Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diana Werthmann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Diana, we sincerely appreciate you joining us today and agreeing to talk about some very personal topics. So, to kick things off, let’s talk about a tough one – divorce. Can you talk to us about how you overcame divorce?
Going through a divorce was definitely a challenging experience. My emotions were a complex mix of sadness, anger, loneliness, fear & even some relief. It was a significant life transition that felt very overwhelming at the time, yet it was a tremendous opportunity for personal growth & renewal.
It was important for me to grieve the loss of the relationship and actually “feel” ALL of the emotions which was a very uncomfortable experience.
I am a huge fan of journaling and I found that writing everything I was feeling & experiencing was very healing. It allowed me to get all of “those” feelings out of my head & on to paper. It also allowed me to express my anger in a heathier way so as to not cause any more friction during all of the “legal stuff” that was occurring.
I also started writing “gratitude lists”. This practice continues (to this day) to help change my perception of the world and see the glass as half full rather than half empty. It definitely fosters a much more positive & happier mindset!
In addition, I began to surround myself with friends & support groups which allowed me to share my experiences & feelings with others who were also experiencing similar situations and that helped me to feel less alone.
Over time I was able to rediscover myself and explore my own interests & passions and eventually my sense of self improved & I felt stronger, happier & excited to embrace the next chapters in my life.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As an Interior Designer, my greatest joy & passion & even my greatest gift is my ability to take that “feeling” my clients want to experience in their homes & translate it into a reality without the stress & overwhelm. I know how impactful good design is and how it can enhance & even improve lives. I believe that “it” all starts at home.
What is that “it”?
That is a question that has taken me years to be able to answer for myself. I often felt like I had missed that day in school where they handed out the “guidebook to life & happiness” which caused me to feel afraid & alone for a very long time. As someone who is a seeker & who loves to read, I eventually was led to books that were more of the “self help” variety and as I discovered the connections between “mind-body-spirit” I was able to understand more about creating sanctuary at home and how “that” energy follows us everywhere we go.
I have always lived in pretty homes yet between childhood trauma, an unhappy marriage & the loss of a job I did not “FEEL” happy in my pretty homes.
My purpose changed after the job loss, and I decided to start my own Interior Design Firm. My mission at that time was to create beauty in my clients’ homes yet there was still something missing in the work I did. I was approaching my work from perspective of “accomplishment” rather than of “feeling”. The accomplishment approach was feeding my ego yet I still felt like I was missing something.
I eventually met a man, fell in love & remarried and through a series of events we both started learning about the energetic relationships between thoughts & feelings and how they affect our lives.
There is a Practice in Interior Design called Fung Shui which involves arranging your living and working spaces to create harmony and positive vital life force energies to create health, happiness & prosperity. As I learned more about energy & wellness, I realized the work I was doing for my clients had started to change & my approach was a blend of beauty & energy, and I was beginning to see the positivity in my clients as the changes in their homes were taking place. I was also coming to truly believe that creating a sanctuary at home where they could truly love where the live would allow them to really live their best lives!
I also discovered my own intuitive abilities to just “know” what the perfect solutions would be for my clients which a gift I cherish!
So…the “IT”…simply stated; happiness inside & outside! If I can create the “outside” I believe it will help them to create the “inside”.
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?
#1- Listening Skills (listening to HEAR rather than listening to reply)
#2-Empathy (being able to try and understand where someone is coming from)
#3-Education (proper training and knowledge to help you develop your skill set)
Although the Education came before the Listening Skills & Empathy, I have found that being able to connect with people on an emotional level far outweighs the educational skill set.
I am very grateful for the foundation I received in school, yet I have learned over time that everyone wants to feel like they matter.
I would encourage everyone to develop their listening skills as this brings people closer together and we all desire connections. Hearing what people are saying magically creates empathy!
My business is a blend of creativity & managing people & expectations. Understanding that the process of the transformations takes time, it is important for me to pay attention to how my clients are feeling during the project. Allowing them to share their concerns, frustrations & excitement is an asset to a successful outcome!
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?
The book “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay is one of my most favorite books!
Louise talks in great depth about the impact that the mind has on health, wellbeing & life experiences. She includes a variety of positivity affirmations that have helped me to change my mindset in all aspects of my life.
The idea that “what we think about we bring about” has significantly influenced my attitude & outlook as I began to grow and heal after the divorce. I definitely have seen the relationships between my thoughts & beliefs and what I am experiencing in my daily life.
Her book started me on my journey of understanding, personal insights & even forgiveness and continues to be a “go-to” book when life feels challenging as I can be aware of my thoughts & feelings and not dwell in negative thinking too much.
In essence, the book speaks to the power of the mind and its role in shaping our experiences & reality.
It is another way of understanding my “why” in my business- “It” all starts at home; and if I can help create an environment where my clients can love where they live this can allow them to feel happier and hopefully enhance the quality of their lives!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://transformedinteriordesign.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/transformedinteriors
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/transformedinteriors
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/dianawerthmann
- Other: pinterest.com/transformedinteriors
facebook.com/dianawerthmann
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