We recently connected with Dana Lyons and have shared our conversation below.
Dana, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Developing confidence and self-esteem doesn’t just happen. It takes time, experience, and belief one step and experience at a time. I was a very shy, insecure, and sensitive child. I had more going on in my head than whatever shared. My parents divorced when I was about 5 years old. Who to trust, where I belonged, and if I was special filled my head and heart for years until one day Jesus asked me a question that changed my life forever. I was a sporadic churchgoer and rarely ever opened my bible so it wasn’t like I knew much about my faith. At the time He asked me this question my marriage was a mess, I was physically sick, struggling in every area, and out of hope. I didn’t have any fight in me to get well myself but I knew my four kids needed me. They were my motivation, so I said yes. With each day, step, and choice I took by faith I grew more and more confident in God and who He created me to be. The more I did this the less I sought people for what only God could give me. The more I focused on what He was saying and leading me each day the less I worried about my own life especially my past and all my mistakes. We develop our confidence. It doesn’t happen overnight or show up one day. It takes time. It’s like growing a muscle. I decided to show up each day, walk by faith, and as I experienced the resistance and challenges life threw my way, I engaged and believed God’s words to me over my own doubts, and little by little I was growing stronger. Trust me fear, doubt, and a whole lot of lies were there to greet me and trip me up with each step. I didn’t ignore them. I heard them. What I learned to do was not follow their lead. I followed God. He always led me in the way of peace, love, and a ton of grace. When you see someone confident know that they put time, energy, and made choices each day to move towards growth rather than looking back and beating themselves up with mistakes and lies. I didn’t know I was growing in confidence. I just took the next best imperfect step. The more I did that and looked forward and upward the more free and confident I got. The best decision I ever made was to get well. It wasn’t to get confident and grow my self-esteem but it was the result of choosing wellness. We get to choose. Choose wisely.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I wrote my first book in 2019, called No Longer Cinderella. I found on my journey to wholeness and healing there are many women and men just like me. We each long to be the desired, special, and beautiful one but more often than not we believe and live our lives like the servant slave girl. At one point in my own journey I said outloud, “Oh my goodness, I’m no longer Cinderella.” There was a moment I moved out of a place of victimhood and into owning how loved and valuable I am. No one had to tell me. I had to discover that myself and so does every individual.
I am working on two books at the moment. One of which is about the very question Jesus asked me that changed my life and the other one is about decluttering our soul and nourishing what God is doing in us.
I am a speaker, teacher, author, and coach. In 2005 I started and led a ministry called Broken but Not Alone. Helping women grow in confidence in who they are in Christ, heal from past hurt, and be in a community with others who are looking to do the same. My heart is to see individuals and families healed, restored, and free.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Qualities and skills most helpful on the journey for me was to not look at the big picture. Just do the next best imperfect step. Go one more minute, hour, day, and week and before long you’ve gone farther than you thought you would go. Get with a community that will encourage and cheer you on but who will also love you enough to speak the truth so that you keep growing. It’s about moving forward not being perfect. You can’t fail if you don’t quit. In my opinion, there’s no such thing as failing; only learning. So switch your perspective on what that looks like. Some say they failed. I’ve learned to say “I’ve learned.”
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I’ve read many self-help books and nothing has helped me more than the Word of God. I didn’t believe it until it worked for me. It’s my plumb line and measuring stick.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://coachdanalyons.com
- Other: My website and socials are under construction. Stay tuned.
Image Credits
My own images
