We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christie Goldstein. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christie below.
Christie, 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 is an important part of everyones personal growth. It can be a difficult process for some of us, but with practice, it’s possible to boost confidence and feelings of value no matter what challenges I might be facing.
One way I started developing confidence was by setting realistic goals for myself and then taking measurable steps towards achieving them. Celebrating the smallest successes helped to build lasting feelings of accomplishment which in turn increased my self-confidence. Also, it’s important for me to remember that growth happens in failures and as such, failing is not a negative.
That brings me to my next point. It’s important to limit negative thoughts about yourself and stop comparing yourself to others. Instead, focus on embracing all of the unique qualities that make you who you are. I surrounded myself with people that believed in me – this really encouraged positive thought patterns that over time were a big part of increasing my self-esteem. Yay for encouraging your Reticular Activating System to sort out garbage thoughts and teach it to focus on positive thoughts!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a photographer and artist based in Texas. I crave caramel more than chocolate and I think coffee smells good but tastes like dirt. Sorry to all of the coffee drinkers out there, including my husband! I am a mom of 8 kids, 5 boys and 3 girls. They are my real full time career but being a labor and delivery nurse came a close second. When I retired from nursing, I studied photography in my spare time.
What is special about what I do? From capturing moments that can never be repeated, to expressing my emotions through composition and light — photography has been an important way for me to tell stories and connect with others. It is art at its most basic form — simply a single moment captured in time.
But beyond just taking pictures or creating art pieces, photography encourages me to think differently and to see the world differently.
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?
Seek curiosity. Be open. Do things different. These statements are impactful in any field. As far as photography goes, the best advice I give to anyone starting out in photography is to leave your camera out and shoot something every day. It is the best way to learn your gear, what it is capable of, and to get better.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always looking for folks to collaborate with! I am a storyteller at heart and everyone has a story. I am reachable by message on most social media platforms but Instagram is probably the easiest way to initiate a connection. Please reach out!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.flashandflame.com www.ninetwelvephotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/flash_and_flame and www.instagram.com/ninetwelvephotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ninetwelvephotography
Image Credits:
All images are mine.
