We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalie Hanemann. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalie below.
Natalie, 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?
It was a mix of doing interior work and listening to what others told me I was good at. I’d left my corporate job to freelance as a book editor, and it was going well, but I felt something else calling me. I went back to school for my master’s in theology, what I thought was simply a passion project. I spent six years earning that degree, one course at time, all the while wondering what I would do with it. I didn’t want to leave the world of book publishing – it was my career path and I was successful. During these years, I tried to be patient while I kept moving forward with my business and completing my degree. Then COVID hit and since we couldn’t go anywhere else, I started hiking around the area where I live. I may live in the most beautiful state — it’s green and lush with rolling hills. On these hikes, I got more clarity, not about my purpose but about who I am. I have a deep abiding faith in God and it felt like each hike was turning into a date where he and I just spent time together. Sometimes in silence, sometimes in interior dialog, sometimes I’d speak aloud with him, where only the birds and deer could hear me. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was slowly finding my purpose. Meanwhile, as I worked with clients, I started to jot down things they’d say I was especially good at. I had a voice in my head that said: “You’re not good enough to … ” I created a stack of index cards with one statement on each. When I’d get outbid on a job or when a big opportunity presented itself, but one I didn’t feel qualified to do, I’d flip through that stack and remind myself of who I am.
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?
Be/Wilder Writer is the name of my company. We explore the intersection of creativity, wilderness, and spirituality.
The name came from a lightbulb moment while reading the book Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales. In the book, he investigates why people perish in survival situations when they, practically speaking, had all they needed to come out of it alive. This topic fascinates me.
The origin of the word “bewilder” means “to cause a person to be lost in the wilderness.” Synonyms include: dazzle, mystify, puzzle, and astonish. It couldn’t more perfectly describe why I created the company.
Something ethereal happens when we fuse creativity, wilderness, and spirituality. Where does our creativity come from and how do we engage it more? Why do I feel God more keenly when I’m alone in the woods or in wide open spaces?
What services does Be/Wilder offer?
*Monthly contemplation hikes.
*A guide to coach you through finishing your book
*A guide to coach you in spiritual growth using wilderness adventures.
*Ghostwriting services if you have a grand idea but aren’t gifted in writing or simply don’t have time.
*Developmental editing of your completed manuscript.
*Beta-reading your work for input and thoughtful reactions.
*Leading teams on hikes with guidance on: 1.) how creativity, wilderness, and spirituality intersect or 2.) building a robust interior life aids in personal wellness and development.
*Having thoughtful conversations with likeminded individuals that lead to collaborations.
The name of the company is also a command. Hey, you, go be wilder! Because in my experience, when we remove the extra baggage and luxuries and get outdoors, we have room to think and feel and be quiet. Time in the woods is a school where we learn more about ourselves.
To join monthly Contemplation Hikes in the Nashville area, visit https://youbewilder.com/contemplative-hiking
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three skills that deserve attention are active listening, trusting your intuition, and building out a full interior life.
Active listening should be listed as a workout exercise because it takes your whole body and mind to do well. (Depending on who’s talking, it can also increase your heart rate.) Something shifts inside us when we are able to actively listen to another person because in doing so, we are receiving who they are without giving anything in return. As a ghostwriter, this may be the most essential skill to possess. It is a selfless act, can be deeply meaningful for the other person, and is a gift that is easy to return, if the person speaking is willing and able.
Trusting your instinct is a clarion call that reminds people they have hidden knowledge inside them. This is especially helpful for people who are prone to second-guessing themselves or who aren’t comfortable expressing themselves because they fear being wrong or uninformed. There’s freedom when we trust our instincts, even if those around us disagree. Instead of reading the room to know what the best next move is, as many leaders do, when we trust what our instincts tell us, it won’t matter if those around us agree or approve. Time will be the judge. Our instincts may not always be right, and in those times, we have the opportunity to grow in wisdom and humility.
Whether in business or personally, having a strong, healthy interior life will keep us grounded and secure. Our interior life is composed of our thoughts, feelings, and spirit. We all need a break from the barrage of exterior noise — the constant messaging and input of others. Time spent alone and in silence — whether it’s driving around or walking in the woods — gives us the room to think our thoughts and feel our feelings. It allows space for an inner dialog. If you believe in God, this time can become a dialog with Him where you ask and listen. This kind of interior work has natural consequences: it lowers stress, allows you clarity on what you think and how you feel about a situation, and it shifts the position of your power interiorly instead of striving for external recognition.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
So much of my adult life has been a runway for the season I’m stepping into now. It took years of working for others, finding the courage to start my own company, figuring out who I was and what I wanted, then having greater success than I ever imagined before I realized it doesn’t mean as much without collaborating with others who are also on their journey of self-discovery. I’d love to collaborate with leaders who have teams that they feel would benefit from a restoring half-day retreat in the woods where I’d speak about the benefits of doing this interior work and how doing this kind of work not only replenish us physically, but can help us clear off our mental slates and get grounded in our true purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youbewilder.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalie_the_wild_writer/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hanemann-14ab7630/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jjKgxuSfs5YhQeYUQt9gA
Image Credits
All photographs are property of the author.
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