Showing Up “Naked”: Vulnerability As A Leadership Superpower with Teresa Smith

On this Inner Peace, Better Health episode, host Shreya speaks with Teresa Smith — founder of Peaceful Soul Life Coaching and the first African American woman to serve as mayor of Palmetto, GA — about why vulnerability is not weakness but a practical leadership tool. Teresa unpacks “showing up naked” as bringing your whole self (joy, fear, grief, power) into rooms where titles and armor usually win. We cover mother-wound healing, forgiveness without justification, soul-led leadership (spirit leading, mind following, body aligning), and small daily practices that build inner stability under public pressure. If you lead teams, a city, or simply your life, this conversation offers grounded steps to drop the mask, increase trust, and create humane results.  About the guest: Teresa Smith is a leadership coach and the mayor of Palmetto, GA. Through Peaceful Soul Life Coaching, she helps people move from performance and perfectionism to integrity and inner alignment. Key takeaways: “Showing up naked” means entering every space as your whole human self; it normalizes honesty and raises trust in teams and communities. Forgiveness does not require understanding another person’s pain; choose inner understanding and responsibility for your response. Reframing the “mother wound” can free purpose: Teresa sees her mother’s role as part of a larger assignment that shaped her service. Titles don’t make leaders human; practice visible emotion and clear boundaries to model psychological safety. Soul-led leadership sequence: spirit leads, mind follows, body aligns — reverse the usual “mind first” habit. Daily practice: gratitude on waking, brief self check-ins after hard interactions, write affirmations on your mirror, and keep commitments to remove the “mask” gradually. Expect resistance as you unmask; stay consistent and let alignment — not approval — guide your strategy. Hurt people hurt people; healed people heal people — choose the latter through routine inner work, rest, and reflection. Public service can be low-pay and high-pressure; honesty about constraints builds credibility. Authentic presence reduces performative posturing and invites real collaboration across differences. Connect with the guest Website: https://www.peacefulsoulllc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformherwithteresa/ Peaceful Soul Life Coaching: contact via website email form Want to be a guest on Inner Peace, Better Health? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it’s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty—storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate—this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being • Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth • Holistic Healing & Conscious Living • Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. 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