How the "Soft Girl Era" is Redefining Power

Let's have a chat about something that has been on my mind recently: softness. For so long, the world has told us that we have to be tough, strong, and unshakeable to survive. Don't get me wrong, there is beauty in resilience...but can we take a moment to talk about how softness; the beautiful, tender, vulnerable parts of you, is actually one of the most powerful things you can embrace? Welcome to your "soft girl era", where strength and gentleness go hand in hand.

So grab a tea, coffee, or adult beverage (no judgement here) and let's dive in.

The Cultural Shift From Hardness to Softness

It's no secret that society has glorified being "hard". You know what I mean...hustle culture, the "grind till you drop" mentality, and the idea that showing emotion is a sign of weakness. For a long time, I bought into that. I thought strength meant being invincible and hiding my pain. But here's the thing: softness is not the absence of strength...it's the ultimate form of it. There's been a shift in the air lately, and I feel it every time I scroll through Instagram or TikTok, or when I see women around me choosing vulnerability over perfection. People are realizing that being gentle, kind, and emotionally open isn't a weakness. It's actually a superpower. Think about it, it takes courage to show the world who you truly are, flaws and all. The soft girl era is about living authentically and unapologetically in your feelings, even when it feels uncomfortable.

What it Means to Be Soft Yet Powerful

Here's a question for you, how many times have you been told to "toughen up"? I know that I have lost count, but I've learned something along the way...being vulnerable, honest, and loving in a world that encourages hardness is actually one of the bravest things you can do. Softness is powerful because it allows others to deeply connect with ourselves and others. It's the strength to say "This is who I am, and I love her." It's the courage to forgive yourself and others. It's the power to feel your emotions fully and let them flow instead of bottling them up. The next time you catch yourself thinking "I need to be stronger", ask yourself this instead: "What would happen if I allowed myself to be softer?"

The Intersection of Feminine Energy and Power

Let's get a little spiritual for a moment. In many spiritual practices, there's this beautiful concept of feminine energy. It's all about intuition, flow, creativity, and nurturing. It is the energy of softness. For so long, feminine energy has been dismissed as "less than" because it doesn't fit into the rigid, structured mold of masculine energy (think action, control, and discipline). Here's a little secret...we all need a balance of BOTH energies to thrive. When you tap into your feminine energy, you embrace your ability to feel, create, and connect. It's about trusting your intuition and knowing that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is BE instead of DO.

Ready to embrace your inner soft girl? Here are a few gentle practices to embody softness in your daily life:

1. Start a "Soft Girl Journal"

Take some time each morning or evening to journal. Here are a few prompts to get you started:

• What does softness mean to me today?

• Where can I show myself more grace and compassion?

• What emotions am I feeling, and how can I honor them without judgement?

2. Prioritize Rest and Play

Softness thrives when you let yourself slow down. Rest unapologetically. Take a nap. Watch your favorite rom-com. Go outside and spend some time in nature. Remember that your productivity is not the measure of your worth.

3. Practice Loving Self-Talk

Replace your inner critic with a loving bestie. When you catch yourself being harsh, pause and say something gentle like "I am doing my best, and that is enough."

4. Create a Soft Space

Transform your environment into a sanctuary that reflects your softness. Add cozy blankets, fairy lights, fresh flowers, or anything that makes your space feel like a hug.

5. Embrace Creative Expression

Whether it's painting, writing, dancing, or cooking, let yourself create without worrying about the outcome. The process of being creative is a celebration of your softness.

Setting Boundaries While Staying Soft

Now, let's be real...being soft doesn't mean being a doormat. You can be soft and still stand up for yourself. In fact, setting boundaries is an act of love, both for yourself and others.

Here's an example:

• Instead of saying "I can't deal with this right now," try "I need some time to process this, but I'll get back to you."

• Or, "I love you, but I can't say yes to this right now."

Remember, boundaries aren't walls, they're gates. They let the good in and keep the harmful out, all while honoring your softness.

How I found Strength in My Own Softness

Let me tell you a little story about the day I finally let my guard down and embraced softness. For years, I was the queen of "I'm fine." If someone asked me how I was doing, I'd plaster on a smile and brush off whatever I was feeling, even when my heart was breaking. I struggled in an abusive marriage for years without telling anyone or opening up about my experiences. I thought being tough meant bottling everything up, like showing my emotions was some kind of failure.

Then one day, everything came crashing down. I was with my friend Debbie, and we decided to take a drive up to the lake to scream at the top of our lungs into the abyss...and out of nowhere I just started crying. Not the cute, single-tear kind of cry...I mean ugly crying, full-on sobbing, the kind where your chest feels like it's caving in and you can barely breathe. I don't know what scared me more, breaking down in front of someone or the fact that my friend might see me differently, because I was not really someone who showed emotion very often. But instead of pushing me away, she pulled me closer. She held space for me, no judgement, just pure love and understanding. And that's when I realized my softness didn't make me weak. It made me human. After that moment, something shifted. That vulnerability with Debbie deepened our friendship in ways I never thought possible. It was like I'd taken down the walls I spent years building, and in their place was this beautiful connection I didn't even know I was craving.

That moment with Debbie taught me something powerful, that holding in my feelings wasn't protecting me, it was isolating me. If I was honest with myself, I knew that same wall I'd put up with her was also up in my relationship with my fiancé as well. Before, I thought I had to be "the strong one" in our relationship. If I was upset, I'd hold it in, afraid of being "too much" or burdening him, but bottling everything up only created distance between us. He couldn't read my mind, and I was too scared to let him see the mess I was carrying inside. But then I thought back to how being vulnerable with my friend felt so freeing, and I decided that I wanted that kind of vulnerability in our relationship. So, from then on instead of saying "I'm fine" or brushing things off, I told him exactly how I was feeling. I cried in front of him, told him my fears, my insecurities, and even the feelings I didn't fully understand yet. It was terrifying at first, but his response was everything I didn't know I needed. Instead of pulling away, he leaned in. He didn't try to fix me or rush me out of my feelings, instead he listened. I felt so seen, so safe, and so loved. Since then, vulnerability has become the foundation of our relationship. I no longer hide my emotions or feel ashamed of them. If something's bothering me, I share it. If I'm happy, I share it. And because of this openness, we've grown stronger together. My fiancé has told me how much he values our emotional honesty, and it's made him feel safe to open up, too.

Softness and the Power of Vulnerability

Here's what I've learned: vulnerability is at the heart of softness. When you allow yourself to be vulnerable- to cry, to share, to let people see the messy, imperfect, REAL you- you're not weak. You're courageous. Softness isn't about being fragile; it's about having the strength to show up fully and authentically, even when it feels scary. That moment with Debbie and the shift in my relationship with my fiancé taught me that softness invites connection. It's through vulnerability, that we create space for love, understanding, and healing to flourish. When you embrace your softness, you let people see your humanity, and in return, you invite them to show you theirs.

So the next time you feel the urge to hold it all in, remind yourself that your emotions are valid, your tears are healing, and your softness is strength. The world doesn't need you to be hard, it needs you to be YOU. Let yourself be soft. Let yourself be seen. Because in that softness lies your greatest power.

Be Raw

Be Real

Be You

Love,

Sunny