Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to FEDLEINE JEROME. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
FEDLEINE, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I was always a naturally a very confident kid when I was younger, but after years of bullying and ridicule from kids at school and family, i became a shell of myself. I was often reprimanded for speaking my mind and questioning the status quo. I soon learned to hide that part of myself, stay small and stay quiet so that people could like me. I learned how to be invisible so that i wouldnt get picked on. This followed me well into my adulthood, where i was riddled with low self esteem and low confidence. I would look at people following their dreams and using their creative gifts and just salivate because I wanted that more than anything- but because I didnt see myself as talented enough, i would never go for it. after years of procrastination i decided to start something called shadow work- a form of therapy developed by phycologist Carl Jung. It requires one to go back to who they were before the world put labels on them. To face the parts of themselves they dont like with self compassion, in order to fully intergrate it. Through this process of intergration, self love and acceptance, I started to see the parts of me that people said were negative as strengths. I started seeing myself as whole and complete. In doing so, it made me more confident beca i no longer cared what people thought about me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As I sit down to write this, I can’t help but marvel at the journey that has brought me to where I am today. I’m a writer, director, and actress, but more than that, I’m a mother, a dreamer, and a woman who has finally found her voice and her strength.
My journey into the world of filmmaking wasn’t a straight path. It was filled with twists, turns, and unexpected obstacles. But through it all, my ambition and determination never wavered.
Growing up, I always had a love for storytelling. Whether it was through writing short stories, acting out scenes with my siblings, or daydreaming about fantastical worlds, I was drawn to the power of narrative. But like many young girls, I was taught to temper my ambitions, to settle for less, to prioritize the needs and desires of others above my own due to the jealousy of others around me who wanted to keep me small.
It wasn’t until I became a mother myself that I realized the importance of chasing my dreams. Suddenly, I had two little faces looking up at me, eyes filled with wonder and curiosity, and I knew I couldn’t settle for a life of quiet dissatisfaction. I wanted to show them that it’s possible to pursue your passions, to carve out your own path, even when the world tells you it’s impossible.
So, I took the leap. I wrote my first screenplay during late nights and stolen moments, fueled by coffee and sheer determination. When it was finished, I faced the daunting task of bringing it to life. With two young children and a husband who didn’t share my dreams, it seemed like an impossible feat. But I refused to be held back. working through the pains of my unhappy marraige, I subconsiously wrote a film about it- and gave myself the key to my liberation- full intergration with my innerchild/ artist self. I went on a journey outlined in the book- The Artist’s way. Chapter four changed my life forever. it discusses letting go of people who block our creativity and feed off of it for their own gain. I knew this was my husband. i took myself through an intense healing journey, re-examining my past through a new lens, healing my inner child, forgiving my parents. the end result was an outspoken women who speaks her truth at all costs.
I poured my heart and soul into my first film, juggling the demands of motherhood with the rigors of filmmaking. It was exhausting, exhilarating, and everything in between. And when the final credits rolled, I felt a sense of accomplishment like never before. to create something out of pure imagination into form was exhillerating!
But my journey didn’t end there. In fact, it was just beginning. As I began work on my next project, I realized that I needed to make some difficult decisions in my personal life. My marriage had become a source of negativity, with my husband’s jealousy and lack of support casting a shadow over my ambitions. It was a painful choice, but I knew I couldn’t let anything hold me back.
Leaving my marriage was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was also liberating. Suddenly, I was free to pursue my dreams without apology or hesitation. I found my voice, and I wasn’t afraid to use it.
Now, as I embark on the next chapter of my journey, I’m filled with hope and excitement for what the future holds. I’m a mother, a filmmaker, and a woman who refuses to be confined by the expectations of others. ive rediscovered that I’m ambitious, hardworking, and unapologetically myself. I partntered with Dr Marsha Evans to create and ficiltate wellness retreats for women all over the world. We help women rediscover themselves and remember who they were before societies titles. We introduce them to natural healing modalities and reconnection to nature through play and adventure.
So here’s to the dreamers, the doers, and the women who refuse to be silenced. Here’s to finding your voice, your strength, and your path in a world that often tries to keep you small. And here’s to never, ever giving up on your dreams.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the three most impactful qualities were curiosity, determaination, and self awareness. when I learned how to be curios, instead of just accepting socities standard for myself everything change. I began to question the systems that i grew up in, the adults that shaped me, the beliefs that kept me imprisioned in my own unhappiness. I no longer did things because someone else said so. I started thinking for myself, and examining what was really harming me verses what i was being told. determination gave the the focus and strength to leave when everything and everyone around me stood as obstacles. i found a way out of no way, with no money and no support to get out of an abusive marriage and stand on my own two feet. even when odds stood against me, i knew i had to leave, and I did. self awareness continues to be my north star. When you learn how to observe yourself and your life, you can make decisions from a higher level.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The body keeps the score has been the most impactful book for me because it helped me make the mind body spirit connection to my chronic pain. I had been dealing with hip pain for a year and couldnt figure out why and where the pain was coming from. The nuggets and information on that book helped me look at my pain from a fresh lens- my body communicating with me that other areas of my life were off. It was my intuition leading me through a healing journy back to myself through the use of discomfort and pain.
Contact Info:
- Website: fefej.com
- Instagram: fedleinej
- Linkedin: fedleine jerome
