Today we’d like to introduce you to Candii Woodson.
Candii, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started the Misspacklight blog in 2010 to explore my day-to-day challenges to deal with my unease. I channeled my frustrations and my triumphs through writing. It helped me be present in my life while honoring the past that led me forward. To my surprise, I received an overwhelming response from people who saw inspiration in what I shared. And, I came to realize that there was immense power in being your authentic self and sharing that with others.
In 2013, I welcomed the birth of my daughter. While on maternity leave, I watched countless hours of Super Soul Sunday hosted by my shero Oprah and many, many episodes of Iyanla Fix My Life. Watching these two women impact the lives of others and inspire them to reach for God’s plans, further pushed me to do the same. I was determined to be the best version of myself, and I wanted to help other women reach the same goal. The birth of my daughter became the catalyst for actively seeking my purpose in life. Out of a time of uncertainty, came clarity. A year later, I decided to pursue life coaching. I completed my course work at the University of Miami for professional coaching in December 2014. My daughter was only a year old, and I worked to manage my career, being a mommy, and pursuing my purpose.
In 2015, I leaped and joined a fairly up-and-coming digital marketing agency. The business model was – and still is – employee focused. Their company goals allowed me to shine. I was tasked with starting a new division, and that fueled my entrepreneurial side. That entrepreneurial spirit came from my mom. She always – and I do always mean – found a way out of no way, and used her gifts to start businesses to move us all forward. I leveraged my new position to combine my passion for people with “entrepreneurship.” Among the women I worked with and befriended, I began to see a pattern that I did not like. Many felt burdened by the notion of doing it all and doing it with a smile. They were afraid to show vulnerability in the workplace for fear that it would be perceived as a weakness.
Afraid to decline work dinners. Afraid to ask for vacation. Afraid to leave to pick up their children. Afraid to ask for a raise. Afraid to speak up in meetings. Afraid to be themselves. It became clear that I needed to restart my blog but in a bigger and better way. That’s when I decided to launch Misspacklight as a community of empowerment. The goal: to serve as a safe space for go-getter women to keep it real and be their authentic selves while trying to figure it all out.
Has it been a smooth road?
Some of the biggest struggles have been trying to create a space for me in the midst of all my priorities. Managing being a mommy, a leadership role, a business, and family & friends can leave very little time for yourself. I struggled for a while, because I was always last on my list. In 2015, I was blessed with a professional coach that truly was a life vest in the midst of me drowning. It opens my eyes to the idea of prioritizing myself first was the key to being more valuable to the many roles I played in my life. I began to see things differently and eventually left a job I loved dearly to seek a more balanced life for myself. I decided to build upon my professional coaching and dig deeper through therapy. I realized it was time to shed the layers of my past and activate my healing. It was the final piece to embrace my purpose truly.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Misspacklight is a women’s community that allows for a go-getter to have a safe space to be their authentic selves. The new age women does it all, but she does it all with so little space for herself at times. Then add social media where everyone is so use to putting forth the perfect image. Where’s the place for you to share your struggles, for your strengths to be celebrated, where you can get real about your reality. Misspacklight is that place. To support our glo-getter women, we host events and workshops where these intimate conversations can happen. We also have a blog where anyone women can share her story for herself and to inspire other women.
We’re most proud of the many women that our community has inspired, connections that they have made, and the lives that have been changed. It’s very humbling and shows how others are truly impacted by you living your life’s purpose.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Atlanta is perfect for starting a women’s community. In such a large metro as Atlanta, I believe people desire a community where they can form authentic connections with like-minded people.
Contact Info:
- Website: misspacklight.com
- Email: misspacklight@gmail.com
- Instagram: misspacklight
- Facebook: Miss Packlight
Image Credit:
Kim Lawrence
Jazmin Jackson
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