Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Elise.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always been a very creative individual. Ever since I can remember, I was posted in front of a record player, or a book. Reading allowed me to literally go anywhere I desired in my imagination, and music was the thing that expressed everything that was going on inside of me. I needed those outlets because my childhood was very tumultuous due to sexual abuse. Since I didn’t know how to deal with what was going on with me, I became very self-isolated, but whenever I read a book or wrote poetry and short stories, I felt like I could take on the world.
I wish I would say that my teenage years were better but I just got kind of lost in the sauce of all the chaos around me. I was so uncomfortable with the things I experienced as a child that I did whatever it took to be accepted, admired, and apart of the “in crowd.” I really battled with low self esteem and that made it easy to entertain all of the wrong things, like being in a domestically violent relationship from the ages of 17-20. After I ended that relationship, I did whatever I could to distract myself from feeling all the baggage that came with being in such a toxic relationship. I didn’t want to face the truth that I was running from dealing with my issues, and it wasn’t until the summers of 06’-07’ in particular, where life began to force me to through the deaths of a few very good friends of mine. That’s when I started to “wake up.”
It still took some time for me to really make the needed changes in my lifestyle though. One of those changes included going back to school (college). I started out at a J.C. back home in Pasadena, CA and then went away to school in Savannah, GA. In my first few years of college, I performed spoken word poetry and was finding a way to articulate all of the struggles I had endured and overcome. It was one of the most liberating and exhilarating experiences of my life. I knew then that I was on to something.
I then moved to ATL and met my now ex-husband. It was in the first year of our marriage that I was let go of my job, and decided to start my company. It was a very unsure time in my life, but with the help advice of my mentor Myra McKnight, I hit the ground running, and hard. I started with workshop events for women that served as a safe place for them to share about their own journeys and struggles, and how to create new and healthy changes to their lifestyle. I basically gave them everything that I felt I needed at some of the most critical times in my life. I wanted to help stop the cycles of women turning to relationships for validation and instead doing the inward work needed to grow and heal from their pasts. The workshops were a success and I began to travel out of state with them which was really amazing. Over time, I began to feel like I needed to broaden my horizons and teach online. I felt that although traveling was awesome there were people who needed help that couldn’t go out to events. So I began to host my classes, workshops and a community online. Ever since I made that move I have met some of the most amazing women I have ever known, and have grown in ways I never imagined.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This has been one of the most difficult yet rewarding things I have ever done. I have learned so much about myself and what I am made of in this process, of not only building a career but also allowing God to build me in this process. I think that is the real beauty of it all. You can’t just expect sunshine and a smooth journey because you chose to pursue passion or purpose. You also have to deal with the difficulties on that path. I have had days where I have had to challenge my mentality, and what I believed to be possible for me, and continue to push past every self-imposed mental boundary. It’s taken a lot of prayer, dedication and some really raw moments with myself and God to get this far, and I’m not stopping any time soon.
My biggest advice for women starting out is to always make sure that you stay true to you. It’s so easy to get caught up in what other people are doing, and how well it may seem to be going for them. Remember that we all have our own unique gifts and our own unique paths. Our job is to do the soul searching to learn what that is so we can do what God created us to do. The most beautiful gift you can ever give yourself and those around you is the gift of authenticity.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am a writer, speaker and self-love motivator.
I am known for having those hard and transparent conversations that are so necessary but can be so difficult, if love and a little bit of laughter aren’t thrown into the mix. A few years God gave me the vision to create the “Just Love Thyself” movement. It started off with online classes for women, a private online community, and apparel. Now it is growing into something new and more beautiful through the “Just Love Thyself “podcast where I get to walk out my journey of self discovery with you. I am enjoying the transparency and freedom that comes from not having all the answers but sharing life and my healing process with others. It’s terrifying and yet exhilarating.
I specialize in helping women heal from their past, develop a relationship with God, and become all the awesome that they were created to be. Sometimes, you just need to hear that someone else has survived and that you’re not alone or crazy. That’s what I’m here for. I believe that we are all walking out this journey of life together, and my job is to ensure that you ask yourself the hard questions, that will lead you being more connected to God and to yourself.
I would say that I am most proud of how far what I have overcome through Gods helping hand. Outside of that would be the students that I have had walking with me on this journey for the past few years. They inspire me! They are out doing amazing things, and I am thankful to have been even a small stop in their journey.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think if you are someone who has been through a lot it’s easy not to trust people, but we have to push past that mindset and allow ourselves the opportunity to have positive relationship experiences that encourage growth and healing.
The mentors I have had throughout the years were pivotal in helping me challenge myself and reaching new heights in my life. So I am an advocate for mentorship. I’ve gotten so much from the relationships that I have had over the years with my mentors. My advice is reach out to people! We were not meant to take on the world by ourselves, and we shouldn’t try. There are amazing people out there who have the insight and experience, and are willing to help you out. We all need that extra push, and having the right mentor is so key to helping you reach new heights.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.justlovethyself.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinelisespeaks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinEliseSpeaks
- Other: https://anchor.fm/justlovethyself
Image Credit:
Photos By MerrilyCreativeCo, Photo By Andre Johnson Photography
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