Shelley Marie Hughes: Turning life’s quiet breaking points into clarity and unshakable self-trust
- livewabisabilife
- Dec 30, 2025
- 3 min read
Shelley Marie Hughes is an Empowerment Coach, Global Motivational Speaker, and the heartfelt voice behind The Zest to Zen Podcast. Her work centres on helping people reconnect with their inner truth, honour their sensitivity, and live with greater authenticity. Live Wabi Sabi is featuring Shelley because her story reminds us that healing doesn’t come from fixing ourselves, but from listening inward, slowing down, and allowing our imperfect becoming to lead the way. Her journey speaks gently yet powerfully to people of all ages, showing that it’s never too late to realign with who you truly are.
Her Wabi Sabi Life Story
Shelley’s transformation began at a moment that felt like a breaking point, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. A deep questioning of her worth and direction shook the foundations of her life. Yet, instead of pushing through or numbing the discomfort, she chose to pause. By slowing down and listening inward, she began honouring her sensitivity rather than resisting it. What once felt like brokenness became the very place where clarity, resilience, and deep self-trust emerged. Like kintsugi, Shelley rebuilt herself with compassion, allowing her cracks to shine with meaning rather than shame.
Her Thoughts on Self-Love
For Shelley, self-love is not an ideal or aesthetic, it’s real, lived, and sometimes quiet. It looks like listening to her body, respecting her limits, and choosing rest without guilt. It’s setting boundaries even when it feels uncomfortable, and speaking to herself with kindness instead of criticism. Some days self-love shows up as movement or reflection; other days, it’s simply allowing emotions to exist without rushing to fix them. Imperfect, honest, and grounding, her practice of self-love is deeply human.
Her Proudest Moment
One of Shelley’s proudest moments was choosing to honour her truth, even when it meant stepping away from expectations, both her own and others’. Creating The Zest to Zen Podcast from a place of raw authenticity, without scripts or perfection, became an act of courage. Seeing how deeply it resonates with listeners across the world affirms her belief that leading with heart creates real impact.
Being Part of Wabi Sabi Stories
To Shelley, being part of Wabi Sabi Stories feels like a shared exhale. It’s a reminder that worth doesn’t come from being polished or perfect. This space celebrates honesty, imperfection, and the beauty that unfolds when we stop hiding our cracks and start honouring them. For her, it’s where real stories meet real connection.
Her Biggest Cheerleader
Shelley’s greatest support comes from the inner resilience she has built over time, along with a small, trusted circle of people who see her clearly and love her without conditions. She also deeply honours the quiet inner voice that has never stopped guiding her back to herself, a steady companion through every season of becoming.
Her Message to Other Women
Shelley offers this wisdom to anyone walking their own imperfect path: you don’t need to fix yourself to be whole. Sensitivity, pauses, and uncertainty are not flaws, they are guides. Trust your inner knowing, move at your own pace, and remember that becoming who you are is not a race. There is wisdom in your timing and beauty in your becoming.
“You don’t need to fix yourself to be whole, there is wisdom in your timing and beauty in your becoming.” ~ Shelley Marie Hughes
Connect with Shelley Marie Hughes
Want to be featured? If you’d like to be part of the Wabi Sabi Story Series, email us at livewabisabilife@gmail.com You never know who needs your words today.💛Lead with awareness.
Create with intention.
Rest when needed.
Make today something you feel, not just something you finish.
Don’t just wish for a great day, make it happen!
Wishing you strength, resilience,and limitless growth.
Love & Light,
LiveWabiSabi
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