Series Introduction: She is Victorious
BY: NIKKI MICHELLE CHARNSTROM
Pause for a moment to recall a time in your life where you came out victorious. Remember how you felt, what thoughts were running through your head, how did you suddenly view the struggle you conquered? Did you take a sigh of relief? Did you find yourself standing a bit taller?
Victory has a way of boosting our confidence in a way nothing else ever could. Holding that trophy of triumph feels so good after trudging through a difficult season. It’s easy to look at the struggle with a smirk when we’re standing on top of it. Although in the midst of the battle, what keeps us going?
Behind every victorious woman is a story...
In order to reach success, she had to first experience defeat, failure and disappointment. She knows life is a roller coaster of highs and lows. It would be nearly impossible for her to ever reach the summit without first trudging through the valleys. That mountaintop moment wouldn’t hold much weight for her if it came easy. She’s come to appreciate life’s greatest wins because she’s faced some of its most hurtful losses.
Although, for her, victory doesn’t always have to look like a massive feat. It can be something as simple as waking up in the morning and feeling confident when she looks in the mirror. Or, perhaps she pushed herself that much harder in her workout. Victory can look as grand or small as she wants it to be. She is in control of how she defines her own success.
No matter how the world might try to trip her up or slow her down, she’s quick to rebound. She’s not so focused on the problem at hand but instead, how she will bounce back. What’s her secret? She handles her inner-dialogue with the utmost care. Lies flood in from all around trying to drown her but what they don’t know is she cannot be sunk. She has a willpower unlike any other and the way she looks after herself is unmatched. She is well aware of the power that comes from self-love — it is a force that only makes her stronger.
A woman like her won’t be phased by the struggle. Sure, at times, she feels like it’s simply more than she could bear, but in one way or another, she manages to persevere. She does not dwell in her circumstances, overwhelmed by their weight or size. No, she allows her present to sharpen her — taking advantage of every little bit of the struggle.
Hardship doesn’t show favoritism and she knows she will never be an exception. So, while the storms may come and the winds may rattle that which surrounds her, they will never uproot her for she is victorious.
Throughout the month of September, the ladies of Crowned Chics will be sharing their stories of victory. While one might look dramatically different from the next, each story is a personal experience and testimony to living a victorious life. We pray you’ll find the strength within yourself to approach your circumstances with confidence.
CALL TO ACTION: If you've lived through a struggle and found victory on the other side, we want to share your story. You don’t need to be a perfect writer or even a writer at all. Every story submission we receive, we will proofread and publish to the “Chic Stories” section of our website. This is your opportunity to use your testimony to empower and inspire another woman who may very well be fighting the same battle. So, head on over to the “Share Your Story” tab under “Join Us” and get to writing! Your story deserves to be heard, girlfriend.
Nikki is the owner and founder of Crowned Chics. She lives in the warm desert of Phoenix, Arizona with her beloved family. If she's not ferociously clanking away on her typewriter, she's behind the camera capturing moments for her business Charnstrom Captures Photography.