We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Krueger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose in life has developed from both the challenges I have faced and the triumphs I have experienced in my life. I was quite ill throughout most of my childhood and was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis when I was 18 years old, although I had symptoms by the age of 13. It is a really devastating disease, as are all autoimmune diseases, and quickly took away any “normal” experiences I should have or could have had during my late teens and throughout all of my 20’s. The pain of the disease really robs you of any sort of normalcy that you hope to have on a daily basis. Daily activities were exhausting, my social life was basically at zero, and I was too ill to ever get a job or have a career that would allow me to move out of my parents’ house – despite having a master’s degree. My artwork; however, has always been my saving grace. It represents my physical and spiritual connection to the planet, to the animals, and the realm of the invisible world. My connection to something bigger than myself.
In 2018, I came to the edge of the line and thought to myself, “Right, either this disease will kill me or the medications will… there must be something else.” So, I began to do some research. I changed my diet, my lifestyle, my thinking patterns, and found a doctor who was willing to go on a healing journey with me. By 2020, I was successfully off all of my medications and in full remission. Now, I understand this is not the norm and am quite aware that there is a gift in the illness, but there is an even greater gift in the healing. It is now my mission to help others do the same – combining energy medicine, somatic therapy, and art – hand in hand, to help others remember the innate, natural healing powers of their bodies.
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?
I am currently an Adjunct Art Professor at Central Arizona College. Teaching is a great privilege, and I am honored to be part of the CAC faculty.
On the side from that, I am about to graduate (May 2024) from The Four Winds Light Body School as a Certified Master Energy Medicine Practitioner and will be moving forward to become certified in the Somatic Activated Healing Method. I am on a mission to be able to provide people with the space and tools to be able to heal, not just from illnesses, but from any aspect of their lives they are struggling with. Our bodies are designed to do great things if we have a space that allows us to finally take a breath.
My professional art career is also of high importance to me. My work comes from a deep place within, and I will always be a creator first. My art is designed to bridge the gap between humanity and our disconnection with the natural world. I believe that understanding and connecting to other species can bring a new perspective and vision to how the world can evolve into a kinder more inclusive society.
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?
Resilience, curiosity, and intuition.
I would love to say that there are three steps to achieving all of your hopes and dreams, but the reality is that sometimes you take a lot of falls in order to make that one great leap. Resilience has been key in my life. Whether dealing with illness, getting my education, volunteering places, starting new jobs, or applying for gallery representation (which involves a lot of rejection), all of this required a high degree of resilience. The ability to dust yourself off, get back up, and really go for what you want in life. Or, even the ability to change course mid leap.
My curiosity has led me down a lot of different pathways, all of which have added to who I am today. I began my studies in biology, switched to studio art, and then switched to psychology. I originally went to graduate school for Clinical Forensic Psychology, but left mid-course when I realized it wasn’t the correct path for me. A couple of years later, my curiosity led me to get my master’s degree in Anthrozoology, the study of human-animal relationships. Curiosity keeps me researching, learning, and developing who I am as a person. I still study psychology today; I study somatic therapy, energy medicine, trauma-informed therapy, and anything else I can get my hands on. I stay informed about current issues; I continue to develop my artistic skills by learning from other artists and really have a desire to grow as a person. Curiosity keeps me reading, learning, and growing.
My intuition is the guiding light in all of this. Often times in our culture, the mental gymnastics needed to figure things out are held in higher regard than trusting your gut feelings. However, we have gut feelings for a reason, and trusting my intuition has been a key element to my growth and healing. Learning to tap in, listen, and readjust are some of the greatest skills we can have.
My advice is to keep learning, keep growing, stay curious, and readjust when needed. If you let go of the outcome, life can be more beautiful than you could ever imagine.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
I have read a lot of books, but there is one book that I tell every single person about, and it’s Louise Hay’s “You Can Heal Your Life.” I don’t think there is a single book that has changed my life more drastically than this one. I remember the first time I sat down to read it, I read the first couple of pages, said “absolutely not,” shut it, and put it on the shelf. It took me quite a while to pull it back out, take a breath, and start again. It is really about radical responsibility; not shame, not guilt, and not blame, but radical responsibility and self-love to truly change your life and heal. I have quotes from her in every journal I own, in my phone as notes, and written on sticky notes – stuck in random places. I have all of her books as audio books, just in case I have a day where I need some advice from Louise. My personal mantra in times of struggle has become “what would Louise Hay do?”
This book was one that really started my healing journey. She was the one who gave me the space to take a breath. To say, okay – I can change my life. I can heal. She gave me hope. And with that hope, and with a new perspective, my life began to change in ways that I could never have imagined. It is really about dropping our current conditioning, our beliefs that we are not enough, that we are unworthy, that we are unlovable.
“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” – Louise Hay
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jkruegerart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkrueger_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenwincreations
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jenwincreations
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jenkru18
- Other: Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JennKruegerArt
