Discover why it’s so difficult to say no sometimes, and why saying yes when you don’t mean it isn’t the solution. I’m sharing my guide to saying no, doing it with honesty, grace, and integrity, and deciding what you do want instead.     Get full show notes and more information here: https://schoolofselfimage.com/293

293: The Guide to Saying No

School of Self-Image is the go-to podcast for women who desire to transform their self-image so that they can create mind-blowing results in their lives.  Join Master Life Coach, Tonya Leigh, as she shares tips, ideas, and inspiring conversations around elevating your mindset, style, and surroundings to create an extraordinary self-image.  Episodes are released each Wednesday.

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  Life's Highs and Lows: Discovering Your Path to Alignment Being outside of your comfort zone and navigating through that phase successfullly requires curiosity and self-reflection. This episode delves into the concept of embracing life's lows as much as you yearn for the highs. Tonya Leigh stresses that straying from your comfort zone is a natural part of the journey and should not be seen as a setback. Being outside of your comfort zone and navigating through that phase successfullly requires curiosity and self-reflection. Tonya underscores the importance of not being too hard on yourself when you're not in your comfort zone. Instead, she urges listeners to embrace it, stay curious about themselves, and extract the lessons that being out of the comfort zone can offer. By embracing the lows, one can savor the highs even more when they arrive. The analogy of trying on different outfits is used to illustrate the process of finding what suits you best in life. Just like trying on clothes to find the perfect fit, life is about experimenting and trying new things to discover what resonates with your values and essence. T This mindset fosters growth, self-discovery, and the chance to correct course when necessary. Tonya's message inspires listeners to value the contrast between highs and lows, understanding that both experiences contribute to personal growth and a deeper self-awareness. Talking Points: 01:24 Finding your sweet spot. 04:58 Embracing Life's Ups and Downs. 11:09 Core values and connection. 17:12 Living in your sweet spot. 22:23 Making tough decisions about change. 30:44 Joyful reinvention and self-image. 35:08 Embracing life's contrasts. 39:27 Feeling stuck and stagnant. Quotes:  "I'm feeling so at peace. I'm feeling so excited about the future. I'm feeling healthier. I'm feeling vibrant. I feel like I'm in my sweet spot."  "But unfortunately, what a lot of people do is they just continuously focus on what they don't want."  "You're more motivated. You're more excited about your life. You feel more aligned." "Every moment is a chance to turn back to you." "Clarity comes through action."  "What if you learn to embrace the lows as much as you crave the highs?"   Useful Resources: FREE Training: https://schoolofselfimage.com/powerfully-ever-after/ FREE Download: https://schoolofselfimage.com/self-image-manifesto/ Sign up for the weekly Edit: http://schoolofselfimage.com/edit   Connect with Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh: Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyaleigh YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaLeighOfficial   

391: The Sweet Spot

  Creating Intentional Self-Image Events for Personal Growth Self-image events play a crucial role in shaping our identities, as discussed in the podcast episode. These events can be intentional or unexpected, and reflecting on both types from our past is essential for personal growth and self-awareness. Intentional self-image events are experiences or activities that we consciously choose with the purpose of changing our self-image and identity. By setting extraordinary goals and immersing ourselves in new environments, we challenge our existing beliefs, push beyond personal boundaries, and facilitate the development of new skills and perspectives. These intentional events are designed to push us out of our comfort zones and help us evolve into a new way of being in the world.  Embracing intentional self-image events can be a catalyst for personal development and lead to a more empowered and fulfilling life.  Join in to explore how moments, both intentional and unexpected, shape our identities and help us evolve personally.  Talking Points: 02:58 - Understanding Self-Image Events 04:03 - Childhood and Self-Image Formation 06:09 - Conflicting Identities: Pageants and Church 07:03 - Overcoming Negative Self-Image from Bullying 08:05 - Gaining Power Through Understanding Self-Image 10:02 - Adult Unexpected Self-Image Event 12:10 - Cognitive Dissonance and Self-Imag 14:08 - Adapting Self-Image to New Realities  17:13 - Negative Self-Image Events and Recover 19:00 - Compassion in the Face of Self-Image Challenges 20:05 - Creating Intentional Self-Image Events 27:45 - Intentional Self-Image Events for Future Growth  Quotes:  "Life is about all of it. And I've just come to the understanding that embracing that is the secret to true fulfillment."  "I always felt like I was sinning and I was going to go straight to hell."  "The scared little girl in me trying to protect herself from the world. But as the adult me, I've got me."  "This is too good to be true. This surely isn't going to work out. This isn't as good as it seems to be."  "There's going to be so much cognitive dissonance between your beliefs about yourself and your actions."  "When I started to look for the commonalities, it lessened the cognitive dissonance, which allowed me to entertain saying yes to this opportunity that would shape my self-image in a whole different way." Useful Resources: FREE Training: https://schoolofselfimage.com/powerfully-ever-after/ FREE Download: https://schoolofselfimage.com/self-image-manifesto/ Sign up for the weekly Edit: http://schoolofselfimage.com/edit   Connect with Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh: Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyaleigh YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaLeighOfficial       

390: Self-Image Events

  You Are Enough: Celebrating the Uniqueness of Motherhood Drawing from her personal journey as a mother, Tonya highlights moments of doubt, frustration, and guilt she has faced. Despite these challenges, she stresses the importance of recognizing and celebrating the love and effort that mothers put into raising their children. By acknowledging the sacrifices, hard work, and dedication that mothers invest in their children, they can begin to appreciate and love themselves more. The episode also addresses the common feelings of guilt experienced by mothers. Tonya suggests that instead of dwelling on guilt, mothers should embrace innocence - recognizing that their intentions are always rooted in love and care for their children. By letting go of guilt and accepting that they are doing their best, mothers can start showing themselves the same grace and understanding they offer to their children.  Tune in for a touching tribute to the strength and beauty of motherhood.  Talking Points: 02:26 The journey of motherhood. 05:17 Motherhood and astrology signs. 12:31 Guilt and Innocence as Options. 16:18 Your needs matter as a mom. 20:01 Embracing imperfection as a mom. Quotes:  "This is the most hard and beautiful and awful and amazing journey any person could go on. That of being a mother."  "Can I return her? Because right now, I don't like her."  "I was a great mother. I decided that everything has happened the way it was supposed to."  "Guilt is always an option. But do you know what else is an option? Innocence."  "Your needs matter too."  "There are times that I wish I could pack my bags and just move away. Yeah, I'd probably come back, but sometimes I fantasize about it. And that's okay."  "You are enough. Really let that sink in. You are enough." Useful Resources: Join The School of Self-Image Now:  https://schoolofselfimage.com/join FREE Download: https://schoolofselfimage.com/self-image-manifesto/ Sign up for the weekly Edit: http://schoolofselfimage.com/edit   Connect with Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh: Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyaleigh YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaLeighOfficial     

389: A Love Letter to All the Mamas

 Transforming Your Relationship with Food and Exercise: Insights from Laura Hinton  Weight loss can be achieved by changing our eating habits and our relationship with food, rather than fixating on strict diets and clean eating. Laura Hinton shares her journey with Tonya Leigh of losing 50 pounds by shifting her mindset around food. She stressed that she didn't have to eat only "clean" or "good for you" foods to lose weight. Instead, she focused on consuming the same foods she had been eating but in moderation and with a fresh perspective.  Laura's story underscores the importance of impartial evaluation and self-acceptance when it comes to food choices. She mentioned transitioning from self-judgment to self-love, which ultimately yielded more effective results in her weight loss journey. By approaching food with love and grace, she was able to make sustainable changes without feeling deprived or restricted.  When individuals shift their focus from self-criticism to self-acceptance, they are more likely to make healthier choices, listen to their bodies, and approach weight loss from a place of empowerment rather than punishment. This shift in mindset can lead to enduring results and a more positive relationship with food, exercise, and self-image. The 3 Big Weight Loss Myths: Myth #1: Clean Eating for Weight Loss Myth #2: Exercise Intensity and Weight Loss Myth #3: Self-Criticism and Weight Loss  Talking  Points: 00:51 Weight loss myths debunked. 05:44 Body image and weight struggles. 10:31 Society of immediate gratification. 14:47 Surprising lessons from weight loss. 17:43 Relationship with food changes. 26:05 Liberation from food obsession. 29:26 Debunking clean eating myth. 34:58 Exercise mindset and expectations. 38:35 Exercise as punishment mindset. 43:05 Self-love and weight loss. Quotes:  "But the really pivotal moment was when I got engaged and that was 2008.  I suddenly had this fear and panic that I was going to be fat, quote unquote, for my wedding."  "We want the quick fix now. We want to lose weight by the wedding. We want to lose weight by bikini season. And we have just set ourself up for this toxic cycle of white knuckling."  "So 100%, the most surprising thing to me was that I'm in charge of the way that I feel."  "Well, I think the biggest thing that changed for me in terms of my relationship with food is that food is no longer a source of comfort."  "There aren't good or bad foods. There's just food."  "In a way, it was like a dopamine hit. It was fun for the first day or two thinking about this new diet that may work."  "You can still have pizza, but instead of eating half the pizza, we're gonna have two slices and see how that goes."  "So many people, especially in the diet industry, they use exercise as a form of punishment."  "Yeah, it makes me think of one of my favorite Abraham quotes where they say, there is no happy ending to an unhappy journey." Useful Resources: Sign Up for the Slim Secret Webinar: https://schoolofselfimage.com/slim Join The School of Self-Image Now:  https://schoolofselfimage.com/join FREE Download: https://schoolofselfimage.com/self-image-manifesto/ Sign up for the weekly Edit: http://schoolofselfimage.com/edit Connect with Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh: Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyaleigh YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaLeighOfficial   

388: 3 Weight Loss Myths Debunked with Laura Hinton

 Unlocking Lasting Peace with Your Body  Success should be judged beyond the scale and dress size. This episode emphasizes the importance of redefining how we measure success with our bodies. Host and Master Self-Image Coach Tonya Leigh highlights that relying solely on the scale or dress size as indicators of success can be detrimental to our overall well-being. Instead, she encourages listeners to shift their focus towards how they feel emotionally and physically.  Tonya shares her personal journey of struggling with weight and body image issues, where she found herself trapped in a cycle of using external measurements to determine her worth. She explains that tying success to a number on the scale can lead to feelings of discouragement, fear, and obsession. By shifting the focus to how we feel each day and how our bodies feel, we can create a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to body success.   Join Tonya as she delves into finding beauty and joy in life, beyond the numbers on a scale.  Talking Points: 02:25 Finding peace with your body. 10:18 - Rethinking Body Success Measurement 15:28 - Creating Intrinsic Body Success 18:10 - Embracing Imperfection and Gratitude 21:01 - Choosing Definitions of Body Success Quotes:  "If you even look at the definition of the word slim, it's to rid of the excess, to slim down."  "We have a limited amount of energy and how much of yours is going into obsessing, hating, resisting, trying so hard to lose weight?"  "I have this belief that we're successful even when we fail, if we use those failures to grow us."  "You'll never feel better when you've set up your world and your paradigm that you can only feel good if you look a certain way."  "Wait, W-A-I-T, leads to wait, W-E-I-G-H-T. It's time to stop waiting to feel better."  "You're not here to be perfect. You're here to enjoy your life, to enjoy your body, to learn and to grow."    Useful Resources: Sign Up for the Slim Secret Webinar: https://schoolofselfimage.com/secret Join The School of Self-Image Now:  https://schoolofselfimage.com/join FREE Download: https://schoolofselfimage.com/self-image-manifesto/ Sign up for the weekly Edit: http://schoolofselfimage.com/edit Connect with Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh: Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyaleigh YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaLeighOfficial   

293: The Guide to Saying No

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