We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Hicks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
SELF AWARENESS. SELF LOVE. SELF ADVOCACY. Focusing on these three areas is what has allowed me to overcome burnout.
My emotions were spilling into my business, my marriage, my parenting, my leadership and so many other areas of my life. It got to the point where the patterns kept showing up, and causing major disruptions. The stress, mental exhaustion, mood swings, feelings of guilt, shame, self-down, frustration, uncertainty began to weigh heavy on me. Enough was enough!
So often, as women especially, we are moving so fast and doing everything for everyone that we neglect our own well-BEING. When we don’t allow ourselves time for introspection, we fail to recognize the patterns that continue leading to self-sabotage
This moment of SELF AWARENESS woke me up!
I knew that something had to change. I had to change.
I began to recognize all the expectations and obligations, I was putting on myself, that led to the burnout.
I began to notice that my subconscious conditioning, and ego, was causing a lot of resistance.
I became aware of what was triggering my emotions and reactions.
I realized the importance of SELF LOVE, and I went to work on myself.
I became conscious to the fact that we are at the root of everything we do.
I questioned myself, “Who was I BEING, behind all this doing?”
Because, as I was told time and time again, our outer world is a direct reflection of our inner world.
For me, SELF LOVE looks like:
Forgiving yourself. Prioritizing yourself. Celebrating yourself.
Boundaries. Politely declining without the need for an explanation.
Doing less better.
Recognizing and validating yourself. Speaking positively upon yourself.
Investing in oneself, because you know the return will be far greater.
Taking guilt-free “me time”, because you know it’s going to recharge you and you’ll be a better person because of it.
Physical activity, because it releases the “happy hormones”: endorphins, endocannabinoids and dopamine.
Telling those little voices in your head to F off, and rewiring your subconscious.
Saying “YES” to your desires and things that contribute to your greater good.
I firmly believe in SELF ADVOCACY, when it comes to avoiding burnout. Again, you must prioritize yourself.
Here are some support tools and practices that I implement regularly, to support the advocacy of my well-being:
Cannabis – CBD, which promotes preventative health and the feeling of ease. Not only is it uplifting, but it calms the chatter in my head, so that I can hear my inner knowing/intuition. It brings me to an overall state of balance – mind, body, soul. It is this remarkable plant that inspired my brand, One Plant. One Love. and led to my mission of spreading awareness, breaking the stigma and offering HOPE to people (and pets) everywhere.
Mindfulness + Release – It’s no good suppressing our thoughts, feelings and emotions. I’ve learned to allow the discomfort to come up, so that I can release and reprogram. Often the best way for me to release is through journaling, crying, physical activity and expressing myself in ways that empower others.
Meditation + Breathwork – Thankfully I have the CBD to help me drop into a state of meditation. So often I can get caught up in the fear of the unknown, which leads to anxiousness. The practice of meditation teaches me to be hyper-present, when I’m usually in fast forward mode. I can pause time, breathe life and just BE. The gratitude flows and I trust that everything is working out FOR me and toward my greater good.
God – Without faith, there are moments I wouldn’t have been able. to go on. Without Jesus, I would still be carrying so many burdens, feeling defeated and alone. Without the Holy Spirit, my light wouldn’t still be shining. Life is challenging and sometimes we can’t understand the why or how, but I trust that if HE leads us to it, HE will lead us through it. Let go and Let God.
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’m a multi-passionate, multi-faceted woman. I’m a mother to a sweet, rambunctious, strong-willed 7 year old boy and a compassionate, creative, wise 10 year old girl (my mini-me). My husband and I chose a path that allows us to live life completely on our terms. We are embarking on our second year of RV life, continuing “life school” with the kids and expanding our businesses along the way! This lifestyle has provided us with the most incredible, and often unexpected, experiences, opportunities, new connections, new perspectives, radical self growth and a greater appreciation of LIFE!
My brand, One Plant. One Love. was born in 2019, a year into my public cannabis advocacy. I quickly recognized the need for education and awareness, when it comes to the cannabis. It pained me to witness the misconceptions toward a plant that has countless benefits, and is a necessary building block for our bodies. In addition to education, advocacy and consultation, I am a resource for one of the purest, hemp-derived CBD brands, on the market. Choosing and using correctly, can make all the difference. Guiding people to this life-changing solution brings me such joy and fulfillment. Everyone deserves to experience their “best self”!
Our biggest celebration of the year is coming up on 4/20. Be sure to follow @oneplantonelove for all the promotions, along with education, testimonials, product reviews and more!
I’m thrilled to announce my newest mentorship offerings that have been inspired by my own SELF discovery journey. As an extension to One Plant. One Love., my mentorship focuses on getting to the root, which is YOU. Take a peek inside my world, to see if you align with the value I provide. @theamyhicks (on IG)
As my mission grows, I desire to connect and collaborate with more individuals who are also here to contribute to our greater good. Together we can make a much greater impact! FREEDOM is the goal.
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?
DESIRE + PASSION SELF LEADERSHIP
AUTHENTICITY
Let your heart and soul lead the way. Focus on personal alignment. Never stop learning, expanding and evolving… there is no finish line. Invest in yourself. Get a mentor. Hire the coach. Do the inner work. Surround yourself with those who will contribute to your growth and desires. Prioritize that which brings you JOY and makes you feel the most alive! And remember, everything in life is happening FOR you. Seek the meaning, and adjust accordingly.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m looking to connect and collaborate with fellow female entrepreneurs, in the holistic wellness space, to contribute to our greater good. I desire to provide more soulful solutions, to people everywhere, and bring more attention to the importance of SELF advocacy, getting to the root and healing from within. I’m open to exploring the ways we can spread awareness – trainings/seminars, social collabs, podcasts, partnerships, client offerings, to name a few. Together we can make a much bigger impact!
Contact Info:
- Website: theamyhicks.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/theamyhicks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1PLANT1LOVE
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhicksoneplantonelove/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyhicks5122
Image Credits
Blue Flame Studio Co
