Dr Jada Moore Ruffin of REAL Weight Loss and Wellness On The Self-Care Routines & Practices Of Busy Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Give yourself time each day, just for you to get quiet and still and do absolutely nothing. Some people call this meditation. A practice of muting the mind. Doing this can reduce stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
All of us know that we have to take breaks in our day to take care of ourselves. “Selfcare is healthcare”, the saying goes. At the same time, we know that when you are a busy leader with enormous responsibility on your shoulders, it’s so easy to prioritize the urgent demands of work over the important requirements of self-care. How do busy entrepreneurs and leaders create space to properly take care of themselves? What are the self-care routines of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders? In this interview series, we are talking to busy and successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, and civic leaders who can discuss their self-care practices and self-care routines. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Dr. Jada Moore-Ruffin.
Jada Moore-Ruffin, MD, widely known as Dr. Jada, is a nationally recognized weight loss specialist, wellness expert, and successful entrepreneur with an award-winning weight loss center. She is the founder of Atlanta’s wellness and weight loss studio, REAL Weight Loss and Wellness. Dr. Jada is also the established author of the Amazon bestseller boldly titled, “Girl, Get Ready to Lose the Damn Weight,” and founder of the ‘Girl, Get Ready!’ virtual summit which is her yearly gift to expand the consciousness of wellness and personal development for women worldwide.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! It is an honor. Our readers would love to learn more about your personal background. Can you please share with our readers your personal backstory; What has brought you to this point in your life?
Intentional inner work and personal development have been key to my journey as an entrepreneur and business leader. I am a firm believer that you are your brand, and your business will be as healthy as you are.
What is your “why” behind what you do? What fuels you?
I’m fueled by my passion, purpose, potential and possibilities. I believe in going for it and leaving no assignment undone.
How do you define success? Can you please explain what you mean from a personal anecdote?
Today, I define success as helping people, making an impact, and having fun doing it. I emphasize “Today” because I teach that success is not static, it is dynamic, and it is self-defined. We have the right and responsibility to stay curious and nimble in life. Never get stuck with a borrowed definition of success.
Success these days for me means being in divine alignment. The evidence is creativity, prosperity, peace, abundance, ease, flow, and enjoyment. If I feel good and things are working out easily then I see that as success.
While on Sabbatical in South America, I decided to do a photo shoot 2 days before I was supposed to leave to return to the US. I reached out to a few people, before I knew it, I had a photographer, hair stylist, makeup artist, venue and new wardrobe, the weather was gorgeous, and the shoot was amazing. It was seamless. It seems like not a big mark of success to pull off an impromptu international photo shoot in a Spanish speaking country, but it was and these small pieces of evidence of ease, flow, fun and synchronicity are how I view success on a small and larger scale.
What is the role of a growth mindset in your success? Can you please share 3 mindset mantras that keep you motivated, sane, and propel you forward?
Growth mindset is very personal and unique to each individual and can vary in magnitude. At its core I believe a growth mindset is taking chances, investing in yourself, and being willing to move forward despite fear, uncertainty or challenges.
Three mantras that I live by are:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
All things are working for my greatest and highest good.
A problem is just a solution waiting to be found.
You are by all accounts a very successful person. How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I bring goodness through words and actions. Whether that’s helping a stranger with their groceries, sharing a smile, volunteering to speak at a high school, making a charitable donation to a worthy cause, showing up for a friend, encouraging a new entrepreneur are some of the everyday, practical, and tangible ways I bring goodness to the world. The biggest way is allowing myself to be the best version of my unique energetic signature.
Can you share a mistake or failure which you now appreciate, and which has taught you a valuable lesson?
Before starting my health and wellness business, I applied for dozens of loans over 10 years before being approved. I learned perseverance and to keep focusing on the vision no matter what.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Determination- I remember when I was studying for 2 board certification exams, working full-time as a Medical Director, and starting my own Medical Practice, I had 3 kids in 3 different schools and my plate runneth over. I was able to pass both boards taken 4 months apart, made strides in a major work project, got the new business up and running, managed all the things with the kiddos (with the immeasurable support of my husband who also needed me) and lived to talk about it.
Integrity- I like to do stuff above the table and the right way. I don’t believe in lying, cheating, stealing, and bullying your way to the top. I can’t stand to be around that kind of energy. That’s a good way to get rid of me. I’ve been around people who will do anything to get ahead. I’m motivated but I ain’t desperate. I can’t. I really can’t.
Grateful- I’m like Paul in the bible. I give thanks no matter what the situation. I can always find something to focus on to be grateful for instead of getting bogged down with the contrast (problems) of life. I had to really use this approach over the course of my entrepreneurial journey. As the saying goes, “if it’s not one thing, it’s another”. So why act like every little thing is the end of the world. Snap back using gratitude.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
I’m working on the 3rd year of my Girl, Get Ready! Healthy, Happy, Haute Wellness Summit January 2023. I love this concept because it is all about wellness and breaks the mold of thinking of just physical health as the only way to be well. I incorporate wellness in money and finances, relationships, sex and intimacy, career and business, home environment and so much more.
My newest and favorite projects are wellness retreats, I’m planning 2 in 2023 a domestic and international one. This is the much-needed time and safe space for women to relax, recharge and reset. The community that comes together to share and fortify together is beautiful.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about Self-Care. Let’s start with a basic definition so that we are all on the same page. What does self-care mean to you?
Self-care is the consistent and continuous practice of meeting your core personal, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and hearts desires with priority and purpose.
As a successful leader with an intense schedule, what do you do to prioritize self-care, and carve out regular time to make self-care part of your routine?
I command my mornings. The first part of my day is when I get grounded, show gratitude, and set intentions and map God inspired action. Sometimes I spend 1 hour, sometimes I spend 10 minutes. I do the best I can and focus on consistency not time. The mornings that I don’t (and those do come) I feel off the whole day.
Will you please share with our readers 3 of your daily, or frequent self-care habits?
I exercise/move my body daily, I meditate and pray, I center my nutrition around healthy foods. And yes, I do eat foods that are not “healthy” per say but that’s not common. I enjoy healthier choices.
This is the main question of our interview. Based on your own experiences or research can you please share 5 ways that taking time for self-care will improve our lives?
Taking time for self-care can seem near impossible when we are in the whirlwind of life. I believe these 5 ways of
taking time for self-care will improve our lives:
1. Give yourself time each day, just for you to get quiet and still and do absolutely nothing. Some people call this meditation. A practice of muting the mind. Doing this can reduce stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
2. Spend time daily outdoors or take a nature walk. Even if it’s for a short time, the benefits of being in nature are like meditation- improves mood, helps dissipate negative energy and can enhance creativity and focus, which in turn may increase productivity.
3. Affirm yourself daily. Find one or two aspects of yourself that you are proud of or feel good about. Begin to engage in positive self-talk around those qualities. As you build momentum, then you can begin to include affirmations about things that you are working to be better at someday. One example, as I was building up my money, confidence, and success mindset, I would say to myself aloud, “I can have it all” and “I’m living my best life now”. This would bring the future into my present.
4. Feed your body healthy and nourishing foods. Specifically, consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. What you fuel your body with will give you certain results in the short run- for example heavy, fried and fast food will often leave you sluggish and tired. Fresh, high-quality foods will give you energy and fuel to carry out an active day. Remember these eating habits also produce a long-term result. Poor quality and junk food over time will wreck your metabolism and cause sickness and disease. On the other hand, good foods over time will help you have radiant skin and hair, a healthy heart, and a robust metabolism. Let me tell you, food can either make or break you.
5. Sleep is not an optional part of life. Neither is rest. I’ve had to retrain myself after years of habitual sleep deprivation. Since I was a teenager in college, I have sacrificed good quality sleep through med school, endless nights on call in residency, studying for board exams, the throws of motherhood, managing my career and running businesses and add to that I’m a light sleeper. I looked up and found myself with horrible sleep patterns. I was by all accounts surviving Insomnia. Much of the sleep issues I had were self-induced and therefore, required me to turn these bad habits around and get my sleep on track. Restful sleep is an essential body function. The brain rests and the body repairs. Poor sleep can lead to weight gain, irritability, forgetfulness and memory loss, aches and pains and hormone imbalance to name a few.
Something as simple as good sleep habits can become a gamechanger and is an easy way to practice basic self-care.
Sometimes we learn a great deal from the opposite, from a contrast. Can you please share a few ways that NOT taking time for self-care can harm our lives?
Not taking time for self-care results in physical and mental distress, burnout, and resentment.
What would you tell someone who says they do not have time or finances to support a regular wellness routine?
Start small, free walks in the park, 10-minute quiet break, give yourself permission to focus on yourself.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
Jada Pinkett Smith, I just like her openness, curiosity, and transparency even when judgment is at risk. Her willingness to have deep, tough, and controversial dialogue using her family as an open book is such a powerful position. She has given the messy parts of life and the hard parts of healing a safe space to roam. She’s someone I’d love to chat it up with.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
You can follow me on Instagram @drjadamd and visit https://startwithreal.com/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher, and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness, and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
