We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bree West. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bree below.
Bree, 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?
I was in a small town in Goa, India, getting my certification to become a yoga teacher when I realized my purpose. I had been questioning my purpose since before I had quit my corporate job to travel the world, but I didn’t slow down enough to hear the answer until I was in India. I was sober, with limited phone service, and spending most of my time alone in between hours of mediating, chanting, and moving my body every day. I realized that what I wanted to be remembered for when I left this Earth was how helpful and kind I was. I want to help others have a fulfilling life where they feel at peace with themselves. This wasn’t always the case for me (hence me making a drastic change to leave everything I knew), but I hope that by sharing my story and my gifts, others can feel free to be themselves too.
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?
Free the Bree is about living a life free from other people’s expectations. I share about my personal journey from leaving my engineering corporate job to travel the world, find love, and move abroad to France, but I also write books to empower other people to turn their own dreams into reality. I didn’t learn about mindfulness or the power of our thoughts and nervous system until I was in my late 20s. With this knowledge, I’ve been able to overcome social anxiety and reconnect with my intuition. Now, I’m sharing what I’ve learned through personal development books so that others can feel free to live the life they want and feel supported along the way.
In addition to my books Find Your Fiancé and How to Save Money & Build Confidence to Travel Solo, twice a month I share stories from my travels and moving abroad as a blog post on Substack. I want people to see the real side of travel and the life lessons that come with it, not just the glamorized photos on the internet.
As I continue to learn about the interconnectedness of the mind and body, Free the Bree is expanding into the partying and dance scene. Soon I will lead ecstatic dance events with my DJ husband in Paris so that more people can experience the high from dance and feel into their body’s desires. I’m also writing a series of books to help people party responsibly while taking substances. They will be like a big sister giving advice on how to handle what you’re taking and how to deal with the thoughts that may come up. The books will also discuss how to be more in tune with your body and be comfortable being sober in the partying scene.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Learning to reconnect with my intuition was a major turning point for me. Instead of overanalyzing situations, I could make decisions with confidence that led me to beautiful opportunities. To improve this skill, I would suggest taking some alone time to dance to a song and letting the music and your emotions guide your movement. Most often people will try to look cool or mimic what other people do, but when you’re by yourself, how do you feel called to move? Think of the word “dance” as a loose term. It could be stretching or bouncing around if you want. Also, the next time you feel in your gut to do something even if you don’t understand the reason, do it (assuming it’s not hurting anyone). For me, positive reinforcements from listening to my gut while making decisions helped me to trust myself more.
When I understood that the thoughts I hear in my head are separate from me and that I don’t have to listen to them, it helped me feel happier on a more regular basis. The easiest way to take control of your thoughts is to start a meditation practice. When you try to quiet the mind, you’ll realize how many thoughts we have, and that we can change them to be what we want.
Learning how healing it can be to spend time in nature also had a big impact in my life. I grew up with a family that didn’t spend time outdoors, so this was something I discovered when I started traveling. Feeling connected with nature, especially while doing something fun that brings out childlike joy, is one of my favorite ways to feel centered. There are so many studies proving that looking at or spending time in nature is healing and all it takes is going outside. Preferably somewhere away from cars and city life.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Listening to my body’s signals and learning how to regulate my nervous system in uncomfortable situations has improved drastically. I had to unlearn the hustling work ethic to get in sync with my menstrual cycle and hormonal/energy fluctuations. I’ve had no problem hearing when my body needs a break, but since I’ve started listening and allowing my body to rest without guilt, I experience less burnout and overwhelm. I also feel confident while living in a foreign country and still learning the language, building a business, and sharing my vulnerable truths on the internet. The version of me that existed 12 months ago would be very proud of how far I’ve come.
Contact Info:
- Website: freethebree.com
- Instagram: @free_the_bree
- Youtube: @free_the_bree
- Other: freethebree.substack.com for travel stories twice a month.
