Dear Elin
A love letter to my mentor
If you’re in the mood for a podcast-style format, I’ve included a recorded version of the piece for your listening pleasure!
Dear
,When I first discovered you, I was 5 months postpartum with my second child and bringing my first creative business into the world. I found myself in the midst of an identity turning point. Was I delusional for embarking on my artist journey so soon after I gave birth? Could I be both at the same time? I didn’t have the answers. Only feelings - I was inspired, excited, fragile, emotional, raw, and exhausted.
As I read Follow Your Gut, it felt like you were sitting with me. Your words held me, offering comfort and support. I felt seen and understood.
A few months later, you published The Mother Artist column and shared, “I’ve had to find space for the two to co-exist and flourish together. I refuse to accept the narrative that life ends after children.” In that moment, you planted a seed that would allow me to take back my power as a woman, mother, and artist.
Not long after, you opened your doors for mentoring, and I’ve never applied more quickly and confidently. I knew I had to work with you, but I could have never predicted the magic that was about to unfold…
Since I embarked on my healing journey 6 years ago, I’ve worked with countless teachers, coaches, healers, and mentors. I sought them out because their stories inspired a life I wanted to live, a path I wanted to walk. I believed that if I just followed their formula, I would see the same results.
I woke up at 5 AM to meditate.
I journaled.
I created offers using modalities I thought people wanted.
I posted content consistently.
I practiced yoga and learned breath work.
I did it all.
And yet, I wasn’t seeing the same results.
I was prepared to do the same with you, Elin. I was getting ready to receive instruction on what I needed to do to live a life like yours.
THAT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
Working with you has guided me home to myself - what I want and need, what feels good in my body. You showed me the answers exist within me. You just have to allow yourself to access them -
Giving yourself space and time are necessary
I’ve always preferred 1:1 calls because I want answers immediately. I want others to do the work for me. The way you have structured your mentoring through messages and voice notes has forced me to slow down and sit with myself. As a result, a strange thing happened… I started to receive my own a-has. I learned that wisdom and magic happens in the quiet, in the liminal space. We must build in time to process, reflect, and integrate in order to uncover our answers.
Embrace your humanness
I find myself revealing parts of me that bring shame, guilt, judgement, and resentment. I realized the only way I can do that is because of the safe space you’ve created. One without judgment or admonishment. You allow me to show up in my rawest, vulnerable form. Then you greet me with love and tenderness. You tell me that you see me. You hear me. And you hold me. You remind me that it’s okay. This is what it means to be human.
In my reflection, I’m just now seeing that the only way to grow is if you feel safe in your most fragile state. You’ve set the example and taught me how to meet myself with unconditional love, kindness, patience, and grace. This has allowed me to make the biggest strides I’ve ever taken…so far 😉.
Stories can be rewritten
I’ve always struggled with allowing myself to rewrite beliefs. I chose to feel unhappy and unfulfilled by the stories I held. You introduced new perspectives and ideas with such approachability, gentleness, and warmth that I felt open to explore them. With your encouragement, I was able to slowly build courage to finally try on those new stories. Guess what? Those new stories felt empowering and motivating so I rewrote the old ones that didn’t serve me. This process also led me to take different actions. Ones that move me closer to living my dreams.
Feed your curiosity
You recently likened using social media to a playground. That visual resonated and has stuck. What a relatable way to describe approaching things with curiosity and play. It doesn’t have to be so serious. It’s okay to experiment and explore new things. And let it be fun! Don’t like swings? Try the slide!
Whenever you share your experiences, I’ve noticed they are always rooted in openness. You hold your ideas with an open hand. Not a tight, clenched fist. Because there is no right and wrong. You have taught me to review results the same way a scientist analyzes their experiments. Focus on what you learned.
Reclaim and celebrate your wild feminine
We live in a world made for men. While little boys are told, “boys will be boys,” girls are told “you’re too loud - quiet down, you’re good big - take up less space physically and energetically, you’re too wild - tame yourself.” Our intuition, creativity, and magic are buried away so we’ll be accepted by society.
And we wonder why we grow into women who feel empty and unfulfilled.
Elin, you chose differently. You chose to unleash your intuition, creativity, and magic. Your actions have given me permission to set my intuition, creativity, and magic free. Today, I’m tending to, caring for, and allowing them to grow. And they are turning into my wildest dreams. For the first time, I feel whole. I see with clarity. I express with authenticity. My heart is full. No matter what happens, I’ve already won.
In Women Who Run With Wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estés writes, “as in all art, she resides in the guts, not in the head.”
I immediately thought of you. You have shown me that creativity, imagination, and emotional power reside in the gut. And when you choose to follow it, you will be led to create a beautiful work of art. That work of art is your life.
I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that I came across Follow Your Gut. It was the Divine’s way of telling me it was time to start following mine. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing ever since.
Elin, thank you for helping me see that I am woman. I am mother. I am artist.
There will never be enough words to express my love and appreciation for you. But may the words I have found be a small offering.
May we all follow our guts.
All my love,
Stephanie
Good one, Steph.
What a beautifully detailed journey, Steph, and I’m sure feels even more transformative than this reads (if even possible!). Congratulations on your strides toward the creative life you want, and toward the you that you need to be! 🫶🏻⚡️🐺