am Kita Barksdale, Founder and CEO of Assertive Living Empowerment Network.  Assertive Living is a empowerment, healing, and development ministry.  We strive to help women appreciate their pasts, live in their present, and prepare for their future.  Assertive Living isn't exactly about being assertive in the regular sense.  It's about women being healed in a manner that allows them to assertively use what they have to their benefit.  Most women don't live their best lives because of insecurities that were developed due to their pasts.  Assertive Living is designed to allow women to embrace and own their pasts in order to live their best lives in the present.  We offer live events, networking brunches, retreats, coaching, and online programs.  Assertive Living is about going for what you want and not letting anything inauthentic stop you!

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What inspired this area of interest?  
Assertive Living grew out of my passion to mentor and network with other women and girls.  I am blessed to have an extraordinary group of women as my support system.  I have seen how important having them in my life has been to my success and I want to provide that for other women, as well.  I also see the issues and difficulties women are faced with and handed to by other women and I wanted to change it.  My aim is to defy stereotypes and help women strengthen their emotional intelligence.  When we are self-aware, we can make such a difference in the world.  Our energy is powerful and what is in us can tear down or build up others.  What is in us radiates to others.  

Tell us about your new program for Assertive Living that launches in July.
July 23rd is the 2 year anniversary of Assertive Living and we are so excited about our launch of the Mind Makeover.  This program is all about the woman healing on the inside, accepting that pain has purpose, and that everything she has been through has prepared her for her greatness.  I plan to help each participant navigate through her belief system to discern what is authentically hers and what was weaved into it by people and life's lessons.  

What primary struggles do you find women have in the area of living more assertively?   Background Noise.  It's the main thing because we let the things that have been taught and told us to hold ourselves from "doing too much."  We allow that noise  to form how we think.  It's not necessarily what we believe but because it has been engrained into us throughout our lives, we accept it.  This comes from society's expectations, life experience, and people.  We sort of start believing what those sources are saying to us.  For example, I've always been very analytical, blunt, and inquisitive.  I grew up being called sassy, bossy, rude, and rebellious because I wanted to understand the whys of life.  I believed it for a while.  I thought I was the textbook model for Oppositional Defiance Disorder until I decided to stop accepting what people spoke into my life.  Asking questions is healthy.  Following your intuition is right.  

We are taught very young to be polite and pretty. The world is definitely getting better but women are still being discouraged to make waves or be unique.  To make matters worse, we are often very hurt but are taught to smile and be pretty.  This is the lesson that society, media, and traditions teach us.  And it keeps us bound by our past and all of the things that we feel we have to protect or people won't love us.  

What is next for your brand in 2016?  The Healing Tour will begin in the Fall.  Once women understand why they think the way they do we will begin the process of healing. So many women are hurting.  We have been hurt as children, as women in our intimate relationships, and by other women.  Pain defines how we think and how we think manifests in our actions.  We learn how to serve, love, and interact from that hurt and we grow up with all of those defense mechanism like walls, attitudes, and distrust.  It's time to HEAL! 

How can readers connect with you online and through social media?  I'm on everything Twitter, Periscope, and IG as @assertive_woman.  
Facebook Page and YouTube:  Assertive Living