Barbara Marie Barnes, founder of EYES Evolution, a self-esteem support group for women
Hampton, VA — Many support groups offer just that-support, but Barbara Marie Barnes of EYES Evolution helps women to go deeper. Via her self-esteem support group, she attempts to help those who feel the need to eradicate their low self-esteem issues and have fun while doing so. She’s the first to tell you that she’s not against traditional support groups. She says: “Whatever helps one to heal, sans self-medicating is fine. Some women have to purge their emotions in that type of environment. So yes, do what works for you. “Most people would never admit to having low self-esteem. They believe that it makes them appear weak she says. Having low self-esteem is one of the major causes of depression, suicide, suicidal attempts, drug abuse and alcohol addiction. Yet people decline to admit they have it, nor do they want to talk about it.”
Barbara knows full well what it is like to feel the painful effects of low self-esteem. Of course she knows. She’s been there, done that… wrote a book on the subject. She’s the author of the book titled, Pretty Ugly – How Low Self-Esteem Almost Ruined My Life. In the book she paints the picture of a once happy little girl who morphed into an unhappy, self-loathing and suicidal child who grew into a dysfunctional suicidal adult, racked by depression, domestic abuse, low self-image, drugs, alcoholism, homelessness and more.
The good news is that she can relate how she climbed out of her dungeon of hopelessness simply by taking one step at a time. It wasn’t easy and it was done by her conscious decision to diligently go after a better life. She begs the question: “Who wants to constantly live like that—day in and day out for YEARS and YEARS? I just got so sick and tired of being sick and tired and crying all the time! I had to do something! I had to find a way to get relief, without attempting to end my life. I started reading everything I could get my hands on dealing with self-improvement. I went to seminars. I read and read some more. It was a very long process which was due to my own sporadic efforts. I work on myself to this day.”
She continues: “There are multitudes of women out there who can relate to my story and some who are still experiencing some of those same challenges. They have nowhere to turn. They pretty much internalize everything. They feel very alone in the world. This is definitely not healthy or good for your self-esteem. Not discounting what men go through, but women go through so much. It’s hard to be happy when you feel that life just keeps kicking you in the gut. I can identify with those feelings. That was Barbara’s purpose in starting her group in D.C. in 2011. She wanted to show these women that they are not alone, that their life can get better no matter what they’ve been through. She started her group in two different women’s homeless shelters. She just recently started a group in Hampton, VA. Starting a group in a women’s shelter in Virginia is one of her goals. Her group focuses mainly on self-esteem, however, you can also learn to become a better person, get rid of those old outdated superstitious beliefs that can hold you back.
If any woman 18 years of age or older decide they want to change their current unhappy circumstances and want to raise their hands to start on the road to a healthy self-esteem, then they are more than welcome to join the group. EYES Evolution is different than any other group out there in that the women don’t just sit around talking. There is interaction, meaning there is work to do. The techniques that are used are really quite simple, and could be fun. There are lesson plans, there are games and more. You’ll also get the chance to dabble into your creative side. There is introspection, accountability, and yes, you will get the chance to “talk” things out. That is so IMPORTANT in helping the healing process along. The women also learn how to be a “sisterhood” and leave the usual “cattiness” and element of negativity and aversion to other women on the other side of the door. If you are the type who don’t get along with other women, then this is not the group for you. It’s time for a change. She says: “We have to do better. I cannot control what goes on in the world, but I do have a say in what goes on in my group”.
EYES stands for Eventually You’ll Emerge Stronger. The concept of starting a group as well as the name came about right after she left a homeless shelter in 2005. Six years later, the idea to form the group came rushing back at her. She feverishly went to work to develop what she is so proud of today.
“Change is not that easy of course,” she says. “Trust me. It takes work, time, willingness to change, determination and repetition. It will absolutely be worth all the effort. That doesn’t mean that you won’t ever encounter problems, because anyone with breath in their bodies will have challenges in life, though they may be kept at a minimum. However, you can become the happy, productive, well-adjusted and amazing person that you want to be, and that you truly are. My motto is: ‘Say It. Believe It. Live It!'” Self-Esteem… “It’s about self-love and it’s about time!”
To book Barbara for speaking engagements or for one-on-one life coaching, or if you’d like Barbara to start her EYES Evolution support group at your facility in the Hampton Roads area, please contact her at 202-316-6695 or email her at: speaking2inspireu@gmail.com. Visit her website at: www.e-y-e-s-evolution.org or visit her Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraMarieBarnes
PRESS CONTACT:
Barbara Marie Barnes
202-316-6695
speaking2inspireu@gmail.com