How Myesha Chaney is Creating Safe Spaces for Women to Be Their Authentic Selves
Myesha Chaney doesn’t need an introduction. However, here’s a brief snapshot. She is a proficient speaker, author, entrepreneur, content creator, and, above all, a compassionate, God-loving individual who has wholly dedicated her life to empowering others. “I’m a mother, a friend, an advocate for authenticity, and living life to the fullest,” Myesha shares with warmth as we begin our phone interview.
Myesha’s journey toward empowerment and spirituality began in her early twenties when she found herself in the role of a pastor’s wife. It was then that she identified a universal truth – people were living, but not to their fullest potential. Many were hiding significant parts of their stories that could be incredibly helpful to others, especially women. This realization sparked a passion within her to create safe spaces for women to be their true selves.
“You don’t have to hide here. You don’t have to pretend here. You don’t have to say that you’re blessed and highly favored when you don’t really believe that,” Myesha shares, her voice echoing sincere conviction. Her journey started with recognizing that there was a need for spaces beyond what the eyes saw. These spaces would allow for openness, authenticity, and, most importantly, healing.
Her recognition led to action, and she penned her thoughts in a book called “Hiding Behind the Lipstick.” The book was just the first step in her continued effort to create safe spaces, both online and offline. “Anywhere that I am, I want people to feel like they can be themselves, they can say what they think, and it is perfectly okay,” she adds.
Myesha strongly believes in the evident healing power of love. She suggests the only way to heal our traumas, insecurities, and doubts is by exposing them to love. However, love cannot touch the places we are unwilling to share. To create a safe space for others, Myesha had to first make one for herself. She shares that her journey to self-discovery involved therapy, scripture, prayer, and meditation.
But Myesha’s approach to creating safe spaces for others is unique. She leans into the Holy Spirit, always being curious about occurrences that people may not be open about. She models vulnerability first, making it easier for others to open up. “My safe spaces aren’t about fixing people. They are about exposing people to love their deepest places so that God can do the healing work,” she explains.
Myesha’s personal experiences undoubtedly play a significant role in her work. She has experienced invisibility while being in church every week, long-suffering, and even complete loss. But through it all, she has found comforting hope, peace, and resilience. “I draw off my personal experiences in my life and then also use the Holy Spirit as a guide,” she shares.
Her journey hasn’t been a seamless one. A couple of years ago, Myesha went through a divorce that almost broke her. During this time, she lost everything that mattered to her, leading her to realize the importance of her story. “I have a story that is worth hearing, that matters, and that can help other people who may be going through something similar or maybe just need someone else to say, ‘I understand what that pain feels like,’” she says.
In the faith-based Christian community, obvious expectations of how one should behave often exist. However, Myesha finds joy in her true relationship with God. She believes that having a genuine, abiding relationship with God is what makes her a woman of God. She adds, “God is who God says he is, and that to me is everything.”
As a woman of God, Myesha is an immense force of change. Her willingness to say what others are afraid to say, to stand when everyone else wants to sit, and to run toward danger instead of running away makes her a beacon of strength and resilience. When asked about typical challenges women face when seeking spiritual guidance from her, Myesha emphasizes that most women have lost a sense of who they are. They yearn to be their authentic selves but don’t know how.
Her approach to helping these women is empathetic and empowering. She gives them the much-needed permission to be where they are, affirms their experiences, and helps them with an advantageous path forward. She also emphasizes the power of believing in a person: “When I believe them, I just go with them where they are and sit there. What is it like to be you in this situation? I’m not improving you. I’m not fixing you. I’m not taking you anywhere right now. I’m just going to be here and be with you, hear you, and accept the words coming out of your mouth as your truth right here, right now.”
Myesha’s advice to those who want to start exploring a spiritual direction but don’t know where to begin is to find a spiritual director, cut out the noise, and give grace to oneself. She encourages people to keep waking up and putting one foot in front of the other.
Reflecting on the reputable legacy she wants to leave behind, Myesha says, “I aspire to leave a legacy of authenticity and godliness embodied in humanity, being a tangible reflection of Jesus on earth.” With her passion for authenticity, commitment to empowering others, and deep-rooted faith, Myesha Chaney is making a significant impact, one story at a time.
