We recently connected with Sanam Pejuhesh and have shared our conversation below.
Sanam , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I am lit up every day by the work I get to do with children and families in our community and beyond. I would define my purpose as supporting children and their parents to be deeply connected to themselves, to shine brightly and be their authentic selves.
I found my purpose because of a void in my own life– growing up in an abusive environment where I did not get this need met to be my true self, be seen for who I am and have a voice. Somehow in my core, even when I was very little, I knew that the possibility of being a healthy, vibrant person was available to me, even if the foundation for it wasn’t provided to me. And eventually the void I’d experienced became my life purpose!
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?
My work focuses on helping children shine brightly as their authentic, emotionally intelligent, most confident selves. My company is called the Connected Family Collective. It consists of three businesses– all dedicated to supporting children and families.
Colorado Play Therapy and Parenting Support is where I get to sit on the floor with kids and help them heal stress and trauma, discover who they really are and learn to love themselves. I help parents shift the lens on who their children are and understand that behavior does not define who one is as a person or a parent. Their children’s behavior is not generally a reflection of poor parenting but of a need that isn’t being met and needs attention and fulfillment. I help parents develop closer their bonds with their kids in order to build solid and lasting relationships.
I also created and run Camp Connect. We have programs throughout the year in which we bring kids together to develop self-love, confidence, resilience and healthy relationship skills (aka social skills). We do this through play, art, movement, creative expression and fun. Kids love our programs and keep coming back again and again. Essentially I decided to create the dream camp that I’d want my daughter to attend to build her emotional intelligence and capacity to love herself.
I also run a Facebook parenting support community that supports families in building emotionally connected relationships with themselves and each other. Relationships that will carry into their kids’ adulthood with a foundation of trust and security. I coach parents through videos, talks, interviews, courses and beyond. I just got done teaching a course to refugees from Afghanistan and it was beautiful to connect with these families who have been through so much and are open to integrating their culture with their children’s new culture in a healthy 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?
I would say the 3 qualities that have been most impactful on my journey are a willingness to grow through each obstacle, breaking things down into steps so we can be taking one step at a time, and having a clear vision.
Running a business is going to present obstacles and challenge us often. If we can embrace the obstacles and know that they’re here to teach us and remove blocks, we can grow more resilient, creative and grounded in our process of expanding our work.
I tend to get pretty overwhelmed if I’m looking at too big of a picture of what needs to be done. It helps me tremendously to break things down into lists or chunks that let me know what needs to be done immediately, within the next week, next few months, etc. This way I know what is a big picture task and what is an immediate task needed to serve my clients and grow my business today.
And a clear vision– the path becomes really clear for those of us who know where we’re going. We may not know how we’re going to get there, but the vision remains our point of focus. I like to hold my vision and remind myself of it when I’m feeling less energized in my business. It reminds me that it’s ok to be where I’m at and slow down for a minute, because I actually know where I’m going and I know I’m going to get there no matter what.
It’s really helpful to have amazing mentors, therapists, coaches that can support you with these because they’re all intertwined with our personal development. I find that the stronger we are as people, the more successful we can be in our businesses– and that strength doesn’t always come from doing more. Most of the time it comes from allowing ourselves to BE more of who we truly are.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The challenge I’m facing right now is that I have SO many ideas and ways I’m ready to expand my offerings, and yet there’s only one of me! I’m ready to grow and teach others to do what I do. I want to bring my work broader and have a greater impact on the lives and children and families. It can sometimes be overwhelming to have so many ideas and, as a single working mom who holds it all together, I don’t always have all the time to put my ideas into action. But I know that it’s time to take some things off my plate so that my businesses can really take on a life of their own without me doing every little aspect. Sometimes it’s a control thing also– I have to let go of the idea that I’m the only one who can do all of these things, because obviously that’s not true! There are so many qualified people out there and I’m excited to find my soulmate team to help me expand and help this mission grow even further.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coloradoplaytherapy.com
- Instagram: @sanam_pej
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanam.pejuhesh
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanam-pejuhesh-1364a729
Image Credits
Bailey Johnson
Isa Down
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