Stacy Valentine
Bio
Warrior princess vibes with a cup of coffee in one hand and a ukulele in the other. I'm a writer, geeky nerd, language lover, and yarn crafter who finds magic in simple joys like books, video games, and music. kofi.com/kiofirespinner
Stories (53)
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Being Present in Relationships: How to Actually Listen, Connect, and Feel Seen
In a world full of distractions, fast conversations, and emotional noise, genuine presence has become rare. Most people listen to respond, not to understand. They rush through conversations, splitting their attention between their phone, their thoughts, and their environment. And yet, feeling truly seen and heard remains one of the most basic human needs.
By Stacy Valentineabout a month ago in Motivation
The Moment I Realized I was Done Pleasing Everyone but Myself
For most of my life, I didn’t realize I was living for other people. I thought I was being kind. Thought I was being flexible. Thought I was being “easygoing” and mature. What I was really doing was shrinking myself, quietly, consistently, and convincingly, until I could barely hear my own voice.
By Stacy Valentineabout a month ago in Motivation
I Had to Lose Myself Completely to Finally Meet Who I Really Am
There was a time when I thought losing myself was the worst thing that could happen to me. I believed that if I could just hold on tightly enough, to my roles, my routines, my identity, my plans, I would be safe. I didn’t realize that what I was holding onto wasn’t really me at all. It was a version of myself shaped by survival, expectation, and fear.
By Stacy Valentineabout a month ago in Motivation
What Is Shadow Work?
Most of us walk through life with two versions of ourselves: the one we consciously present to the world and the one we keep buried beneath the surface. That buried part contains pieces of us we’ve pushed aside, rejected, denied, or learned to hide. This hidden self is often called the shadow.
By Stacy Valentineabout a month ago in Motivation
Choosing a Life That Fits Me, Not the One I Was Told to Want
For a long time, I thought something was wrong with me. I couldn’t quite explain it, but the life I was supposed to want never felt right. The checklist everyone else seemed to follow, stability at all costs, constant productivity, quiet sacrifice, shrinking dreams, felt heavy on my chest. I tried to force myself into it anyway. I told myself that wanting something different was unrealistic, selfish, or immature.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
How I Stepped into the Life I Used to be Afraid to Want
For a long time, I lived small on purpose. I didn’t dream too loudly. I didn’t ask for too much. I didn’t reach too far. Somewhere deep inside me, I believed the life I actually wanted wasn’t meant for me. It felt too big, too bright, too bold for someone like me, someone who had been told to tone it down, be realistic, stay grateful for the little I had, and never expect more.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
How I Rebuilt My Confidence After Years of Dimming My Light
For years, I lived small, smaller than my truth, smaller than my gifts, smaller than the voice inside me begging to be heard. At the time, I didn’t realize I was dimming my light. I thought I was being “humble,” “easy to love,” or “low-maintenance.” I thought blending in kept me safe. I thought shrinking was the price of acceptance.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
I Finally Stopped Settling and Started Choosing My Dream Life: What Happened Next Changed Everything
For most of my life, I convinced myself that wanting more was unreasonable. I told myself to be grateful for what I had, not to rock the boat, not to expect too much. I stayed in situations that drained me, accepted relationships that didn’t honor me, and tolerated versions of myself that weren’t true anymore.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
Becoming Unavailable for Your Old Life: How to Raise Your Standards and Evolve
There comes a moment in every healing journey when you realize you can’t keep living the same life you’ve outgrown. Maybe it hits you during an argument that feels too familiar. Maybe you feel it when you wake up exhausted by the same routines, habits, or people who drain you. Or maybe it whispers to you in the quiet moments, you deserve more.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
When Your Soul Wants More: Navigating the Inner Pull Towards a Bigger Life
There comes a moment in everyone’s life when something deep inside begins to whisper, There has to be more than this. It’s not always loud. Sometimes it shows up as restlessness, a quiet ache, a longing you can’t name, or an inner tug that says your current life, your routines, your environment, your patterns, no longer fit the person you’re becoming.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
The Silent Power Move: Staying Classy While Someone Acts Out
There comes a moment in life when someone lashes out, tries to provoke you, or behaves in a way that is chaotic, disrespectful, or intentionally hurtful. Your instinct might be to react, to defend yourself, match their energy, or prove your point. But the strongest, most self-possessed version of you knows that the loudest person in the room is rarely the most powerful.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
The Fear of Starting Again: How to Return to Your Passions Without Judgement
There’s a special kind of ache that comes from wanting to return to something you once loved but feeling frozen by fear. Maybe you used to write, paint, dance, sing, bake, create, explore, or dream and somewhere along the way, life pulled you away from it. Trauma happened. Survival mode took over. Responsibilities piled up. Energy faded. Confidence withered.
By Stacy Valentine2 months ago in Motivation
