We recently had the chance to connect with Jelisha Jones and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jelisha, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
To walk away from things, experiences, people that no longer serve me, and where I am currently in my life; for years, I worked at a corporate job that I didn’t love wholeheartedly, and I did that as a means to pay my mortgage for a home that I bought because I felt like that was some sort of accomplishment…
Fast forward to earlier this year, I am stricken with depression and mental exhaustion that leads to a total burnout from my job where I take medical leave for three months, and within those three months, I begin to build the resolve to know that my wellbeing matters more than a well-paying job, and I walk away from the career I’ve had for over fourteen years to a space of the unknown. The truth is that I’ve been wanting to leave my job, I’ve been wanting to trust my creativity and invest fully into my business, truly, but I was afraid to bet on me, and I’m still afraid…
But for the first time, in a long time, I feel at peace. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jelisha Jones, and I’m the creator behind Black Woman Fly. I’m a writer and storyteller exploring what happens when Black women choose themselves: raw, unfiltered, and without apology.
After leaving a long-term corporate career, I began sharing my journey through healing, burnout, boundaries, and reinvention across YouTube, Substack, and my writing workshops. I’m also the author of unHOEly, a forthcoming poetry-memoir that examines shame, womanhood, sensuality, and self-rebirth.
Through Black Woman Fly, I’m building spaces that center rest, self-worth, softness, and creative liberation, whether through essays, writing circles, or community dialogue. Everything I create is rooted in one belief: your story is holy, your softness is powerful, and you are allowed to redefine your life at any age.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
For years, I molded myself into what others needed: the good daughter, the dependable employee, the “strong” woman who carried more than she ever admitted. But self-abandonment masquerading as duty is still self-abandonment.
To love yourself, you must choose yourself. And choosing yourself is not selfish; it’s self-preservation. It’s an act of honor.
I can acknowledge that the version of me who put everyone else first had a purpose. She helped me survive. She kept the peace. She fulfilled expectations. But her season is over. She cannot lead me into the life I’m building now.
So, I’m releasing her with gratitude, and reclaiming my time, my voice, and my story. I’m learning to be loyal to myself first and letting that be enough.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Funny enough, it isn’t failure but success. The “what if” of it. What happens if I really go further in my business? What happens if I become the woman I’ve always envisioned? What happens if the life I want actually becomes possible?
That fear has kept me playing small. It’s fed my imposter syndrome. It’s kept me in the shadows, hesitant to share my work, promote my gifts, or stand behind my offers with confidence.
But I’m learning that fear isn’t something I’m meant to run from. It’s something I’m meant to feel and still move anyway. Fear is a part of growth, not a sign to retreat.
I’m finally recognizing that the version of me who doubted herself wasn’t weak; she was protecting herself the only way she knew how. But she doesn’t get to lead anymore. I’m choosing the version of me who steps forward, even with trembling hands, and builds the life she deserves.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I grew up thinking life had a strict timeline, and if I didn’t accomplish everything early, I had somehow failed.
With time and experience, I’ve learned the opposite is true. Age doesn’t diminish your potential; it clarifies it. As you grow, your vision sharpens, your desires become more authentic, and your dreams become more aligned with who you really are. There is no “too late”, only the right time, and that time is whenever you finally choose yourself.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Absolutely! Many times! I’ve gotten the things I thought I wanted: the well-paying job, the house, the nice car, the “perfect” body, even the viral moments online. And none of it satisfied me. None of it filled my cup in any real or lasting way.
What I’ve learned is that if I keep searching for joy in what’s external, I’ll never find peace. Fulfillment isn’t something you can buy, achieve, or perform your way into. It’s something you cultivate from within. Everything begins and ends there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.substack.com/@blackwomanfly
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelisha-jones-a22592228
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomanfly
Image Credits
Professional solo pictures taken by Lemia Bodden
