We recently connected with Nicole Notter and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Resilience is the strength within us that whispers “keep going” even when the world feels like it is crumbling around us. It isn’t about bouncing back, it’s about rising stronger.
I believe I got my resilience from a combination of personal growth and the understanding of I am not alone. I found it in the decision to choose myself every single day.
I chose sobriety and that has been my greatest teacher in life. It has shown me to confront my pain, embrace vulnerability and rediscover the person I was always meant to be.
My resilience is fuelled by the belief that I do deserve joy, purpose and authenticity.
It is also inspired by the moments of self-reflection and the stories of others in recovery and remembering we do recover.
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?
Growing up I discovered at the age of 11, that I am neurodivergent. For 11 years, I navigated life without truly understanding my brain, and even after that, I still struggled because the world I grew up in didn’t have the wealth of resources and understanding about ADHD that we have today. My mind was a whirlwind of creativity, imagination, and energy, but I often felt like an outcast, unsure of where I belonged.
As a child, my imagination was absolutely wild. I explored life with a sense of wonder and curiosity that made me feel like a superhuman. But that mindset also became a double-edged sword. Believing I was untouchable, I took risks without worrying about the consequences. Eventually, this led me down the path of substance abuse, where I gambled with my own life.
That chapter of my life shaped the person I am today and fuels the work I plan to do as a holistic recovery and wellness coach and creator of my business Creative Recovery.
Sobriety gave me the clarity to look back on my experiences and see the strength, resilience, and creativity that were there all along – qualities I strive to help others rediscover in themselves.
Creative Recovery is an extension of this mission. Through thoughtfully designed self care packages, meaningful gifts and guided e-books to come, I hope to provide tools that encourage self-discovery and healing.
I have a lot of projects in the works as I am gifted with the drive to do everything all at once. My goal is to dive deeper into becoming a holistic recovery coach utilizing my formal education in Addiction and Mental Health and Integrative Nutrition as well as my own personal experiences.
My hopes are to help others reconnect with their higher selfs and rediscover purpose through mindfulness and creativity.
These are dreams I’ve carried in my heart for so long, and it fills me with gratitude to finally be in a position to bring them to life. I’m beyond excited to see where this journey takes me and to continue growing both personally and professionally along the way.
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) Resilience
Resilience has been my anchor through the toughest times. It is the ability to face setbacks and keep moving forward, even when the path is unclear.
Advice I would have for others early on in their journey is that resilience grows when you take things one step at a time. Celebrate small wins, lean on a support system, and remember that setbacks are part of the journey, not the end of it.
2) Self-Awareness
Understanding myself, my triggers and strengths was a game changer. It allowed me to make more intentional choices and align my actions with my values.
Advice I would give is: cultivate self-awareness by journalling, meditation, or even seeking feedback from those you trust. Be curious about your emotions and behaviours and give yourself permission to explore who you truly are.
3) Commitment to Growth
The willingness to grow and evolve has been at the heart of everything I do. Whether it was pursuing education within addiction and mental health, or exploring creative ways to express myself, I have always been seeking opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills.
Advice I would give on commitment to growth is to stay open to learning, whether that’s personal or formal. Approach growth with curiosity and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, that is where transformation happens.
Be kind to your mind.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Collaboration is such a powerful way to grow, share ideas and make an even bigger impact. It is something I look forward to hopefully do more of in this new year.
I would love to collaborate with wellness coaches and yoga instructors who focus on mindfulness and healing; artists & creatives as a tool for self-discovery and emotional expression; community leaders or even companies that align with holistic wellness, personal growth and especially those in the recovery space.
As it is my intention to host workshops centred around healing, creativity or sobriety I hope to meet like minded people and create magic.
If this something that aligns with your work and you would like to collaborate please don’t hesitate to reach out!
You can find me on instagram @mindfullywegrow
or email hello@mindfullywegrow.space
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/CreativeRecoveryCA?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
- Instagram: @mindfullywegrow
- Other: other instagram – @creative.recovery.x
Image Credits
Jordan Fine Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
