On my way home from BYU—just days after receiving my patriarchal blessing—I pulled over into the mall parking lot bawling my eyes out. I called my mom to tell her that I needed to do something. I had to create a song as soon as possible. I didn't know why at the time, but I followed that promoting and I'm here to tell you about it now. This is long, but it's the only way I can explain what's in my heart.
There are many songs focused on self-confidence and “female empowerment.” As much as I love them, I have felt they present a temporary fix. If you don’t feel successful/beautiful/smart/thin/rich, we tell you those thoughts are all lies, and that you are all those things! But that's not always true! Sometimes we fail, we aren't pretty, we can't figure things out, we gain weight, and we're flat broke!
While I love promoting positivity, encouraging self-worth by telling people (especially women) that they really are all the things the world wants them to be puts the emphasis back on the superficial. More than anything, I wanted to create a “female power anthem” with a lasting answer to the questions so many of us have about our worth.
When I first listened to Jessie J’s song Who You Are, the chorus stuck out to me. Who are we, really? The true answer is that our worth is inherent. It is not because we are (or are not) successful/beautiful/smart/thin/rich. Our worth is infinite and eternal and depends on none of the things the world values most. Rather, it is endowed to us as children of Heavenly Parents.
After the parking lot epiphany, I took a leap of faith. Inspired by Who You Are and Colby Caillat's Try, I worked with Becky Willard Cutler to create a mashup of Who You Are and I Am a Child of God. When it was recorded, I asked women of all different backgrounds (some you'll recognize: Al Fox Carraway, Jenn Blossil, Bri Ray, Maddie Wilson, and others) if they would be brave enough to apear on camera with absolutely no makeup on. To my amazment, they said yes!
On the road I went with my all female crew of three: my mom, my awesome videographer Lindsay Kampenhout, and me! We took the camera to each participant, in her natural habitat, just showing each one as they are, where they are! Kids, dishes, vaccuums, pets—whatever was really there, stayed there. This wasn't a staged set, it was real. I wanted to show their authentic natural selves, not the faux “hollywood” natural.
My hope is that by seeing real people—some in the public eye—sincerely willing to appear just as we are, with our flaws and insecurities and oddities, that it will reinforce the idea that you are enough. No matter who you are or where you are, you are of infinite worth.
Love and thanks to the amazing, loving, courageous women who appeared. I love you, I admire you, and I'm so proud to call you my sister and friend.
Dana Anquoe
Jenn Blosil
Al Fox Carraway
Jenny Noonan Dye
Alana Moore Jeffery
Elise Claire Jones
Reese Oliveira
Bri Ray
Kelsie Sanabria
Maddie Wilson
If this video touches you, please share it! Your support is so greatly needed and appreciated!
Who You Are – I Am a Child of God
Who You Are by Jessica Cornish, Toby Gad, Shelley Peiken
I Am a Child of God by Naomi Ward Randall
Mashup by Monica Moore Smith, Becky Cutler Willard
(Who are you?)
I stare at my reflection in the mirror
Why am I doing this to myself?
Losing my mind on a tiny error,
I nearly left the real me on the shelf.
No, no, no, no, no…
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
Who you are, who you are, who you are
Who are you?
Who you are, who you are, who you are
Who are you?
Who you are, who you are, who you are
Who are you?
Who you are, who you are, who you are
Who are you?
You are a child of God
Rich blessings are in store
If we but learn to do his will
We’ll live with him once more
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
There’s nothing wrong with who you are!
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
You are a child of God
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
There’s nothing wrong, there’s nothing wrong with who you are
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
Lead me, guide me
Walk beside me
Help me find the way
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
(You are a child of God)
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
(You are a child of God)
It's okay not to be okay.
(You are a child of God)
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
(You are a child of God)
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
(You are a child of God)
I stare at my reflection in the mirror
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
(You are a child of God)
I see a child of God
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
(You are a child of God)
I look at your reflection in the mirror
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
(You are a child of God)
I see a child of God
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
(You are a child of God)
(Who are you?)
Real talk, real life, good love, good night.
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
With a smile
(Who you are, who you are, who you are)
That’s my home
You are a child of God
And he loves you
So be true to who you are
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