Self-Worth with Jaclyn Steele

Tender strength, service, and what it feels like to walk in faith with Elena Brower

June 09, 2021 Jaclyn Steele Season 2 Episode 72
Self-Worth with Jaclyn Steele
Tender strength, service, and what it feels like to walk in faith with Elena Brower
Show Notes Transcript

Elena Brower is a mama, yoga teacher, best selling author, and Double Diamond leader with dōTerra. She has taught yoga and meditation since 1999 and her first book, Art of Attention, has been translated into seven languages, and her second, Practice You, is a bestseller. Her Essential Mentorship is beloved for bringing analog creativity to online coursework, and her third book, Being You, was released in early 2021. Her spoken word poems can be found on Above & Beyond's Flow State albums.  Listen to her renowned Practice You Podcast at practiceyou.com, and practice with Elena on Glo.com.

In today's episode with Elena, we chat on tender strength, service, and what it feels like to walk in faith.

CONNECT WITH ELENA:

Website - elenabrower.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elenabrower/
Practice You Podcast - https://elenabrower.com/podcast/
Her Mentorship Program - https://elenabrower.com/mentorship/

BOOKS BY ELENA BROWER:
Being You: A Journal
Practice You: A Journal
Art of Attention

dōTerra:
www.doterra.com

PRODUCTS MENTIONED...

ORGANIC BASICS:
Organicbasics.com or jaclynsteele.com/organicbasics (to see my picks) and use code: JACLYNOBC for 10% your order.

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WITH SO MUCH LOVE,
Jaclyn Steele


Support the show
Unknown:

Your body will tell you if you're in a place where you are unsafe. It will tell you if you need to stick around because you're running unnecessarily, you know, listen to your body. And if you don't trust your body for whatever reason, if you don't trust your own intuition, find friends who will give you the real goods? Who will tell you, you know, this is, this doesn't feel right. This doesn't look right, whatever. Hi,

Jaclyn Steele:

I am Jaclyn Steele. And welcome to self discovery. Howard Thurman so beautifully wrote, don't ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive, coming alive. That, my friends, is what self discovery is all aware that. I am here today on the self discovery podcast with Elena Brower. And before I dive into these questions, I just want to publicly thank you beautiful, luminous, extraordinary, Elena, for being here with us today. Thank you for having me, it's a real pleasure to be with you. The first question that I have for you, is this. Your book, being you, from my perspective, is a heart offering from you to the world. It is a gentle invitation to communion with oneself. What inspired this beautiful journal? And what do you hope your readers will feel using it?

Unknown:

Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me and for the clarity of your thoughtfulness. Because I can feel it. The book is really a way in which things are, you know, leading us outward. Most of the things that we do, we have to connect with other people we have to create for other people, we have to make sure the rest of the people in our lives are doing okay, happy and healthy. And this is just a weigh in for yourself. And I think the the magic of any sort of very intentional field of color where you get to place your thoughts and your wishes and your prayers and your dreams is that really doesn't belong to anyone else. And it isn't even mine. It's the author, it's yours. And I love creating like that, because I think I do my best work in collaborative spaces.

Jaclyn Steele:

It's such a sacred container. I mean, even each page is a work of art. I have it right here in front of me. And it does feel like such an invitation to oneself. And I can't think it this book came out on Inauguration Day, which I don't think sure did didn't, which is so beautiful. But I feel like planned. It's just the fact that that happened. And we're ushering in a new era is so serendipitous and beautiful. But I think people are crying out right now, for connection to self. And I think we've been taught over the years is that can be confused for being self ish, when really you and I know that when we are connected to who we are. And we are living out of that place. What we are able to create and do and be in the world is so full and so bold, and so self less. It. I'm just so grateful for you doing this bold work, that gives us permission to then do the same.

Unknown:

While you're welcome. I also needed it myself, you know, there aren't. There just aren't any other books like this out there. So I created what I wanted. And in the sort of style that I wanted and the look and feeling the organization and arrangement of the chapters are all based on the chakras. So it's there's an energetic component to it, too. It's quite simple. There's nothing complex about it. And they thank you for recognizing it really.

Jaclyn Steele:

Oh, it's just it's so obvious and it's so obvious that it's blessing other people. Thank you. My second question for you is In the time that I have been taking your yoga classes and following you online and chatting with you in real life, you have struck me as someone who is both tender and strong. I know from experience that this combination is not easy to come by, can you share a bit of your story and what led you to this gorgeous, tender strength?

Unknown:

You know, I actually feel like tender and strong is the easiest way. I feel like the other ways require more effort. You know what I mean?

Jaclyn Steele:

Yeah, layers,

Unknown:

to be hard, requires effort to be too close. Even if it was a protective mechanism that served at a certain point in a space of trauma. That too, requires effort Still, if it continues, you know, I feel pretty strongly that this is my natural, and this is our natural habitat and zone interiorly. Where there's tenderness. Strength like this is if you look at a child, they have both it's very natural, you know?

Jaclyn Steele:

Yeah, oh, it's so natural. And I think back to when I was a kid, I was so sassy, and so confident, but also just a lovebug. That is, so our homeostasis, that that's what we're meant to be. Yes.

Unknown:

I agree with that. And I feel I feel like if the more the more work that we do to encourage people to explore those realms within themselves to be that way, in interactions and, and dialogues with other people, you know, to make to make tender strength. Cool. I think that's the way we were talking last night, my dearest friend and I were talking last night about the difference between warm and cool. Like, I think we should actually shift the word cool to warm like, She's so warm. I'm David, Oh,

Jaclyn Steele:

I love that. I love that. But you You do realize, like, the cool in the traditional sense of the world is just a facade, that person who's being cool online or wherever, that's not generally the real them. And so to make warmth, cool, I feel like that hits me in my heart space, because that feels authentic. And that feels like what is required of us right now, to stop this false veil between who we really are and who we are projecting that we are. Yes. So was there a pivotal moment for you, as we're talking about tender strength in your life where you feel like you recognized I'm not living as my most authentic self? And today is the day it ends? Or was there a series of pivotal moments that led you to that conclusion?

Unknown:

still happening? Yeah, I don't know if there was ever one single moment, just many moments, the crude, that lead me to want to be more and more myself, ah,

Jaclyn Steele:

and what a gift your selfness is to us. Thank you. You know, I feel like one of the lies that we tell ourselves is that if we go out in public, as this naked, true inner self, and truly act out as, as we are, it will be vulnerable and scary and unsafe. But I feel like in my life in my 34 years, and in fact, I even wrote a song about it. It's called mask and the hook is, who is it you wear this mask for? I feel like that question is such a profound one because as we peel back and become more and more who we really are, not only is there a lightness that enters our lives in an every day, like very tangible sort of way. But there's also this immense power and sense of self worth. Do you have anything that you'd want to add to that?

Unknown:

No, I feel like the only thing that comes to my mind is just to consistently focus our to our listener consistently focus on people that allow you encourage you and inspire you to be yourself, don't stay close to people that don't do that.

Jaclyn Steele:

And to get real micro, for somebody who may be finding themself in a position like that, where they understand this relationship that they're in is a raw point and not a healthy relationship, but might be a couple of steps that they could take to gracefully exit, or extract themselves from a situation like that.

Unknown:

Well, I don't know if I would dare to say, like, give some sort of blanket prescription. But I think at every stage to just check in and see where your body is relaying what needs to happen, your body will tell you, if you're in a place where you are unsafe, it will tell you if you need to stick around because you're running unnecessarily, you know, listen to your body. And if you don't trust your body, for whatever reason, if you don't trust your own intuition, find friends, who will give you the real goods, who will tell you, you know, this is, this doesn't feel right, this doesn't look right, whatever, just have good friends near you, who can be honest with you. And hopefully, they're giving you good information.

Jaclyn Steele:

You know, circling back to the first question that I asked you about your book, and your intention behind it, and the invitation back to oneself. I have found that personally, as I get older, I get more and more in tune with my own physical body, because for so many years, it was like I was living out of my head or living out of my body and never really the marriage of the two. And this concept, yeah, it's so important to allow space for the mind and the body and the spirit to be in communion with one another. And I have an acupuncturist that recently said to me, your body is the most honest thing, it will always tell you the truth. And I think for myself, I had fallen away from trusting my own body. And you're so right. We know, we know. So why is it so hard for us to trust ourselves?

Unknown:

I feel like we've so many of us have just piled on poor advice, in some cases, really poor parenting. And I'm not saying I'm not blaming anyone, like, folks, we're very young. If you're listening to this, right now, it's very likely that your parents were quite young, but they had you and they were ill informed or uninformed, or they were older, and they just were over it. So nobody's at fault here when I say that, you know, we A lot of us just didn't have really good examples of any of this. So we can't be hard on ourselves. All we got to do is go forward. What's happening in this present moment? What is my intention? I just want to serve. Okay, so how do i a tune to who is here and what's here so that I can serve kind of it, you know, doesn't matter what work you're doing.

Jaclyn Steele:

And we can let it be simple, but doesn't have to be over complicated.

Unknown:

Yeah. In fact, it should never be over complicated. It should always be simple. And if you're looking at something that you want to create, or you want to do, and you're looking at it, it's feeling very complicated. Consider you know how to make it a little less. So the way to get your message across whatever it happens to be is not through complexity. Mm hmm.

Jaclyn Steele:

Amen to that. And one thing I would add is, it doesn't have to be perfect. I think we also put so much pressure on ourselves, to have the perfect website to have the perfect message to have the perfect whatever. But I don't think that's what we're called to do and perfect isn't fully honest either. So, allowing this space to show up as we are which is which are these imperfect beings but who have beautiful hearts and beautiful messages and so much to share and so much to contribute? Exactly.

Unknown:

Exactly. I feel like in many ways, if we can just continue to support each other whatever the work that is that we do if we can just consider continue to support each other in Getting across the support of the good work, no matter what it is, we're all going to succeed in this really high level of service. Hmm,

Jaclyn Steele:

I love that and you are uniquely good at that your mentorship program is so deeply and uniquely you. And you do such a good job of lifting women up to feel like they can go then conquer whatever mountain it is they feel like they have to climb. And they think as well, there is this feeling that I think many people especially in the West feel of competition. And I want to be part of the dismantling of that. I believe that there is abundance for all of us, there's opportunity for all of us, just because Elena Brower exists or I exist doesn't mean that there's room for people who are doing the same things to come alongside us and do it as well. And

Unknown:

well, because you won't do it. If you're listening to this, you won't you're going to do it differently than I you're going to do it differently than Jaclyn. Yeah. And the truth is, we need your take on it just as much as anyone elses. And that you'll make your people comfortable more than I will. Yeah. Yeah. So Oh, that's so true.

Jaclyn Steele:

I interviewed Ashley Rae, who started the, the mala collective, which you may be familiar with, they make these gorgeous, gorgeous mala necklaces and be yours. Yes, yes. And meditation cushions. And in my interview with her, she was with a healer. And he said, What do you see when you look at the sky? And she looked at him? And she was like, is this a trick question? I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to say. And he said, there is more. And what do you see beyond the sky, there is more. And what is beyond that there is more. And what is beyond that, there is more. And when I look at life, from that perspective, it changes everything from the inside out. There's enough for all of us, there's room for all of us. There's a time and a place for everybody's message and it's so deeply necessary. It's true. Beautiful friends, I want to share something with you that I am so excited to share with you and something that has been heavy on my heart. And it is this, it is my belief that we are currently living in a self worth epidemic. low self worth is the root cause of so many of the issues that rub us raw, continuing to stay in a relationship where we are treated poorly or undervalued. This is a self worth issue. Spending money, we know we don't have an unnecessary consumer goods, because it will make us feel better for just a moment. This is a self worth issue, playing it small at work even though we are killing it, because we are afraid to advocate on our own behalf. This is a self worth issue. Refusing to share our writing, or our art or our voice or our talent with the world because we are afraid of how the world will react. This is a self worth issue, having an idea or a work that lights us up, and then hiding it in the closet or on a hard drive or under the couch. Because we don't know how to label it or create a system to bring it to the public. This, at its root is a self worth issue. Wanting to start a business that offers a product or service that feels so aligned with our souls that our first instinct is to sing it from the mountaintops. But then self doubt creeps in and steals that voice that was on the verge of singing. This is a self worth issue. I have struggled with self worth issues for much of my life. I've shared many of them in this very podcast. And now because of the experiences I've had in the work I've done around healing, reclaiming and empowering my own self worth. I feel called to offer services that can help you do the same. Understanding my own power has radically changed my life from the inside out. And my beautiful friends, we need your voice. We need your ideas. We need your business. We need you to make big bucks so you can do big things in the world. And most of all, we need the fullest version of you. As I've mentioned many times in this podcast, what the world needs is people who have come alive. And if we are living in low self worth, we are not fully alive. This is an invitation to work one on one with me in a safe and sacred container, where we will work on healing, reclaiming, and empowering your self worth. So you can grow that business usher in healthier relationships. Take leaps Your soul is longing for and live a life that feels like your own details can be found in the show notes below. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions I'm sending you so much love. Now back to the episode. I recently interviewed Dr. Keith Campbell, and he's a psychologist who's an expert on narcissism. He's written several books on this topic, and even been interviewed on Joe Rogan's podcast about his work. And I bring this up, because you have inspired me deeply with one simple sentence that you wrote to me several months ago, and it is this, I am forever at your service. This direct me to my core, here you are this world renowned yoga teacher and author and mentor, you are so humble and you make yourself so available to your community. In our world, where narcissistic tendencies have become the norm. Why do you think humility and service are such important characteristics? And how have you cultivated those characteristics in your life?

Unknown:

I don't really think about it so much. Yeah, just kind of the work that I do, is all pointed toward your healing your empowerment, you're right rise. And so I mean, I probably say that several times a week. You know, I'm forever at your service that goes for anyone with whom I come into contact regarding why my business.

Jaclyn Steele:

It's such a powerful way of interacting with people. And the reason that struck me so deeply and affected me so deeply is because it gave me permission to do the same with my people. You know, in business, we are taught to go quick, to be efficient, to go go, go, go go. And that has never resonated with me that has never felt like the way that I want to walk in the world. And so I've taken my own steps to becoming more authentically who I am in whatever business endeavor I'm embarking on. But when you said that to me, you know, this person who, from the outside looking in is just at the pinnacle of success. It shifted something in my very soul like tectonic plates, because I realized there is no, me and her there is no us and then we're all one. And we all need to be working together toward each other's healing. And I just want to thank you for being so self aware and even so self aware that it's become part of your DNA and just the way that you operate in the world. Because that is not the way so many other people operate. You are leading the way to heart centered, intuitive ways of doing business.

Unknown:

It's just it's, I think I can give some credit to my mom. I watched her do several of her own businesses over the course of my childhood when I look back and she was always just trying to do right by people and help in any way that she could. It was jewelry design, it was landscape, it was she had a shoe business for most of my childhood into my teens, even into my 20s with my dad and they were just out to help people and make people happy. You know? And I think I got a lot of that from them, but from both of them I don't, I don't ever want our listener to feel like, well, if it's not really who I am, it's just not going to be who I am. All of this, including compassion is trainable. You know, you can develop all of that you can develop your biceps and you can develop your capacity to be compassionate. You can develop your capacity for love, for affection for connection. All these things are trainable. They're just habits that you build in time. So it's not that I don't think it's a really big deal. I think it's more of like, Hey, you have an opportunity now to create what you want. And maybe it's a new attitude, and maybe it's a new career. Maybe the first leads into the second. But it's all possible. There's nothing, nothing impossible here. So, I don't know, I don't know if I answered or observed properly. But I think if if you can keep if you're listening to this, and you are interested in starting over doing something else, or creating something more from what's there, you can and very slowly, I recommend you start out by just being present to what's needed in your immediate community. What what is going on right here, in this town, in this house, what is needed and start there.

Jaclyn Steele:

Again, the simplicity of that is just so beautiful, because it's something that we can act on right now. Yeah. Yeah. What drew you to yoga in the first place?

Unknown:

My boyfriend's mom. We're still really close. We were in it was the early 90s. And he and I had just graduated college with Cornell together. And when I met her, she and her daughter, his sister, was they were like, hey, let's, let's go to yoga together. Let's go try this yoga class. It was Alan fingers. First studio on 56th Street. Alan, and I've since become quite close, his wife and I are close. And I was smitten right away with the class. It was, it was a newer teacher's class. And I just loved it. So different than what I was used to. I was used to going to ballet class and getting yelled at. Because I had the same experience. Yeah. And I'm just like, when I walked into yoga, I was sort of waiting for that shoe to drop and No, in fact, it was so supportive and so nurturing, so kind and so all the things that any one of us ever needed, as an as adults, you know, to walk into a class where your body's involved. So that was it. I started practicing, practicing, practicing. Several years later, I met Cindy Lee and I took her teacher training. I wasn't really wanting to but she offered it up. It was her first one taking place that when she first opened on 14th Street back in the day when 14th Street between seventh and eighth was just really desolate. And I did it. And the rest is kind of history

Jaclyn Steele:

thing. We're so glad that you did. Thank you, darling. I have a question about morning routines. And this just popped into my head as somebody who is so centered meaning you and so present. Is there a morning routine or ritual that you do pretty much daily that gets you into that headspace of being present.

Unknown:

While every morning I wake up, I take out my mouth guard, I brush it, I brush my teeth, I scrape my tongue. I put a whole bunch of coconut oil, cinnamon and clove into my mouth and I swish it around. I can't talk for like 15 minutes and they just swish it around. And they're called the oil pulling look it up. It's so good for your gums. Yeah. And from there, I usually go out into the living room or into my little meditative space here in my bedroom. I'm in my closet right now in the bedroom. And I'll sit 10 minutes 20 minutes depends on the day. Sometimes they'll sit with my teacher who's located in Santa Fe and they do sort of a YouTube public sitting but there's silence and then the gong and the balls at the end. Sometimes they do it by myself. Sometimes they use the Plum Village app, which I love. I just use the silent meditations. They're usually I will then put on my clothes and go outside and run some hills. That's kind of what I did all winter, James, I will sometimes go together. But we run different hills, he runs the steep ones, and I run the long ones. And I'll do that for, I don't know, 15 or 20 minutes, listen to a podcast, listen to NPR, Al Jazeera, go back inside, make some cookout and start my day. On the mornings that I have to drive Jonah, those are a little bit different. Because I'll do all that stuff for myself from the hill running and such. I'll do that after I dropped him off. Some days I worked out with my trainer virtually some days, I'll do yoga practice virtually any one of my teachers, I have a few. And you know, alternate that with working in emails and calls and painting. Sure. That's all I do. I'm never I don't ever want to get on another plane again. I've decided no more. So like my wish, weirdest, most distant wish came true. And I might get on a plane in December for Costa Rica. Let's see if that happens.

Jaclyn Steele:

I saw that you're doing that on your website or that there's a possibility that you're doing that on your website? Yeah,

Unknown:

I'd like it to happen. It's a really special part of the world. And it's a place where I plan to live eventually. Hmm.

Jaclyn Steele:

I felt that calling before too. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. The inklings of our hearts. And I mentioned this to you. Well, first of all, I want to circle back and just round out the morning. rituals, what I hear for people who are listening is silence, meditation, and movement. And that's a great way to get centered for the rest of your day. Would you agree with that?

Unknown:

Yeah. And it doesn't have to be a long time, you can do three minutes of silence. You know, just do your puttering around the house with your oil in your mouth. And then five minutes of meditation and then I don't know, I sometimes jump on my trampoline, if it's really rainy or so yeah, yeah, for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, anything that you can do to just get your heart rate up and clear your mind. It's gonna be worth it, it's gonna be good. And it helps in so many other systems ways throughout your body, heart rate variability, your mood modulation, you know, everybody benefits around you. Oh, for sure.

Jaclyn Steele:

Going back to the Costa Rica bet where you said that you wanted to live there eventually. I feel like these inklings of our hearts. And I know you are so familiar with this. But for people who are listening, these are not just little things. These are really big things. When we have these desires put in us It is my belief that they are divine downloads. And it behooves us to listen and to take them seriously. And the perfect example of that, and I've shared this with you Alina is that in 2015, I was doing one of your yoga classes in Duluth, Georgia. And I was living in a place that was a beautiful place, but it did not feel like my place it did not feel like where I was supposed to be in life. And I took so much comfort in your meditations and and your yoga classes. They were something that I looked forward to regularly. And on one particular day, I remember being my living room. The shades were drawn, and I was doing a yoga class. And I felt God say to me, someday you are going to know this woman. Now here I am, six, seven years later, speaking with you and a podcast. And when I think about it, and the beauty of God, the universe, universal intelligence, how ever one might want to label it? These Inklings they matter. They are not pipe dreams. They are not frivolous thoughts. These are divine downloads. Oh how powerful they are. And this is living proof. That's pretty crazy. It is. It's pretty crazy. Well, and here's the thing too. I think about a Bible story. I was raised in a super conservative Christian household and in this podcast I've talked about expanding my worldview and explaining ending. I don't feel like I'm a super religious person. I feel like I'm a very spiritual person, which is what I'm sure a lot of people say. But I want to get intentional here. I'm sorry, I need just a minute to take time, huh? I want my words to matter. I don't want them to be frivolous. We concern ourselves so much in our beautiful humaneness with the how, how am I going to get in touch with Alina? How am I going to make this business happen? How am I going to meet the one? Whatever it is. But the How is actually the easy part? It's the why the why that matters. Yes. God is so beautiful. God is the ultimate orchestra conductor. There is nothing that our universe cannot accomplish. What I feel like our mission is right now, especially in the current climate network climate that we're living in, is getting clear on how we want to serve and why we want to serve in that capacity. And the How will come? I know it. I'm living proof. I'm sitting here talking to you recording a podcast episode. Mm hmm. Well, good. I think that's the wisdom of this time. You know, if you're in any way connected to spiritual world, I even love to use that word because it's so overused. But I agree. The the message is, it actually matters most that you can see and feel what it will be like and feel like to have that thing accomplished. That's all the rest will unfold by itself. Obviously. It's a faith walk. Yeah, I would say. And I have used this example so many times, especially with my own clients, but I think of a Bible story where the Israelites are escaping Egypt. And Pharaoh after the seven plagues is like, get out of here, I don't want your free labor anymore. You guys are causing me so much pain and havoc. But then as the Israelites get further and further away, Pharaoh goes, wait a second, I need them back. And so he chases after the Israelites with his the full capacity of his army, and the Israelites come to the Red Sea. And they go God, you told us to leave Egypt. And now we're at the sea. We don't have boats, we have children, we have livestock, we have women, we cannot cross the Red Sea. And God says get in the water. Like, wait a sec, what do you mean, get in the water, get in the water. And they had to step into the water before the water would part. And I feel like that is the most powerful metaphor for walking out on faith and for whatever we feel like is our hearts purpose. The path probably isn't going to be laid clear or laid bare, we're going to have to continue stepping into the water and trusting that it will part. That is right. And how beautiful is that? They that life is this cacophony of flavors and people and experiences. And we can't control any of it. It's like a trust fall every day. Every single day, I was just talking to

Unknown:

not my team, but another team. And doTERRA and I was saying the same thing as sort of like every day, we have to kind of relaunch ourselves. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Jaclyn Steele:

And what a gorgeous opportunity to be able to do that every day,

Unknown:

in every way. You know, not just in business and in your spiritual practices, your your friendships, your relationships with your siblings, your family, whomever, so beautiful. And such a privilege. Yes. Just start over. Okay.

Jaclyn Steele:

You write about the connection. In between self esteem and self respect in being you, hmm, would you be willing to share a story from a time where you really struggled with self esteem? And how you rose up from that difficult place?

Unknown:

Well, there are so many, I guess. Well, I used to think that I really needed marijuana to be cool. You know, like, that was what made me funny and awesome, and fun. And that was, you know, 25 years of, on and off relationship with that substance. And I think, coming to terms with the fact that really, my life was not going to start until I stopped doing that. It wasn't a, it wasn't a single moment or a single hour. But over time, I realized that that was a part of my grand healing and emergence. And if I didn't stop, you know, I would be fine. But my life was not going to be what it could possibly be. And in order to do that, I had to, I had to change the way I esteemed myself and saw I had to see myself as worthy of time and energy and attention and care and all the things that one needs when one is giving up what one thinks, is a critical part of one's personality. And, in leaving that behind, you know, it goes back to what I was saying, before, it's all trainable. I had learned how to care about myself, I learned how to look at myself in a different way, and be like, Oh, you know, sort of out of the corner of your eye in the mirror going, Hey, you, hey, you're totally worth it. Don't, don't, don't call the person don't get more. Just paint, just have breakfast, don't go up to the roof. Don't find your friend who you know, has some to stay close to yourself and do what you need to do. And it led to the most outlandish success of my life, to let go of all that. To align myself with a company with such high values and to create a community that is so from my heart. And to to succeed in this effort is like it's preposterous to me, I could never have done this if I was still addicted. Never.

Jaclyn Steele:

All right, we have come to the part of the episode that I have dubbed, these are a few of my favorite things. And today, I'm going to introduce you to organic basics. Here is how they describe themselves on their website. And I think this is significant because it displays their commitment to excellence and also their awesome Danish personality as a company. I have Danish heritage. So I definitely wanted to highlight this part. There is one swear word to follow so shield your children's fears. the fashion industry is a dirty bastard. So we put sustainable thinking at the center of everything. That means we only choose fabrics that care for our environment. And we only ever partner with factories that care about their impact too. When we say sustainability is our core mission, we don't mean that sustainability is nice to have, we mean that it's the only way we act. That mission is why I love organic basics so much well we've had and the quality of their items. There's such a giant difference between a fast fashion basic and the quality of what organic basics brings to the table. Their apparel and undergarments are built to last and you will be able to see that before even opening the beautifully branded box they come in. I have their tank and pennies and dusty rose from their tensile collection. Let me just say it was a love connection before I even put them on. The tensile collection is silky feeling material made sustainably of wood pulp, so freaking soft. And you guys know I'm picky about my color choices and their color selection is just Oh, it's so dang beautiful. Visit organic basics calm and use the discount code in the show notes below. Or you can visit Jaclyn steele.com slash organic basics to pique my favorite ob finds and get 10% off. All links and codes are in the show notes below. And now back to the episode. It strikes me that the thing we feel like we cannot live without, when we are willing to give it up, what comes back in its place is so much more infinitely powerful, that we wonder why we held on for so long. That's definitely true to me. I think, Oh, I forget exactly what Elizabeth Gilbert said. But it was an Eat, Pray Love. And she called it something really clever, like the physics of something. And she said, essentially, this, when you are willing to give up anything that is making you comfortable, anything that is holding you back, anything that is not for your highest self, and you walk forward, the truth that is laid before you will transform your life. And I think back to last August of 2020, I've told you this, I know you know it. But my husband and I sold our house, we sold most of our belongings, we sold my car. Everybody thought we were crazy, not everybody. But people thought we were crazy. We bought an RV, we bought a truck, and we hit the road. And I knew in that moment, I was like, I know this is significant. choosing to live a more minimalistic lifestyle is a big deal. But what I didn't realize was all of the emotional baggage that would be stripped away and healed. And then empowered along the way.

Unknown:

Yeah, by getting rid of your stuff. Such a good thing. It's so it's the thing that like stands out for me when when I hear you tell this story is just like, Oh, my God, just let it all go. And then suddenly, a whole different world, the whole lit different life comes in its place.

Jaclyn Steele:

Again, the way that I view the world, I wrote this in my journal this morning. At first I said, you know, the last couple of weeks have been so transformative. I feel like a new person. And then I caught myself and I was like, I don't feel like a new person. I feel more like me than ever before. When we strip back those layers, what we find underneath is infinitely powerful. And not power for powers sake or power to hold over other people. But power to act out whatever it is, we feel like our sole purpose is in this life. And like Jesus said, in the Bible, you know, give away everything and follow me and what you what you will discover will be so beyond your current understanding. And I feel like that is so true at this moment in time too. So for everybody listening, I'm not saying you need to sell your house, I'm not saying you need to let go of everything that you love and cherish. But the intention behind being willing to radically change your physical surroundings translates into radically changing who you are on the inside to.

Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. It's really it's one of the sweetest things to experience, the the core of yourself. And it's not an easy journey, but it is the journey. And it will make you very brave and doing the things that you know you have to do.

Jaclyn Steele:

And I agree with you. It's not an easy journey. But like you said at the beginning of this podcast, that tender strength, that essence of who we really are living out of that place feels so much more joy filled and light and fun, even if it requires some difficulty to get to that point, that the difficulty becomes something in which I look back and I go, I would do it all over again 100 times if I had to, because who I am now compared to who I was even a few years ago. I'm so much more in love with my life. Yeah. Yeah, it's evident. Ah, I just wouldn't trade that for the world. No, nothing. No, no amount of money. You speak often so low. About your teachers. And I am in total agreement that the right teacher, at the right time in your life when the soil is ready, so to speak, has the power to transform who you are. I have long been a solo kind of learner. But in the short amount of time that I've been connected to you, as a teacher and a mentor, I've met some incredible people. In fact, I've even hired and connected with Jesse Johnson, I have interviewed one of your podcast guests, Reggie Hubbard. And I've realized that these teachers and these mentors and you, you've been such a catalyst for my growth and my expansion. So for listeners who are struggling right now, who feel stuck, who don't know what to do next, what is your advice around finding a teacher or a mentor? Well,

Unknown:

it's it's so specific, it depends on who you are, where you are, what you're seeking. You know, the best way that I've ever been approached is sort of how you did, which is I just really want to learn with you. And, you know, what's the best way? You know, it? Can we do the podcast? Can you know, are you? Would you possibly, you know, I think I actually offered up my time I don't I don't even think I you did ask you did, but like to, if you're the example that I'm going to use, which I think he should be listener, be earnest, and approach the person with whom you wish to work with presence and sincerity and, you know, some kind of offering like, hey, I'd love to learn with you. And I'm willing to do this, you know, I don't know spread the word about your work, or I don't know it. Every time I've studied with somebody, I've always exchanged some offering of my own. That's just what feels good to me. So I don't know, in the case of Katana yoga, when I first started learning with Levine, and then Abby, I was just always very clear, I was going to be the person who spread the word about this work. And this method, I didn't think you could call it a method, but this kind of sort of way of teaching. I was going to be the one who brought it to Europe. And as far as I could, and I did that, you know, and they both gave me a great deal of time and care. And I'm still in touch with both of them. I don't know. It's just sort of like that, like, what, what kind of presence can you offer? I'm not saying there has to be some sort of material exchange. But that feels good to me. So that's what I've always done. When it comes to, I don't know, I really, really wanted to study with Roshi, Joan Halifax when I first got here and realized that she was here. And not as I suspected in Los Angeles, I don't know why I thought she was in California. When I discovered she was here, all I wanted to do a study with her. So what I just started, like, I started taking her courses there all by donation. So I started donating money each time. What I would normally pay for a course of that length or depth. And now I'm taking a year long training with her and a couple of her other teachers who are great. And you know, what else? Have a few other women in my life that I really, really admire? And so I, I come to them with offerings of love and presence. And I'll share I'll do this I'll raise money, or MOOC, I started raising money for her one of her favorite charities, the free food kitchen in South Africa. And, you know, we're like, family now. She and I, and that wasn't that didn't just happen overnight. It happened over time. You know, we've had a great deal of respect for one another, but we had to build we built a relationship over the last year.

Jaclyn Steele:

I've feel like for me, I agree with everything you said. I think when I have approached mentors, I love to ask the question, How can I be of service to you? How can I come alongside you and amplify or aid in what you are already doing? And then I think there's also a trustful element and an intuition and listening to the Inklings element where you go, Oh, I connect with this other human so deeply. And I'm going to act on that and follow that inkling. And that has served me so powerfully. Like when you interview Jesse Johnson in your mentorship program I'm which again, I've said this already in this podcast, but your mentorship program is so chock full of just goodness. And that morning, that I got the email saying, Hey, we're gonna be talking about money today. This is the time for the live call. Normally, I can't attend your live calls because I'm working during the day and I already have obligations set up. But on this particular day, I felt you need to be on this call. And I followed it. And I listened. And I was inspired and floored by the information that both of you are sharing. And I ended up hiring Jesse Johnson and I'm going to be in LA in a week and a half to have my VIP day with her. Wow. That's huge. And Alina, it's because of you. Yeah, no,

Unknown:

she's, she's a powerhouse. She's like, like Jesse Johnson. You can look at her. I remember looking at some of her work early on before I knew her as a person. And I was like, This girl's a little crazy. You know, I don't know if this is for me at all. She and I met. It was instant, like, wow, we see the world the same way. We are brazen, in exactly the same way. super tender and super strong. And let's roll. I love working with her.

Jaclyn Steele:

That is the feeling that I got. When you too were speaking on that call. She would take a moment and take a breath before answering. And that was the catalyst for me to go. This is the kind of woman that I want to be working with, especially when it comes to money and my money issues. So anyway, that's how I have found incredible teachers, and worse. Okay, we're rounding this out. At the end of my podcast episodes, I always do rapid fire questions. And normally it's like what's been the most powerful book you read? Or somebody who's really influenced you or the best piece of advice you've been given? But because you are the oil queen? I want to ask you about oils attached to certain feelings. So if you are willing, will you play this rapid fire oil game with me? Oh, it's my favorite. Let's do it. I figured it would be it would be okay. Your favorite oil blend for anxiety? blend for anxious feelings would be balance. And guess what? My deer right here right next to me. You gave that to me? Oh dude, of course right. And I've already bought another lot more oils I've invested in Okay, peace. I would say peace. There's a blend called peace. Yeah, beautiful. sadness. Well,

Unknown:

I would say lemon grass, or one of the citrus oils you know just just to reboot the system. Cut the cords move it on keep it moving. Or Cypress

Jaclyn Steele:

Oh, that's such a powerful one. melancholy

Unknown:

I would also say Cypress like not to cut it off not to block it but let it keep moving through so other things can find their way. Hmm. strength. Really good question. I want to say rose and frankincense together.

Jaclyn Steele:

Yeah, beautiful clarity. bergamont Hmm. Good choice. Okay, motivation.

Unknown:

Weirdly and lamely motivate. Cuz I use it every so much and like so good. It's just true. Yeah, yeah. Love it. Oh, I

Jaclyn Steele:

love it, too. In fact, I used a bunch of it yesterday. Yeah. Surrender.

Unknown:

I want to go to the trees for that, like Douglas firs, the first thing that comes to my mind. It's maybe Siberian fir. Also. You know, I also get some, some real pleasure from the arbor vitae a oil. You know, there's something that helps me to, like let go of all the things I thought I had to be or do when I smell that and it's not something that's pleasurable necessarily for me, but it works.

Jaclyn Steele:

Your way of interacting with these healing compounds, has transformed the way that I look at oils, and made me fall in love with them all over again. Yeah, yeah, they are healing, physically healing, but emotionally healing as well. And taking the time throughout the day, to put some in a diffuser like I have back here or place them gently on our bodies, it feels like an acknowledgment of the importance of ourselves and our time and our comfort.

Unknown:

It's also an empowerment like it, it's some I'm doing my best to get the oils into the hands of people who can afford them. Very, very consistently. And I think it's very important that we see the privilege that we have to afford them. And then make sure that we also share them with people that don't because the fact is, the plants hold compounds that extend and, and enhance our well being. How can I help you with that? You already are just by mentioning it by the rapid fire oil question that was really fun. It gives me an idea to do it for I have an interview that I want to do with the great teacher of essential oils. I think I'm going to do that with her. So that's a great idea. Thank you.

Jaclyn Steele:

Course. But yeah, I think I think the most important thing is to continuously ensure that the the teachings of these compounds get out there. We think that we're burdening people with information. And we think that, you know, oh, it's our business where you know, you shouldn't be selling so much. It's like, No, actually, if you don't, that person will most likely get their hands on some subpar quality. adulterated product. That's not what we want. No. And I mean, to piggyback off of that, I had a lavender oil from a company I won't mention. And I thought it was a decent oil. And then I got doTERRA lavender. And the smells are from two different universes.

Unknown:

Yeah, well, you have, for the most part, you have a lot of adulteration going on. Mm hmm. And

Jaclyn Steele:

I also want to add, and I'm newer to the oils, I'm three or four months in to doTERRA, specific oils, but there's a sacred feeling. using them. There's a sacredness like this full circle moment that we are connecting to the essence of what the earth provides. And what a holy encounter.

Unknown:

Yeah, it's coming from the top. There's a woman by the name of Emily bright, who's one of the founders of the company, and she still has her. Her hands very much in the processes, and the heart of the work. And it's coming from her, she cares deeply, personally about every single person that is working to get the oils into your hands from the lady who's harvesting the pink pepper on the side of the road in Kenya, to me, learning how to teach about the properties of oils as they relate to enhancing your well being emotionally physically, mentally, all the way to you, she she has that level of care, that level of faith, that level of service and her body and her blood and, you know, you're feeling it from her and you're feeling it from the way in which she inspires all of us to, to be just like her, even though she's a little bit younger than me, is so profoundly felt. Yeah,

Jaclyn Steele:

I am so proud to be aligned with a company with that kind of integrity and to be aligned with a person like you with that kind of integrity. And by proxy, Emily, because of that.

Unknown:

You're rightfully so proud. It's a it's a real, it's a real blessing to to be aligned here. Mm hmm. Yeah. Okay.

Jaclyn Steele:

Two more short questions. What do you want our dear listeners to take away from this episode? Get a really good night's sleep as often as you can. Yes, yes. Where can people find you online?

Unknown:

Elena brower.com I make it really easy to find me. I guess the way to be in touch with me would be either through Jacqueline through her work with doTERRA it would be through my mentorship doesn't matter what team or profession in which you're engaged later bro.com and you just click on the mentorship on the navbar there or you can do forward slash forward slash mentorship. Yeah, Instagram all the same Lana Brower easy to find me.

Jaclyn Steele:

And your podcast practice you is also such a gift.

Unknown:

Thank you. I would have forgotten to mention, there's a podcast called practice he we're almost at a million unique downloads. We're getting right there. And yeah, it's it's a it's a love project. I don't I don't really. I don't earn any money from it. I just spend money on it. But I love it so much.

Jaclyn Steele:

I know how that feels. Yeah,

Unknown:

I mean, it's, it's of service. I know it's of service. So I keep going.

Jaclyn Steele:

And it is just like everything you do. Thanks, dude. Thank you for being here.

Unknown:

Thank you so much for having me. It's really been a pleasure. I appreciate you're very careful and caring. Listening.

Jaclyn Steele:

Is My pleasure. Friends, quick fact check. I have to call myself out here. When I was talking with Elena and I referenced a biblical story. I was talking about the Israelites leaving Egypt and going over the Red Sea with Moses, but I had the location and the people wrong. I'm so sorry. It was actually Joshua leading the Israelites out of the desert after the 40 years of wandering, and going to the Jordan River with the Ark of the Covenant. Just wanted to be totally transparent there. And if you went to look through the Bible to reference that story, you wouldn't find it in this spot that I told you. So there it is all laid out on the table. Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope you enjoyed Alayna as much as I did.