As Essence magazine celebrates 55 years of amplifying Black women’s voices, its Editor-in-Chief emeritus, Susan L. Taylor, inspires a new generation with a powerful reminder about self-care, intentional living, and inner peace.
In a professionally produced video shared on Instagram by @essence, Taylor — who is also the Founder and CEO of the National CARES Mentoring Movement — delivers a message centered on the importance of pausing before pouring energy into others.
“You have to give yourself to yourself before you give yourself away,” Taylor says, urging women to begin each day with mindful reflection rather than rushing into tasks.
She encourages taking time to consider movement, nourishment, thoughts, and priorities before engaging with the world.
Taylor reflects on one of her most impactful early writings for Essence, an article titled Quiet Time, in which she stressed the transformative power of stillness.
“Quiet Time is the key to everything that we need,” she says, describing it as the space where divine guidance — whether one calls it God, Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, or divine intelligence — can be heard.
Her message is both spiritual and practical: by centering oneself daily, women can align their actions with integrity and authenticity, ensuring that what they give to others comes from a place of fullness rather than depletion.
The video has resonated deeply online, sparking conversations about reclaiming time, prioritizing mental and spiritual well-being, and embracing rest as an act of empowerment, especially for Black women who often navigate multiple roles and responsibilities.
