Make The World Your Runway (w/ Liris Crosse)

You know, I think about as we transform into this new season with the cold weather and the charm of the holidays, I think about how even though it gets cold, because you know, the earth tilts away from the sun, getting a less light, it still comes back around, putting itself in the direction of the light to start up spring, to spring into a new thing. See, the earth transforms and overcomes. And y'all know that everything big is everything small. So what we see with earth, we see with plants,

with animals, and we see with ourselves. Now, yes, people are a little bit more calmplicated, and we are they us may seem as though we are stuck in a place. You may feel that right now. M heck, God, no, I have but Here's the thing. People are able to move forward, People are able to grow. People are able to see something in themselves that the world may not see, and then they are able to acknowledge that, to walk in authority of that belief and make the world see

them as who they really are. So who are you? What do I mean by that? I'm talking about transformation and overcoming because today I have a special guest. Today, I have the phenomenal groundbreaking model Lyris Cross sitting down to talk to me about her life, career and her new book, Make the World Your Runway. Lyris is a supermodel, actress, a motivational speaker, and now author who has made her career on showing up where people didn't think she could.

From helping to put plus size modeling on the map to her help but diversifying the industry, Laris has done a lot and it's no wonder why she is coined as the Naomi Camel of plus size modeling. Hi Heller. We talk about the rigors of breaking into the modeling industry, but really today's episode is about speaking life and doing it and like Laris says, we have to do what we can in the natural before God puts a super

on it. So without further ado, it's time for your dose a vitamin D. Getamin D right with me and get excited about is she coming? I am here. How are you doing larious? I'm good. How are you? I'm doing good. It's so good to see your face. Oh, thank you. I am loving this red lippy. You have one? You know, I just said, let me just pop a little color, you know in this fall moment. You did that? Honey, um, it's so interesting sing we ran in the circle together.

So a good friend of mine, who you actually uh recorded the intro to his show, Timothy Snell. Yes, so I was on the show with Snell. Um. I wasn't assistant on the show along with Nasa the cosy. So I was talking to the other day. He said, yes, you better get her, and so we had a whole key key mootment over you. Oh. I love him. I

think he just has such a beautiful spirit. And you know, you already know he has great style, okay, and it's just amazing, you know, having that at the forefront, which transfers into the conversation that I want to talk to you about today. Okay. So you know, and I was sitting here, I'm thinking, you know, I talked to Purvis and he was saying the raver Gurus about you. And of course I am familiar with your body of work. I lived in New York myself, and you know vitamin D.

This podcast, I don't know if you're familiar. It's all about shedding light. Okay, it's a count off of my name, So I'm shedding light. A different way is to think about life and different opportunities. Right, And so as I'm gearing up and I'm thinking about having you on here, the first thing that came to my mind was the

whole notion of impossible. And you know how sometimes even looking at the word, you know, impossible, but how you've been able to separate that to go into a positive moment that has propelled you to be such an inspiration to so many people. Well, I mean, if you look at the word impossible, if you break it up, it's I'm impossible, Hello, impossible. And when we remember that, we remember that we are able to achieve anything we've really put our mind to and if we're really up to

doing the work. So I actually even have a T shirt that X is out that I'm I mean that that breaks up the impossible. So you see that it means impossible, the possibilities are endless with our work, dedication, and sometimes you know, sometimes natural talent, but sometimes it's beyond natural talent. It's just the hard work and the

favor of God opening doors for you. A lot of times I think that God is just waiting to see what we are willing to do, what we are willing to um sacrifice or much hard work we're willing to put up to make our dreams come true, and He's like, um, actually I did a post about this and my lyrics motivates hashtag about how um, we have to do what we can in the natural, and then God puts his super on it. But he can't put his super on anything if you're not doing your part within the natural.

So you gotta go do your part and then he's going to activate and put the souper on what you're naturally already doing. That. Thank you, thank you, But it's just truth. It's just truth. It's you know, it's kind of like that parent who was like, Okay, if you show me some a's, then you know, I'll put the money up for you to do this. Or do that. You know, there's a thing where we have to say and I guess that we talked biblically speaking faith with

our works is day. So we have to make sure that we exercise what we have right now and then, like you said, put God's hands on it. And it made me thinking the notion that um sometimes I think we can get in our own way of trying to figure out how God is going to do it. And I even had this conversation with myself today. Yeah, he literally can catch us off guard. And it goes back

to what I was saying. It's like, just get working, start that business, just apply for the for the schools, you know, whatever it is that you want to do, just get moving. And it's amazing that once you just start to work in your purpose or moving your goals, how the help starts to come around, the loose ends start to tie on, the um way becomes you know, you have a way maker out of the way. You know what thing starts to happen. But you just have

to move. You just have to get going. You just have to do so once we just start doing and moving, it's amazing what what starts to come around us and support us and we you know, sometimes it's like overthinking is is not trusting in him. We gotta trust. We have to let go. They say, if you're gonna worry about it, then don't pray about it. We gotta trust and we gotta let go. And I love that you

gotta let go. Oh I think it's gonna happen it's way. Oh, it may not happen that way, it may happen this way. Just move, just go, just do, just be. Yeah, And speaking of just being, And it's so interesting because this conversation is going to spearhead of how you allowed your yes to yourself propel you in your life because there were nose that came your way. Hella knows lots of those, still getting those and to know you have the crown as like the Naomi Campbell of plus size modeling, Like

that's a big deal, that's a moment. But see what I love about it is just like when we think about life, right, we look at oh they started here and then the finish, but we realized it's in the journey. And in this journey you've propelled and gave birth to a beautiful baby. Um, you have your book that we're gonna be talking about today about making the world You're run way. Yes, my book, my book, I'm so excited about that, so excited, available on Amazon, Hello number one.

But I want to talk about the fact of um, you're talking about that because, like you said before, being in a position where you believe it in yourself right and making sure you hold onto that childlike behavior and even piggybacking off of what you said your quote, if you think it, you can do it period, right. So I want to know a little bit about you and how you started off, because how did you know that you were possible? Oh? I al would say, it's kind

of two different things. My father, God rest his soul, was just very motivating. Uh. My father spoke life into me. My mom as well, but there's just something special about a father's love for his daughter. And my father spoke life to me. He told me I could do anything. He told me I was beautiful, he told me I was awesome. And they came together when I decided I wanted to move to New York to pursue my mole in dreams. They came together and supported me and that

they gave me their blessing and they're okay. But when I was a little girl, my dad was running for congress. There was a photographer who came to the house to do his brochure pictures and he's taking some pictures and my dad and he took pictures of us as a family, and then he said, do you lie if I take some extra pictures of your daughter. So I'm just hamming it up taking my pictures. And you know, back then they had to go develop the film and bring it

back to you like a week or two later. So we get the film back and he's printed out this about tim front of me, and he said, your daughter is really photogenic. You should really get her into my and that see I wish I knew this photographer's name to this day, but those words were the seed that were planted in me that made me believe that I could I could model, and I could do anything. And then my father was like my first photographer. My father loved taking pictures as well as being in front of

the camera. So you know, I got my practice song in front of the camera with my dad as well as um as remembering what that photographer said, and it stuck for me for years because also I'm a p K. So I'm a preacher's kid, so they weren't in a rush to get me into my lane. That wasn't like, oh yeah, we're gonna push her off into my leg. But as I got older and matroit, and they saw like,

she's really serious about us. And I'm always watching fashion TV to see the models doing all the shows out in Paris and Milan in London, like she's that modeling book still hasn't gone away, and now she's doing the local mall fashion show and this and that. But I definitely say it is that seed from that photographer, and just the seeds of my parents speaking life into me and telling me that I can do anything that I

really put my mind to. Those are the things that propelled me to feel I could do what was the impossible as far as moving to New York to pursue my modeling dreams. That's why I even talk about in the book how important it is for parents two embrace the different gifts and abilities that are in their children's lives um because you never know. You know, you might be the parent who's getting upset at your one child who always breaks his toys, and it is trying to

figure out ways to put it back together. That could be a future engineer. That child that's uh, very talkative and it is always challenging you. Maybe they're supposed to

be a lawyer. You know. We have to really speak life and and help children as well as adults too, because there are a lot of adults who are still finding their purpose and um or they're shifting from one career to a new career because they didn't realize, you know, I started doing this job because this is what my parents said, was like, you know, guns versus butter, you know, type of job. But now I realized I'm really into this and I'm gifted in this, and they're doing a shift.

But we have to support people and and especially children with letting them find their ways and embracing the different gifts and talents that they have. Because just because your sister ailed at it, it doesn't mean that your daughter's gonna feel at it. Just because um, miss Jenkins across the hall didn't do well in that career, that doesn't mean that your son isn't going to do well in

that career. A lot of times we're pushing our own fears on to other people, and it's blocking them, or they're allowing what is said to them to block them from really going after their purpose, their new career, whatever it is. So we have to be mindful and careful with that. And I love that because, Um, I am a advocate, a component like Larious, I'm so serious about speaking life. I have life tattered in my mouth because I'm all you want to see, wow, very first tattoo.

But it's because I'm an advocate. I am so gun hole about speaking life, like you said, with that seed invested in you so like with my nephews. And in fact, I was just watching, um the new film on Netflix called Jingle Jangle and it's the forest would occur Monika Noni Roses in there and a few other upcoming actors. But that was one thing that I thought was key.

It was like the black version of Disney. And you saw the importance of how speaking life into her husband, speaking life into this little girl who was unconventional with her methodology of putting kinks together, and um, it just reminded me. And it's so good to know that there are people out there to understand and how important these these instruments on the side of our heads are, you know, at once I read how someone said that your ears are like an embryo. What you feed into them allows

them to grow. And so we see how this seed has propelled you in a life that many people would have dreamed, many people who had stopped when the first know because guess what, it wasn't a role blocking was just a step up. But there's a muscle that takes

to that. So I think it's so interesting as we're talking and about how you literally made your life your runway, how you got the looks and the attention of before you were going to New York of these model agencies saying they want you, but it seemed as though they were trying to slight you with hey, you might need to lose weight, they did. How did you handle that well?

I mean at first I did try to lose the weight. Um, but when you are just naturally a curvy woman, a curby young lady at that time, Uh, you can only lose for so much. I mean I played sports year round. I did cheerleadings, and I did basketball. Then I did track and field, So it wasn't like I was just sitting around, you know, not being active and eating a bunch of stuff. Every day. I was a really active child. I just I'm just naturally being curby ever since I

was a little girl. So I tried to do it their way, and then it just didn't work. I didn't fit in. And then I said, let me figure out a way to make them adjust to me. Let me take the thing that they think is going against me, and let me show them that it's not a liability, it's actually an asset. So Learis you listen. You get me so excited. I talk about your life, bank account, and I talk about how my motto is that you are your greatest asset. What are the deposits versus liabilities

you are facing in your life? Girl, you better speak. I'm sorry, go ahead, but it's the it's the truth. Um. A lot of times, the things that we think count against us are actually the things that make us you me, that makes us different, They make us stand out. So when I at the beginning of my career, when I was like doing music videos and stuff, I was the thickest girl on set. But to me, I felt special

because because of it. Yeah I may not. I may not have felt so special when I go to wardrobe and all they have is stuff to fit girls who are a size two to a size six, and they want to like put you in a bathing suit just because that's the only thing they have that really stretches. But that's why I would be prepared. I would come to set with my own clothes. You're not gonna just throw me in anything just because I'm the fullest girl

on set. So um. So yeah, I figured, let me stand in the truth of who I am and also let me go where I'm celebrated. So that's why, even though I was signed to a major New York agency at the time, I said, well, let me go work, you know, do some music videos because maybe they'll accept me a little bit more and I hope to pay the way for fuller bodies and music videos, uh during

that time. And then I said, well that open doors within the urban fashion scene, whether it was like a n cha all that stuff, so um and and I'm like, they're embracing me, so let me run with it. And that's what I did. And I'm glad that I did because each level helped to give me skills and ability to prepare me for the next level. So okay, I mastered this, you know, music videos taught me how to get ready to be in front of the camera from

major acting roles. Not only that, it helped me to be a better model, you know, it helped me to learn set, terminology, all those things. If you really take inventory, learn and be a sponge wherever you are, wherever you are. So I mean, I'm really glad that, um that I allowed myself to go through the process and I didn't allowed the nose to deter me from pushing forward. I was glad that I was able to find an agency

that had I didn't. Truthfully, I didn't even know that plus Molly existed when I started the The lady who had sent me to my first agency just said, I'm gonna send you to an agency that has and I look like you. And I was like, okay. I get there and it was Wilhelmina Models and it was their ten twenty board and they had beautiful women who were anywhere between the size eight to a size twenty and

they just had more meat on their bones. And I'm like, if this is where I have to be to be able to make my dreams come true, so be it. And I got in there and I dug in and I just continue to try to find my way. Period. So was it easier trying to change yourself or did you find it easier being yourself? I found it easier being myself. But that doesn't mean that you still aren't

going through the process with the storm. Because if society has a cookie cutter standard requirements or ways that you have to fit in an industry it has that, then you're trying to fit into what they are asking for, you know. But I had to just say, Okay, I'm here, but I'm just gonna keep finding my way. I'm gonna keep pushing through. And although I'm being myself, sometimes it takes a second for people to catch on, appreciate, see where you're coming from, and say, you know what, I know.

We said we were looking for girls school are side six. But she's beautiful, and she's got a great body, she has a great energy, she's um, she's photogenic. Let's use her like we're wasting our time, we're sleeping on her. Let's use her. And those are the things that just those are the moments that were just started to happen and and I helped to create change, and I'm I'm thankful for that, you know, It just reminded me. You know, you talked about Yeah, I say, how things are boxed in,

and you know, we hear it all the time. If you're a girl that loves to get her a beauty you hear about a beauty box. And if we think about and trying to conform to sit in a box, how uncomfortable. But so here's the thing I was thinking

about myself. This year has been very transitional, transformational. And always tell people that, oh it isn't that it's easy because I'm growing in ways right, So we're asking God if we're saying, hey, I aspired to be at this level, and we even take it back if we want to say bibically speaking of just like being in the Potter's house and you think about that clay, it's about to be molded, it's about to be pulled, it's about to be you know, contorting the way so that it can fit.

And guess what, I still gotta test you under the fire because there's some strength that needs to so that you can have the capacity to hold. And so I love that you said that because I think sometimes just the way society is made up, we strive to conform, but we forget that we're celebrated for being different. Yes, And I call the like the process. I call it the prunting because it's like the cutting a way of things to make you bloom even more. You know, a flower.

When we get flowers, that always says, you know, cut some of the stems off and it will help your flowers to bloom. And you gotta put it, shake that little powder and put it in the vase with the water. It helps it to bloom even more. But guess what cutting come on on those flowers? It hurts, hm, you know,

maybe putting the flowers in the cold water. You know, But when you go through that process and then you're able to see the flower in it blooms and the vagrance is all over your house and the petals have opened up and they've made this beautiful shape, You're like, oh, okay, it had to go through the process. And I think sometimes what's a little scary about society now A lot of people want to jump the process. They want to

jump the process. But the process is where you get the skill and the tools so you're able to maintain where you're going. Because if you really want to go to another level, you need to be. You need to know that you're able to carry this amount of weight. You need to know that you're able to go through this and that and still come out stronger and better.

You have to go through the process. The process is how you get ready for your next level and your next level and your next level and your next level and your next level. That's that's just the truth. So don't fight the process or abandon the process. Go through the process, Be a victor in the process, be a champion of the process. Show the process. Who's really boss? I love that? And it's just as you're saying, like going up to each level and we look at like

we're sending in our lives. And the reason I think it's so important because it's that focus you gotta have because that wind is gonna blow, you know, the rain is gonna come, But you have to be an assurance that as long as you can look up, you can get up and you know where you're going, because guess what, you've got an idea of where you've been, and if you know that's not what you want to be, then the question is where are you going and when are

you going to make the decision? Had a conversation with a friend of mine the other day and wants to pursue model and a mail and I told him, I said, well, you're gonna have to start showing up for yourself, because if I had awaited lyrics, I would have never even had been on the show with Timothy s Now because I would have said I'm not tall enough. And just like how you said initially coming to a conversation, how

important it is to just do it. Came on a show to get auditioned, to get a makeover, They said, Dawn, like how you said there's a pie and there's a way when you walking in your truth, Hey, you already have a fashion sense. How would you like to get paid to be on the show. Don't tell me how my god doesn't work lo and behold Timothy Sails, one of my people that I've looked up to industry who kind of gave an affirmation that I'm possible. It's Queen Latifa. Oh,

you just happened to be the premier stylist. But guess what, don had to show up. And as you were talking and you talked about how the flower and pruning the flower, you said something that was interesting that I think a lot of people can relate to you talk about this, the temperature of the water a little cold, right, And we do this thing in life what we like to just test it, Oh is it too cold? You're jumping back.

You're jumping back and and in some instance we can review that testing in kind of like our level of confidence. And I know that's something that you talk about a lot. What is this all deal the importance of confidence? And then you talk about the notion of having a curvy confidence. Well, okay, confidence is important because when we are able to have confidence,

we're able to go out into the world. And really, I believe staying boldly in our purpose, try different things, woo be who we really feel we are when we're confident. And curvy confidence is kind of related to my curvy sisters, my plus scize sisters, my figure sisters out there. So I have to put doves though that and say, curby confidence. I want you to stand boldly in your curby confidence.

I want you to remember that even though you are thick or fat, whether that's a p H A T or f a T, that you are still awesome and beautiful just as you are. That God don't make no job, come on period, what period? Period? And um. Your curby confidence is important because if we really paid attention to the messages that are out there that program us and tell us who we are supposed to be. And this

has been going on for eons, hundreds of years. You know, you're supposed to look like this, and your body is supposed to be this way. And if you're this size, you know all these stigmas attached. Well, if you're over a hundred and fifty pounds, you're lazy, you're this, You're you're not good enough. That's a lie. So stand in your curby confidence. Know who you are. Know that your size doesn't limit you from where you can go in your life. Your size doesn't limit the fact. It doesn't

tell you that you aren't beautiful. Please, so the most beautiful women I know plus size queens curby queens. So stand in your curvy confidence. Because when you are sure of who you are in your heart, in your body, and in your mind. I'm telling you, when you go out into the world that curby confidence, it bleeds into everything that you do. It bleeds into how you talk, how you walk, how you command a room. So that's why your Curby. Confidence is so important. Wow, And I

just even like how you describe that. And just as your book, make the world your runway, because when you think about it, when somebody's on the runway, all eyes on her, all eyes on him, and we need to walk with our heads up as if the world is watching, because they are. And like you said, when you decide to show up as you are, be confident and bold as you are, you give people permission to treat you

as the king or queen that you are. Yes, and and like, make the world's your runway is it's my book. Is like, I'm not asking you to be Lyrists, because there's only one Lyrists. This is the book for you to help you be your best year, for you to um, for you to be successful, for you to be confident, for you to redefine your purpose. That's what makes the

world your run way is about. This book is like it takes situations from my model life and if you were to smash a life class together, that's what this book is about. It's the owner's manual for you to be your best you because how we show up in the world, it's how we color the world with your freckles. When you show up with your your you know somebody has big red hair. When you show up with your outfit,

with your fringe or your thigh high boots. Sword. You know, how you dress, how you speak, how you command the room, how when you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, those feelings color the world. So that's you making the world your runway. How you show up in life, That's how you make the world your runway. Oh my gosh, you got me feeling all butterflies and stuff inside. I'm gonna start to bust out and start walking up here right now. Let's go out, so let's happen to Please

get the book. The book is on Amazon. Uh you can go to amazon dot com put in make the World Your Runway, or putting my name Lyris Cross. Or if you would like a sign copy, go to my website which is lyrict C L I R I s C dot com. To look click on the book, tap and then scroll down to the papal button in order your book. There you have it, and you know, just to have an idea of you gracing the covers of American Vogue, Essence, British Cosmopolitan Vibe. It goes on and on.

But now you've you've changed the tune. And I think just how you talked about in your book and how you've mentioned the first thing you've been talking about is just purpose, finding your purpose. And I feel like purpose is kind of like roots, right, It's the foundation of what we stand on. And thank God, just like you had a loving father, both parents, but having that seed,

that planet, and here you are. You've graced so many covers, so many runways, and now you say, you know what, let me use this branch and give out some more in these pages that are now I can call a life in a different way, and we talk about like just some of the principalities that you mentioned in your book, Um talked about living your purpose. How does one necessarily prepare for a success that they may not feel like they can it's in grasp with their hands. Oh well,

this is the thing. We don't know till we try. Hello, you don't know till you try. And my thing is this. You may try and it may not totally work immediately, or it may not be the thing that you realize it is for you. But if you try something, you're gonna figure out the next move for yourself. There are instruments that I've tried, and I'm like, you know what, I didn't like I thought I would like this, but I didn't like us or I'm not that great at this.

But then what did it then teach me? It taught me an appreciation for different styles and music. It helped me to gain a new friend maybe in a class or met somebody who was the coach and we have a longstanding friendship, and then that person introduced me to someone else. The thing is, you never know until you try. Prepare though prepared by taking the class, reading the course, gathering information, immersing yourself in the culture of whatever it

is that you want to do. When you come to to the situation as prepared as possible, that's the game changer. Because think about it, when you prepare for a test, you have a certain level of confidence and you're able to go after it a whole lot better. So you may not be the math with but because you really studied and you really got all the information that you needed for this test, I guarantee you this, you're gonna have a better try and you're probably gonna have way

better results than if you didn't. So just prepare and just try. You're not gonna know if you're gonna succeed or not until you try. And as they say, nothing be failure, nothing beats failure but to try. Yeah, And we also learned from failure some of the things. Think about some of the situations in your life that didn't work out how you wanted to, but you got a lesson or a skill, or you got a perspective that

helped to change your life for the better. Failure a lot of times it's just a rerouting to put us on a new path, for a different path, or for us to learn something about ourselves. So we can't even look as at failure as really failing. Because if you're open, come you're able to learn within your mistakes. And being open is where like the best things flow and come on, because I'm not trying to hold onto it. I'm trying to move and flow with it. Yes, yes, I invite

ease into my life. I don't want to have to fight for jobs anymore. I don't want to fight for abundance. I believe and ease. I believe in abundance, and I just do my part and let life happen. But I'm putting my best foot forward. I'm getting as prepared as possible for whatever it is that I want to do. But I'm I've invited ease into my life and literally the past few years have been amazing being I've rested

in ease. I know I come prepared, I know that I'm capable of doing my job, and I'm letting whatever jobs or situations or people find me period period. I don't want to fight for for what. I don't work for many years. I don't work too hard. No, let me rest in this ease and know that God is capable, God is abundant. God uh sees the work that I'm doing, and He's going to continue to put the soup on

my natural and I'm all about the supernatural. I'm up here of just rocket because I just happen to think A Purvos this book and it just you know, because just like you said, we were constantly in this tug of war. It's a fight, and it's like when do you stop surviving and understanding that it's time to live? And then I just thought A Purvis Taylor and his books are thrival. I'm trying to thrive with my life.

Let's get to the next level and it was just so interesting as you were just talking about, um, the whole notion of when we're failing, right and how important it is because how we find another way not to do something. But I look at some opportunities that didn't work out as I thought they should have, and I realized that indeed, I wasn't ready yet. And I think when we get that ease that whole when we allowed the supernatural, because we've already put the intentions out there, right,

so allowing God to do the work. I realized that there were some things I had to pick up because we're constantly trying to force something to make it happen. It's just the same as you're taking a flower of the ground and expecting it to thrive for weeks at a time. That's not how it works. We gotta cultivate the soil. We gotta make sure the nutrients are there, and then guess what. And this soil is dirty, yes,

it's dark, mm hmm, but it's full of life. Yes, And even no matter how much the crap everybody want to put on, guess what, it ain't none but a little fertilizer. That's right. And that's why I think it's so interesting in your book as well, Make the World You're one way, you talk about this whole notion of finding your voice but then also building your it's factor. M what is that about your in factor? Is like

the special thing about you? I feel like we are all born with like a secret sauce in factor, the thing that makes a special whether it's a skill, or whether it's your voice, or whether it's your smile, or it's the way you that you see and process things. We all have an it factor. We have a thing that um, you know, like it's like somebody, well, this person is a dancer. About the person that makes that person an amazing dancer is they have a certain gene

said qua about them. So a lot of times we have to find, like what is the secret sauce to our recipe? What is the thing that is unique about us? The things And I'm going back to something I said earlier. A lot of times the thing that we think is our flaw or our liability a lot of times can be our asset. That can be the IT factor, that can be the game changer, that can be the difference

in our lives. So take inventory and find that special thing about you, what sets you apart, what makes you different? You know, it's just like um, sometimes people will say, well that your sheets such a such person. I can't believe they stole my idea. But yeah, but that person can do the same thing that you do, but they're not gonna do it like how you do it. When you do it at all, because you are you. So when you rest in the it factor and when you

bring to the table, that's a game changer. That's a game changer. I had to exhale because it just reminds me. And there's a song I just have a little praise going on this morning with Clark's sisters, and there's in one song it talks about resting in your father's hands and despite what's going on, peace be still. Just be easy going with the flow, understanding that the persistence may look like it's a resistance, but actually it is an assistance to get to where you gotta go. Mm hmmmm.

So weekend of that, what do you hope people will take away when they purchase your book? Oh? Actually, it's one of the things that I usually signed inside the book, and that is deep in purpose, uh, renewed mindset and of course confidence because there's gonna be certain things in the book that you're like, oh, I knew that before, Yeah, but you needed to be reminded. Hello, somebody you needed to be reminded of it, or you know what. I went through that situation before, but I didn't look at

it that way. That's that renewed mindset, you know, or if it gives you the confidence. I had a lady who um has been a nurse, and she had some artistic things that she's always wanted to do, and she said, after reading your book, I had the confidence to put words to the ideas that I have been holding on for years and voice that to my husband and my family and say I know that I'm a nurse and I know that this is what I do, but I

also want to do this. And she was like, thank you for giving me the confidence through your book to find the confidence which was already in me. Because truthfully, all the tools that we need, it's already come on, Come on, we just have to tap in, tap in. They don't say find your true potential. They say tap into your true potential. Like like I think it's uh sweedie, tap tap tap in? Tap what facts? Facts on facts

on facts. This is the thing how love somebody? You know you were talking and this is something that quote that came to me years ago, because I feel like I'm old now. But when I was in college, I went to Howard h you but uh hey, a quote came across me and it said, what allows a diamond to shine? All the multitudes of cuts that have been placed within it. One of the strongest minerals in the world, But it's glorified for its imperfections. What do I mean

by that? It's those cuts, whether it says no, it's those self reflections that may not be easy. It's another cut of whatever challenge, your obstacle. But just like you said, and how you've been saying in the book since you got on here, whether responding your purpose, tapping into your true potential, but finding you when you decide to step in the light, Hello, Vitamin D. When you decide to step in the light, you began to be your great asset.

And guess what you allow reflection? You start to color the world. Because when a diamond shines, what happens we red, blue, yellow, green. Now only that we can get that reflection in ourselves. So I want to say thank you, thank you for that book, thank you, thank you. I'm just I'm so proud of how it is helping other people to, like you said, see the reflection, see themselves in a new way. Yeah,

you looked in the mirror every day. But now that you've been reading a book, you're looking at yourself real different. You're seeing yourself with a set of new eyes. You're seeing yourself with a new mindset. So you're stepping outside your door and you're attacking life way different than you did before. You're stepping out in your purpose. You're being your best you, You're being more authentic. And that's what

it's all about. Because my thing is this, when we all truly stepped into our purpose and we are living our best lives. Come on, think about the domino effect that has on our whole society. How much do you know? How they say, how much stronger we are as a unit. We're so much stronger when we stand in our purpose, When we're living purposefully, when we're living confidently, when we are really stepping out and being authentic, we're able to

really make this world a better place, really make America great. Hello, Hello, Hello, um and and just as you said, it's like another thing. It is a domino effect, and it's just like a magic and we're all these stars twinkling in the sky and we aggregated together to be a some type of assimilation of that of the sun, the light that we shine.

And here's the thing when they say, even treat thy neighbor as you treat yourself, right, well, if I walk in authority and I walk and glorifying who I am and who I'm meant to be, it's like dealing with somebody that hasn't all white outfit on. We're both making sure we stay clean. I'm making sure that you're you're good and I'm good because I would want the best for myself as I would want for you. And what you said, when you do that, it's it's not a

sense of what's taken. That's the whole fighting thing that you talked about. It's an overflow and the whale doesn't run dry stop it yes and and sidebar and served from your overflow. Come on, I will admit I have UM in my life. I've been getting uh guilty. I'm not giving to dawn first and not in a selfish sense, but to say, let me make sure that I can offer my authentic self because whether it be my relation and ships, whether it be my job or my family,

I need to show up as Dawn. And sometimes that over extension of yourself is forgetting about yourself. And guess what that lack that I gave to myself as the lack upon you? And just like you said that dona no effect. H yep and and look, and that is a balancing act that is always gonna a lot of times go out of whack for a lot of us, especially being Americans, because we're brought up to go go, go, go, go go. But my thing is once you know better,

you do better. So once you realize, okay, I've been putting other people first out, Okay, let me recalibrate, let me start over, let me hit the reset button. This month, I'm going to focus on getting back on track two. So from my overflow and for those people who may not understand what we're talking about, you know, it's like it's a cup with the saucer is a candle, but the cup with the saucer you want to serve from here.

You don't want to serve from an empty cup because you don't ran here, did this for everybody else, and then you have nothing left for you. Take care of you, be good to you, and then serve from the overflow that you have after taking care of you. And then when all that's said and done, we need to make sure the world knows that it's all runway right. That's right, that's right, that's right. So get out there, work if

you if you want to take one. Okay, you know has been some type of year, but I'm gonna work on one. I wanna look good, I wanna feel good, because when you look good, you feel good, and you know you want I want everybody's inside and outside to evenly match, you know. And that's what this book is about. That's what this book is about. If you can think it, you can do it. Mm so tell us again, where can we find the book? Please get the book on

Amazon uh it is available worldwide. And also go to my website if you would like a signed copy at Lyriccy dot com L I R I s C dot com and hit the book tab and then scroll to the bottom and click on that PayPal button and I will get a signed copy to you as soon as possible. I love it and if people are listening and they say, wow, this carby Queen is the ship is Nail. I want to follow you? Where can they find you? On social media? Yes?

Lease follow me at um on Instagram, in Twitter at lyric c which is l I R I s C. On Facebook, I have a public figure page as well as a personal page. But my personal page also allows you to follow me. But um, those are both under lyrist cross My last name is crossed with the a E at the end, so I always say Iris with an L in front of it crossed with an E at the end, so Lyrics crossed. You can find me on Facebook. You can find me on uh, Instagram and

Twitter at lericy. You can find me on TikTok. You can find me on YouTube UH as well. So, um, just look at my website. I mean my YouTube is under YouTube dot com backslash l O a W model

for that's short for Life of a Working Model. Hello. Yes, well, Lar, I want to thank you so much for showing up in your authentic self or making the decision to live life on purpose and for purpose, to be an advocate of something that I have modeled my life after and that as far as speak in life and to bless in the world with something that you found was an asset or a gift to yourself to share and your overflow with your book Make the World Your Wrong Way.

Thank you, thank you. This is a great chat. I really appreciate it. Show me. Yeah, yes, thank you so much. Truth be told, I was really looking forward to having living someone because, you know, as a curvy girl, I understand the plight of having to make the world see you as you are and not who they want you to be. And I just love the sense of residents that we seem to have in order to make sure that we overcame and that we continue to overcome and

have grace as we are overcoming. And y'all know this podcast is a part of that. The world so badly wants to put people down, to shout at them, to stand their place, to tell them what they can and what they cannot do. But when I think of this show and all the work of people like Lyris, of former guests, and people like you and me who continue to do the work to spread positivity and the realm

of possibility, it brings joy to my heart. So thank you Lyris for sitting down to talk with me and If you're interested in following Lyrics, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at lyris c and on her website at lyris c dot com. You can also get a copy of Lyrics's new book, Make the World Your run Way on Amazon or on her website. As always, you can catch us here in your phone or whichever smart device you use every Monday for more inspiring conversations

and insights. And if you're looking to get even more Vitamin D in your life, you can follow me at Dawn Day Speaks on Instagram and Twitter. And until next time, always remember you are your greatest asset. Two