475: How Playing "Make Believe" Made Me Unrecognizable

Design the year you want to live inside Live Like An Editor, January 12–16, 2026. Join us at https://schoolofselfimage.com/editor  What if I told you that the key to becoming the woman you're meant to be has nothing to do with discipline, willpower, or even strategy? The secret to a new self-image is actually something you already know how to do… a little game you've already mastered as a child. I'm talking about playing "make believe." This one practice (when done with intention) can make you absolutely unrecognizable in the best possible way. Every transformation I've experienced in my life, from building a multimillion-dollar business to living my dreams, started with this practice. I promise you: This is the most practical, powerful tool you can use to transform your life. Here's what we cover: • Why "playing make-believe" is one of the most powerful tools for reinvention • How acting as your future self rewires your brain and shapes your identity • Real-life examples of becoming unrecognizable through intentional identity practice • Why becoming the next version of you requires bold imagination, courage, and play • How to stay committed when others doubt, judge, or misunderstand your evolution • How living from your future (not your past) turns vision into reality and magic into results Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms.  How to Connect with Tonya Leigh  Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl

Become the masterpiece of your own making inside Live Like An Editor Workshop, January 12-16, 2026. Join us at https://schoolofselfimage.com/editor Most women go into the new year trying to fix themselves: Fix their bodies. Fix their habits. Fix their homes. Fix their lives. All focused on this state of repairing what's "wrong". But what if the breakthrough you're craving doesn't come from trying to change your "flaws" but from designing what's possible? The next version of you shouldn't be created through pressure, but through vision. With this 10-minute practice, you can create the game-changing shift that will make your entire year feel different.  Here's what we cover: • Why trying to "fix" yourself keeps you stuck, and how design creates real change • The shift from self-repair culture to living from vision, creativity, and desire • How embracing wabi-sabi turns imperfections into texture, depth, and beauty • Why viewing your life as a magazine changes how you set goals and make decisions • The difference between repair-based habits and design-based choices in everyday life • How stepping into the role of editor-in-chief empowers you to create a year that feels like yours Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms. How to Connect with Tonya Leigh Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl

If today's episode resonates, you'll love The Self-Image Manifesto – a declaration for the woman who's ready to live fully expressed. Download now at https://schoolofselfimage.com/manifesto-pod Imagine if three small, French secrets – simple, practical, and quietly powerful – could completely shift how you see yourself. In this episode, I'm sharing three lessons I learned during my time in France that didn't just change how I lived – they became the foundation of the work I do today.  Together, we explore how choosing quality, tending to your own inner world, and loving what you already have can create profound identity shifts – without hustle, pressure, or waiting for your life to look different first. Here's what we cover: The three French "secrets" that subtly but powerfully reshape your self-image Why choosing quality – especially in your thoughts – raises your standards and sense of self-worth How cultivating your own garden ends comparison and strengthens self-trust What changes when you stop managing other people and start leading yourself Why loving what you already have creates true abundance (without dimming your desire) How these French secrets build worthiness, leadership, and confidence from the inside out Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms. How to Connect with Tonya Leigh Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl  

Take the two questions from this episode even deeper, download The Art of the Edit for five more essential questions to curate your most authentic year. https://schoolofselfimage.com/art-pod Imagine if two simple questions could completely rewrite your year. Not by pushing harder or doing more, but by shifting your self-image. These are the questions that change everything as you move into a new year. One of the greatest resources I use in my life is to ask profound questions – none of the fluffy, surface-level stuff. In fact, I disappear for 24 hours every December to gain clarity on what I truly want. And here's the truth: answering these two questions that I'm sharing today can honestly shift your next 365 days from habitual to intentional.  Here's what we cover: • Why the two questions you ask yourself can determine the identity you build next year • How tolerations drain energy, lower standards, and quietly shape a self-image of "settling" • Why choosing one thing you're done tolerating creates powerful, focused transformation • How identity (not willpower) is what ends old patterns and habits • The practice of becoming the woman who no longer tolerates the old version of your life • How small, daily actions reinforce a new self-image and create your next-level year Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms.  How to Connect with Tonya Leigh Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl  

If you're ready to trade tired resolutions for a year that feels like a work of art, step inside the School of Self-Image for The Curated Year Workshop. https://schoolofselfimage.com/join Every December, a mysterious entry appears on my calendar that simply says: UNAVAILABLE. No meetings. No calls. No exceptions. Those closest to me don't even ask anymore – they know I'm about to perform my annual disappearing act. I've done this long enough now to know… Those 24 hours are one of the biggest reasons my life doesn't feel like the same year dressed up in different clothes. Today, I want to tell you why I disappear for one day every year, what the holiday overwhelm is really costing you, and why giving yourself this kind of space can completely change your self-image and the year ahead. Here's what we cover: • Why stepping away for 24 intentional hours can break the cycle of repeating the same year • How distance, rest, beauty, and new environments create clarity • The difference between default goals and vision-led goals rooted in desire and honesty • How curation (reflecting, imagining, and choosing) reshapes both your year and identity • Why most women stay stuck in loops and how pausing helps you see new possibilities • How designing your year like a masterpiece leads you to become the woman you want to be Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms. How to Connect with Tonya Leigh: Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl  

End the year with a high vibe and celebrate with us at the School of Self-Image Holiday Party. https://schoolofselfimage.com/party Imagine walking into a room and instantly elevating the energy with your presence. People smile more. Conversations feel lighter. Everyone leaves asking, "When are we doing this again?" I discovered this simple rule at a dinner party in the South of France, and once I started using it, something fascinating happened: people's entire energy shifted. Some even had life-changing breakthroughs – all from one tiny question.  Today, I'm sharing The Dinner Party Rule that helps you set the tone and magnetize the life you desire. Because the woman who celebrates life will find that life celebrates her in return. Here's what we cover: • The simple Dinner Party Rule that instantly elevates the energy of any room • Why celebration rewires your brain for progress, possibility, and success • How the questions you ask shift identity and behavior • The power of celebrating wins to deepen connection and create healthier relationships • How celebration strengthens self-image by building evidence of growth and capability • Practical ways to use this rule daily – at home, at work, with friends, and within yourself Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms. How to Connect with Tonya Leigh Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl

When you find your Sweet Spot – that place where your gifts, passions, and purpose converge – life takes on a magical quality. Discover how to live in that energy every day with The Sweet Spot Playbook: https://schoolofselfimage.com/sweetspot Most women I know aren't missing motivation – they're missing wonder. They've forgotten how it feels to be genuinely in awe of their own life. Not gratitude out of obligation, but that breathtaking recognition that makes you think, "Wow, I can't believe I get to be here." In this episode, I'm sharing four shifts to invite wonder back into your everyday moments. We'll explore how shifting your perspective can reveal the magic that's already there, and why reconnecting with your natural curiosity unlocks a spiritual energy that's been waiting within you all along. Here's what we cover: • Why modern women feel disconnected not from motivation, but from wonder and awe • How losing our sense of wonder disconnects us from magic, intuition, and spiritual flow • The four daily practices that awaken wonder: focus, questions, translations, and words • How shifting your focus to "everyday miracles" rewires your brain for peace and possibility • The power of Wonder Questions and intentional storytelling to reopen creativity and faith • What it means to live as the woman who embodies wonder: attracting, flowing, and co-creating with the divine Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review!   You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms.   How to Connect with Tonya Leigh   Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl  

Join us for The Curated Year Workshop when you step inside the School of Self-Image membership: https://schoolofselfimage.com/join There's something in the air this time of year – that collective "Let's coast until January" energy. But I've decided… I'm not coasting. I'm not crawling to the finish line. I am finishing this year strong, walking into the next with confidence, gratitude, sparkle, and a glass of champagne in hand. In this episode, I'm sharing five unexpected ways to close this year with a bang and set yourself up for success in the year ahead. This isn't about hustling. It's about being intentional, focusing on what matters, and deciding who you want to become. Because the energy you close the year with is the same energy you carry into the next one. Here's what we cover: • Why how you finish the year determines the energy you bring into the next one • The power of wrapping up loose ends and honoring your original intentions • How deepening relationships through gratitude strengthens connection and joy • Ways to take exquisite care of your body – not from pressure, but from self-respect • The freedom and creativity that come from doing less and focusing on what matters • How to curate your year with reflection, intention, and a conscious close to the season Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms. How to Connect with Tonya Leigh Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl  

If you're ready to take the wheel and make your dream life a reality, take the Next Era Quiz. https://schoolofselfimage.com/quiz-pod Tell me if this sounds familiar: You wake up, think the same thoughts, feel the same emotions. Another week goes by, and nothing's really changed. You tell yourself you're confused, that you just need clarity. But what if you're not confused at all? In this episode, I reveal the #1 reason you're stuck (hint: your brain thinks it's protecting you), the two versions of you fighting for control of your life, and five surprisingly simple ways to finally break free – including why doing the opposite of what your brain tells you is the secret nobody talks about. Because the woman you're becoming isn't waiting for clarity – she's ready to grab the wheel and create a completely new road. Here's what we cover: • Why feeling "stuck" isn't confusion, but your brain clinging to the familiar • The two drivers within you: the fearful, contracted self and the brave, higher self • Five steps to stop spinning your wheels and break free from mental and emotional ruts • The power of decision, and why clarity comes after you choose a direction • How to create momentum through new thoughts, environments, and style • Ways to trust your higher self, embrace change, and steer toward your next era  Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms.  How to Connect with Tonya Leigh Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl  

If you're ready to step into aligned energy and start thriving, take the Next Era Quiz: https://schoolofselfimage.com/quiz-pod  Most women believe that working harder = a guaranteed win. But what if you're putting in the hours, checking the boxes… but nothing seems to click? In this episode, I'm sharing how doing less actually gets you MORE – and it's about matching your energy with your self-image. You'll learn the three types of energy women usually operate from and where you need to focus in order to welcome your next era of success. Here's what we cover: • Why effort alone can't create success, and how your energy determines your results • The link between self-image and energy, and how misalignment keeps you stuck • The three energy states that shape your results • How fear-based energy blocks creativity, confidence, and genuine connection • The power of aligned energy: where action meets flow and attraction feels effortless • Simple ways to shift your energy, realign your self-image, and step into your next era Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review! You can also listen to this show on YouTube and on all your favorite podcast platforms. How to Connect with Tonya Leigh Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaleighofficial/ Pinterest: https://ph.pinterest.com/tonyaofficial/ Twitter: https://x.com/tonyaleigh YouTube: https://schoolofselfimage.com/yt-tl