Story & Lesson Highlights with Jessica Lester

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jessica Lester. Check out our conversation below.

Jessica, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
More recently, I’ve felt the pull to live more authentically in my truth through connection, creativity, and courage. I’ve started to walk a path that feels more in alignment with my purpose as an artist and as a person. Fully embracing my creativity has been a brave and challenging, yet incredibly rewarding decision so far.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jess and I’m a multidisciplinary artist working primarily with photography, painting, and mixed media. Rooted in themes of healing, transformation, and authenticity, my work is deeply inspired by personal experience, spiritual exploration, travel, and the natural world.

Through creative expression, I’ve learned to alchemize beyond moments of change, loss, and growth into pieces that reflect courage, connection, and the beauty of becoming. The intentions of my work are to invite others to pause, reflect, and reconnect, not only with themselves but also with each other and the world around us.

I believe that creativity is a healing force and that our stories, even in their rawness, can be powerful bridges to one another. Through my work, I hope to inspire others to reclaim their voice, embrace their journey, and find meaning in the magic of everyday life.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe a significant part of our purpose is to foster and nurture connection within ourselves and our outer worlds. I encourage the curiosity to support growth, transformation, and learning how to cultivate spaces of safety within our bodies to trust ourselves for guidance and clarity while also holding space for others. When we reconnect to ourselves, our purpose, and our destined paths, we can expand beyond the mind to connect deeply to other people, places, and experiences in beautiful, creative, and authentic ways.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Within the last few years, I’ve experienced great levels of significant change and loss, amassing intense amounts of grief in an accelerated timeframe. The transformations I’ve witnessed have been deeply personal and reshaped not only the fibers of my being, but also my understandings of both my inner and outer worlds. My path has included perpetual exercises of surrender, courage, creativity, and trust. I’ve found that connecting with myself in intentional, creative practices has helped to bring guidance and clarity to my purpose and supporting my path, moving forward in aligned action. Creative expression, interpersonal connection, and consistent therapy have helped me to navigate a difficult but incredibly rewarding journey of becoming.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Your foundational beliefs are uniquely crafted to your own perspective and should carry the values and messages that are pure to your being. I believe our authenticity can be clouded by the influence and expectations of others but when we connect deeply within to learn how to move through life with the lens of our own experience, we can share our story in more trustworthy and meaningful ways. Understanding what is important to you and how to communicate in a healthy, yet impactful way can support true connections through integrity and grace. I also believe in the power of doing the inner work of healing and have witnessed the impact that can play into all areas of life. When we heal what is within us, we begin to heal all that is among us.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The intentions of sharing my story are rooted as reminders of hope, courage, creativity, and connection. I hope to inspire others to live more creatively in their authenticity, to have the courage to share their perspective honestly and impactfully, to encourage connection between ourselves, each other, and the world around us, and to embrace the light and magic that exists within each of us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessthatsme.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessthatsme
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ jessica-lester-9abb6734
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessthatsmeblog
• Other: https://www.sevenellecreative.com

Image Credits
Asha Rayne, RGA Photography