Meet Vanessa Serratos

We were lucky to catch up with Vanessa Serratos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Vanessa, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?

Discipline comes effortlessly when you operate from a place of self-love. You deserve to feel your best. Expand your experiences by stepping outside of your comfort zone. Self-love will align you with effortless discipline. Real success means having a regulated nervous system, not comparing yourself to others, and fostering authentic connections. Give your own opinion more weight than anything else. Be inspired by others’ quality without diminishing your own. Sometimes creative ideas come from simply taking a break. Progress isn’t ruined after a bad day, two bad days, or even a month of bad days. Everything you experience and learn during that time is valuable for your growth. I eventually learned that resting allows you to restore your creativity – inspiration comes with time.

Take your focus back, and draw attention to yourself. What makes you different? What qualities do you value about yourself? Are you aware of how many people are inspired by you? Put the light back on and compare to only the previous versions of yourself. Fill your life with things you are passionate about, and challenge yourself every day. The coolest folks are those who are unashamedly into their interests – not caring about what anyone else thinks is the most attractive thing. Be your own muse. At the end of the day, no one is you, and that is your power.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Vanessa Valerie Serratos, and I am honored to share my journey as a creative. I am a custom jewelry designer and also work in applied behavior analysis (ABA) – which allows me to combine the best of both worlds. The combination of being a custom jewelry designer and a professional in ABA is unique, as each role brings its own set of beauty and value to the other. The beauty of being creative in the field of ABA lies in the ability to blend artistry with science to make meaningful changes in people’s lives. Both roles demand creativity in different ways.

As a jewelry designer, I use my creativity to craft one-of-a-kind pieces, while in ABA, I use my creativity to develop effective, individualized interventions. My work in both of these areas is deeply personal. Both jewelry design and ABA require innovative problem-solving to meet clients’ specific desires and requirements.

I love what I do, and enjoy the process of creating and presenting deeply rewarding work. In jewelry design, it’s the joy of creating something special for a loved one. While in ABA, it’s the satisfaction of making a positive difference in someone’s life. As a creative, it is your purpose in life to bring your gift to fruition. Live with your gift, acknowledge and cherish it. Thank you for allowing me to express the love I have for my craft.

Align your passions with your purpose ♡ ̆̈

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

For me, three key qualities in building your journey are being authentic, resilient, and curious. To create a solid foundation for yourself, you need to stay true to what speaks to you. What values, interests, and passions reflect who you are as a person? Authenticity helps with making decisions that align with your identity. It creates a path that is unique to you rather than being shaped by external expectations. With resilience, you can bounce back from setbacks. Being able to adapt to challenges is crucial in life. I learn the best through trial and error, because every experience I’ve encountered has taught me something along the way. I’m able to navigate obstacles and continue moving forward without stressing over things I have no control over. It’s okay when things don’t go as planned. Rejection is redirection, and it’s something I’ve learned to accept and be appreciative of. Let your inner child be free and curious. Constantly wanting to seek more information on the “why” factor drives exploration and the desire to understand new things. Curiosity helps you remain engaged and open to the unknown moments you’ll experience in your journey.

My advice to folks who are early in their journey is to enjoy every bit of the process. To get what you want, your words and energy have to align with your desired outcomes. Your words are powerful and are constantly shaping your reality. Learn to trust in what passes you by, and you’ll begin to trust in what lands right in front of you. Listen to your intuition. Go off of what feels right, and everything else will figure itself out. When something makes sense to you, it means you’re ready. You don’t necessarily have to understand it. When you have those thoughts, just know you wouldn’t have them if you weren’t ready. Maybe you should trust in what isn’t working because it might guide you to what will.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

My support system. I owe it all to my family and friends. They are constantly acknowledging my progress, even when I don’t realize it. Being successful is not just about achieving a specific goal, but it’s also a mindset – it’s a gradual process. It’s not a switch that turns off or on; it’s a slow burn. One day, you’ll wake up and suddenly you’re where you’ve prayed to be – you made it. This is why personal growth is so special. Having the support of people who genuinely care about you motivates you to strive for more. By making decisions to become better, you might not always see the changes, but they are still happening. And one day you’ll wake up to the life you dreamt of and have the realization that one decision, that commitment to yourself, slowly molded your life without you noticing. That’s when you’ll see – it makes all the good and bad worth it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @vanessahserratos, @santo.patre