We had the good fortune of connecting with Laneen Haniah aka SouLah the Legend and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laneen Haniah, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Believing in myself and the value of what I’m offering is the most important thing to me. I’m was not put on this earth to sell a product or service. I was put here to add value and solve problems.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
what you are most proud of or excited about?

I am extremely proud of the fact that I didn’t let age stop me from pursuing my dreams of becoming a professional artist and influencer at nearly 50! I recently read a post that said, “if you had followed your childhood dreams, what would you be doing right now?” One of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced in life was being able to respond,

“Exactly what I’m currently doing.”

I’m most excited that I have found a creative way to merge my love for creativity and my passion to help people live a meaningful life into a single platform. In the past year I have published 3 books, started a foundation for emotional health and suicide prevention, and released 3 new singles. I’m also working as a model, an actress and have an album upcoming! There is so much more. I won’t tell it all, but I will say I am living life to the fullest and don’t plan to stop! You can find out about all that I’ve mentioned on my official webste, at www.soulah.me

How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy?

Where I am today is a mixture of hard work, schooling, dedication, partnerships, mentors, ingenuity, creativity, and both natural and learned talents. It has not been easy at all. Nothing is easy when you are raising 7 kids and battling physical and mental illness. You have to pull from every resource available, and even some that are not.

How did you overcome the challenges?

My relationship with God (I call Him YahwehI) is a huge part of what keeps me going! Through His constant guidance and love, I always manage to find the strength and answers I need to get things done.

Taking care of my body is also an important factor. A healthy body leads to a clear and focused mind. A focused mind produces energy. Energy directed toward a targeted task produces results.

I also do other practical things like: read books, go to seminars, watch tutorials, practice my craft, take classes, etc. And take care of tedious administrative stuff like staying current with the IRS and boring paperwork, lol.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

We’d need a series of books to document all the lessons I’ve learned, lol! When it comes to whatever your idea of “success” is: I like to remind people that success doesn’t happen all at once. It’s the daily commitment to show up for your dreams that eventually makes them come true. As I recently quoted on my social media accounts,

“Consistency is success on a payment plan. Don’t miss a payment!”

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I’m not just an artist, or speaker, or influencer, or business woman… I am a person who struggles with severe mental health deficits. I am a person who has made 7 suicide attempts, and one who still struggles with suicidal ideation at times. I have bipolar disorder, Complex PTSD, and anxiety–not to mention Lupus, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Nothing about daily life is easy for me, and yet I choose to show up and pursue greatness and purpose everyday!!!

I made a strong and unbreakable commitment to myself to never attempt to end my life again, but if I’m being honest—sometimes that is easier said than done. Some days I’m going strong and some days… well… I’m just going, LOL. In late April of 2023, I experienced a severe depressive episode, the worst one I’d had since my last suicide attempt in 2017. It frightened me, to say the least. I knew I needed to take drastic measures to keep myself from falling into the abyss. That is when I began what has now become my official “Healing Out Loud” journey, through daily social media check-ins!

Everyday I do a quick 1-3 minute reel. It is my way of holding myself accountable for my emotional health, and never taking a single day for granted. I recently reached the 160 day mark and plan to do these check-ins until the apocalypse happens or The Lord calls me home. (Or maybe just until I feel it is no longer needed, lol.) But I want people to understand that mental health mindfulness is a DAILY RESPONSIBILITY, and I hope that my healing out loud journey will encourage others to commit themselves to daily accountability.

This is what I’m really about. Everything else I do points back to me holding myself accountable for the quality of my life and teaching others to do the same. My story and my brand deserves attention because it is helping people live better. Please stop complaining about all the garbage on social media and the meaningless content that has saturated the airwaves. Instead of complaining, support me and others like me. Follow all my social media pages. Purchase all my books. Download all my music. Donate to my foundation. My voice is needed. My story needs to be told. To anyone reading this, I need your support to help make that happen,

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For me it’s the food, i love to eat!

Hall’s Chicken, Velvet Taco, and La Hacienda are among my favorite places to eat.

I’m not much for crowds, but I do enjoy walking the streets of Deep Ellum on occasion

If you see me outside, you’ll find me in a park somewhere, journaling or working on my next project.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My children are my greatest supporters and encouragers. I dedicate my work to them all: Ja’Keim, Nebiyah, Benjamin, Judah, Zechariah, Mi’Kara, and Anayvah. And to everyone who ever made me smile and gave me one more reason to live, I thank you.

Website: www.soulahthelegend.com, www.irefusetomissout.com

Instagram: @SouLahtheLegend

Twitter: @SouLahtheLegend

Facebook: @SouLahtheLegend

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLzWXUZ9H_F_DDS9SQ3qmBg

Other: The easiest way to find what you’re looking for is through my linktree. www.linktr.ee/laneenhaniah

Image Credits
Laneen A. Haniah

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