Living Legacy Podcast Interview with Dr. Adrianne Pinkney

All right, so hi, Adrian.

Hi, Zaakirah.

How are you? Thank you so much for being a part of this interview.

Thank you for having me.

So I'm going to, um, let's see, I'm going to ask you a few questions, but of course this conversation is, is all about, you know, we're having girl talk today, right? So we're going to talk about Um, the things that— why you started your business as well as why you are where you are, right? Because you had to get to— you had to go through trials in order to get to where you are, right?

Absolutely.

So we're going to talk about that, but first things first, how did we meet?

Oh my goodness, I met Zaakirah when we went on a trip together for Operation Crossroads Africa. And I was about 23 years old, and Zaakirah was an 18 or 19-year-old who was her first time being out the country, being away from mom and dad. I mean, it was my first time leading a group of people on an international trip, and I met Zaakirah because she was— God sent her to my cohort. And, um, yeah, we've just kept each other all these years, 10 years later.

Wow, has it been almost—

yeah, 9 years.

Wow, time flies.

And we're still together.

Yes. So you started Be Well Coaching, but it wasn't always Be Well Coaching, right?

Yeah, yeah. Well, no, it's always been Be Well, Live Consciously, um, but I've kind of— as my business has grown, I've really figured out what it is that I wanted to focus on honing in on. Yeah, and the coaching skills is definitely where it is now.

Okay, so why did you start Be Well Coaching?

Because God told me to, uh, which is my real answer. That's my— girl, that's my real answer to that question. Um, God told me to. Yeah, I, um, I used to have a really messy life, uh, one that looked good on the outside and was an internal disaster. And I really did a lot of work to commit to my own well-being, and I got myself to a good place. And when I got myself to a good place, I literally was in the car listening to my Spotify Jesus Jams playlist that I still listen to all the time. I just update it. I listen to the same songs.

Yeah.

But I was listening to it, and all of a sudden, it was probably the first time I ever remember distinctly hearing God speak to me. And God's voice sounded just like my own, and it was very clear, and it was— I mean, I just was assigned. God said, Adrienne, you're in a good place, and now you're supposed to help other people get to this place. And so I went about the work of starting my business.

Nice. So that's been how many years now?

Almost 3. It'll be 3 years in July, and in July will— this year will be my This is my first calendar year of working for myself full-time, and it's been a blessing. I just see miracles every day.

So how is it? So let's say, talk about that. How is it working for yourself? Because not everyone can do that.

Uh, um, I, I like the way that I've taken an entrepreneurship journey. I used to work for other people while I worked on my business at night. So I'm a single woman. Um, I didn't have, you know, a lot of times people One person takes the risk and the other person has a secure job with the insurance, right? And that's how they build the business. I couldn't do that. I'm sorry. I couldn't do it that way because I had to provide the security and take the risk at the same time. So I kept my full-time job. I worked at work. And then I spent the nights up. Building my website, trying to get clients. The days I would take days off from my real job to go to do Be Well opportunities, and I needed to build something that was big enough for me to step onto. So when I got enough, I could— I had a business that I could walk out onto. I wasn't walking out on, you know, blind hope and faith. I had a clientele. I knew that my business made money. I had figured out what works, and I was in a place that I could do it full-time. So I did.

Love it. So it took you a while to really get to this place, but what would you say initially would have stopped you from launching? Any fears, anxiety?

That would be the biggest thing. That would be the— when I started talking about starting my own business, I mean, I have a PhD in education. I was working as a university professor, and people were like, what? You want to be a life coach? What's that? And all the things I was already— what are you going to do for health insurance? What security? Security, you know, which is like, it's only something— I mean, I have health insurance. But anyway, you know, it's only something that somebody else can give you, that this sense of retirement is only something that comes from someone else or someplace else. I, you know, I save for my own retirement every month. But just, it was a shift in how I thought about security, how I thought about making money. And I had a lot of naysayers, just fear, fear. That would have been the biggest thing. The people in fear, that's what would have stopped me.

And so what helped you the most?

Um, faith. I consider this whole journey my Peter walk. Um, it's like walking on the water and, you know, I'm not drowning. So I understand the importance of just staying in faith and of trusting this process. I think when the fear sets in, that's when you sink. So, um, yeah, I'm just walking on this water and I'm okay.

Love it. Okay, so why is emotional health important?

Oh God, that's such a big question. Um, Everything we do is about how we feel. Every single decision that we make, from what we decide to eat in the morning to how we respond to people to who we choose as a partner. I chose him because he makes me feel loved. He makes me feel special. He makes me feel sexy, right? I left him because he makes me feel disrespected and dishonored and, um, neglected, right? So we're constantly moving based on our feelings. I ate a salad today because it made me feel good about myself to make healthy choices, right?

Mm-hmm.

And I'll probably get some ice cream tonight because that makes me happy in a different way. Just like if we eat crappy food, at the end of it we're like, oh my God, I feel so guilty. I feel gross. I feel disgusted with myself. So if we understand the impact Of feelings and how central that is to who we are. Because the word emotion is literally— E is energy, so energy in motion. We literally feel our feelings. So our state of well-being is always tied to our emotional health. Being enraged for several years, consciously or subconsciously storing anger in our bodies, causes cancer and heart attacks and ulcers and all of those things. All of that is not even based on your physical health. It's based on your emotional health that resulted in your physical health. So everything, I mean, it's just at the center of everything.

Nice. Yeah, definitely very important because, um, my next question is, how do you use that to really heal from traumatic Relationships. Huh.

Um, my favorite scripture is somewhere in John. I quote it all the time, and I still have not taken the time to figure out where it is in this Bible. But it reads— oh my God, I totally apologize. Ugh, I don't even know how to turn that off. Zakirah, if you could tell me how to do it, I'd do it right now.

But anyway, um, yeah, I'm thinking— wait, I'm trying to think if, um, if you can mute down If you mute— I'm trying to think. If you mute your audio— oh no, then you won't be able to hear me.

Girl, we'll— okay, we'll do it for the next one, but it's okay.

I'll edit it out.

Oh yeah, just edit it.

Okay.

Um, or not. This is, this is real girl talk. This is what really happened.

How about that? We're busy girls.

So, um, what was I gonna say? Oh, health and relationships, the biggest thing. Um, My favorite scripture is, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free. And I think the most important thing in relationships is just being honest, not just with someone else, but with yourself. Telling the whole truth to who you are and what you really like and what you really don't. What really works for you and what really doesn't. Um, and just being okay with people coming and going and moving in and out of your life. Based on you being in an honest relationship with them. I actually— girl, I'm on eHarmony.

You are?

Yes, girl, I need a husband. Okay, so, um, I met this guy, very, very nice Indian guy, and we had our first conversation was 30 minutes. It was easy, real easy conversation.

I was like, oh, that's rare.

This is good, right? So we both— we had to get off the phone. He's like, hey, can I call you in the morning so we can continue the conversation? I'm like, Oh, okay. So he calls in the morning. This is good. And so we're talking for another 30 minutes. And at the end of the call, he— well, as the call goes on, he was like, hey, you know, I know that you live in North Carolina and I live in Ohio. Like, are, are you willing to move? Are you open to moving? And I was like, hey, no, I'm not. I've just built this business and, you know, my family's in North Carolina. Being in North Carolina is really important to me. And then he says, oh man, because I have, uh, he was a doctor. He's like, I have a practice here in Ohio, and my kids are in Ohio, and I can't move. And so it was like 1 hour of investment. We both were like, you know what? This has been really good. Thank you for being wonderful, and got off the damn phone.

Mm-hmm.

That's it. That's not going to work. You know what I mean? And I think that you have to just learn how to be okay with who you are, What it is you seek to create and not lying. Because I could have been like, oh my God, he's so great, maybe I want to move. No, I don't. I don't want to move.

Knowing you don't. Knowing you don't.

You know what I mean? I'm not moving. So I just think that being clear on yourself and being able to be in honest relationship with other people is so important. Just tell the whole truth. I don't like that. Don't touch me like that. That don't feel good to me. Don't do that again. I don't care if you do like it. I don't. You know, that kind of truth. And I love you. But I think that we are dishonest with ourselves so often. And we lie to people. And then we create lives built on lies. So anyway, okay, I'll stop with that. Next question.

Good one.

I've been on that for a while.

Okay, so let's, let's talk about this now. Um, obviously we didn't meet in North Carolina, so tell me, how many places have you lived? Because we met— well, we didn't meet me, but we connected in Atlanta. So what, what happened before that?

So I was born and raised in North Carolina. I lived here till I was 18, and then I moved to California for a year. I went to school at Pepperdine for one year. And then I transferred to Spelman, and I was in Atlanta for 10 years in school, working, dating, figuring that part of my life out. And then I decided that nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina, so I came on home, girl. So I'm in Charlotte now, and I love it here. This is where I'm gonna be and have my family. This is where I want to be buried. This is where I want my beach house. This is where I want my mountain house. This is where I'm gonna be. I love this state. So that's where I am now.

Okay, now what about countries?

Oh, that's so interesting. This is a good segue because, um, I was telling someone the other day I love North Carolina so much because as I have traveled all around the world, I am more and more certain every time I go to a different country that this is home. Not that America is home, but that North Carolina, 919-336-704-252, This is home, right? And I just love it here. So, uh, where have I traveled? I have been to Israel and China and India and Ghana with you and Kenya and Turkey. Where else have I gone? Costa Rica, Peru, Canada. Um, France, Italy, Poland, um, and a few other. And I want to go to Egypt this year. That's my, my goal for this year because I really want to see the pyramids and just cry.

Yeah, yeah. Now why do you think it's important to travel though?

Oh girl, traveling— I found God traveling. Um, I don't have the same God that my grandmother and my mother have. My perception of God, my experience of God is So different. And I think that traveling really expanded me in my spiritual sense. It has just been so spiritual. It's important to travel because you get a stronger sense of who you are when you go away, you know?

Yeah.

It was so funny, Zaakirah. I used to think that as a Black American, you know, there's always this thing like we're going to go to Africa and we're going to feel this strong sense of home. And I went to Africa, and I felt so damn American. You know what I mean? I was like, but I want ice in my drink. And I was like, oh, God.

Yeah.

I ain't from around here. Or I've been gone so long that I have to be reintroduced to this place. And I have just really gotten a sense of clarity for myself that home for me is the American South. I'm a Southern belle. I love it. I love it. But I think that all of that clarity came by leaving and not going to New York, but going clear across the world. And I mean, Zaakirah, you know how we travel. So I don't just do, like, the kind of travel where I'm like, touristy, touristy. Like, I'm staying in people's houses.

Yeah.

We were on the trotro, you know, we're like in there. And I think that, uh, that, that has just really expanded me. God is, God is always there when I travel.

Yeah. Yes. Now you're talking so much about your future, right? So you know what your dream life is going to be, right? What is that? What does that look like for you?

What do I want?

What do you want?

Baby, that's what I want. What the hell? Girl, that's what we were talking about before we got on this call. I want a big belly and some big milk boobies. That's what I want. But excuse me, everybody, let's just get real where I'm trying to go in my life. I have definitely— I mean, I've blown my own mind with what I've been able to do in my life. Bought my house, girl, I travel, I've done all of these things, and I would really like to experience myself as a wife and a mother. I think that's a new way to experience me and to learn about me. I have this fantasy self where I'm like, hey, if my kid talks back, we're going to have a conversation, right? But I'm thinking, what am I really going to do? Ooh, Lord. You know?

Yeah.

Oh, I just think it's going to be a whole new way to be in relationship with me. And You know, to just learn different aspects of myself. So I'm excited. I definitely see my business growing. I have an assistant now. Good God.

Oh, yes.

She is amazing. Like, even right now while I'm doing this call, something else is getting done for my business. In this moment, she's in this other space working. And hallelujah. Thank you. So that— I just see growth and expansion in my business. Just continuing to commit to my own health and healing and well-being. It's so funny. I think my ego mind said, I've done a lot of work on myself. I've been healed. I'm okay now. And sure enough, just like a couple months ago, I mean, I was jolted into an awareness that there's so much more work that I have to do on myself. So just committing to continuing to heal and grow me. And expand, just expanding.

Now, why is it important to live the life of your dreams, to live the life that you love?

Why is it important to live the life that you love?

Mm-hmm. Um, not everyone can do that. Everyone's so set on, I have to do this, I have to work in this job, my parents wanted me to be this, wanted me to be that. There are other people who don't mind.

Yeah, why is it important to do this? I just think it really contributes to your overall health and well-being when you're in an honest relationship with you, with what you need to be doing. Yeah, I went to school and I did all of those things, and I think that they do influence my work, but I was just doing that work until I got the calling over my life. Some people are just doing whatever they're doing because they haven't heard it yet. They haven't gotten the clarity or the honesty or the relationship, you know, to be able to hear what it is they're supposed to do. Some people do know what they're supposed to do, and they're probably in constant guilt about being misaligned with how they use their time every day. But I just think that the peace And fulfillment that comes with doing what you're supposed to do is like none other. I, I think it's Confucius who said, find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. And, um, I just find that to be true. So go do what you want.

Don't let nobody else stop you. Now, what is conscious What is conscious wellness?

What is conscious wellness? I mean, consciousness is making clear and awake choices. I think we make choices all the time in our subconscious, in our sleep space, and we don't understand what it is that we're actually really, really doing. You know, I was just— even conscious eating. We eat all the time, right? And we're full way before. And we keep eating after we're full because we're just going through the motions. We're not, like, actually chewing and swallowing and just listening and saying, have I had enough? OK, body, you just said I've had enough. You know? We're not conscious in our relationships and our words. I seek to create a loving and supportive relationship. What is it that I need to say or do to make that happen? And if I'm saying these things, how is this going to have a greater impact on what it is that I'm trying to get at here? That's consciousness, right? Like being very, very clear and awake to how you use your time, how you use your words, what you're putting in your body, what you're putting on your body. It's like this. Let me tell you about a quick conscious choice that I just made a minute ago. So I am going to this event tonight where Hill Harper is going to be speaking. And I'm thinking, well, it's going to be a lot of young people there, teenagers, all that kind of stuff. So I'm sitting in my closet and I picked these earrings consciously.

They cute.

I was like, I need to wear hoop earrings so I can be relevant with young people. Right? But that was a clear decision of who I was going to go see, what I was choosing to put on, and why, you know? So I think that's what it's about, just being— the sense of raised sense of clarity, just not doing things on autopilot, but actually taking a minute to take a breath and make a choice from that place.

That's important. Yeah, that's important. I love it. I love it. Now, where can we find you on the web?

I am at bewellcoach.com. So that's B, just the letter, not the word, bewellcoach.com. And you can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter using that same, Be Well Coach. It's everywhere.

Okay, any final advice for those who are still trying to align with their purpose? What if someone wants to take advantage of your services, things of that sort?

I would definitely say, um, heal yourself. Um, healing is always available. I believe that that's our natural state of being, wholeness and happiness. So I, I tell my clients this all the time. That life doesn't get better by chance. It gets better by choice, and it gets better by change. So make the choice to change and do something different so that you can experience something different. And I would say I'm excited for you. Let's go.

Yes. All right. Thank you, Adrienne, for being here.

Thank you, Zaakirah.

I had a pleasure. It was so much fun.

God bless you, Zaakirah.

You too.

You keep doing what you supposed to be doing.