Tera Carissa Hodges is a world-renowned entrepreneur, certified women’s life coach, faith-based empowerment speaker, and best-selling author known for equipping women and families to live boldly, authentically, and on purpose. With weekly teleconferences reaching more than 10,000 people across 30+ countries, her mission has become far more than a career; it’s a divine calling that sparks real transformation. Her voice has been featured in Essence, Yahoo Finance, and Hype Magazine, and her work extends into purpose-driven business including her custom greeting card collection with Culture Greetings, now available at Walgreens.

In this Pretty Women Hustle interview, we’re talking to Tera about what she wants children to internalize, how moms can shift from guilt to steadiness, and how faith reshapes parenting under pressure because the hustle is real, but the love must be real too.

What’s an affirmation you want every child to hear?
An affirmation every child should hear is: You are loved. They need to know the very essence of who they are is loved, brilliant, celebrated, and unique.

In I AM: A Little One’s Guide to Affirmations, what is the core message you want children to internalize?

I want every child to internalize that they are loved, wanted, and accepted. That is key, especially considering the society we live in. When kids understand their identity from a place of love, everything else becomes easier for them—confidence, resilience, and self-belief.

How do you help moms shift from guilt to emotional steadiness?

First, I go back to a few grounding questions: Are you doing the best you can? Are you seeking outside guidance and help? Are you willing to apologize to your child, sincerely? If the answer is yes, then accept you are human. Apologize when needed, forgive yourself, and move on.

As a mom, I’ve learned something crucial: imperfection and unhealthiness are not the same thing. No parent is perfect, but you can be healthy. If your aim is health, and you’re willing to do the work to become healthier, you can release the guilt and move forward with peace.

How does faith change the way you handle parenting stress?
Faith in God changes everything. It helps you see your child as a gift, and because of that, you parent with firmness and gentleness. When correcting a child, your goal should not be to tear down, humiliate, break, or destroy it should be to correct, teach, and build.

That’s how God is with us. Children don’t belong to us. They belong to God. We’re just stewarding them for a season. And when you remember that, the way you parent reflects that sacred responsibility.

Tera Carissa Hodges’ work reminds women that the season of building—whether it’s building a business, building confidence, or building a home, doesn’t have to come at the cost of tenderness. When love leads, faith steadies, and healthy boundaries replace guilt, moms and children both grow stronger. This is the kind of hustle Pretty Women Hustle is built on: purposeful, empowered, and grounded in truth.

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