We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eileen Kielty. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eileen below.
Eileen, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I haven’t. I don’t think I ever will. Not because I truly believe I am an imposter, but because, I view this concept as an ongoing practice of self acceptance, self trust, self confidence and self love to truly be able to stand in my decisions and know that they are authentic to me, my experience and my aligned embodiment. It is tempting to give in to the little voice that says “how dare you” or “who do you think you are” or “others know more / do that better than you”…the list goes on…
However, imposter syndrome has everything to do with our societal conditioning to assimilate while simultaneously being told to stand out and be unique. We are taught to blend in, agree and follow the rules; within our family systems and relationships, our communities and organizations, and our jobs and careers. We are also taught that those who are “successful” take risks and break cycles; they follow their gut and, oftentimes, directly go against what others might tell them isn’t a good choice.
So the idea of imposter syndrome being something that is overcome feels impossible for me to play into because it is a perfect example of contradicting concepts. In order to truly be our most authentic selves, we need to challenge what and where our beliefs have come from…we need to disentangle the versions of ourselves that we have felt we needed to curate in order to fit in or be loved or gain respect or be perceived in a particular way…the versions we have needed to create in order to protect ourselves. When we really start to release our commitment to people pleasing and self abandonment and step into our intuitive nature, it can absolutely feel like we’re an imposter…it’s hard to recognize ourselves when we have the ability to live within our own constant becoming…the space between who we were, who we thought we are and who we want to be.
The Oxford Dictionary defines a syndrome as “a group of symptoms which consistently occur together”. When I am consistently challenging myself to grow and learn and take risks and honor my most authentic self, the “consistent symptoms that occur together” mainly surround guilt, shame, fear and anxiety. The imposter tries to fool or deceive; to pretend to be something or someone we are not but if we are in a consistent relationship with our ever-changing, ever-evolving selves, we face a recurring moment where we are not yet who we say we are. And this, this is why I have yet to “overcome” imposter syndrome. I am in a constant state of moving through the death and rebirth of my most authentic me.
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 queer multi-disciplinary artist, teacher and performer as well as a clairsentient intuitive and movement alchemist and facilitator. I created and founded Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of my life’s work and a love letter to my sister, Katie, who died by suicide in June of 2019.
I have degrees in both dance and psychology as well as extensive training in somatic integration, embodiment and intimacy practices and I’m passionate about consent-driven spaces with an emphasis on social justice. I have held countless positions within the arts, fitness, wellness and educational spaces; presenting both in person and on virtual stages. I recognize the importance of illuminating the darker, often hidden, parts of the human experience through sharing openly and authentically as we’re not meant to do this alone. I believe in the power of creative expression and its ability to reveal the unspoken language of being alive; that the body always knows and that movement is our direct connection to our deepest truth.
My various offerings, with both 1on1 and group options, are all focused on providing a restoration of choice, agency, safety, intimacy and empowerment both for the individual and the collective, the presenter and the participant.
Through embodiment practices and movement modalities with a focus on releasing the control of the binary, patriarchal structures and internalized misogyny (for ALL bodies and gender expressions), I strive to create spaces and places where people can truly embody and express their most authentic selves.
I have options for individuals and organizations ranging from classes to workshops, courses to presentations and collaborative creations for the classroom, studio, meeting room, home and stage. I encourage anyone who feels intrigued or curious about my work to reach out.
Kaia Evolutions: Alchemy in Motion for Embodied Alignment
Let’s re-member. Together.
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?
- Area of Knowledge: Having a relationship with my body via movement has been an undeniably powerful tool that has helped me navigate some major life experiences; from devastating injuries to financial uncertainty to emotional upheaval to incredible loss…the ability to return to movement practices (no matter how small) has been life saving.
- Quality: Maintaining a connection to my ferocious curiosity has been paramount in my ability to learn something new / adapt to challenging circumstances. Fun Fact: Curiosity is the antidote to shame. When we remain curious, we maintain our expansive energy that allows for hope and possibility and creativity…the body stays in a more flexible state. When we give into shame, we contract…the body becomes more rigid and our perspective narrows. Shame literally changes our brain’s ability to function properly whereas curiosity allows the brain to play and dream and explore.
- Skill: Finding opportunities where I could take the skills I already had and expand on them in new ways or through different applications / environments. For Example: My abilities as a swing, a performer who covers multiple tracks (ensemble) / roles (sometimes a lead / supporting character) in a show, allows me to see organizations, relationships, even a situation (like a disagreement) both in small parts and zoomed out and see how everything fits together. When you “swing” a show, you have to be able to successfully play the particular role or track you’re stepping in for while also understanding how your role / track can impact others around you. I experience the role / track in 3 ways; in my body onstage looking out at the audience, as someone watching the performance from the audience and then as a bird’s eye view from above seeing the entire outside perspective. This skill has been imperative when I have helped coach someone who is trying to find clarity in their life’s purpose while being stuck in how they’re being perceived…in that case they are only seeing from the audience…what if they dropped back into their body to see from the stage or zoomed out to witness the bigger dynamics at play?
For someone who is just starting out on their somatic integration and embodiment journey, I highly recommend starting small. The above 3 examples are meant to really highlight just how important a relationship to the body is especially while navigating stress / trauma, how leaning into discomfort vs resistance can change our experience and how widening the lens allows us to witness the both / and…the I and the me and the us and the we and how everything is connected. When I work with clients, my biggest focus is to provide a safe space to explore as many tools and resources so they can choose / have the ability to recognize what works for them.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is someone who is interested in having a deeper relationship to their inner knowing. Someone who has done some self exploration / therapeutic work already who is wanting to really embody their knowledge, insight and wisdom vs intellectualize it. Characteristics include curiosity and openness with a deep desire to move stagnant energy that is no longer serving them. A person who has maybe sensed or questioned their magic and power and is ready to explore what it would mean to show up as their most authentic self.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekielty/
Image Credits
Jordan Eagle Photography
