Meet Ray Hawkins

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ray Hawkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ray, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

When I was enrolled in college, I switched majors to become a Communications major. Fortunately, I completed the degree, but fell in love with the concept of health communications. I naturally felt inclined to pursue a career in health for job security and relevance, but I felt my skill set leaned heavily towards the rhetorical aspect of communications. Eventually, I had the drive to not only make health changes within my life but to further impact others’ lives through the guise of health advocacy.

Within this world, I felt bondage or stagnation within my current direction, and so, with faith and support from those closest to me, I became more determined to break away and speak on health. I felt that the community, culture, and society at large needed more unique lenses and observations on how we can obtain health. Therefore, I found my purpose in providing better health outcomes for others, regardless of background or personal beliefs.

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 am proud to say I am currently an independent health coach promoting overall holistic wellness. This type of wellness is preventive, cost-effective, practical, and accessible in nature. I have revamped my website (rayoflightness.com) and aspire to build a bigger reach and to share more success stories and impacts I have made in people’s lives.

To break down my coaching, I operate digitally and remain accessible across the major social media platforms as Ray of Lightness. On social media, you may see practical information, insight as to how to best approach plant-based living, see the community impact or engagement, or simply get wonderful insights on culture or any other world topic.

While addressing, intaking, and seeing proper clientele, I have a habit-based framework and approach that changes and goals based on client need, feasibility, readiness, and strategy. For example, I helped a client address sugar habits by thoroughly analyzing the process they had for wanting, acquiring, and consuming sugar-related products. I also had another client who needed some aims or understandings behind which cultural foods may best adhere to their goals, while which ones may have culturally appropriate modifications. Just recently, I assisted a woman at the store by explaining the difference between D2 and D3 and how their needs may warrant a certain dosage, along with other nutrients to consider. I aim for practicality while basing what I say in evidence and best practice. This way, not only may I inform someone, but that someone can then decide what to do or form their framework backed by research.

In addition, I am proud to announce that I am currently working on a beard oil product that utilizes natural ingredients and a blend to provide nutrients for facial hair. Currently, I have seen the difference it has made in my beard growth, and I am proud to share that the product is now open for external testers within the local Central Texas area (such as Georgetown, Hutto, Leander, Cedar Park, Manor, etc.). Even though development is a learning process and the product itself isn’t finalized, the initial feedback I received from the item was immaculate. I selected a great base fragrance, and the current testers approve of the feel of the oil. I also had my second test batch test phenomenally scent-wise and I am elated to continue further development towards an excellent product.

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?

Tolerance, adaptability, and drive are the three qualities that stand out to me at this moment. For sure, salesmanship and marketability make the difference in any professional pursuit; however, the ceiling on these skills will be hit sooner rather than later without having the first three qualities.

The tolerance portion comes from dissenting viewpoints or potentially weathering hardships and change. A large portion of the health advocacy has to be understanding and tailoring messages and conversations to others who have different lifestyles that are sometimes equally as valid. I say sometimes because the basis of empirical data or roundedness needs to be front and center in the health field. What I come across too often are different camps competing in advocacy or marketing when the niches are separate enough to validate mutual exclusivity, but tolerance for letting the other side have their moments when valid. Issues only come via crossover or when advocacy directly means being abrasive or combative, but that point can be made in a one-on-one assessment setting.

I suppose the adaptability conversation is blended with the niches and the exchange capacity (as noted above). Simply though: if you only have one option or a few methods of approach, what will you do if those methods turn out to be fruitless? You may not need to pivot immediately, but being open and a level of preparedness for one will stay with you for life, regardless of career or connections.

Finally, the drive, the cliche “what motivates you?” I am part of a run club, and I just finished shooting some content where I asked, “What does your health mean to you?”. That question helps illuminate the drive one has for continuing their health journey. Drive is the quality that keeps you moving in the direction you wish to proceed. Drive is the aspect that moves you forward even with doubt, uncertainty, or, quite frankly, despair on the horizon. Without a drive, what can truly change within us?

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am looking for further collaboration with a myriad of folks from a levy of different backgrounds and talents. For example, I kept in contact with many chefs from different cultures along with other types of professionals. If the mutual interest and the vision are there, I am open to collaborating on a product, idea, or outreach.

Truth be told: I was torn between answering this or if I wanted to answer the obstacle questions, but I believe the obstacles shall be overcome with time, strategy, and a network of people. Honestly, a mentor would be the perfect person to have in my corner at this moment as an aspiring professional. I say aspiring as I am only reaching into my 30s and still have a great distance to go with a world of potential within me. I believe having the right circle of people around me will naturally elevate me to that next level. Honestly, that did happen to me when I went to church with a colleague. We had a conversation about having a tangible, and next thing I knew, the beard oil product idea came to mind. So that is why I am prioritizing partners and collaboration over obstacles that can be surmounted.

If someone is interested or simply wishes to see what I do and what I promote, I am on social media platforms under Ray of Lightness, and my business email is [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rayoflightness.com
• Instagram: Ray_of_Lightness
• Facebook: Ray of Lightness
• Linkedin: Ray of Lightness
• Other: Threads – Ray of Lightness
  Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Podcasts – Ray on Health and Culture