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Welcome to Spotlight Hustle, my weekly newsletter celebrating Black women rewriting what leadership, wellness, and resilience look like.
Today’s feature is Tara-Whitney Rison — actress, wellness coach, and health liberation advocate. Her story is a reminder that healing can be both a calling and an art form.
Tara’s Story: When Stillness Became Her Strength
Before she became a wellness coach and holistic health advocate, Tara lived life in constant motion.
As an actress, she spent years auditioning, performing, and working multiple jobs to make it all fit — all while quietly managing an autoimmune condition that demanded her attention.
When the pandemic hit, the world stopped. And for the first time, so did she.
In the quiet that followed, Tara began to listen — really listen — to her body, her spirit, and her faith. That pause became her awakening.
She realized she wasn’t just called to be an artist on stage — she was called to be an artist in health.
After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, Tara decided to take her healing into her own hands. She studied holistic nutrition, detoxing, and stress recovery, blending science and spirituality to rebuild herself from the inside out.
What started as self-healing grew into a mission: helping women redefine what it means to be healthy, grounded, and whole.
Her wellness coaching practice was born from her lived experience — from hospital rooms, quiet prayers, and the deep conviction that healing is possible.
Challenges & Resilience
In December 2023, Tara faced one of her hardest tests.
Her water broke early — at just 24 weeks — and she was admitted to the hospital, where she stayed on bed rest for nearly three months.
For someone who thrived on movement, purpose, and progress, the stillness was painful. Isolation set in. The walls felt closer each day.
But slowly, Tara began to shift her perspective.
Instead of wishing to escape, she decided to embrace where she was — body, mind, and soul.
“I realized that staying put was my assignment. Healing required surrender.”
That moment transformed her understanding of strength. It wasn’t about pushing harder — it was about trusting deeper.
Routines & Practical Hustle
Tara’s daily rhythm now reflects everything she’s learned. She begins her mornings with prayer, movement, and hydration — her version of a sacred reset.
Her rituals for focus:
- Scheduling rest first, before anything else.
- Movement and mindful eating to fuel her body.
- Mapping her day around energy, not urgency.
She’s learned that discipline doesn’t mean depletion. Her goal each day isn’t perfection — it’s peace.
Wisdom & Advice
If Tara could speak to her younger self, she’d say:
“You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to start to be great.”
Myth to bust:
Success doesn’t require constant grinding. You don’t have to hustle 24/7 to prove your worth.
Advice to women in business:
You are allowed to put yourself first — your rest, your joy, your healing.
Looking Ahead
Tara is building a legacy she calls Health Liberation — empowering women to take ownership of their bodies, their rest, and their wellness.
Next up:
- The Beating Burnout Brunch — an interactive wellness experience launching in Columbia, Maryland, in November 2025.
- Finalist in the 5K Pitch Competition (voting opens soon!).
Her mission is simple: to teach women that wholeness is the new hustle.
Rapid-Fire Round
- Coffee or tea? Tea, always.
- Morning person or night owl? Morning light all the way.
- One word for this season? Radical.
- Currently listening to: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.
- Mantra: Refill your cup first.
- Discipline hack: 64 ounces of water before noon.
Why We’re Excited
Tara’s story reminds us that rest isn’t a reward — it’s a right.
She’ll be sharing her wisdom live at the Top 100 Most Powerful Black Women Summit, and we can’t wait to hear her speak about healing, health, and wholeness.
Secure your ticket now.
It’s FREE — but seats are limited.
Let’s build, breathe, and rise together.
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