We were lucky to catch up with Georgia Reash recently and have shared our conversation below.
Georgia, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimistic perspective about life actually emerged from the challenges I’ve experienced, and the journey of personal healing and empowerment along the way. I was struck down by Fibromyalgia for some 15 years and in bed for 4 of those years; accompanying that was recovery from PTSD. It was perhaps the most challenging time in my life and my health and life prognosis was not good. All in all, it was difficult to be optimistic when you are in pain 24 hours a day.
But, through a holistic healing approach, I came to discover how important it was to reprogram the weight of old beliefs and ideas that came from trauma experiences in the past. Rooting out those negative energetic patterns and replacing them with healed and empowered perspectives really helped in my healing; mind, body and spirit.
Much of this optimistic outlook is grounded in writings about the Law of Attraction; our thoughts create energy and energy creates things and attract outcomes. In other words, we attract-back what we put out into the world; mentally, verbally and physically. For me, optimism isn’t about avoiding uncomfortable feelings or experiences, but rather, understanding and breaking the loop of those feelings and creating a different and positive thought momentum about them.
My healing and recovery from Fibromyalgia is mostly accredited to this journey into new ways of thinking, including optimism, as a daily lifestyle and practice.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’ve sometimes been referred to as a ‘Renaissance-Woman’ which, to me, is a creative person of depth who lives life to the fullest and sometimes on the cutting edge! To some degree, I would agree with this, as I have a broad range of passions – and compassions – to which I give my heart.
I think, however, better descriptive words are ‘Creation-Addict’, as it is experiences of creation and creativity that drive all of my various professional and personal expressions.
As a Minister and Reiki Healer, I believe life is a canvass for us to paint on, and we are both the painter and the idea maker. The problem is, most people are taught at an early age to forget or forego originality and the ability to hear their true self. Even worse, experiences – especially those of trauma – leave us defensive towards life, and towards people.
My Reiki healing work focuses on reconnecting clients to their own voice and their authentic self. This is co-creation work with the client in the lead, as most everybody comes to a time in life when they need to reboot their self-esteem and perhaps even their lives. Reiki energy is also called the “Universal Life Force”; thus, the experiences of giving and receiving Reiki is creation energy!
In my work as an artist, creativity and a continuous river of ideas is always moving through my mind. However, it was my illness and recovery journey that motivated me to use CREATIVITY for healing, including visual art, poetry and playwrighting as tools for living with and healing from physical and emotional pain. This journey of health recovery and spiritual growth ultimately helped me learn to love myself and discover my “Mary Tyler Moore” – that living-fully empowered woman I always had wanted to feel and be.
In the area of community art, creative experience is the heartbeat to helping others heal and inspiring community change. As such, I’ve developed several programs and projects including The #53 Vaginas and Vulvas Art Exhibit, Social Justice Poetry Potlucks, I Am Woman and this is MY Story, and The Hummingbird Minister Theater Project.
Finally, in my work as President of BrightSpot Communities LLC, my goal is to revitalize and build sustainable communities that are LIFE GIVING places to live, as well as cutting edge models in sustainable living and affordable housing. Building and developing these communities CREATIVITY COME TO LIFE, including art integration and an eye on what future generations will need.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Willingness, Meditation, Receive.
I believe that – if people stay true to themselves, and their own inner passions – competition isn’t that important of a consideration. The bigger challenge is knowing and standing in your own personal strength and business vision, and not get sidetracked by the competition. When you stay in your lane of realizing your own success – worrying about what other people think about you simply isn’t that important.
However, learning how to stand in this kind of personal and professional power does require several skills, with the first being willing to grow and change.
Most people don’t see “being willing to change” as a personal skill, but the truth is, journeying into your potential requires life to change. In order to grow into new directions, we must be WILLING to change – possibly even into something we have never been before.
The second skill I utilized consistently was meditation; a dedicated time of quieting the mind, self-care and prayer / reflection. Over the past 22 years, every morning of my life has been dedicated to at least 45 minutes of meditation. Taking time out for myself and using the time for inner work and connecting to a Higher Source is a developed skill; it takes practice to quiet the mind, release worries, and heal.
This time of connecting to the inner life is the starting point for ALL of me – mentally, professionally, spiritually, socially and emotionally – and is the dedicated time I give myself. Meditation is also a skill that keeps on giving because to Know Thyself is the compass that moves you towards the authentic you.
Lastly, a skill that took time for me to develop is the ability to receive help. In the throws of healing and journeying, it is sometimes hard to admit our vulnerability or take advice or assistance from other people. Yet, finding the right people of support – and allowing them to help – is what is needed most. By “right” people I mean professional counselors, coaches, healers, community resource organizations, trusted friends or inspirational people who keep you encouraged and motivated.
This also includes LETTING GO of people who you may find yourself outgrowing, or with whom you no longer resonate with. It is inevitable that, as one changes, some of our connections will change, including those that are either toxic or unsupportive. Surrounding yourself with people who are positive and “on the grow” is the daily vitamin for standing (and growing) into your strength.
Lastly, as a final word of advice, I have learned the art of “lightening up”. More simply, taking myself – and my life – less seriously. This new mindset has been a healthy coping mechanism in times of trouble and includes laughing more and seeing life as “wisdom lessons not perfections”.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am currently looking to collaborate with advocates, creatives, cities, organizations, individuals, groups and businesses in bringing trauma healing education to the forefront. As such, I’m looking for colleagues that are interested in leveraging violence prevention, raising awareness about mental health, healing and justice-making, and arts groups looking to create large impact projects.
With the goal of touring across the United States, and globally, I am seeking collaborators who want to host / produce the #53 Vaginas and Vulvas© art exhibit in their communities, including other community impact efforts. As part of my total business plan, I am looking for investors and crowdfunding supporters to support these outreach campaigns.
Finally, my website features a broad range of healing arts programs and I welcome the chance to collaborate in both online and in-person training and workshop events.
- Website: https://georgiareash.wixsite.com/wealthiswithin
- Instagram: @zesty_goddess
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgia.reash
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-m-reash-0043a64/
- Youtube: @wealthiswithin8888
Image Credits
All art produce by Georgia M. Reash
