We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deanna Rose. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deanna below.
Deanna, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
For as long as I can remember, I was always a shy and awkward kid who felt like she had no voice or power in this world. Born and raised in China, the school system was all about discipline, conformity, and structure. Although I didn’t thrive in school because the education material was hard, the teachers were strict and unpredictable, I still felt somewhat at ease due to the perceived equality amongst my peers and familiarity with the culture itself.
In my early teens, my parents and I moved to Vancouver, Canada for a better life. When we first moved, I spoke zero English and had no idea how to navigate this new country. I felt scared and alone. Recess and lunchtimes were often spent in bathroom stalls, trying to avoid people or being made fun of. For an introverted kid, not being able to speak the language was immensely tough, to say the least.
Other than language, the cultural difference was something my young brain could not comprehend. Teens the same age in China were busy studying for exams, doing their homework, so they wouldn’t get yelled at or punished by teachers and parents. In Canada, teens were experimenting with makeup, romantic relationships, sex, and dressing in cute outfits. I felt out of place and didn’t know how to navigate this new landscape I had to permanently call home.
Before moving to Canada, I already had very low self-esteem and confidence. After moving, not only did my confidence plummet, I was constantly confused and discombobulated. High school was tough and the first couple of years in university was a blur. Although I was starting to understand the cultural differences and was able to speak the language a lot better, people still made fun of my accent and how I pronounced certain words.
I knew if I didn’t get rid of my accent, I’d forever be stuck in a state of low self-esteem and low confidence. So I immersed myself in songs, movies, books. I imitated other people’s pronunciations and practiced specific pronunciations over and over again in the shower, walking down the street, on buses, you name it.
The turning point of all of this, and I still remember this as if it was yesterday, was the first time I told someone how long I had been in Canada for, and they responded with a shocking “wow you have no accent at all!” That’s when I knew I had overcome one of my biggest hurdles to live in this country as an equal. Every immigrant has a different perspective when it comes to fitting into their new environment. For me, language was one of the biggest mental obstacles I needed to overcome.
After overcoming the language barrier, my confidence improved a little, but nothing significant. I was still the shy, introverted kid who did everything she could to avoid people and conversations. But I knew if I wanted to get to places in life, I needed to be known and I needed to know- things, people, places. I observed other people’s behaviours, what they talked about, how they talked about it, the types of people who got the most attention, and the type of peoples others wanted to befriend.
For me to put those observations to use, it required me to get out of my comfort zone and actually go talk to people. So at the age of 21, I started to learn social skills which most North American adults developed in kindergarten and elementary school. The initial awkwardness was painful and filled with sweaty moments. I still tried to get out of situations as much as possible, but managed to push through more and more as time went on.
During those awkward and painful interactions, I found glimpses of rewarding moments, where I felt my perseverance and resilience were finally paying off. The more I pushed through, the more confidence I felt in my ability to deal with uncomfortable situations and in myself. I often found myself walking into rooms, events and situations with sweaty palms, shaky hands, racing thoughts. Although I was always my own worst critic, over the years I learned to be my own biggest cheerleader as well. Amongst the negative chatter, I always consciously whispered the words “you can do anything you choose to do. No one is in your way, you always have the choice to choose your way.” It didn’t matter how awkward situations felt, I pushed myself to stay, to go through it as if my life depended on it.
Over the years, many more experiences shaped me and my perspective on the world. Today, I hold a doctorate degree in naturopathic medicine, a licensed naturopathic doctor, own two businesses, live in the tropics 6 months of the year by myself, and learning to navigate the world in Spanish as well.
The biggest lesson I realized is I was the one who kept myself trapped all these years, thinking there’s only one path to where I want to go. The limitations I placed on myself kept me trapped, but also provided enough pressure to create the person I am today. Confidence, for some people comes naturally, but for others, myself included, it is earned. It’s the most shiny trophy of them all, which means the hardship we choose is often reflective of the journey we are willing to endure.
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?
My two businesses- Wellth & Glow + Tonic Studio birthed out of years of passion, experience, and the inner fire that never ceased to burn bright inside.
Wellth is a health and wellness company focusing on physical and mental health. For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to study the brain and why some people are susceptible to mental health issues. Psychology was a natural choice when picking a major in university. But after working as a counsellor for the government for two years, I realized how corrupt and backwards the system was. Raised with and saved by traditional Chinese medicine, I’ve always believed in the power of nature and the power each of our bodies hold, I decided to go back to school and pursue a career in naturopathic medicine to heal the mind. While in school, I realized how much disconnect there is between the body and mind. So I decided to start a business which reconnects and harmonizes the two. This was when Wellth was born. With a focus on gut health and burnout, we address issues from the core by healing the physical and the mental.
About a year after starting Wellth, I felt called to move to Mexico. So I packed my bag and flew into Mexico by myself, not knowing what was waiting for me on the other side. I met so many amazing people along the way and did a lot of healing, which I had no idea I needed. Through this self-healing journey, I began to notice my perspective and approach with clients shift. How their body and mind responded to this shift was apparent and rewarding.
A couple of months after moving to Mexico, an unexpected opportunity was gifted to me. I have been a lifelong artist, drawing and doodling since I could hold a pen. My love for art was often put on hold by other “more important” things like studying for exams or holding a job. One day a friend asked me to design her social posts and website, because she loved mine so much and was willing to pay for my creativity. So I agreed and Glow + Tonic Studio was born.
Although the two seem quite irrelevant, just like life itself, everything’s interconnected. I use my knowledge and experiences in psychology in my branding and social media marketing consultations with my clients. There’s so much psychology in business and marketing, marketing can’t exist without it. On the Wellth side, I work with high performance entrepreneurs. By knowing their patterns inside and out through my own experience as an entrepreneur, we’re better able to build programs which cater to their fast-paced lifestyle.
We’re launching a new course for each of the business this spring- Gut Reset Protocol for Wellth and Building a Brand that Sells for Glow and Tonic. We don’t just want to give the man fish, we want to teach the man how to fish. I believe this is how we expand and continue to grow as a collective.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Trust
Trust is enjoying the journey regardless of the outcome. Trust is letting go of control, while believing everything will work out in the best way possible. Whether or not you believe in a greater power, trust helps you focus on the present moment, instead of stressing out about the future outcome. Trust allows expansion to happen, it allows you to immerse in your zone of genius without being burdened with skewed expectations. There were so many helpless moments in my journey where I had no choice but to let go and trust everything will fall into place. When I released control, what I received in return was much greater than I could’ve ever wished for. When we hang onto control, our view is often limited with obstructed perspective. Once we choose to trust and let go, the universe works its magic and we see the macro view of everything.
Listen more than you speak
We expand through the amalgamation of the experiences and knowledge of our own and others. Sifting through information others have to offer is a way to add to our repertoire of wisdom, from which we grow, expand, and support others in this world. When we speak, we often repeat what we already know rather than absorbing more information or see things from new perspectives. Growth doesn’t come from repeating the same thing over and over again. Growth comes from new perspectives, asking questions, and open discussions of different ideas. When we listen, we allow the new to come in and birth even more ideas.
Confidence isn’t heard, it’s felt.
True confidence, just like true wealth and true strength, needn’t to be flaunted. It’s strong, silent, and impactful. The desire to be loud about confidence comes from the ego’s desire to prove its worth. When you feel the need to boast, to speak loudly about your accomplishments, check in with yourself on where that desire is stemming from. Is it coming from a place of insecurities, the need for validations, or maybe the want for control? How can you fulfill your deeper needs without being dependent on external stimuli? This practice has allowed me to meet more people who are happy and fulfilled in their own life, because I did not attract them into my life to fulfill my self-perceived emptiness.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I am beyond grateful for my parents. They are two of the kindest and most hardworking humans I know in this world and they inspire me beyond belief. When we first moved from China to Canada, they supported me in the best ways they could. through the transition with language, schools, extracurricular activities, and everything in between. Although their marriage fell apart, they always did their best to support me in every way possible. Out of everything they’ve done, I think the most impactful thing they did and still do till this day is lead by example. Their kindness, compassion, critical thinking skills, work ethic, and determination are the qualities which have been persistent over the years. Their work ethics and determination are traits I continue to strive towards. I channel their kindness everywhere I go. In Asian cultures, we are not very overt with our words of affection or words in general, but everything’s shown through actions. Although the words aren’t often said, their continuous dedication and unconditionalness is deeply felt and appreciated. And this is something I always try to share with the world- actions over words, kindness over judgment. I would not be the person I am today or where I am today without my parents, not even close.
Contact Info:
- Website: deannawrose.com & glowtonic.studio
- Instagram: @dr.deannawrose @glowtonic.studio
- Linkedin: Deanna Rose
- Youtube: @dr.deannawrose @glowtonic.studio
