In 2021, I moved to Puerto Rico…
… for two weeks.
Many people thought I had made a huge mistake.
She doesn’t know what she wants. She can’t get it together. She’s flaky.
But you know what, I don’t regret that move one bit. A BIG life requires BIG decisions, and sometimes, those decisions don’t work out.
Either way, I'd much rather make a “mistake” and change my mind than live a small, scared life.
Here’s the beautiful thing: YOU get to decide what everything means.
But first, you have to FORGIVE yourself,
For the bad marriage For the bad parenting For the bad decisions
ALL of it.
When it comes to the past, we all need to extend ourselves a little more grace.
Welcome to The Grace Issue. Let’s talk about how to forgive ourselves, so we can get up and try again.
Love,
P.S. If you look up the definition of grace, you will find words like approval, favor, an act of kindness, courtesy, compassion, or my favorite…
“Forgiveness towards someone who it is within one’s power to punish or harm”
We do this for other people all the time. So why not include ourselves in the mix?
Grace is forgiving yourself for being human.
Grace is refusing to hold yourself hostage to your past “mistakes.” Besides, it was an old version of you that made that mistake in the first place. The new you is here, and she is free to create the life of her dreams.
Beating yourself up doesn’t help anyone
When you beat yourself up, no one wins. It doesn’t make you a better mother, a better friend, or a better human being.
If anything, beating yourself up makes you less effective in every area of your life. So, if you want to create your dreams, you have to be prepared to give yourself GRACE over and over again.
Whether it’s for overeating, overspending, or losing it with your kids…
Whether it’s for spending too much time on social media, lying to your best friend, or saying hurtful things in a moment of anger…
Whether it’s for getting divorced, leaving Puerto Rico, or getting rid of your bangs (and then wanting them back almost immediately)...
All of these situations are part of the human experience. When you beat yourself up, you shrink, hide, and start to play small.
So the next time you stumble, be mindful of the story you tell yourself. Instead of punishing yourself, attach a new meaning to your “mistake” that fuels you, drives you, and helps move you toward the BIG life of your dreams.
Trust me. Where there is grace, there is always another chance.
A Second Chance
with Kiana Johnson
“I recently did something out of my comfort zone. My fiancé took me to Tulum for my birthday, and we decided to book last-minute engagement photos.
It was the first time either of us had ever done a professional photoshoot! The experience was romantic, fun, memorable, and forced us to get close in public.
This is my second engagement, and I've had to work to get over the thought that ‘I am a woman who has always struggled in relationships.’
This took a lot for someone who grew up without examples of happy love. I never saw the type of relationship I wanted for myself.
It wasn't until I started practicing being a woman who is willing to love herself as much as she loves others and can set boundaries in relationships that I met the right guy for me.
My self-image is now that of a soft woman, happily living her life and loving her relationship, while also thriving in her career, enjoying moments of homemaking, hanging out with friends, practicing hobbies, etc.
I can (and do!) have it all.”
The Power of Collective Grace at SOSI South
I’ve heard some whisperings that while you love the idea of getting together with 200+ of the most amazing women on the planet (my unapologetic bias!), you may not connect with the idea of “your charmed life.”
(In case you’re not following, SOSI South is our 2.5 day luxe retreat in New Orleans November 2 - 4, 2023, the theme is “Your Charmed Life,” and you’re invited! Tickets are selling fast, though.) Let me elaborate. Your Charmed Life is about living a life of everyday magic. It’s being “unbothered” with the chaos of ordinary living and, instead, rising above the fray.
It’s about dealing with obstacles with grace and elegance. It’s about fun and style. It’s about beauty and curiosity. It’s about leisure and luxury.
At SOSI South, I’ll show you exactly what you need to do to access the powerful parts of yourself that can design and create your charmed life.
Being in a supportive group of women like the ones you will meet in New Orleans in November, will fuel you and inspire you. Not to mention:
Spending time where Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe performed
The masquerade ball to host our guests in true School of Self-Image style
The live show that will be more exciting than some of the shows you’ve paid hundreds of dollars to see
The special parties, meals, and cocktail hours to be shared by all (in your favorite attire, of course!)
The incredible event agenda, designed to help you fully grasp the ingredients of a truly charmed life
This event in charming New Orleans will give you some seriously magical vibes. It will be the charming getaway of a lifetime.
Are you in?
If so, I can’t wait to actually meet you *in person* at SOSI South.
How to Forgive Yourself
Still struggling with self-forgiveness? Tune into this week’s inspiring podcast where I’ll dive deep into the process of letting go of the past to make way for an extraordinary future.
// TheEDIT
A weekly digital magazine by the School of Self-Image
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