#1 SELF-FOCUS.–Checking in with myself especially emotionally. Creating trust and safety within myself. SELF WORTH! Being in my MCE! Being authentically me, not necessarily being always prim and proper. THANK YOU for the support.

Some of my biggest takeaways:
1. Trust the process, no matter how intimidating or unnatural it may feel. Every step and assignment is intentional and has a purpose.
2. It was crucial for me to check my ego at the door throughout the dating program and process.
3. Be open to dating everyone! If I had continued to be hyper-focused on dating black men, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my dating momentum. In 2 1/2 months, only TWO black men got through the initial funnel.
4. Asking others for their “highs and lows” of the day was an organic way for me to practice vulnerability. Even today, I use this with my guy and my direct reports at work. I’ve found most people to be into it, and they began asking me for highs and lows without being prompted!
5. Telling close friends about my participation in the GYG program helped with my feelings of shame about previous toxic relationships. Both my single and married friends were fascinated by the program and opened up about their dating snafus and regrets. It helped show me I am not alone and reinforced that no one has taught us how to date.

my biggest takeaway was I finally learned how to use my voice and set boundaries. When I had problems or issues, I would do so in ways that was demeaning not realizing that I was just in a hyper independent/survival mode, not actually living. I had a voice but I was using it all wrong. I had to sit with myself and get REAL! With all the therapy and tools that I’ve learned from this program, I had to do some rethinking, relearning, and reparenting. There were traumas and triggers holding me back and once I realized that I was sitting in victim mentality and that I should see myself as a survivor, it was like scales fell off my eyes. My guy is everything that I’ve been praying for and what I wrote down. I also realized that the guy that I thought was my type was my downfall. He’s nothing like what I go for but it was his energy, his kindness, his patience with me, how he gives me space to talk and listens to me, I’ve learned new things about me and most important, how I feel completely safe, vulnerable, and comfortable with him! For so long I’ve operated in my masculine and just micromanaged all of my relationships. He has truly given me space to be feminine which no one in my dating life has ever given me that. I can be vulnerable and set boundaries and he’s on the same page. I can’t wait to share everything with him!🥰😍♥️

key takeaways on getting into this relationship was talking my shit and speaking up about my boundaries and preferences each and every time – specifically not just physical safety boundaries which came easy to me in the program – but being able to expand that to all of my boundaries and preferences and letting my partner show up for me again and again and again in the way I preferred. Before I had a bad habit of being “cute and mute” which led me to being disappointed often by those who couldn’t read my mind! not anymore! Thank you Anwar and Shoya!

i learned so much about having patience, setting boundaries, and not settling for less than what i deserve. It took a year to find my guy and im so glad i waited for the right one. Also i was open to dating outside my comfort zones. My guy is 10 yrs younger but he’s treated me the best I’ve ever been treated. I’m so thankful to this program!!

I’d say my biggest takeaways were the importance of boundaries, vulnerability, being able to identify and voice your needs and talk yo ish! lol. I’m still working on all 4 but I’m a lot farther along than when I started.
Thank you for the support along the way! 😁