We were lucky to catch up with Arielle Schmidt recently and have shared our conversation below.
Arielle, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Overcoming imposter syndrome can be a complex and personal journey, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, I can provide you with a concept that doesn’t involve “fake it till you make it” and can help you address imposter syndrome in a more empowering way.
Rather than relying on the idea of pretending to be something you’re not, a more effective approach is to focus on building genuine confidence and embracing your strengths. Here are some of my strategies I would urge you consider:
Recognize your accomplishments: Take the time to reflect on your achievements and acknowledge the hard work, skills, and knowledge that you bring to the table. Celebrate your successes, both big and small, and remind yourself of your capabilities.
Embrace self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Understand that everyone makes mistakes and faces challenges along the way. Instead of being overly critical of yourself, practice self-compassion and remind yourself that it’s okay to not know everything or make mistakes.
Seek support: Reach out to trusted friends, mentors, or colleagues who can provide guidance and support. Talking about your feelings of imposter syndrome with others who have experienced it can help normalize your experiences and provide valuable insights.
Challenge negative self-talk: Pay attention to the negative thoughts and self-doubt that arise in your mind. When you catch yourself thinking negatively about your abilities or accomplishments, consciously challenge those thoughts by reminding yourself of your achievements and strengths.
Set realistic goals: Break down your goals into smaller, achievable steps. By setting realistic expectations for yourself, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and reduce the pressure to be perfect.
Continual learning and growth: Embrace a growth mindset and see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Emphasize the process rather than the end result, and be open to acquiring new skills and knowledge along the way.
Remember that overcoming imposter syndrome takes time and effort. It’s a process of shifting your mindset and building self-confidence. By adopting these strategies and focusing on your strengths and achievements, you can gradually overcome imposter syndrome and develop a more positive self-perception.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Thai Yoga Practitioner and Elemental Life Coach. I specialize in working with clients who usually have experienced some sort of trauma. Big or small, the body doesn’t differentiate the size of trauma; it just knows it needs to protect itself. Thai Yoga is a form of therapy that incorporates elements of mindfulness, gentle rocking, deep stretching, and rhythmic compression to create a singular healing experience. When you come in for a session, you lay down on a large, padded floor mat in workout clothes and then from there you do nothing. Everything is done for you and at the end of the session you leave feeling like a rag doll. Between the acupressure, yoga stretching and mindful rocking that comes from the constant acupressure you are lulled into a state of deep relaxation.
The physical side of Thai Yoga helps the body relax and release those emotional holds that the body has kept as a way to protect it. The reason that my version of Thai Yoga is unique compared to just a Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner is because I take it one step deeper by specializing in the emotional connection. Each meridian line we work is connected to one of the five elements, each of the five elements then correlates to one of the five lower chakras, and each of those meridians have awareness questions that take us deeper into a person’s life. Sometimes these questions lead us to places that they completely forgot about or repressed. Even though I work with all sizes of trauma a lot of my clients are survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence who experience anxiety, PTSD, depression or a numbness in life. The process of treating those traumas can take a variety of different paths. My experience of starting my career in corrections prepared me to hear the worst of the worst experiences, allowing me to be nonjudgmental, unshocked, and capable to hold a grounding and safe space for clients to open themselves to the process. When people have grounded space to be held and fully listened to without someone trying to “fix” them the moment they hear about their trauma is key. We start with the physical and eventually it leads us to the emotional. When the body feels safe everything falls into place just like a beautiful puzzle one piece at a time until they see themselves fully.
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?
As a corrections officer turned Thai yoga practitioner, reflecting on my journey, I believe the following three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge were most impactful:
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to new environments, circumstances, and career paths was crucial in my transition. As a corrections officer, I had to be adaptable to changing situations and handle unexpected challenges. This adaptability helped me navigate the transition into a completely different field like Thai yoga. Embracing change and being open to new experiences allowed me to explore and thrive in my new journey.
Advice for early-stage individuals: Embrace new experiences and be open to stepping outside of your comfort zone. Seek opportunities to learn and grow in different areas related to your desired field. Cultivate a mindset that values adaptability and flexibility, as these qualities will serve you well in your journey.
Empathy and Communication: Working as a corrections officer provided me with valuable insights into human behavior, emotions, and effective communication. These skills were transferable and greatly supported my role as a Thai yoga practitioner. Understanding and empathizing with others’ needs, concerns, and limitations allowed me to create a safe and nurturing environment for my clients.
Advice for early-stage individuals: Develop your emotional intelligence and communication skills. Practice active listening, empathy, and effective verbal and non-verbal communication. These skills will enable you to better connect with your clients, understand their unique circumstances, and tailor your approach to their individual needs.
Continuous Learning: Throughout my journey, a commitment to lifelong learning played a pivotal role. Learning new techniques, refining my existing skills, and staying updated with the latest developments in Thai yoga and related fields allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.
Advice for early-stage individuals: Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and growth. Seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills, such as attending workshops, participating in training programs, and connecting with experts in your field. Embrace a sense of curiosity and remain open to new ideas and perspectives. Remember that learning is a lifelong process, and each step you take toward self-improvement will enhance your journey.
In summary, adaptability, empathy and communication, and a commitment to continuous learning were instrumental in my transition from a corrections officer to a Thai yoga practitioner. By cultivating these qualities and skills, early-stage individuals can best develop and improve upon them to support their own journeys.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
My biggest challenge is indeed time constraints. As a Thai Yoga Practitioner, I can only see a maximum of 3 people per day, five days a week. This limitation significantly impacts the number of individuals I can help and the reach of my services.
To address this challenge, I am taking proactive steps to train new Thai Yoga Practitioners. I am delighted to share that I have a fully trained secondary practitioner who will be ready to start assisting in August. By mentoring and passing on my knowledge and expertise, I will be able to extend the support we can collectively offer to more people.
Training a secondary practitioner not only helps expand the availability of Thai Yoga sessions but also allows me to delegate some responsibilities, giving me more time to focus on other aspects of my practice. This will include activities such as business development, community outreach, and further developing my own skills and knowledge.
By training and working with a fully qualified secondary practitioner, I am confident that we can create a more extensive and impactful Thai Yoga practice. This will enable us to assist more individuals on their wellness journey, making a positive difference in their lives while overcoming the challenges posed by time constraints.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TranquilityRising.com
- Instagram: Tranquility_Rising
- Facebook: Tranquility Rising
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/arielle-schmidt-9a3892113
- Youtube: TranquilityRising
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tranquility-rising-cincinnati
Image Credits
Juan Pablo Barba