We were lucky to catch up with Shiva Mehta recently and have shared our conversation below.
Shiva , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I consider myself to be innately creative and ever since I can remember, I have always been drawn to the natural world. I am also a dentist by day and having been close to experiencing burn-out, I was focussed on attempting to find work-life balance and photography provided me a therapeutic outlet for both calm and creativity. Pursuing wildlife photography has allowed me to combine both of these passions and find my purpose of using my lens as a storytelling tool for conservation.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a UK based self- taught wildlife photographer and advocate for conservation. To me the natural world is the greatest source of beauty, wonder and excitement and photography has enabled me to express this innate passion through an empathetic lens.
My aim is to use photography to share the beauty of our natural world by bringing it into our homes, connecting us with the wild across all borders. By raising awareness about conservation issues, I hope to inspire people to take steps however small to protect our wild and to cultivate hope by sharing stories of wildlife projects whilst supporting them through the sale of my artwork. 20% of proceeds from all sales are donated to specially selected conservation organisations at the forefront of protecting some of our most threatened species in the wild.
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?
Explore and embrace your strengths and weaknesses; whilst this is often a continuous and dynamic process, it can help you gravitate towards skills and talents you are naturally aligned with that bring you joy.
Use your natural talents and passions to find your purpose; I feel that your passion is yours, and your purpose is in service. Your passion becomes your purpose when you use it for greater good and this can ultimately help harness a sense of fulfilment. Even if your passion is just a hobby, it can still add richness to your life which is equally important.
Build connections with like- minded people; not only does this help build personal and professional relationships, it also allows you to foster a sense of belonging and community. You can always learn something from every person and experience you encounter.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I am a perfectionist by nature and have always struggled with Imposter Syndrome. I sometimes find myself procrastinating and avoiding facing tasks head-on in fear of not being ready, not being good enough or not being deserving. I recognise that these self-limiting beliefs only hinder my own progress and that I’m not alone. Being kind to myself, journaling to track any wins or successes, practicing gratitude, saying yes to new opportunities whilst acknowledging and understanding what it means is key to overcoming this struggle.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shivawildlife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiva_wildlife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/shiva_wildlife/100092641621940/
