Meet Rhodalynn Chua Jetton

We recently connected with Rhodalynn Chua Jetton and have shared our conversation below.

Rhodalynn, 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?

My resilience stems from relentless curiosity and delight in wonder. This drive is unattached to specific outcomes. It keeps me moving forward with a deep trust that each step, however slow, brings life and flourishing.

A crucial lesson I’ve learned is to be open to the humanity of others, allowing it to touch my own. This connection is magical but also requires vulnerability. Sharing my honest work with the world often makes me feel exposed and tempted to hide. Resilience, for me, means embracing these moments with tenderness. To be resilient doesn’t mean I am untouchable as I continue to endure and push ahead. It means that I remain soft as I move towards connection.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I was born in the Philippines and moved to America with my family when I was four. Growing up in Southern California, I was immersed in a rich, diverse environment. In my early twenties, I studied international social work focused on women and children. This took me to Hawaii and back to Asia where I engaged in grassroots, mutual aid movements and communities. The work was both stunning and heartbreaking. During this time, I gave birth to my first child and soon after decided to return to the States. I completed my undergrad in psychology and spent the next decade raising our children.

In the mix of this life journey, I organically started two businesses. One focuses on gathering women by hosting bi-annual retreats, and weekly cohorts, and developing curriculum with an incredible team. The other centers on art, where I teach abstract art, hand lettering, and painting at live public and private events. My upbringing and value for humanity find deep expression in both these spaces. Recently, I completed my education and training as a Spiritual Director and Master Social Worker.

I am also the executive director of Wholehearted and Courageous LLC, where we have led over 13 retreats and walked alongside hundreds of women nationwide and internationally in their journey of creative discovery and spiritual formation. Additionally, I have written a collection of poetry and prose called Wild Silence.

What excites me most about my path is its non-conventional nature. My story gives permission to live outside the box and pursue meaningful passions, trusting that these pursuits will align eventually.

In the coming months, I am expanding my capacity to offer Spiritual Direction to more people and teach more workshops locally. I am also preparing for art events before the end of the year, including being a guest live calligrapher at a weekend fine art event and a guest live painter for a nonprofit gala. My team and I are planning upcoming retreats, and strategizing to expand our funding base. We have exciting developments blooming and look forward to sharing them with those who resonate with our mission.

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?

Three of the most valuable qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that impact my journey are 1) live slowly, 2) bring the whole of me everywhere I go, and 3) stay a novice.

Understanding that there is no destination that is worth rushing the journey took me years to integrate into muscle memory. Living slowly gives you time to pay attention to what is coming out of your heart. When you know what your heart desires, you have an opportunity to nurture those desires. The process takes time. So take your time. You are worth it.

I have also learned to take the whole of me everywhere I go. I was so good at being a shapeshifter; a people pleaser who acquiesced rather than showed up honestly. The tragedy in that skill is that I lost who I was. As I recovered my sense of self, I fell in love with her and now take her with me everywhere I go.

Lastly, I have stayed a novice. Everything feels new to me even though I have been practicing and teaching for years. I have been actively creating since childhood. Yet, I feel the delight of creating every time I hold a paintbrush, move my body, say a prayer, come up with new solutions or write a new essay or poem. There is freedom to delight when you allow yourself to be a lifelong learner.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is on a journey of growth that has moved beyond initial trauma and self-care practices. They prioritize integrating their healing, and embrace creativity and contemplation as paths to wholeness. Grounded in a slow, steady pace, they intuitively understand the power of a witness or guide in their transformation. These clients are in transition—embarking on new adventures, exploring creativity, changing careers, or experiencing children leaving home. These clients may also be recovering from major life and paradigm shifts. They seek a witness to their journey and permission to live the flourishing life they intuitively know is possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wildflowersandflamingos.com
• Instagram: @wildflowersandflamingos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhodalynn-jetton-mssw-91a85026b
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Silence-Collection-Poetry-Prose/dp/B09X4ZMD4C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HE71HTJJ44W4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g9DKHN5b-jydk342tXZpIJf-F0-8qVV6z3sF-41ot1k.NYpn2t7fOMs93hPb_gWaqqgUL_657eAQZSDYkwvoLlA&dib_tag=se&keywords=wild+silence+rhodalynn&qid=1722718726&sprefix=wild+silence+rhodalynn%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1https://wholeheartedandcourageous.com/