Difficult & challenging conversations are one of the best ways to use our minds and brains, develop stress resilience, increase creativity and problem solving, and prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers. But they are not easy. In this episode I chat with Coach Yeamah on how to have these difficult conversations, why they are vital, and how these conversations can improve mental & physical health if done correctly.    Special offers from our sponsors:   -BetterHelp (the best online counseling app): To get 10% off BetterHelp counseling during your first month see: https://trybetterhelp.com/drleaf    -BLUblox (the best glasses to reduce your exposure to harmful blue and green light): To get 15% off your BLUblox glasses use the code LEAF15 at checkout: https://BLUblox.com     Podcast Highlights  2:28 How Coach Yeamah went from being afraid to go out her home to living with purpose  4:47 Why we should celebrate our differences, and focus our attention on what we need to change now  5:27 Why yes, all lives do matter, and why we are focusing on the terrible treatment of the black lives and how we can make a difference   6:20, 49:00 How the church has failed to celebrate our differences  7:00, 15:50 Why education is the foundation of anti-racism work   7:23 Why conformity in the church is not helpful   10:16 Why denying our differences creates cognitive dissonance in the brain   11:00 How we can celebrate the beauty of difference  13:05 Why relationship and representation is important   14:51 How we are all unique representations of God’s love  16:00 Why identity is integral to mental health   20:00 How to deconstruct our toxic beliefs about ourselves  25:33 How to face and process our “triggers”  26:50 Why you should educate yourself before you have tough conversations  28:10 Why we should not try control the people we are talking to   30:00 Why we all have willfully ignorance, and why we all need to acknowledge our prejudices and do the work of educating ourselves   31:47 Why being open-minded and learning is so important for our mental and brain health  32:11 How to have difficult conversations, and how to listen and respond in love  39:00 Why it will take time and hard work to eradicate racist mentalities from our society   45:33 How to talk to your family and church about race  53:20 Our differences are divine reflections of God  57:50 Why we need to stop making the bible an idol and demonizing difference   1:08:55 How spirituality and sexuality are related  1:12:00 At our most fundamental level we are waves of love    For more info on Coach Yeamah:  Website: www.yeamah.com  Read the podcast blog here: https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/how-challenging-conversations-and-an-open-mindset-boost-mental-brain-health-tips-on-how-to-have-difficult-conversations-correctly-and-effectively   Additional resources:   -Sign up to join my free text program and receive mental health care tips and strategies, exclusive offers and more! Just text DRLEAF to 1 (833) 285 3747 (*Only available for U.S numbers at this time) -Visit my website at https://drleaf.com for more free resources, tips, and tools to help you improve and heal your mental health! And be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get even more mental self-care tips delivered to your inbox weekly and to see my upcoming events (you can sign up at drleaf.com!)