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July 16, 2025 31 mins

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Reflecting on her time at the ROI Millionaire Summit, Monique shares the profound inspiration she gained from connecting with like-minded individuals dedicated to closing the wealth gap for marginalized communities. As she transitions from the empowering atmosphere of the summit back to the harsh realities of the world, Monique grapples with feelings of guilt and confusion about her role in the larger scheme of things.

Join in as she shares her journey of navigating these conflicting emotions and the grounding moment she had when she observed a trail of ants marching diligently across her  driveway. The ants remind her to stay connected, support others, and remain focused on our collective goals. 

Join in as she explores these themes and ways to find encouragement in our shared experiences.

GEMS DROPPED

“​I ​think ​that's ​the ​thing ​that's so ​compelling ​to ​me ​about ​ants ​is ​that they ​lead ​these ​lives, each ​one ​of ​them ​has ​a ​role. ​There's ​a ​very ​specific,  ​sort ​of ​caste ​system ​within, ​​ant ​colonies ​where ​you ​have ​a ​specific ​role. ​Are ​you ​a soldier,  ​protector, scouts, nurse, worker, forager? ​They ​play ​these ​very ​specific ​roles ​and ​it's ​like, ​play ​your ​role. ​It's ​like ​they ​know ​what ​lane ​they're ​in. ​They ​know ​what ​their ​mission ​is. ​They ​know ​what ​their ​purpose ​is. ​Like, ​I ​exist ​to ​do ​this, ​therefore ​I ​do ​it.”

“I ​hope ​that ​that's ​encouragement ​to ​anyone ​else ​who ​is ​feeling ​in ​any ​way ​destabilized ​emotionally, ​or ​otherwise ​by ​what ​is ​going ​on ​around ​us…​to ​remind ​yourself ​in ​those ​moments ​that ​they ​are ​moments, ​they ​are ​fears, ​and ​they ​can ​come, ​they ​can ​pass ​through, but ​that ​doesn't ​mean ​you're ​confused ​about ​who ​you ​are. ​​That ​does ​not ​mean ​you're ​confused ​about ​what ​you're ​here ​​to ​do, ​what ​your ​purpose ​is, ​what ​you ​were ​literally ​built ​for. If ​you ​stop ​playing ​your ​role, ​then ​the ​colony ​fails, ​the ​community ​fails, ​the ​family ​fails.” 

“It's ​such ​an ​illusion ​to ​believe ​that ​you ​are ​playing ​every ​role ​that ​you ​play, ​every ​position ​on ​whatever ​field ​you're ​trying ​to ​play, ​as ​we're ​out ​here ​building ​and, ​trying ​to ​advance ​ourselves ​in ​our ​communities, ​that ​you're ​ever ​supposed ​to ​do ​it ​alone ​and ​that ​you ​ever ​have ​it ​all ​covered. ​You ​don't, ​you ​don't. And ​that's ​a ​reason ​why ​​our ​bodies ​start ​to ​suffer, ​our ​psyches ​start ​to ​suffer, ​because ​you ​were ​never ​meant ​to ​be ​everything, ​every ​person, ​​playing ​every ​role ​for ​everyone. ​We ​were ​not ​actually ​built ​to ​do ​this.”

“I ​find ​so ​much ​peace ​and ​encouragement ​by ​observing nature ​​when ​I ​feel ​lost ​in ​human ​nonsense…By observing ​these ​creatures, ​these ​animals ​who ​are ​still ​doing ​​the ​same ​behavior, ​still ​exhibiting ​the ​same ​behaviors ​and ​instincts ​that ​their ​ancient ​ancestors ​were, because ​they're ​just ​being ​what ​they're ​supposed ​to ​be. ​​And ​that ​helps ​me ​to ​be ​guided ​by ​an ​inner ​wiring, in ​a ​collective ​rhythm.”

“All ​this ​surrounds ​identity ​and ​who ​it ​is ​that ​every ​day ​we ​have ​to ​examine ​and ​decide ​who ​we are? ​Who ​are ​we ​being in every ​conversation ​and ​every ​time ​we ​show ​up ​and ​knowing ​that ​we're ​never ​going ​to ​get ​it “right”. ​We're ​never ​going ​to ​get ​it ​perfectly, ​but ​to ​stay ​in ​it. ​To ​stay ​in ​the examination ​of ​it. ​To ​stay ​in ​the ​curiosity around ​it ​and ​to ​do ​our ​damn ​best, ​y' ​all.”

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