Charmaine Marinkovich
Hey… Charmaine here, it’s so good to have you pop into
The Art of Self.
With a 25-year career as a photographer, my focus was always to help women see themselves in a new light. Whether it was on her wedding day, through portraits or story-telling exhibitions.
For nearly a decade, I’ve written thought-provoking articles for my blog, then moved into supporting women personally through one-on-one coaching.
As a woman who has changed how I see and think about myself, I know firsthand what it takes to change.
As a woman who has changed how I see and think about myself, I know firsthand what it takes to change.
For years I struggled to connect in social settings, held back by the shame I carried and the fear of not being accepted and judged. Caught in a cycle of constant comparison.
I found myself using my camera as a shield, preventing me from truly connecting with others.
FINDING CONNECTION
Leaving school at 16 without an education, becoming pregnant at 17, and repeating the same cycle of unhealthy relationships led me to navigate a divorce after a five-year marriage with four children.
At that point, I felt disconnected from my true self. My self-perception echoed throughout every aspect of my life: my confidence was slim, I lacked trust and safety within myself and the world, and I found myself blaming others for the path my life had taken.
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I craved connection and meaningful relationships with others.
​I aspired to be a woman who could find her place in any room she entered, dressed however she pleased, day or night, with confidence.
A woman who could sing and dance, alone or with others, for pure joy.
One who laughed freely, embraced life’s emotions fully, and, most importantly, served as a great example for my kids and grandkids.
The Art of Self membership I'm inviting you into is everything I learned, discovered, created and used myself. It’s the work I deeply believe leads you in the right direction, as it has done for me.
BUT... I WANTED MORE &
It started with me!
Through this work, I have stepped out of the box that I put myself in, by society's standards.
Let go of the shame I held about myself and began to see myself as more.
Started to choose what I personally wanted, no longer waiting to do things or be chosen in work & relationships. Learning to ask for what I wanted, show up for myself and accept any rejection as a redirection. Bit by bit, my shield fell away, bringing back safety within myself and letting my heart soften to see the goodness that this life holds.
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I became one of the leading portrait studios in my area, spoke on stage to 600 women, hosted two portrait exhibitions empowering those in our community, learned to dance at 40 and performed on stage with a team and more.
Building myself up and creating a life that brings me fulfilment, while parenting my four children and watching my three grandkids grow, has been quite the journey. It hasn't been easy, because life has its ups and downs, but I've learned to dance with its challenges and recognise that change is possible.
The more I stepped towards my truth, the more I returned to my natural state of being, remembering who I am and what I love about life, people and myself.
And just like a fine wine…I believe we get better with age.