Roaring for Our Feelings

When I think of women that inspire me, I think of my Momma. She’s fierce AF and never gives up. From losing my father in a car crash, to losing her business in the housing crash, to losing her home when hurricane waves came crashing in, she’s experienced a lot. She might lose her balance and get knocked down temporarily, but she always gets back up and stands stronger. I know part of what motivates her is to be a model for me. (Crying) I’m so inspired by her perseverance.    I empower myself by being radically honest. I’m an avid journaler, and every morning, I connect to the page to be real with myself. A few years ago, I went to a workshop with Cheryl Strayed, and she said, “Do you tell your journal the truth?” That hit me in the gut. So long as I’m telling myself the truth, and I’m acting and living in accordance with that truth, I feel empowered.   In terms of how I empower others, I take these truths and I write, speak and make art about them. A core channel for me right now is Instagram. It’s a playground for me to test ideas and turn complex topics about feelings and being human into simple illustrations. When something really resonates, I’ll dive deeper into it, and turn it into a workshop or a talk or a chapter in a book.    I want young women to know that you don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to have all the answers. In fact, the whole point is to NOT have the answers. Life is a journey of asking questions and living to experience those answers. So get clear on what questions are guiding your life right now, and make sure they are worthwhile ones.   Is it, “How do I not mess up or disappoint others?” or “How do I make mistakes and put myself out there so I can learn and grow?   Is it, “How do I figure out what’s next?” or “What is my calling? What am I most curious about? How can I pursue that?”   Is it, “How do I get rid of these uncomfortable feelings?” or “How do I turn down my feelings to understand the message beneath them?   I’m ROARING for feeling our feelings and embracing our entire selves. Our culture conditions us to shut down and not feel, especially uncomfortable or “negative” emotions. Our power is in our feelings, and my work serves to be a bridge for women to tap into their intuition, feel into their bodies, embrace their full spectrum of emotion, and access the immense wisdom found in these places.   I want to be remembered for courageously walking the pathless path — facing fears, embracing curiosity, and opening doorways of possibility — all while empowering others to do the same.    “Don’t die with your gifts still inside.” — From my book, Choose Wonder Over Worry   -Amber Rae Artist and Bestselling Author