We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lyndsey Arorash a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lyndsey, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
There’s always going to be people who try to bring you down no matter what you do. Often times one of those people has been myself as well. I’ve grown up dealing with being told my body doesn’t look the way it should to be a dancer, I shouldn’t be eating this and I should be eating that. Or just others judging me on anything. Those thoughts would start to constantly creep into my mind to the point where I would start to believe them. At a certain point in my life I realized something needed to change because I got to a low point. This is when I started to meditate to clear my mind and it helped me understand that people are projecting their feelings onto me and it often times has nothing to do with me. I also started saying affirmations to help me feel more confident in myself. Over time, actively woking on trying to have a different mindset and to unlearn what was being said to me I began to truly love myself. Giving me the confidence and high self-esteem that I haven’t fully experienced until recently. Of course there are days where those voices creep into my head, but the difference from before to now is how I handle them. Having self awareness and finally just understanding I need to love myself and everything I do for myself has been truly freeing.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Dancing is such a release for me, whether I’m taking a dance class to continue focusing on my technique or just randomly dancing in my apartment to make myself feel better. Teaching is another way to continue to be inspired. As a dancer I am always learning and eager to grow. Always a student. But the way kids approach dance and life with such an adventurous and care free outlook is inspiring.
I find myself being interested in emotional intelligence and trying to understand why others feel the way they do. So when I choreograph, I lean towards relatable struggles or stories mainly between two people. Specifically, something I have experienced myself. This is to draw the audience in and have them remember a similar time or create their own.
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?
Self care, staying curious, and patience. Self care can be different for everyone. For some it could just be taking a walk while listening to your favorite music, or it could be just taking time to watch your favorite show. I have found self care to help me recharge my mind and body. Staying curious I found to help with movement exploration and testing my limits. It’s also something I keep learning from the kids I teach. Curiosity is something that can help me in my choreography as well. It lets me make new choices when I’m dancing, meaning I could be dancing around trying to create something, and with the curiosity and exploration I could end up doing steps I’ve never done before and find a new way of moving. Also in life in general staying curious helps me stay creative. I’ve had some trouble with comparing myself to others when it comes to dance. This is where patience comes in. Patience with myself and understanding that my path is different then everyone else. Also patience with my growth as a dancer and person.
Make sure to find time for yourself. It helps grow your love and understanding for yourself and body. We all need to take a break sometimes. Curiosity can help you prove to yourself that you are capable of so much more than you think. It breaks us out of our comfort zones and can help creativity. Sometimes staying patient can be hard especially depending on the circumstances. But considering how hard it is we come out at the end so much stronger.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed that for me is the best time to take a step back and try to focus on what I’m feeling. Taking a step back can also mean taking a break. It’s important to give yourself time to reflect on whats going on in your life or in the specific project or creation you’re working on. Not only can it give you clarity but it’s also allowing you to simply just take a moment to breathe and clear your mind. Often times I forget to take those moments, also because I like to constantly be on the go. It’s important to remember that taking a break doesn’t mean you aren’t doing anything. Our bodies need days where we just relax, and we need to show ourselves some more love too.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lyndsey.aa
Image Credits
Maria Castellanos
