Mental Giant Series

To me, being a Mental Giant isn’t about how much you know it’s about how much you can endure without losing your faith, your dignity, or your will to rise again. It’s about surviving storms that were meant to break you and still standing tall with grace, wisdom, and peace in your heart.

I was born in a time when my skin was a protest, my voice was a threat, and my dreams were considered too big for a Black girl. I’ve seen hatred up close. I’ve walked past signs that told me where I could sit, eat, or drink water. I’ve watched men and women, tired from marching all day, still sing hymns that lifted our spirits higher than any mountain of oppression. We didn’t have much, but we had each other. We had strength that no law, no whip, and no word could take away. That’s what mental strength looks like the power to believe in your humanity when the world tries to convince you otherwise.

Years later, life tested me again in a different way. When I was told I had breast cancer, I thought, “Lord, haven’t I fought enough battles?” But then I remembered those who came before me my mother, who worked her hands raw to feed her family; my brothers, who fought wars abroad only to come home to another kind of war; and the women who stood beside me in church, singing, “We’ve come this far by faith.” So I decided to fight not with fear, but with faith. My scars are not symbols of pain, but proof of power. I’m still here. Still breathing. Still believing.

To be a Mental Giant means knowing that the mind is where every victory begins. Your body may grow weary, but your mind must stay strong, focused, and free. It means using every trial as a lesson, every loss as a reminder, and every tear as a seed that waters your growth. It’s refusing to let bitterness take root when you’ve seen injustice. It’s forgiving even when you remember. It’s walking with pride, even when your steps are slow.

At 88 years old, I’ve learned that real giants aren’t the ones who stand the tallest — they’re the ones who refuse to fall. I’ve watched generations rise with opportunities we once only prayed for, and I’m proud to know that the strength we carried helped pave their way.

So when I hear Mental Giant, I think of every Black woman who has carried the weight of the world with her head held high. I think of every survivor, every fighter, every dreamer who refused to give up. I think of myself not because I am perfect, but because I never stopped believing that I was meant for more.

A Mental Giant isn’t born she’s built through pain, purpose, and perseverance. And after all these years, I can say with pride: I am one.

What “Mental Giant” means to me is knowing that doing things nobody wants to do because of convenience gets done by you. Walking in faith, getting your body right through consistent exercise and investing and budgeting your money so that financially your family never suffers. These things some may view as tedious but to a “Mental Giant” it’s routine.

I believe a Mental Giant is someone that has learned from their mistakes. A person who has made decisions that weren’t beneficial to their well being, but decided that they were going to do better. That could mean a change in eating, relationships with other people and family, or just simply putting themselves first. I believe you can’t bring up others until you’ve risen first. Once you’ve overcome issues, then you can be a blessing to others.

What Does Mental Giant Mean to Me?

As a co-founder of UrbanJ Wear, the phrase Mental Giant is not just branding, it is personal. To me, being a Mental Giant is not about size, muscle, or how loud you can be in a room. It is about the strength you carry when no one is watching.

A Mental Giant is the person who chooses discipline over excuses. The one who knows setbacks are part of the process and still resets, instead of living in regret. It is about protecting your mind the way athletes protect their bodies, because your thoughts, your mindset, your resilience, are what really drive you forward.

For me, it is also about community. Mental Giants do not just lift themselves, they lift others. They understand that greatness is not a solo act, it is a collective grind. That is what I want UrbanJ Wear to represent: clothes that carry the weight of that mindset, so when you put them on, you feel like you are stepping into your own greatness.

Here is the real conversation I want to have with you:
👉 What does being a Mental Giant mean to you?

Is it pushing through your morning workout when your body says no? Is it starting that business even when people doubt you? Is it choosing peace over chaos?

I shared mine, now I want to hear yours.