By Megan Kirk
Detroit native Toni Jones is using her personal story and love of wellness to heal women across the world. Jones, who began working in the fashion industry, moved to New York to pursue her dreams of modeling. After spending five years in the industry, Jones began to realize she was not being true to her authentic self.
“I worked in the fashion industry where I first experienced racism. I realized I was fulfilling a talent and not a dream,” Jones says.
During her time in The Big Apple, Jones survived homelessness and a divorce after being married for eight years. She decided to move back to Michigan to begin her process of healing.
Jones, a Summa Cum Laude graduate with a degree in Psychology, decided she wanted to use her educational background and her own story to help women discover their path to well-being.
“Unpacking your thoughts is a practice of well-being. I wanted to show women there is a higher way to woman. I was still on a learning curve on how to not burn myself out while helping others,” she explains.
Through her work, Toni Jones encourages women to feel empowered to be mentally and emotionally sound. She uses coaching, online programs and music to spread her message of “conscious well-being.”
“Conscious well-being is taking the time to be still so you can hear what is good for you. It is taking your time with how you think and what you feel. It is being present for what is true to you,” Jones explains.
Through music, the universal language, Toni Jones was able to spread her message of positivity and self-awareness. “Affirmations for the Grown Ass Woman,” a nine-track EP and “Affirmations and Chill,” a three-track compilation, serve as a tool for women to be inspired and practice well-being on the go.
“I didn’t realize it would be something I’d be doing until I did it,” Jones says of her albums. “The inspiration was a few things; first, I wanted to figure out a way to combine the virtual world with well-being. I wanted to be able to make it accessible. The other piece was making money. I wanted to create something once and get paid for it continuously, without burning myself out.”
In addition to her music, Jones’ brand “Wife Your Life” stands to show women they have complete control over every aspect of lives, including their work life. W.I.F.E, an acronym for Womanhood in Full Empowerment, works to tear down the traditional “workaholic” mind frame and create boundaries to prevent overworking.
“Every woman that I know who is working towards living their dreams is burnt out,” Jones says.
With the stresses of everyday life, the novel Coronavirus and mounting racial tensions, Jones believes it is more important now than ever to protect your mental health.
“I think it’s the basics. The absolute basics. Keep it simple. Drink your water, get outside, deep breathing, being intentional about play and pleasure and fun. The cause needs your well-being. If your body is not functioning at its full potential, it cannot operate and be grounded,” Jones believes.
As a result, Jones stumbled upon a new venture. She created an outlet to have difficult conversations about the state of the world free from judgement. In conjunction with colleague Jasmine Durhal, “Chit Chat” was born.
“Chit Chat was created as a way to create a safe space to show two Black women who think without conforming,” Jones says. The Instagram Live show features the two women in a forum setting discussing hot topics openly.
“Affirmations for The Grown Ass Woman” and “Affirmations and Chill” are available on all major streaming platforms. Tune into “Chit Chat” Sunday a
About Post Author
