We recently connected with Samantha Bunting and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Samantha , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I believe that confidence is a practice, and something that is the result of following through with the commitments I make to myself. On a day-to-day basis, these commitments are micro. Think making the bed, a morning walk, and reading. These commitments align with my values, and reinforce my most authentic self. When I follow through with these small tasks, I feel healthy, strong and mentally clear. Most importantly, this process creates a sense of trust with myself, and when I trust myself, I feel that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Growing up, I had a wild imagination. The world around me felt magic, and I was constantly coming up with fantastic stories in my mind that felt vibrant, vivid and real. I got my hands on my first camera when I was 15 years old, and have spent the past decade developing my personal style and tapping into my inner child to capture magic moments in everyday life; beauty in the mundane. I moved to Los Angeles in 2016 to attend Loyola Marymount University, and really used my years in college to get a head start on my career. I made it a priority to get as much real-world work experience as possible, and to learn from those who were succeeding at the things that I was passionate about. I shadowed young entrepreneurs, and worked at small companies where I could get as much experience working in as many areas of the business as possible. I ultimately landed at a Venice-based clothing brand, and recently took on the role as Art Director. At a glance, I like to think of my job as storytelling. It’s a balance of thinking creatively to come up with visually compelling content that captures the mood and feel of a given collection, and strategically to tell a story and create a campaign that resonates with our customer. I believe that growth occurs at the edges, and this role has pushed me to the edge in many ways. It’s a healthy challenge, that has forced me to step out of my comfort zone, and that has inspired me to continue reaching beyond what feels possible.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Trust your gut, and have the courage to change directions when you feel like you are off course. 2. Focus on your strengths and your worth, not what you are lacking.
3. Challenge yourself to see the world through a number of different lenses.
The world is filled with a lot of opinions, and sometimes, you need to drown out the noise to see the path forward. My advice to anyone just getting started, is to focus on having mindful moments throughout the day where you can check in with yourself. Hone in on your strengths, and focus on refining the skills that come naturally to you. Challenge yourself by diving deep into the things that interest you. When you feel stuck, push yourself to view your situation through a number of perspectives. Lastly, remember that you always have the right to change your mind.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
Growing up, my parents never pushed their own opinions, or passions on me. They created a safe space for me to be a child, but never kept secrets, or sugarcoated the reality of the world. Opposite from the helicopter parent, my parents served as bumpers, allowing my to learn and grow at my own pace, as an individual, only ever gently steering me in the right direction. They allowed me to set my own boundaries, and were respectful of those boundaries. My parents never expected me to be anyone but myself, and they valued character and work ethic over any trophy or perfect report card. As a result, I was able to make mistakes and learn from them, and I was able to establish interests and passions. Most importantly, I was able to grow into an independent thinker and a confident person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.samanthabunting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_byseb_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-bunting/
