Meet Hilary Kern

 

We recently connected with Hilary Kern and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hilary , thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

Strangely enough, my optimism comes from facing one of the most challenging experiences of my life. Through the pandemic, my father had both Alzheimer’s and cancer, and died in 2022.

By facing the loss, and meeting it with support, I learned that even in the darkest and tragic of moments, there is hope.

That hope came from learning how to let in support and care from my dear friends and the hospice team. I also learned how to focus my own energy by making the choice moment after moment to demonstrate being a loving daughter. It was something amidst so much loss that was within my control.

When my dad passed, I had an extraordinary experience of being full of love in a way I never thought imaginable. This fostered a trust in life – that even in such a tragic moment, there was an opportunity for connection.

I started to see life differently. I became more aware of the preciousness of time and with the support of a coach, I started painting which has been a lifelong dream of mine. Through painting, I expressed that feeling of optimism – that even in loss there is light through the threads of our connections.

After my dad died, I also had a hard time socializing and making small talk. I found a way to connect with others by sharing my work which helped me tell my story and convey that vibrant spirit of hope.

On the first anniversary of my dad‘s death, I went to a store and created a connection with the owner to sell my first painting. It was really that feeling of optimism that came through in the painting, and I sold it after 5 minutes of it being up!

This journey is at the heart of how I help others find hope and step back into life again after loss.

Thanks, so before we move on can share a bit more about how this optimism inspires your work?

I help people who have recovered from a major loss and wonder “how do I even begin to step out into the world again?” I help them take those steps without compromising or pretending, even if it feels daunting.

I know this myself after losing my dad and struggling with grief. Working with a coach helped me to create a vision for my life that included finding my joy, reconnecting to my creativity and learning to take one small step at a time with support.

They say grief is love with nowhere to go. Creativity can be a powerful way to channel that love. It certainly was for me.

It’s been profound to partner with my clients as they reconnect to their joy, and find their courage to take steps into their lives again. It fills my heart to see clients moving forward by writing their books, embarking on new businesses, or making music… with resilience and wisdom.

If you’re interested or know someone who could benefit from support, I offer a free introductory call. You can schedule that here: https://calendly.com/hilary-kern/discover

I also offer playshops, and have one coming up on October 29th called Visioning and Mapping a Creative Project You Love. This will help you:
-Design a creative project you can’t wait to start
-Set yourself up for success by creating action steps that light you up
-Connect with fellow artists and creatives that fuel you to dive in

Learning the skill of designing a project was incredibly powerful for me through loss, and I’m excited to share it with you! Learn more here: https://www.hilarykern.com/event-details/fall-expressions-visioning-and-mapping-a-project-you-love

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

1 – Asking for support: Many of us, myself included, are more skilled at giving than receiving support. There are times in our lives, however, when life calls us to learn how to accept and receive. If you’re struggling, consider letting someone comfort you. I could very well be that by allowing them the experience of caring for you and being trusted, you are giving them a gift. Consider how you have felt when someone has leaned on you?

2- Aligning to your values: I remember there were times where I felt so overwhelmed by grief, I didn’t know what to do with myself! When I focused on my values of being a loving person, something shifted, and I began to feel more capable. Even in times of loss, consider those qualities in you that you know, when you demonstrate them, you feel good inside. How might you express them?

3 – Structure! Though it can feel very contrary, especially for artists, structure is your friend! When I learned how to create goals for myself, and map that goal in a strategic manner, I learned a very powerful way to move forward. What’s one small goal you could create that would enable you to do something important to you?

How would you describe your ideal client?

You’re likely grappling with the question, “How do I even begin to step out into the world again?” after a significant loss, and you don’t want to have to “fake it til you make it.” I know I didn’t!

It’s important when healing and grieving to take some time to cozy up in a sweet little cocoon. There comes a time, however, when you know you need and crave social connection. If you withdraw too much or for too long, you know you’ll stagnate and become dulled by the sound of your own thoughts.

It’s normal for this to feel daunting. It’s likely you’ve never been in this situation before, and yet you know it’s time to begin again, because even through this loss, the possibility for joy is alive and well in your heart.

Contact Info:

 

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move