Fresh from the release of her book "Reclaim Your Worth: A Story of Abuse, Empowerment, and Building a Life on My Terms," author, speaker, and women's advocate Jean Ibáñez Payne uses an emotionally painful childhood experience to write her latest work "Jean and the Magnificent Mirror."
FREDRICKSBURG, Va., Jan. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fresh from the release of her book "Reclaim Your Worth: A Story of Abuse, Empowerment, and Building a Life on My Terms," author, speaker, and women's advocate Jean Ibáñez Payne uses an emotionally painful childhood experience to write her latest work "Jean and the Magnificent Mirror."
Readers meet a young Jean Ibáñez Payne who looks upon her reflection in a mirror located in her attic. Repeat visits to the mirror uncover things about herself and the world around her. What the mirror doesn't show are her inner strengths, the most valuable characteristics of a person. Throughout the book, Ibáñez Payne's story illustrates how someone's unique qualities make them special. She also encourages readers to find those "cheerleaders" and protectors who can talk with them to reinforce and support what makes them unique.
Ibáñez Payne found the idea for her first children's book by reflecting on a painful school memory she experienced as a young child. Someone had stolen coins from another student. The teacher lined up the children and asked to take off their shoes. A teacher looked at Ibáñez Payne's feet and made a derogatory comment.
"My best seller 'Reclaim Your Worth' made me realize that losing your worth can happen at any stage of our lives and it doesn't discriminate against age, gender or ethnicity," she explained. "This book took me back to the basic experiences I endured when I was a little girl. It's amazing how a perceived innocuous comment at a very young age can shape how you see yourself for the rest of your life. For me, was my first-grade teacher who made a comment about a part of my body."
Ibáñez Payne intended the book for readers between the ages of 8 and 12. She believes that this is an appropriate time to initiate conversations about the negative and positive impact words have and how they play on people's feelings.
Mirrors immediately reflect what is on the surface but can also show people what the outside world tells them that they are. Those outside voices are powerful, especially to young children who emulate a perceived perfection.
"As a sexual trauma survivor, I spent most of my life judging myself versus what I saw in the mirror," she said. "I never took a moment to praise the beauty of my body. Our entertainment industry is conditioning our children to have a cookie cutter mindset of what it takes to be perfect and if you don't like what you see, there are mechanisms to fix it. Sadly, it doesn't matter how much you try to fix an extrinsic element, nothing will change until you change intrinsically."
Ibáñez Payne added that to achieve perfection is an unrealistic image to attain. What is possible is for people to focus on self-love, self-respect and self-value.
"The only person who can take my worth away from me is me," she said.
"Jean and the Magnificent Mirror" is available on this link.
About Jean and the Magnificent Mirror:
In "Jean and the Magnificent Mirror," curious Jean stumbles upon a talking mirror hidden in her attic! What secrets will the mirror reveal to her? As Jean visits the mirror again and again, she starts to learn things she never expected-about herself, the world, and maybe even magic. With each visit, something new is uncovered. A fun and mysterious adventure for young readers about discovering hidden truths, facing big feelings, and finding the strength inside. What will Jean learn next? Only the mirror knows!
About Jean Ibáñez Payne:
Jean Ibáñez Payne is a passionate advocate for women who have experienced trauma and feel lost in its aftermath. Her journey is one of resilience and empowerment, overcoming unimaginable challenges that began in her childhood. Jean's early years were marked by abuse, and her adult life saw further trauma, including repeated sexual assault during her military service. Despite these hardships, Jean emerged fiercely determined to reclaim her life and rewrite her story.
Today, Jean offers hope to abuse survivors through coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. Her story is about determination, inspiring others to reclaim their worth and live a life filled with purpose and joy.
For more information about Jean Ibáñez Payne and her work, visit http://www.reclaimyourworthnow.com.
Media Contact
Marie Lazzara, JJR Marketing, 630-400-3361, [email protected], https://jjrmarketing.com/
SOURCE Jean Ibáñez Payne
Share this article