The Journey of Loving ME is the story of a woman who embarks on a deeply personal journey to discover who she truly is beyond the titles, expectations, and roles that have shaped her life.

Through self-reflection and personal discovery, she sets out to reclaim her lost identity, rediscover her crown, and align the gems that represent her authentic self.

This journey explores the importance of self-love, identity, and embracing the person you are becoming.

The Journey of Loving ME

The journey of loving me, finding me and
Jamie. I had to meet me. Who was the person I was looking in the mirror? She is
a mother, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, leader, CEO, founder, and a host
of other titles.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

But who was she really? When I looked at
myself, I knew how to show up for my children, family, friends, clients, and
the workplace. Yet I wasn't sure who I really was and what my purpose was in
this world beyond showing up for others. Those questions were the beginning of
the journey of loving me.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Not a love story about finding someone else to
make me whole. A story about finally finding me. The deep dive began and the
journey was eye-opening.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Who am I without the roles, which made me go
even deeper? Who am I when I'm not focused on being someone's mother, someone's
leader, someone's employee, someone's CEO, someone's friend, or someone's
encourager? That prompted some heart palpitations as those roles carried my
identity for so long. Who is Jamie? Not the titles, not the crown, not the
accomplishments. Who is she underneath all of it and does she appreciate who
she is? As I pondered and answered those questions, I came to the realization
that we don't lose ourselves all at once.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

We lose ourselves one obligation, one
disappointment, one sacrifice, and one I'm okay at a time. Until that faithful
day came, I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize the woman that was
looking back at me. Oh, my tilted crown.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

A revealing moment showed me that my life
could look successful on the outside while being completely misaligned on the
inside. Sometimes I wouldn't pick my crown up to put it on for not recognizing
who I was. Other times I would put it on but it was severely tilted.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

It was at that moment I knew gem alignment was
needed. Crown to life balance is not about perfection. It is about
acknowledging when something is out of alignment and having the courage to
adjust it.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Fixing my crown daily through mental,
emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial exercises is how I was able to
stop asking, how does everybody else see me and start asking, how do I see
myself? That mind shift change, yes, the changing of my mindset was the most
important part of my journey. Silencing the voices of others and owning my
voice and what I say about me. Taking out time at the start of my day to spend
quality time with me.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Reciting statements of positive affirmations
of I am more than enough. I press pause to prevent poor performance. I am
worthy of the quality time I invest in myself.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

I speak life into myself so that I can speak
life into others. Emotional resilience and expression. I gave myself permission
for emotional expression.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Permission to cry, permission to be
disappointment, permission to admit when something was hurtful. Most
importantly, I stopped being strong when I knew I needed to be vulnerable.
Vulnerability is a strength and allows you to own and communicate your emotions.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Acknowledgement of my emotions gives me the
information I need that something requires my attention. The crown doesn't need
to be replaced or tossed. It needs to be acknowledged, shined, and adjusted.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Oh, how can I gain my spiritual balance? My
spiritual balance required silence in the stillness. I had learned how to be
still, yet I was lacking the ability to be quiet enough to hear the downloads
that were stored up for me. In the moments of silence was when it was revealed
that everyone is not afforded access to me.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Not every problem requires my solution. Not
every conversation required my response. The biggest download was that not
every opportunity was my assignment.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

When I grabbed hold of those and clenched them
tight to my chest, I understood that I had to move from being busy to being
purposeful. Most times when wisdom is speaking, we are too busy listening to
others. I made time to create environments of empowerment with myself at the
start of my days.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Time to pray, listen, write, and reflect.
Physical balance is important to your well-being. My body was talking and it
was time to listen.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

It was time to confront my physical well-being
and my eating habits. My body had been trained to carry things that I was not
willing to refuse. Stress, exhaustion, pressure, and responsibilities.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

When I realized that rest is not a reward
granted after taking care of everyone else was when I began to pause more
often, breathe, eat differently, sleep, move with purpose, and actively listen
to my body. Because I refused to pour from an empty vessel of fumes, I chose to
fill myself up being self-full of peace, joy, and restorative positive energy.
Financial paralysis.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

I stopped chasing money and let money chase
me. My value and my financial situation are not the same things. Separating my
identity from my income was critical in my financial gem alignment.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Becoming intentional with how and what I was
building. Looking at what I was spending, saving, creating, and leaving behind.
Understanding that I'm not just surviving today, but building for the future
for myself and generations to come.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

It is my responsibility to create in ways that
legacy living can last on for years to come. Loving me. Ooh, the journey of
awesomeness.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Loving me is a routine daily exercise, not
just a feeling. The exercises include setting boundaries, saying no without
explanation, forgiving myself, walking away from what no longer serves me,
acknowledging my mishaps without allowing them to become my identity, and
celebrating my wins without minimizing them. I stand firm looking the mirror
with a big smile on my face and I say, I see you, I hear you, I forgive you, I
choose you every day and in every way.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

I love you. That is the most important
conversation I have with me before I experience the outside world. This is my
love story.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Not a perfect woman by no means. A woman who
decided that the journey of loving all of who she is unapologetically with all
of her flaws. A woman who ventured to find herself.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

A woman who forgave herself and continues to
forgive herself daily. A woman who purposed to rebuild herself. A woman who had
to find, fix, own, and learn to maintain her crown of life balance one gem at a
time.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

My crown ownership is my responsibility. It
represents the whole me and the work I put into keeping my gems balanced and
aligned. Hello, crown holder.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

This is your reminder to wear your crown with
confidence. You are not behind. You are worthy of great things.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

You are the narrator of your story. You are
not broken. You are purposed to build, encourage, edify, and create
environments of empowerment.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Your new beginning is worth the leap of faith.
I am Jamie G, your crown adjuster, and I'm here to remind you it's okay to
adjust your crown, restore your balance, and fall in love with you one gem at a
time.<o:p></o:p>

The Journey of Loving ME

Why Expertise Can Make You a Less Effective Leader

The Journey of Loving ME

Why Expertise Can Make You a Less Effective Leader