The Luxe Edit

Woman to Woman!
Have you ever just paused and asked yourself, Who am I, really?

Not in a deep, dramatic way—but just in a quiet moment, standing in the mirror, maybe after a long day or in between errands. That moment where you realize you’ve been going and doing and giving so much, you haven’t checked in with you.

That’s where I found myself.

I’ve spent years being everything for everyone—working, showing up, raising babies, being a wife, helping others. But somewhere along the way, I started to feel disconnected. Like… if you stripped all the roles away, I wasn’t sure who I was outside of all that.

Sometimes, I joke that if someone asked “Who are you?” I’d start rattling off my LinkedIn bio. Titles. Tasks. Tribes. But that’s not soul work—that’s surface. Maya Angelou once said, “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” And that hit different when I realized that being worthy wasn’t tied to being busy.

It made me pause. If I wasn’t my titles, my schedule, my roles… what was left?

I realized I’d gotten so good at being busy that I hadn’t made space to be present—with myself. It wasn’t burnout. It was a quiet ache for deeper connection. Not with others this time—but with me. I knew I needed something. Not a productivity hack or a new planner. Something that would let me slow down and actually listen to what was stirring inside.

Something needed to budge.

Apparently my internal tussle could be seen, because somewhere between my repetitive complains and sighs, my therapist paused and asked:

“Have you tried journaling?”

She said, “As women, we often hold so much in—our roles, our emotions, our expectations. Journaling gives all of that a place to land. It’s not about being a ‘writer.’ It’s about letting your inner voice speak without interruption. When you put your thoughts on paper, you stop carrying them alone.”

That’s what led me here.
Not to perfection—but to more awareness.
More softness.
More curiosity about the woman I am becoming.

She said “Write something—anything. How you feel today. Then tomorrow, read it back. Keep going.” And that’s when something shifted. I started writing. Not always consistently (life be life-ing), but I tried.

But that became my space.
Instead of reacting, I would write.
Instead of spiraling in my feelings, I would pause and reflect.

Journaling became a lifeline. A mirror. A friend. A healing ritual.

“The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination… until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.”
— Iyanla Vanzant

I’ve come to understand how powerful our emotions are. How valid. How informative. Even messy ones. And journaling helps me meet myself with honesty instead of judgment.

📓 When Famous Women Write, Too……

Oprah Winfrey

One of the most vocal advocates for journaling as a tool for self-awareness and gratitude. She once shared that she started journaling when she felt lost in the whirlwind of career success. She called her journal “a safe place to dump the noise” and later realized that many of her big life pivots started on those pages. Sometimes the clearest “aha” moments begin with a scribbled sentence on a napkin.

“Keeping a journal will absolutely change your life in ways you’ve never imagined.”
— Oprah Winfrey

“I write in my journal at the end of every day, and it helps me see how far I’ve come—and what I still need to heal.”

Michelle Obama

She’s spoken about journaling as part of her personal growth, especially during her time as First Lady and in her book Becoming.

“Sometimes journaling is the only place I can be honest with myself without having to explain.”

Anne Lamott

Writer of Bird by Bird, she’s known for advocating “shitty first drafts” and the raw, healing power of writing things down.

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
(That’s what journaling is—a way to unplug.)

Maya Angelou

While not always quoted directly about journaling, her devotion to writing as a form of self-expression and truth-telling speaks volumes.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
— Maya Angelou

✍🏾 A Personal Note on Journaling

I still remember one entry I wrote after an argument—I was frustrated, overwhelmed, and ready to lash out. But instead, I sat down and wrote. The first few lines were angry, raw, and emotional. But by the time I got to the end of the page, I had more clarity. I could see why I was hurt, not just that I was. That’s the power of reflection—it shifts your response.

As Brené Brown says, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” I didn’t know that clarity could be so quiet—like how a storm slowly settles once it’s been named.

The funny thing about journaling is that it doesn’t always make you feel like a wise sage… sometimes you just realize you eat way too many snacks when stressed. Or that your inner voice sounds suspiciously like your grandma. Mine sounds like my grandma after two cups of tea—telling me to sit down somewhere and stop overthinking. Journaling really does give her a front-row seat in my healing. But growth isn’t always glamorous—it can come dressed in cozy socks and sweats on a Tuesday night.

I also have a journal I keep just for my kids. I started it when I was pregnant with my first. It’s filled with love letters, milestones, things I never want them to forget—and pieces of me I want them to know one day. Not just the mom they saw, but the woman I was growing into.
I like to imagine them reading it one day and thinking, “Wow… Mom was really doing the work.” Not just the dishes and the school runs—but the deep inner work most people never see.

🪞 Let’s Turn Inward

Journaling helps you hold on to parts of yourself that the world doesn’t always see. But today—right now—let’s turn that inward.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
— Aristotle

Let’s ask the hard, beautiful questions. Let’s meet ourselves where we are—without shame, without pressure. Just honesty.

🧠 Ready to Reflect?

✨ 20 Questions to Ask Yourself Today

Who are you—outside of everything else?

1. What is something you genuinely love about yourself?
2. What makes you come alive?
3. What does a perfect day look like for you?
4. What’s something you’ve had to unlearn in order to grow?
5. What was a major turning point in your life?
6. What is something you love now that you never thought you’d enjoy?
7. What’s the most impactful “no” you’ve ever said—and why?
8. What chapters would your life story be divided into?
9. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
10. What could you give a 30-minute presentation on with zero preparation?
11. What’s one belief or perspective that completely changed for you—and what caused the shift?
12. When was the last time you felt truly proud of yourself?
13. What’s one small moment from your past that left a big impact?
14. Who were you before the world told you who to be?
15. What does your inner child still need from you today?
16. Why did you choose the path you’re on right now in your life?
17. What’s something you’ve forgiven yourself for?
18. What do you want to be remembered for?
19. What’s one boundary that changed your peace?
20. What would your younger self be surprised to know about your life now?

Say this to yourself today:

Today, I pause. I reflect. I reset where I need to. I know that I am free to begin again at any time.
A woman who journals is a woman fearless in facing her truths.

🧡 Keep This Line in Your Pocket

“A woman who journals is a woman who refuses to shrink.” She may bend, she may cry, she may doubt—but she always returns to herself, page after page.

Have you tried journaling before?
Do any of these questions speak to you right now?

👉🏾 Pick just one of the questions above and answer it in the comments—or write it in your own journal today.

You don’t need a fancy notebook. Just a pen, some space, and your truth. And if all you do today is scribble your name and how you feel—that counts. That matters. That’s you, showing up.

“The soul never thinks without a picture.” — Aristotle