We were lucky to catch up with Starfire Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.
Starfire, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
It took me a long time to realize that there were more options for soul expression than what was in that tiny box provided by the family and belief system I grew up in. It was also a beautiful journey back to self.
I grew up in a conservative white family where it was made clear that my only purpose was to get married and have a home, and a family. And if I didn’t have lots of children, I should be working in a socially acceptable service or administrative-related job.
There was also a deep mother wound embedded with abandonment, manipulation, and neglect that led me to seek acceptance and love by conforming and falling in line. I immersed myself in my studies. I was a brilliant student and loved learning. It was the one thing that came easy to me and that I could control.
Though the parts of me that shined the brightest were diminished. I struggled with worthiness and shame as that light in my soul persisted through rebellion which, in an attempt to quell, took me on a loop of straying further from my true self and into a people-pleasing repentance.
Then my 16-year-old cousin who grew up next door, like a brother to me, died in a plane crash. “It should have been me”, I thought. My life had no purpose and he was the one everyone loved. I was alive, but I wasn’t living.
My body was the one that woke me up. When I was 27, I was diagnosed with Stage 1, Grade 3 Breast Cancer. Until that moment, I hadn’t wanted to live. My son was 6 years old. I couldn’t abandon him. I needed to live. I began looking into holistic healing and met a shaman. That was the beginning of a deeper healing journey that planted seeds for a new way of living, a new way of seeing, and an unfolding of the best parts of me that had been kept hidden.
It took 13 more years and another series of health issues to finally leave the corporate world. It was killing me. In 2019, I joined a year-long Ayurvedic Woman program. We talked about Dharma and it was the most overwhelming, unbearable thing for me…Who am I? What is my purpose? I still didn’t know. This year was a powerful transformation. I returned to my foundations of shamanic journeying, learned reiki, and remembered my love for and powerful connection to color. I knew within my heart of hearts, that I wanted to help others heal and find their purpose.
I started doing color analysis for friends and became a Certified Color & Sound therapist. The universe revealed the perfect office space at the perfect time. I found a community and teacher who guided me to lead from my heart and through my practice reconnected to my intuitive guidance for self and others. As the years went on, I jumped into the world of cosmic design, completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training, and moved to Southern Oregon.
A new beginning, where I could finish unfolding and truly fall in love with my full self. My purpose is to create and play and guide others to meet and fall in love with their whole selves. I am so happy to be alive and grateful every day for the powerful and challenging journey that brought me here.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I created my business, Radiant Soul Shine, to be an expression of all the things I love which also help guide others to heal, connect with what they love, and shine their inner light – radiating their gifts unto the world. My offerings include foundational services of Color Analysis, Color & Sound therapy, Yoga, and Cosmic Design.
I’m currently expanding the virtual offerings for my Color Analysis and am about to launch an informative Color campaign on the therapeutic power of color. My goal is to continue developing each foundational service until they evolve into a powerful coaching program for guiding others to their purpose through self-discovery and healing.
Of course, I love rainbows and could talk about colors for hours. Color Analysis is that extra gem that ignites confidence and promotes harmony through each person as an individual. We all have a unique frequency and personal color palette that when utilized can support our intentions and create powerful change within ourselves, our business brand, and our environment.
Some of my favorite things about what I do are being able to hold sacred and safe space for others, guiding others into nervous system regulation, and healing through laughter. All of my services, especially yoga, are available for all ages. I love the playful and creative energy in working with children as well as with our “inner child” as adults. Life should be so much more about what brings us joy than a to-do list.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say that my continuous hunger for knowledge, my natural creativity, and my shift from perfectionism to playfulness were most impactful on my journey. Following my curiosity and passions led me to new experiences and wisdom. Utilizing my creative nature, I was able to shift perspectives and create something new from all that I was taking in. And while there is good in structure and order, being able to soften the grasp of perfectionism led me to invite more play into my life – which in turn, provided space to observe what was unfolding around and within me.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, it is never too late to start something new or change the path you are on. Pay attention to the things you love and that light you up – allow them to be your guide. Your purpose is you shining your light as your most authentic self, doing what brings you joy.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenges I am currently facing are patience and self-care. After moving to Southern Oregon, it took time to rebuild my business. I chose a new business name, created a new website, added offerings and all the while am working other jobs to help support these foundational stages. There are offerings I want to add, adjustments, and content updates that need to be made. I’m currently working on a huge project that is behind the scenes and taking so much longer to complete than expected. There are also beautiful collaborations in the works.
There isn’t a lot of time left in my week to get much done. It’s easy to compare to others. I put high expectations on myself and can work hours into the night. I’ve realized that when I push myself too hard, I lose motivation and the overwhelm can become disheartening. But I am the only one putting all that pressure on myself. It’s okay to go slow and important to take breaks and do something else that you love. It’s important to take time to down-regulate. To breathe.
I’ve started limiting myself to a set amount of hours to work on my business a day. I am making a point to play and go on walks. I want to be the best employee and the best boss as a solopreneur and that means slowing down and taking days off. Everything unfolds as and when it is meant to. Trust the process. Trust the Universe. Trust yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.radiantsoulshine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantsoulshine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radiantsoulshinellc
- Other: My upcoming Color campaign will be at:
https://www.instagram.com/radiantandcolorful
Image Credits
Audrey Showalter, Ashaya Charlotte Dietz
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
