Apr 26, 2022
In this episode, our guest is Sara Lovestyle. Sara is a Lifestyle Influencer and Social Media Expert who inspires power at the intersection of health, beauty, and consciousness through her “Lovestyle Movement!” She champions The Lovestyle Movement by channeling her fitness goals to elevate as a Lovestyle Warrior in all areas of family, purpose, and play for the everyday modern woman. Sara has crossed many finish lines in ways that most people wouldn't get past and still create something great in life, let alone give it back to the world. Today, she shares her journey of being a mother and creating an impact on others.
[1:52] Why should we listen to you?
I have this strange ability to make you believe that you are the exception because my faith is so important to me. We live in a really tough world right now where people need encouragement, love, and compassion. This is where the lifestyle part of my brand comes from. I love to pour into people. If we're having a conversation, the idea that something is a dream isn't possible. I'll probably bully you into believing that it's real because I am going to challenge you, but also have a conversation that is hopefully enlightening, where we can learn from one another and share experiences.
[3:20] How would you explain who you are?
Many times, we go into either characteristic, or people will go into their titles. But the reality is who you are at the core. For me, I am compassionate, kind, smart, and brilliant. I believe in doing items every single day. But also, I am faith-filled. I truly believe in everything I tell myself, even if I don't always believe it. Having that conversation about everything I am, even the parts that aren't necessarily the best, is okay, because those are who I am.
[4:45] Self-Affirmations
My parents are incredible. Very early on, my father would instill in me, “Listen, you are kind, you're smart, you are brilliant. You tell yourself this stuff every single day until you believe it.” Then you become an adult, and you realize life is an interesting journey. I do affirmations every single morning for 10 minutes. It may sound dull, but I have them written on my mirror and my vanity, in my bathroom, and my office. If I ever have moments where I'm not feeling beautiful, I can look up and tell myself I am beautiful.
[11:39] What was your journey to getting a message refined that resonated?
I started as a beauty influencer because I thought I would like it. That was the cool thing to do six years ago. I realized quickly that the power was in my storytelling. The second I started talking, everything changed. People were receptive. My brand is a lifestyle brand because the fitness element is important because I was overweight and heavy during my heart attack. As a mom, there's the self-care element where I needed to give and give, and I forgot about myself. Then there's the part about telling the story of motherhood and that journey, and talking about my son was hands down the most difficult part for me. Everyone was receptive, and the brand grew quickly because I didn't have to pretend to be something I wasn't.
[15:52] Nothing is Impossible
I was afraid of imposter syndrome. I was afraid that I would not be accepted if I could be honest because I started as an influencer. The reality is that you can influence one person, or have one follower, and still be identified as an influencer. I want to show people what is possible, truly limitless.
[17:49] Journey of investment return
What's interesting is it started with the investment of a relationship. There's also an assumption that an investment has to be money, and it's not. I realized quickly that I could use the leverage of my platform to get a board seat. I could leverage a company that maybe did not have the funds to pay me as a creator. But you have some shares, though. There are so many aspects of an influencer that could begin. But there are routes to getting a seat at that table. It was about bringing someone to have a relationship that could be mutually beneficial for the company.
[22:02] Allow Yourself to Fail
We are so afraid of taking risks. And we're afraid of what people think. We are afraid of what if it doesn't come back? Or what if I don't come back from it? My dad used to ask me as a child, and it used to get on my nerves, and he would ask me, “What did you fail out today?” And it used to make me so mad. But what he knew that I didn't realize at the time is that I never gave myself the opportunity to fail.
[26:40] What Shifted Sara
The catalyst for my ultimate shift was my divorce. That's the one piece I've never talked about. I know that it is important that I create a stable life for my children. But was I okay with this thing that happened to me? Or am I going to allow it to happen through me? And it's not that it's easy. And it's not that life isn't hard. It's not that there aren't hardships. The scariest element for me is to be at the end of my life and be filled with regrets. I refused to be that person. My option at that point was to continue to dive deep into my faith, build my confidence, do my items, have my prayer time be in my word, and take risks.
[32:59] What is “Lovestyle?”
It's not the love of clothing. It's not the love of a makeup style. It's how do I choose to live my life every single day? Can I choose to live in love and compassion and kindness, in awareness in the people I'm interacting with, whether that's somebody at Starbucks or wherever at the grocery store? Am I living my lifestyle? Am I living the thing that I call my lifestyle? And it's a daily reminder: have I done an act of kindness today? Or have I been selfish?
[34:25] I don't think balance is real. But we do the best that we can. And I hope that people choose their lifestyles when they come to me or when they meet the brand or me or any work that I've done is that they choose their lifestyle. I think it's more important that people have a feeling when they meet you than an actual name. I don't care about titles, but how did I make you feel today? How did the brand make you feel about yourself? Were you encouraged? Do you feel self-love? Do you feel poured into your faith? Do you feel spiritually motivated? Do you feel challenged? Those are all the things that I want people to feel when they meet me or go to the brand.
[38:17] What is that abundance you're trying to get for your audience?
The first is internal. I'm not a therapist, but I believe in internal work. The second thing is I want to know what monetizing looks like to you because it could be 50,000, 25,000, 100,000, or even seven figures. What does that look like to you? I also want to expand people's ideas of how we get there. The thought that an influencer could become an investor wasn't a thing when I started.
[42:07] What promise did God make to the world when He created you?
I will make an impact. I will create change and be the mother of all mothers. And that is what I was created to do. That is who I am. I am made to impact. I am made to be a change-maker. I am made to go against the current and show what can be, but also leave the door open.
[43:15] I don't want to eat by myself. Life is not meant to be done alone. We fill the table, and we eat together. I cannot be selfish. People need to go and expand that table, and then it continues. So how do I, in my life, expand the impact that's so far beyond me that it has nothing to do with me. And I know that that is that's my purpose.
Key Quotes
[13:23 – 13:49] “I was struggling, not knowing how to voice how I was feeling about having a special needs child. Now I can because I feel seen and heard because the idea and the perception of who I was and who I am, weren't the same. And people were incredibly accepting the more I shared them, the more real I got.”
[21:29 – 21:48] “Failure is a part of the journey. It just is what it is. But every one of those failures was a lesson to teach me what not to do the next time. One thing that all entrepreneurs have in common is we're not afraid to fail. It just is what it is. It's part of the journey.”
[31:08 – 31:15] “Don't avoid the feelings, have them. But pick yourself back up. And at some point, you tell yourself, okay, now what? And what is next?”
Learn more about Sara:
Website: https://www.saralovestyle.com/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/saralovestyle
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUUsC0jNry2rNxpqUFgaU2Q