We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aiyana Fraley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Aiyana, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
Optimism is deeply ingrained into my personality. It comes from living a hard life in my younger years. Optimism is what kept me going when I was younger and we experienced financial hardships and later it helped me see that abusive narcissistic behavior was not love. Through all of this, I had hope. It was my guiding light and I held it tightly. Each obstacle I experienced molded me into a more resilient version of myself. I grew up in a spiritual way and learned a lot about what it takes to have spiritual grit. My hope and faith is so strong that it is my personal weapon against all the obstacles I faced and will face in the future. I know that at the end of a dark journey the light will appear and I will be able to appreciate it more for having gone through it.
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?
I am a mom, I love gardening, I’m a reader and love getting lost in the pages of a good book, and I love spending time with my family. I’m deeply dedicated to supporting my community with my massage practice and teaching. What has me most excited these days is the that I am now weaving herbalism into my massage and reiki sessions, offering fire cupping, guided meditations, sound healing, and anything else I know can truly assist my clients. I am in a process of allowing myself to integrate everything I know and let it come through more organically. I’m introducing a rich variety of healing tools and techniques to enhance the support I provide. I’m letting go of any preconceived limitations, allowing myself to offer from my heart just as I would for my own family. When someone I care about needs healing, I try different methods until they feel better, and I’m bringing that same approach to my business. As an teacher, I’m encouraging my students to explore their creativity in the same way. Because in the end this is what opens doors to what is possibile in their healing journeys.
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?
I’d say three qualities that made a significant impact were resilience, maintaining an open mindset, and the ability to adapt to change.
Resilience played a crucial role for me by helping me bounce back from challenges. For those starting out, I’d advise cultivating resilience by staying focused on your goals, learning from setbacks, and staying flexible in navigating hurdles.
Having an open mindset was another one. Being receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences is key. Early on, it’s important to remain curious about different approaches to learn and grow.
Lastly I’d say the ability to adapt to change was important. Being adaptable allows for smoother transitions in life’s ups and downs. For those beginning their journey, I’d recommend embracing change, staying adaptable, and being open to changing strategies as you navigate your paths.
My advice is to develop these skills early, stay focused on your goals and learn to pivot when necessary.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I retreat into nature. I take some days off and go on a road trip to the forest. There is something about being immersed in the trees and hearing the sounds of nature that resets my mind and body. I sleep better, think clearer and simply live better. I recommend people try this. Sometimes we don’t know how stressed and overwhelmed we are until we disconnect ourselves from social media, TV and all the other stimulus we have in the city and replace it with the vibrations of nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: handtosoulhealing.com
- Instagram: aiyanafraley
- Facebook: aiyanafraley
Image Credits
Photography by Savannah Levell
