Everyone, at one point in their life, loses a part of themselves - a sense of self.
In our go, go, go culture, you can come up for air and find yourself asking, “What do I like doing? What am I doing? Am I going in the right direction in my life?”
If these words tug at your heart, this is for you.
A few years ago I wanted to accomplish three big things: heal from chronic illness, launch a creative business, and move to the most isolated landmass in the world (Hawai’i).
When I was in the middle of it, I often had the mentality of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde getting into Harvard Law School: “What!? Like it’s hard?!”
But, about once a month I’d hit a breaking point and sob to my mom: “Why am I trying to do all three of these things at the same time!? And by myself!?” She would comfort me and ask if there is one I could take a break from. I would adamantly respond: “NO. NONE OF THEM.”
Along the way, I got many, many reps of learning how it feels to trust my inner voice. Along the way, I learned how to create sustainable structures and make it easier for myself as I did big, hard things. Along the way, I wrapped myself up in systems, communities, and inspiring words that fueled me to get to where I wanted to go.
In achieving these three things, Giddy by Nature’s systems were born. I created these spaces because I needed them to heal from chronic illness, get through huge transitions and relocate my life, and launch the business of my dreams.
My intention with Giddy by Nature is to help people do hard things with joy. Whether you are going through a life transition, healing yourself, starting a business, going off the beaten path, going through a break up - Giddy by Nature helps you create sustainable structures and become more successful by unlocking your true nature and inner giddiness.
LUCINDA’S STORY:
In the beginning of getting sick in 2009, it felt like no one had the same sensitivities, symptoms, and story as me. It was wildly confusing and painfully discouraging to not have any other stories like my own. Every doctor seemed to give me a different diagnosis, remedy, and take on my health.
When it seemed like there was no one like me - and no doctor to figure it out - being sick felt like it was my fault, and mine alone. My brokenness was my own to figure out.
Since healing, I have met so many people along the way with similar stories. Through my process, I now see how no one is excluded from having to treat your body right, and while I may be a highly sensitive human - the things I experience are not mine alone. What felt like a massive burden and depressing adversity 9 years ago now feels like an in depth book of lessons that has given me wisdom about my own body - and that will serve me and others for the rest of my life. Although I sometimes now take it for granted, I know my body so well, what different symptoms mean, and different remedies for feeling my best self. Learning how to trust yourself as a highly sensitive person is one of the hardest, complex, AND most fulfilling experiences I can think of.
When I was in the darkness of being sick, I held onto two things. The first was that I wasn’t just going to feel 10/10…I was going to feel 11/10. For 9 years, I would repeat: “I feel like after I put in all this work and detox and eat so well, I am going to be even healthier than most people around me!” Oftentimes, in response, people would nod a hopeful nod…but have this look in their eye that said “Oh dear, I don’t know if that is possible.” But, nonetheless, I kept repeating it.
The second thing I held onto was that I was going to help others when I got to the other side.
TRUSTING YOUR INTUITION AND HAVING THE COURAGE TO CREATE YOUR OWN PATH
Getting sick caused me to begin moving in a new way. I was forced to - but - I also took advantage of it. Getting sick gave me less patience for the bullshit. For what didn’t feel right for me. I am very clear that I would not be living the life I am living now if it weren’t for having my life flipped upside down my junior year of college.
When I got sick, I stopped looking for advertising jobs in New York City and began feeling a deep pull out west. Having to focus on my health led me to Seattle, and, ultimately, this island.
In the process of moving away from Seattle, I experienced many breakdowns. During one, I called an old friend. I knew it was 11:30pm on the east coast and wasn’t sure he would answer. I heard voices of people partying in the background, he picked up. I spilled the tea: “I AM LEAVING SEATTLE. ISN’T THAT ABSURD!? NO ONE LOVES SEATTLE LIKE I DO. AND NOW I HAVE TO START MY LIFE ALL OVER AGAIN!”
“Uh......You’ve never done anything that’s not off the beaten path. Weirder things have happened. Why do you feel this is crazy?”
His nonchalance and truth bomb response made me go from sobbing to cracking up in under 5 seconds. I often resist the phrase “off the beaten path” because it is such an overused and cliche term. Plus, I think of it as simply listening to myself and what is right for me. Aren’t we all off the beaten path? Is there any path? Shouldn’t we all just be on our path? But, either way, I knew Andrew was right. And feeling seen and understood in such a short conversation buoyed me and launched me to keep going forward with this crazy plan. I love to think about how when we are in low moments, we intuitively know who to call, and they intuitively know to pick up.
So: last year I moved to an island 7,000 miles away from my family and that is a part of the most remote series of landmasses in the world… There are obvious reasons this move is off the beaten path, but the thing I want to highlight is the fact that I moved based on a feeling. It was not for school or a job. And that was one of, if not the most raw, scariest risks I’ve taken. It was tender because if it didn’t work out, I worried it was a sign that I couldn’t trust myself - and that I had taken this whole “listen to your heart” thing too far. Moving from a place of intuition can feel like you’re going crazy. There are often no logical reasons you can give people. Only later, once you’ve done it and it’s worked out, you can give logical reasons.
For me - the reason that appeared later was that I ended up experiencing “geographical healing” in moving to Hawai’i. But, in first moving to the island, I did NOT know that. To take it further, I knew it would be good for my emotional health, but I deeply, deeply worried it would be bad for my physical health. It felt like a deeply irresponsible move for my health, and the first month on the island was filled with near-panic-attacks because of that.
I had been told by my doctors to go to dry, mold-free climates. I was told in order to heal I had to get out of moldy areas. So, before moving to Hawaii, I was in Austin, TX for 4 months.
When it fell through and did not help my health, I said: “I’m moving for my heart this time.”
Within one month of moving, I began running again - something I had desperately desired and worked towards for 9 years.
DOING THE DAMN THING
“Oh I’ve always wanted to do that, but have never (gotten around to it) (known where to start) (known how to get there)”
When I lived in Seattle, I would sit on the floor of my apartment every Sunday, gather all my journals, calendars and To-Do lists, turn on inspiring music, light some candles, bring out my crystals, and prioritize my week ahead. I created a system to ensure that I was doing the small yet sometimes scary steps towards my health, my career and my personal fulfillment. The things that are easy to push to the side for pre-existing obligations, push to the side for other people’s needs, and to push to the side out of fear of actually trying to achieve your dreams. “Next week/month/year I’ll do that thing I’ve always wanted to do.”
I rinsed and repeated the Sunday sequence over 52 times - maybe close to 300 times over the years. That process is now called Value Alignment Workshop and Sunday Resets.
Having the courage to listen to my heart required many practices and systems that are built within Giddy by Nature: Value Alignment workshop; Artist’s Way; and Giddy Coaching tools.
If you…
Want to feel joy interwoven into your life, just as it is right now
Feel stuck and desire clarity on what your inner voice wants
Desire structures for your creativity, organization for your dreaming, get serious about listening to your heart
Come to a Value Alignment workshop or book a Giddy Coaching session!
We all can feel alone in our vulnerabilities - think our mess is messier than those around us. The moment we see that we are not alone in our fragility is the moment we gain strength in our softness.
I can’t wait to meet you.
Love,
Lucinda