Questions for Janice Lynne Lundy
Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be Q: What do you mean by "your truest self?" A: Our truest self is a woman who is living from her fullness, not from her pain or woundedness. She has fully embodied the qualities we attribute to Spirit itself--peacefulness, lovingkindness, generosity, and so on. She lives a mature spirituality, not one that has been handed to her without having fully explored it. And she is living free from fear to express herself in the world in this way. Living as our truest self is a lifelong process--a journey, a pilgrimage--into our sacred self.
Q: How does a woman embody her truest self? A: Each of us begins where we are. We set an intention to live in a new way, one which honors the woman we are meant to be. We begin by acknowledging that we are spiritual beings, then vow to do everything we can to cultivate our divine connection. Key to this journey is letting go of old, disempowering messages about who we've been told we are; embracing new personal Truths; and exploring how we can connect more fully with our spirit, and the greater Spirit--or God. I call these
Transformational Truths, and there are twelve of them in the book.
Q: How did you arrive at these Truths? A: They were not something I consciously sat down to create. They seemed to emerge as a result of meeting twelve truly amazing women. My unique encounter with each woman, in time, revealed a powerful precept for living that any woman can incorporate into her life.
For example, when I was confused about who or what God was to me, I happened to stumble across
A Star in My Heart by Joyce Rupp, OSM. I had never heard of her before and was stunned to find out she had struggled with this issue, too. In fact, that book was about her search for an authentic woman-friendly spirituality. When the premise for
Your Truest Self came together, I thought of Joyce and how her story had given me permission to explore my spiritual life in a new way. Ten years later, I finally had the opportunity as a magazine editor to interview her. As a result, a singular Truth organically emerged from our conversation:
"I am free to live a spiritual life of my own making." This became the first Transformational Truth.
Q: How then do these Truths apply if every woman's spiritual path is different and unique? A: The Truths, I believe, are universal. That was one of the most profound awarenesses that came as a result of meeting the women in the book. Each was from a different religious background, representing both Western and Eastern traditions. Yet, they were all so similar. Each woman could have represented any one of the Truths herself. This is because each woman had fully embodied her sacred self. Of course, each has done so in a unique way through her own spirituality and life expression-- as a writer, artist, musician, talk show host, environmental activist, scientist, therapist, and so on.
Q: What do you believe is the most difficult Truth for a woman to incorporate into her life and why? A: Transformational Truth #Five:
"I cultivate compassion for myself." This Truth is represented by Sue Patton Thoele, a dear friend and mentor. I found Sue in my early searching years when I was overwhelmed with life. I was sick and tired--literally--from living on the fast track, trying to be the perfect wife and mother, trying to make everyone around me happy. Sue's book,
The Courage to Be Myself, helped me break that pattern. It took years to learn how to be kind to myself. This is a very difficult thing for women to learn. This is because we are hard-wired to nurture and care for everyone but ourselves. In fact, if we do, we're often considered selfish. In order to connect with our truest self, we must learn to have compassion for ourselves, to treat ourselves lovingly, and live more gently.
Q: Are the Transformational Truths linear, meaning something we need to cultivate in order? A: Yes, in a manner of speaking. I discovered there were Truths that seemed to be more difficult to live out. For example, compassion for others. We can't possibly feel love and compassion for others if we are not able to feel that for ourselves. Learning to love and accept ourselves must come first. I suggest readers start at the beginning of the book, not jump around to read about particular women, for this very reason.
Q: How have the women featured in this book impacted you personally? A: When I first began the interview process in 2004, I was very nervous. I had put these women on pedestals, perceived them as women to be adored. What I learned was that each one was a regular woman just like me, with many insecurities and issues to be healed, even the most famous like Naomi Judd or Iyanla Vanzant. Their radiant selves showed me where I was still falling into the trap of insecurity, low self-esteem, or the fear of living my beliefs publicly. I learned that each one had struggled with these same issues. By perseverance, faith, and acts of grace they overcame them. Any of us can.
Q: Is there one major point you hope the reader will take from this book? A: Yes. I hope every woman will come to understand that she truly is a sacred being--a "Holy Woman"-- no matter what anyone (or authoritative body) tells her. I hope and pray that she will begin to trust her unique divine connection and live that fully in the world for all to see. Because when we can, we will all begin to heal, every single one of us, and move toward a more peaceful, loving, and compassionate world. After all, isn't that why we're here? To make manifest the Love that is our Source, the Love that we are?
