Pleasing people and finding validation in what other people think of me has long been a vice in my life. I've struggled to separate what others think about me from what I think about myself. I've felt worthy when others praised me, but hurt and empty when they rejected me. Recently I've received an abundance of negative and hateful comments, and it's forced me to reevaluate the way I let others control how I see myself.  It has been quite a journey to learn how to detach myself and my worth from outward validation. In this episode, I share how I learned to be truly free and appreciate the unique pieces of myself by giving people permission to misunderstand me. 

No matter what people say or think about you, when you know who you are, they have no power over you.

https://www.instagram.com/juliabhansali/

I was 18 years old, I had never left the United States before, and I decided to go to Turkey and India all by myself to model. For 4 months I lived and worked overseas and I experienced so much. There were so many difficult, scary, and uncomfortable circumstances, and I have some pretty wild stories, but I am thankful for every moment of it. 

5 lessons I learned during this time are 1) Feel the fear and do it anyway, 2) Get comfortably uncomfortable, 3) The biggest risks make the best stories, 4) This too shall pass, and 5) Character is currency.  

https://www.instagram.com/juliabhansali/

This is the story of my struggles with an eating disorder in the modeling industry and the journey I have been on since I chose recovery. The pressures of modeling can be extreme, but I'm so grateful for all that I've been through because now I have the tools and the knowledge to fight that pressure and speak truth into the lies. 

https://www.instagram.com/juliabhansali/

Sometimes the future seems terrifying and it feels like we'll never find where we truly belong.  Especially in seasons of waiting and uncertainty, it can be difficult to see past the stagnancy and momentary disappointments. But we're slowly and surely growing into the versions of ourselves that we're meant to become, despite what our current circumstances look like. We're being prepared to live out the purpose and calling of our lives in the most unexpected ways.

https://www.instagram.com/juliabhansali/

To kick off the podcast, today we're talking all about how much value is placed on appearances and the way we look. In society, our bodies are viewed as aesthetic objects to be looked at, rather than strong and capable vessels that carry us through life and keep us alive. Our inherent value, worth, and beauty doesn't come from the way that we look but the way that we love. Our hearts, dreams, passions, and all of the things on the inside are so much more important than what is seen on the outside. 

https://www.instagram.com/juliabhansali/