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Root'd with Sierra Brown

Root'd with Sierra Brown

Written by: Sierra Brown
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 Root’d Reflections 🌿 by Sierra Brown: A faith-rooted wellness space for driven but depleted Black women of faith learning to heal gently, rebuild their routines, and reconnect to peace without perfection. Through honest reflections, devotionals, and faith-centered conversations, we explore what it means to live well, mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, in partnership with God.

melaninwell.substack.comSierra Brown Alternative & Complementary Medicine Christianity Hygiene & Healthy Living Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • When I Let Myself Mourn the Year I Survived

    When I Let Myself Mourn the Year I Survived
    Nov 15 2025

    When I came back from my sabbatical I thought the work was done. It would be smooth sailing ahead. So much healing happened. So many breakthroughs. I had done the work physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I felt so good.

    But something was still off. There was still so much resistance there. I would shortly find out, thanks to the Holy Spirit and Lot’s wife, that the resistance was fear.

    Fear of stepping out of the former season and embracing the new one. And I would not get over that fear until I mourned the season I was stepping out of. Let me explain.

    I recently read a devotional that had me thinking a lot about Lot’s wife. Ya know, the whole story where she was instructed not to look back at Sodom, and she did anyway, and immediately turned into a pillar of salt [Genesis 19:26].

    None of us actually know why she looked back. I like to think she looked back in fear. The unknown was ahead and all that she knew was behind her.

    It has been suggested that she was attached to all she had known in Sodom, but I think if she was fleeing to somewhere familiar and she knew the exact plan or route, she would not have looked back. Obviously this is speculation on my part. There is not a lot in the Bible about Lot’s wife.

    But when I think about this year, I do think I can relate to Lot’s wife a lot. Trusting God is not easy, especially under fire. Especially when the future is so unfamiliar and different.

    Thinking of Lot’s wife, I am just so grateful for God’s grace but also this reframe: “There is value in looking back, not in fear, but in power, hope, and wisdom.”

    The reality is that many of us are “looking back at Sodom” on a daily basis. Struggling to let go of the familiar, even when it is toxic, for where we are being called and gently guided.

    This past week, I realized that is exactly what I have been doing since returning from my sabbatical. You all have been watching me walk into a new season professionally while also trying to stay attached to the old one.

    But during my morning routine early last week, the Holy Spirit gently guided me to do two things:

    * Give myself space to mourn the past year

    * Look back at the past year with fresh eyes

    And here is what happened.

    I was able to accept all the emotions that came with the work, the good and the bad. And if you know anything about emotional health, acceptance is powerful.

    I was able to acknowledge and release everything I had to sacrifice to be here today.

    And as a result, I also got to feel the power of all the work done in that season. It empowered me to show up in spaces I had shied away from. I picked up a barbell again. I reworked my vision and mission statement. I finally chose a new IG handle for the new brand so I can say goodbye to this page once and for all.

    But today I am not here to give you a three step process to mourn your past season or three ways to step into a new one.

    Today, I just wanna tell you I see you, love. I feel you. I know you feel stuck and frustrated where you are.

    Allllll that I have shared today came after several months of feeling absolutely exhausted. Even worse, disappointed.

    Disappointed to still be here. Especially after sharing so much with you.

    But I believe wholeheartedly that this is what God wanted me to share. The mess after the messy middle.

    Embrace the mess and soften in God’s embrace this weekend. A new season is waiting for you, my love. I promise.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melaninwell.substack.com
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Choosing Peace Over Performance

    Choosing Peace Over Performance
    Oct 17 2025
    This is part two of a three-part series that I think you’re gonna love SO much. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the full series.If you missed Part 1, you can read it here. But if you want to read the full piece now, click here.What Progress Can Look Like SoberWhen I finally decided to divorce diet culture (what I’m referencing as sober), I really struggled without rules.If I wasn’t following all the made-up, restrictive diet culture rules, how do I decide what to eat? What not to eat? How often to work out? Heck… how to live my life?I felt this way because, as designed, I was solely focusing on “external regulation” to make decisions.When I say “external regulation,” I’m referring to how you make health and wellness decisions based primarily on outside rules, expectations, or approval, rather than from your own intuition, values, or needs.You make choices based on someone else’s rules. Whether it’s a diet plan, a fitness challenge, or even social media trends, you’re letting something outside of you call the shots. And most of the time we are doing this minimally informed.You see a video saying somebody lost 50 lbs doing xyz and intrigue sets in.You see an article saying kale is a super food and now you’re picking it up instead of spinach, even though you love spinach.Your friend tells you pilates will burn stubborn belly fat and suddenly you’re sacrificing 2 of your 8 hours of sleep to go to the primetime class.And baby it happens fast.Now, internal regulation, on the other hand, is rooted in trust: trust in your body, your Spirit, your lived wisdom, and your relationship with God.It looks like asking:* What do I actually need right now?* What feels nourishing?* What is my body asking for?* What would bring me peace right now, not just progress?It doesn’t mean you never follow structure. It means the structure follows you. You aren’t just the main character of your life. You’re the co-creator.When you’re regulated from within, your choices are led by awareness and alignment, not fear, pressure, or performance.Is that harder? Yes, at first.Is it worth it? Absolutely.Now, there is a place for external regulation. They are partners. But internal regulation is Batman and external regulation is Robin. Internal regulation is Barack and external regulation is Biden.But we’ll talk more about that soon. We need to address something important first.Why Feeling Better Is the GoalSo now let’s talk about what comes next.Because when you stop chasing weight loss and superficial milestones, you have to work toward something else. You need a new target.As many of you know, I’m a Weight-Neutral Health and Wellness Coach. What that means is that I help Black women of faith live healthier, happier lives without focusing on weight loss or physical appearance.And what that also means is that I help you define what health and happiness actually look like… to you.Because for most of us, even when we say we want a “lifestyle change”, what we really mean is “weight loss we don’t gain back.” That’s the unspoken goal. The silent metric. The thing we think will prove it’s all working. That makes us worthy of the next level. A certain feeling that only exists in a certain body type.But I want to offer you something better. Something that lasts. A new target.And by now, you’ve probably guessed it: feeling better.Now, I know some of you are rolling your eyes. Like, girl… what does that even mean?Don’t worry. I’ve got you… next week. 🤎💭 Reflection for you:What diet culture rules have distracted you from peace… or still try to? I’ll be sharing my own reflection in the comments, so drop yours below and let’s chat! And while you’re here, I’d love to invite you to something special…🌈 Join Our Free Community on SubstackIf this message resonated, come be part of Root’d Reflections, our free faith-based wellness community on Substack. It’s where we slow down, reflect together, and practice what we talk about here… peace in real time.Subscribe below to:* Read the full “How to Feel Better” series, uninterrupted* Join our weekly reflections and prayer threads* Access devotionals, audio pep talks, and private conversations with other Black women of faith🙏🏾 P.S. You’re Invited to Prayer on MondayWe’ll be gathering for community prayer this Monday at 12:30 PM CST here inside Substack… a gentle space to breathe, pray, and reset your heart for the week with God.No performance. No pressure. Just presence.Subscribe now (obviously free) so you don’t miss the link when it goes live. 🤎And I’ll see you back here for part 3 next week! 👋🏽 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melaninwell.substack.com
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    8 mins
  • Messy but Meaningful: What God Taught Me About Rest 🌈

    Messy but Meaningful: What God Taught Me About Rest 🌈
    Sep 13 2025

    This is part one of a three-part series that I think you’re gonna love SO much. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the full series.

    If you want to read the full piece now, click here.

    💭 Reflection for you:

    What is one way performance has tried to crowd out peace in your life this month? Reply + share. I'd love to hear.

    And meet me back here next week for Part 2.

    PS: I’m opening a free version of the Root’d Wellness app soon. Want first access when it drops? Add your email here.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melaninwell.substack.com
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    7 mins
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