We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Keshner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amanda, 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.
I have always been the optimistic one in my family despite the chaos twirling all around me. I grew up in NYC raised by “adults” with dysregulated nervous systems just trying their best to survive in an intense environment. As an empath and intuitive, I was constantly witnessing and feeling everyone else’s sadness, pain, suffering, doubt, guilt, and every low vibrational emotion you can think of. Within that darkness, I somehow became the “light”, the optimistic one. I felt what they felt and I didn’t want that for them, nor for myself, so I just started to share positive imaginative stories about how everything is going to work out for them just as they hoped. I tried to make everyone smile when they were sad, I tried to bottle up my own emotions, so that I didn’t add to their “load”. I tried to be everyone’s cheerleader and encourage them to never give up on their dreams.
What I learned is, by showing up for others optimistically, I have slowly shown myself the same love and support I need to now give myself. I learned to show myself the same optimism that I have supported others with for most of my life. I have learned that optimism is a state of being and once on that vibrational wave, we can truly re-wire our brains through neuroplasticity and re-write our lives for the better.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hello beautiful souls my name is Amanda Marie and I am a multi-faceted spiritual being having a human experience. In 2016 I had a vision in my third eye to travel the USA and find land to develop a conscious community and alternative healing center. I sold everything to my name, built a moving interactive piece of art, a tiny house on wheels with a playable maze, and hit the road exploring all of the places on my bucket list. I saw breath taking views, got to sleep amongst the stars in the most remote locations, learned about different cultures, connected with incredible and inspiring individuals, participated in tiny house events, experienced so many new things, and made memories for a life time. Oh, and the coolest part is in 2019…I found the land to build my 2016 dream.
Since then, I have been actively and organically transitioning 5 acres of undeveloped land into The Seed: A Conscious Community and alternative healing center. A safe space where we can explore expanded consciousness, alternative healing modalities, various plant medicines, and have a community of like-minded individuals on a global scale. A space where we can come together to learn, heal, explore, grow, alchemize, and transform.
More information on this project could be found on www.ArtVanGrow.com/TheSeed and please do not feel shy to email me at [email protected] if this project resonates with you. We will be looking for community members who share this vision and want to be a part of this conscious community.
In addition to building The Seed: A Conscious Community, I am an intuitive and aspiring medicine women, I support others on their healing and recovery journey and self-growth journey. I also support others with psychedelic integration, consciousness expansion, complex trauma, healing tools, and resources to support you on your journey. I work 1:1 with individuals as peer support in whatever it is they need guidance or support with at that time. Please email me at [email protected] if you are needing support.
As a artist and creative, I find passion in collaborative projects with others, just like this article (: Let’s connect if I resonate with you.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back I think the three qualities, skills, or area of knowledge that were most impactful on my journey was my resiliency, my optimism, and my determination to never give up, no matter how many bumps in the road you may experience. The best guidance I could share with others is a beautiful quote someone shared with me during my journey, “Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you”. When you can understand that the experiences you encounter are a lesson and/or a blessing, happening for you, and that you have access to the skills and tools to navigate these emotions, you can alchemize the pain and suffering into something magickal. With guidance, support, mindfulness, and being an active participant in your recovery, you will develop and improve your skills to navigate anything life throws your way.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
There has been several incredible books that have played an important role in my development, however one that really stands out to me is The Four Agreements. This was a transformational book for me that completely shifted my reality. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom is a self-help book by the author Don Miguel Ruiz. The Four Agreements are: Be Impeccable With Your Word. Don’t Take Anything Personally. Don’t Make Assumptions. Always Do Your Best.
When I began to remind myself of these agreements and implement them into my physical reality, it shifted life as I knew it and began to open new pathways of understanding, forgiveness, and healing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artvangrow.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artvangrow/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/artvangrow
Image Credits
Image Credits: Art Van Grow LLC
