
A few years ago, I hit a wall.
I had built a successful business, created a beautiful life, and checked off many of the goals I once dreamed about.
And yet… I could feel there was another level calling me – more impact, more ease, more abundance – but I couldn’t seem to get there.
It was frustrating. I wasn’t sabotaging myself. I wasn’t playing small. I was doing the work. But I was also circling the same invisible ceiling.
Then a mentor said something that landed deeply:
“Tonya, you’re not stuck because you’re doing something wrong. You’re stuck because you’re still being the woman who created this level of success.”
And that was the lightbulb moment.
The self-image that had served me so well up until that point – the driven woman, the overachiever, the one who could make things happen through sheer will – was no longer the version of me that could create what was next.
That’s the sneaky truth about growth: the very identity that got you here often can’t take you there.
The way out isn’t more effort. It’s evolution.
It’s allowing yourself to become the woman whose success is defined by trust, creativity, and expansion – not just hustle and grit.
When you shift your self-image to match the level you’re being called into, the path forward stops feeling like a fight… and starts unfolding naturally.
With courage & clarity,

P.S. Curious about who you have to become to get you to your next level?
The Next Era Quiz will show you in 90 seconds. Take it now.
Understanding Your Sticking Points
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
~ Often attributed to Einstein (though disputed)
Most women think their sticking point is external – the economy, their industry, their circumstances. But the real sticking point? It’s internal.
It’s the part of you that still believes success has to be hard. That ease means you’re not doing enough. That if it’s not a struggle, it doesn’t count.
Your breakthrough isn’t waiting for you to work harder. It’s waiting for you to question the rules you’ve been playing by.
This week, ask yourself: What old rule about success no longer serves me?

The Next Era Quiz
Feeling like you’re circling the same invisible ceiling? Like you’re ready for more but can’t quite break through?
You’re not broken. You’re not behind. You’re simply being called to evolve into a new identity – and trying to get there as the woman you’ve always been.
The Next Era Quiz reveals which of the four identity archetypes is calling you forward right now. In less than 90 seconds, you’ll discover whether you’re being called to step into The Visionary, The Curator, The Vivante, or The Muse.
Because your next breakthrough isn’t about doing more, it’s about becoming more.
The #1 Reason You’re Stuck – And How to Fix It Fast
There was a time when I spent months telling everyone I was confused. “I don’t know what to do next. I’m just stuck.” But the truth? I knew exactly what I wanted – I was just terrified to admit it.
In this episode, I’m revealing why “I don’t know” is almost always code for “I’m scared” and sharing the process that finally broke my paralysis. Plus, the counterintuitive strategy I use when my brain tries to keep me small (hint: I do the opposite of what it tells me).
// TheEDIT
A weekly digital magazine by the School of Self-Image



