Introducing Telisha Acklin of Telisha Acklin Photography in Nashville, Tennessee.
We first asked Telisha If you had 30 minutes for an INpowerment Talk what would be your main subject? What’s the topic that lights your fire?
The subject that I’m most passionate, and a daily part of my life is confidence. I want be a willing vessel to pour a little confidence in every woman and girl I come in contact with as I journey through life. I want every woman to know that no matter what they have done or who they have been they have the right to change for the better. That no matter what someone said about them that the only thing that really matters is what they think of themselves. Having confidence is one of the key attributed to becoming the person we want to be!
Tell us about the things that lead to you loving that topic and knowing you have a passion for it.
I was always the cheerleader for my friends even as a little girl! It’s always been in me to pour into someone else, because it was the example set before me by my parents. I love the topic of confidence because once you pour a drop into a young ladies cup, you can see a change in the way them instantly. When a women see that she doesn’t have to hold herself to someone else’s standard of her, but to her own standard, she is instantly empowered. When she understands that we are all on the same road of growth and everyone is just at different levels it give and boost to their confidence of not feeling like they will never get there or the weight of failure.
My family is large so there is always a cousin, aunt, sibling, or at least one of my parents that I can depend on to build me up when I need a confidence boost. I have learned over the years that many women don’t have anyone to tell them they are beautiful, smart, funny, great at their job, etc. I make it a point to tell women they are beautiful walking past, standing it the grocery store, on social media if I see them being beautiful! I might just be the only one that has told them in a long time. I make it a point to tell people how great they are when they have done something I think is great because I might be the first one in month to share and they may be doubting themselve. I want women to feel great so they can go be great!
On your INpowerment journey what would you say has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced? How did you overcome it? AND if you’re in the process of overcoming it what steps are you taking right now that are helpful to you and may encourage others?
I can say that I struggled with confidence because I was worried about the people who disliked me for no reason. We just did not work as our personalities differed so much. I would worry about people who treated me bad for no reason. I would work hard to get them to like me not realizing that it wasn’t going to matter. Those people were not going to like me no matter how kind or how much I tried to show and share a good person with them. Actually, things were just the way they were suppose to be and there is nothing wrong with that! I first decided that it was okay to not be like by everyone.
I then began to stop trying with those people. I was no longer hurt by their behavior of little care for me in their presence. I am nice if I am in their presence, but I don’t engage or over extend myself. I healed my heart of being hurt when someone rejected me. I can remember back as a small kid rejection by peers and people not liking me and even me not like others for no reason at all. I gave myself permission to not have to yield to those feelings of wanting to show someone I am a good person. I realized I am a good person for my people and that okay.
As women in our 20’s many times, we have so much pulling and tugging on us to be what everyone thinks of us! In our 30’s we are establishing who we are and want others to respect that we are capable beings. When 40 came for me, I didn’t care what anyone thought. This shapes us in such a way and our confidence can be lowered so much because of the standards to be liked by important or non-important people. I now know it’s not how many people who believe you are a good person or like you, its the quality in the relationships of those that are in your circle! As long as I like me and know that I am being a genuinely good person that is all that matters!
What do you love most about yourself as a woman on an INpowerment journey? What are you most proud of?
I love and adore most in me that I am an optimist! I am willing to see the best in people and I judge those people based on the relationship I have with them not on what other believe. I am most proud that I am that woman who is always will to lift another woman up! That characteristic fills me with great joy!
Women wear a lot of hats , sometimes we play superwoman when we aren’t feeling it, has that ever happened to you? If so, how did you handle it? If not, how do you keep it from happening to you?
I believe that it’s okay to not be superwoman. I know that I can’t be everything to everyone at all times. I watched my mother be that woman. We grew up calling her Shera. I would tell her as I became a woman, I am not Shera! I can say no I can’t do that. Sometimes I get in over my head, but I will just say this ain’t working and it’s okay to say this is not going to work for me and my lifestyle. It may disappoint someone, but I have to be honest with me or I will disappoint. I have been running a few business ideas for a while, I decided I was not capable of continuing them all so I have decided to pick two and only do those until I am capable of hiring someone.
What are your three best INpowerment tips?
1-Write the vision you want for your life! Break it down in measurable actionable steps that are realistic for you to meet! You can accomplish any goal you implement a plan to achieving!
2- Believe in you no matter who else does! All you truly need is God and you!
3-Love you even when you don’t feel lovable! Forgive you even if you don’t think you deserve it! Take time for yourself even if it’s only 20 minutes a day! Your will find yourself a happier person!
Personal projects, tell us what’s going on now or pending for your personal projects ?
I am working on a masterclass to teach photographers how to grow their businesses and brand organically in the social media realm!
Favorite snack or desert? Yes, inquiring minds want to know.
My favorite snack is grapes. My most favorite desert is a Russel Stovers caramel apple. I love them and must stop every time we take a trip in any direction of the store locations.
What are your final thoughts for INpowerment?
My favorite quote is It only takes a moment for God to change your situation! I believe this with my whole heart that I am always only one moment away from God doing a new thing, a great thing, an amazing thing in my life!
Remember When You See Us you’re looking at God’s amazing grace!
Where can we find you online?
www.creatingorganicwealth.com
www.facebook.com/telishaacklinphotography
