We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Staci-Ann Smiles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Staci-Ann below.
Staci-Ann , 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.
I truly believe that the definition of “ high self-esteem is understanding you’re a masterpiece; Not perfect, yet still a work of art.” It took me a long time to get to this truth. As far back as I can remember I struggled with understanding my worth and value. I didn’t recognize the power or the significance of my own voice.
As a kid, I was called a “chatterbox”. I grew up in a culture where grownups believed children should be seen and not heard. At around age 10 or 11, I was told that the enemy’s plan was to make me worthless. These, along with many other moments in my earlier years were the seeds that began to cultivate the destruction of my value system. At age 13 I lost my virginity. And at age 19 I had an abortion.
I proudly wore a cloak of shame and made comparison my best friend. Insecurity had become my haven and guilt lived next door. It was impossible for me to see my worthiness in the eyes of others no matter how much of myself I gave.
But I’ve come to realize that it was never their eyes I needed to look through to see my own worth in the first place. My worth and value was never determined by anyone else, or any circumstance that added merit to my resume.
God. Him and Him alone. My creator, He is the only one who could determine my worth and value. To put it simply, it wasn’t until I hit rock bottom. It wasn’t until after a 7 year long relationship I came to the end of myself, where my heart was unrecognizable. I had to search for something else, for someone else. I was tired, depleted, and broken in so many ways. Yet there was no one in this world, No confidant nor counselor that could save me from this state of being.
When God showed up, He showed me, me. He showed me the version of myself in Him. He showed me the version He created, the masterpiece. It was the time I spent drawing close to God that opened my eyes to the truth of who I already was. I learned the truth about my worth and value. I learned that nothing in this world could deplete me. No one or nothing in this world can add or take away my value and worth. I am a masterpiece created by the Grand designer. That’s the confidence I walk in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Professionally, I am currently a Registered Respiratory Therapist who treats various patients with breathing issues. I am also an author of 2 books, “Value Worth & Wisdom”, and “Beautiful in His time”. More recently I am in the process of doing the ground work as an entrepreneur to develop my Mindset & breath work coaching business, and Women Empowerment Network. My network also has a nonprofit arm geared to adolescent girls with the same purpose and intent. Helping women overcome Low self-esteem in order to walk in wisdom and wealth. My heart is to see women and adolescents overcome the trauma and mistakes of their past and walk confidently in the fullness of who they were created to be without insecurity, shame or comparison crippling them.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Learn to see yourself the way God sees you. (Everyone else’s perspective of you is only an opinion, it isn’t truth.)
2. Love every part of who you are, the good, the bad , the ugly.
(You cannot genuinely love others until you love yourself, and you cannot genuinely love yourself until you love God.)
3. Healing is a process.
(Time does not heal all wounds. Time and intentionality heals wounds.)
(Once you heal, your scars tell the best stories.)
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Bible was the main book that played an important role in my development. Learning who God is and His love for me had a significant impact on my life.
Other books such as:
(“THE GARDEN WITHIN” by Dr. Anita Phillips)
“Trauma shaped you, but it didn’t create you”.
“Your emotions are not the enemy. Your most powerful life begins when you end the war with your emotions.”
And..
(“KILLING COMPARISON” by Nona Jones)
“When we see ourselves through the eyes of others, we make others the source of our worthiness”
“Insecurity emerges when we believe the voices that diminish our value in comparison to others”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Staciann_smiles @valueworthwisdom
- Facebook: Staci-Ann Smiles
- Linkedin: Staci-Ann Smiles
- Youtube: Staci-Ann Smiles
Image Credits
Gary Galbraith
