We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Anthony a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I love this question as it covers more than creativity, such as finding purpose and risk taking. Over the years I’ve found having curiosity is a key attribute when it comes to overcoming obstacles. This includes having an exploratory attitude, saying yes to situations that feel okay in your gut and trying something new. Part of it, for me, is being curious about the world around me, knowing I don’t have all of the answers! I try to keep my mind open to new experiences. A few days ago, I went to a comedy show, yesterday I made a wild rice and artichoke soup for a local community kitchen where I played with ingredients such as adding fresh Lemongrass, a few weeks back I was at an art museum to take in different viewpoints, I’m currently working on a blog post about Bergamot essential oil, earlier this week I gave a workshop at a local senior center about Aromatherapy and Forest Bathing. My point is how inspiration is all around me, you, us. When I feel stuck, such as needing ideas for making soup for the community lunch program, or a new workshop or a new topic for my podcast I go inward and ask myself what I’m curious about. I also go outward as noted before: visit museums, seek new experiences and viewpoints. Another crucial component is spending time outside–what is more inspiring than the sun, moon, water, birds, insects, trees and other plants? Gardening and hiking are necessities to keep me going. I also refer to artwork, poetry and writing pieces and sayings that inspire me. If I need a little push, I go back to old photos of my 2- to 5-year-old self to see a very curious little being; these glimpses of my true self remind me that curiosity is still in me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m passionate about sharing my love of plants and the power of aromatherapy! This is expressed in my private practice, NYC Aromatica, through in-person aromatherapy experiences such as bespoke sessions and custom education to group and corporate experiences. I also offer online-based learning opportunities such as “candle making with essential oils” and “chakras and aromatherapy”, “Plant Talk “videos featuring aromatic plants and their essential oils and a slew of articles on my blog. And don’t forget to check out my podcast: Essential Aromatica featuring special guests and the Luna Aroma series: a project close to my heart that aligns aromatherapy with seasonal, lunar themes!
When I step back and look at my passion, what I am doing, I see myself as a guide to help people connect with the aromatic plants and their essential oils. Experience is a key word about my practice: sharing experiences with people to help them experience the impact essential oils have on our individual mind-body-spirit-soul as well as the larger impact of being with plants and within nature, within and of this amazing universe.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
This is a fun question! Seeing the “and” over the “or”, staying receptive & curious AND, conversely, letting go.
I learned appreciation for “AND” during my market research days. I learned to appreciate both qualitative aspects (small studies, exploratory based, ideation driven, focus groups, depth interviews) and quantitative aspects (large surveys, granular data analysis, numbers driven). This gets into perceived duality of life (e.g., yin/yang): one isn’t better than the other, both are important. This easily translates to everything! Aromatherapy? Some folks want numbers, data, double-blind studies and clinical trials. Some folks focus on empirical data: feeling and experiencing. Both are valid and equally important. Life lessons: don’t go so far deep down a “rabbit hole” that you can’t see the big picture AND don’t be afraid to dig a bit deeper for granular data when it’s needed. A key take-away: our concepts are often just that: concepts, ideas, beliefs. There are different ways to look at the same thing. It’s really a theme of letting go.
I already shared my appreciation for curiosity, which I feel aligns with receptivity. Being open to get a fresh perspective, looking at something sideways or upside down. Just yesterday I was seeking out research on what is called “neutral affect”, not getting caught up in affect/emotions. Appreciating neutral affect is a different way of looking at emotions and supports other neutral-minded practices such as meditation, prayer, time in nature, aromatherapy, yoga and breathwork. Something I’ve been looking into over the past few years is how it is possible to be passionate and neutral at the same time. Being an observer and trying to refrain from attaching to something is definitely a mind-set and a practice. I’ve trained myself to stay as neutral as possible when working with essential oils, which has been fun. The oils are chemistry, they work with our nervous system as well as emotions, memory and more. If I stay neutral and keep my story out of it, I can notice the qualities of an essential oil. This is being curious but receptive and neutral. Be an observer, then take that information to take action, even if what’s needed is non-action.
Conversely, there is letting go, not clinging to meaning, experiences, parts of life. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life and experiences but I try not to cling to things, memories, identity. It’s hard! But how can I relate to others as a practitioner and teacher if I’m clinging to an old version of myself or belief? How many absolutes are there in life? I have no idea, but change happens and it’s easier to flow rather than resist. It’s OK to let go, to change, to have a different perspective. Curiosity supports this: a “what’s this about” approach in contrast to a shutting down approach.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Oh yes! Step back. It does take awareness–train yourself. I used to get caught up in work, ignore the need to take lunch, put off going for a bathroom break for “just a few more minutes until I figure this out.” But that was miserable, and I finally realized it. Thank goodness! This was back in my “corporate days”. Honestly, it’s as easy as noticing, pausing and walking away. Take a 10-minute walk (preferably outside in a green space), get a glass of water or herbal tea, have a 5-minute essential oil break. These are great short-term strategies that, if done consistently, spill into your whole life. Create gaps and spaces to just BE and notice.
Also, ask for help! I used to be horrible at this! Part of it might be that I’m quite introverted, independent and stubborn (!). Learning to ask for help, and even going to a friend, colleague, manager and sharing how you feel is a step in the direction to alleviate overwhelming feelings. This runs the gambit–from “I need a hug”, “I just need to vent my emotions,” to “my workload is too much.” Check in with yourself: how do you feel emotionally, mentally, physically? Label that, then evaluate! Do you need something physical like food, water, physical activity or rest? Or something emotional like a hug, human contact? Or something spiritual like time in nature, prayer or meditation? Likely, a mix of all of them. Noticing is a big step!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nycaromatica.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nycaromatica/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-n-anthony/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nycaromatica
- Other: Essential Aromatica Podcast: https://nycaromatica.com/podcast/
Image Credits
All photos by Marc McAndrews.
