A Goddess in Waiting
A Goddess in Waiting is a non-fiction guidebook for girls wanting to become Goddesses. Each chapter covers a different topic or issue that most young girls have to go through throughout their transition from a girl to a woman.
Why is growing up for girls such a tough experience?
There is so much change going on in your teenage years. It really is such a vulnerable time for young girls, trying to discover who they are whilst having social pressures they feel they must conform to. It can be very confusing and young girls are easily influenced from different platforms whether it is their friends, parents or the media. A confused mind can only lead to the production of wrong choices and then going onto live with the guilt of making the wrong choices that can form low self-esteem and depression. It can be really tough at times especially if they haven’t got the right support around them.
What would you say is the most common teenage girl drama?
In terms of drama, there can be a lot of gossip, jealousy and bullying going on among friends. Female friendships tend to be filled with complexity and drama during the teen years because girls are growing, constantly changing, and learning about themselves. Subsequently, it's not uncommon for friendships to develop quickly and be short lived.
The book refers to some of your own experiences, so what were some of your own issues when you were younger?
I began working on the book when I was 18 whilst studying at university. I moved away from home with no solid support network around me. It was a dark time as I struggled with issues from my self-image to my personal relationships. I was really struggling to find myself so I started to read a lot of self-help and self-empowerment books and started to write as part of my therapy. I knew I wasn’t alone as girls around me were going through similar issues like depression, unhealthy destructive relationships and problems with their self-image. Seeing other girls struggle gave me an urge to write, to help them and to get my message across. No body is perfect and I wouldn’t change any of my experiences because it’s moulded me into who I am today, however a few wise words throughout the tough times would have been welcomed with open arms.
Why did you feel that you needed to use your own experiences to help other young women?
The main reason I wrote the book was because I was searching for something comparable to it at my time of need and I couldn’t find anything of the sort, so after much frustration I decided to create one myself. I knew I wasn’t alone and there were many girls searching for other sources of guidance from someone who could understand and relate although was not a parent, friend or doctor. We can all help each other, but only if we have helped ourselves first. I helped myself in order to help others.
If we can learn from each others mistakes that would be great, however that doesn’t happen most of the time. I believe it is important to provide a little book of hope from someone who’s been through those hard-hitting teenage years and seen the light at the end of the tunnel. I want to demonstrate to the readers that there is a light and if you have the accurate support and guidance and build a solid foundation sooner in life, the quicker you can live happily ever after. This starts with being fearless, not giving in to what society wants to see externally and to start feeling good for yourself internally, knowing your true self as much as you can and living out your hearts true desire where it feels good and right inside your belly.
Why do girls often suffer from more self-esteem issues than boys?
Girls are a lot more susceptible to self-esteem issues because of all the influences we experience from a young age of what women should look like and what beauty is, and normally it’s not the tall, spotty, frizzy haired 14 year old. Beauty adverts we see from a young age can make us feel inadequate. It’s instilled in us girls from day one. Before puberty, neither sex has the edge on major depression, but afterward girls are two to three times more likely than boys to suffer from it according to a report from Harvard Medical School.
You use a new style of life coaching in this book, so can you tell us a little bit more about this?
Yes, it’s not your typical self-help book, it’s a short, simple and easy to read guide. It touches upon all the main issues girls are faced with in a direct manner whilst remaining light hearted. It also introduces the readers to a new way of thinking towards spirituality, and the benefits of positive thinking. It’s a stepping-stone to their personal awakening.
What is next for you?
I currently have a few exciting projects in progress, but I don’t want to say anything yet as we are in the process of sorting out the patenting and legal matters. Other than that, I will continue mentoring and writing to inspire and empower girls and women, so get ready for book number two!