Kimberly Sumpter had been doing what so many Black women are used to doing… keeping everything going.
Showing up.
Handling responsibilities.
Making sure everyone else was taken care of.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, she stopped paying attention to herself.
In this episode, Kimberly shares what it looked like to keep pushing through even when something felt off. The pace, the pressure, and the quiet ways she had been putting herself last without really stopping to question it.
There’s a moment she talks about where everything shifts. A serious health scare that made it clear that what she had been ignoring for so long was no longer something she could push past.
Not because she didn’t want to slow down, but because she hadn’t been giving herself permission to.
She opens up about what it felt like to realize just how much she had been carrying, physically, mentally, and emotionally. And how easy it is to keep going when that’s what you’ve always done.
This conversation is a reminder that doing too much doesn’t always feel like a breaking point in the moment. Sometimes it shows up slowly until your body makes you pay attention.
Kimberly shares what it looks like to move differently now. Choosing rest without guilt. Listening to her body. And creating space for herself in a way she hadn’t before.
If you’re starting to recognize the ways you’ve been doing too much and not giving yourself space to breathe, the Support Languages™ assessment can help you understand the kind of support that meets you where you are: shadesofstrong.com/supportlanguages.
About Kimberly Sumpter
Kimberly Sumpter is someone who has spent years creating space for other women to be heard, even while learning how to listen to herself.
Through her platform, Sistahs Connect Radio™, she blends music, storytelling, and conversation to create a space where Black women can slow down, reflect, and feel connected. What started as a love for radio grew into something deeper — a place for healing, honesty, and community.
She’s also the voice behind Podcast to Inspire®, where she helps women use their own voices to share their stories and build something meaningful. Whether she’s teaching, creating, or holding space, her work is rooted in helping women show up fully and be heard in ways they may not have experienced before.
At the core of everything she does is connection. Creating spaces where women don’t feel like they have to carry everything alone… and reminding them that their voice, their story, and their presence matter.
Connect with Kimberly Sumpter
About Shades of Strong®
Shades of Strong® is a space where Black women come to breathe, reflect, and reclaim strength without the struggle. Support Pauses are short, soulful reminders that you don’t have to carry it all alone. New episodes drop every weekday.
Resources to Support You:
- Black Women Storytelling Series
- Schedule a 1:1 Support Session
- Get the Guide: “You Know Your Support Language™—Now What?”
- Take the Support Language™ Quiz. and learn how you actually receive support best.
- Get Support Right in Your Inbox: Gentle words, real-life reflection, and soft reminders every week
- Download Sistah’s Connect Radio in the Apple Store
- Download Sistah’s Connect Radion in Google Play
Let’s Stay Connected:
- Subscribe to Shades of Strong on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform
- Share this episode with a sista who’s tired of being the strong one
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- www.shadesofstrong.com
Shirl Hubbard is the creator of Support Languages™ and host of Shades of Strong® — a movement shifting the narrative from Strong Black Woman to Supported Black Woman™ through language, rest, and real support.
