Growth often means stepping into what once scared us. The things we resist can become the very paths we’re meant to take. We asked some of the best and brightest in the community: what are you being called to do now that you once feared? Their answers reveal the courage it takes to move past fear and into purpose.
Lynne Nicole Smith 
I feel a deep calling to support people who have survived trauma—especially those whose nervous systems have been impacted by trauma’s effects on the body, brain, and soul. I also feel called to support the practitioners who care for them, including yoga teachers, therapists, and holistic health practitioners who are seeking effective, nervous-system–informed tools for their work. Read More>>
Kristine Rafanan
I am being called to fully stand in my truth and be seen as I am, without shrinking, over-explaining, or softening myself to make others more comfortable. I am being called to lead with my heart and my lived experience, even when it feels vulnerable or misunderstood. Read More>>
Kasha Reese
Opening my space up to the community for 3rd space events, even though I do not have funding, repairs are still needed, low yarn supplies to hand out, and being scared for my life as a person of color in America. Read More>>
ALICE MAZEL
I am called to be a nurturing mother, I am called to totally flow in my feminine and let go of all the things I think I have to control . Read More>>
Jaydan Moore
Since my last interview I have accepted a position as an assistant professor for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This program means a lot to me because it is where I went to graduate school and developed my practice. Going from a full time studio artist before accepting this position to a full time professor was a big change. Read More>>
Lea Lis
My own journey through menopause has inspired a deep commitment to understanding the complete woman, and the belief that the aging process is to be actively managed, rather than merely accepted. There is a prevailing cultural notion that growing older must be endured, and that accepting bodily changes is an inevitable aspect of life—a notion that is partially accurate. Read More>>
Natasha Norris
I’m being called to step fully into visibility as leadership, not just strategy. For a long time, I was comfortable working behind the scenes, helping others tell their stories, secure opportunities, and build authority. What once felt intimidating was attaching my own name, voice, and lived experience to that work in a very public way. Read More>>
Sandra Alexander
Now more than ever, I am saying no to projects and clients that don’t align with my beliefs or measure up to the kind of work I’d like to do. I’ve spent a lot of time in the last year reflecting and analyzing myself and my process, and I realize that I need to work smarter, not harder. Read More>>
A. ‘KinaNuru Negasi’ C.
Teach!!! Lol, I had been running from teaching forever. Just because I doubted myself. What’s so crazy is in all that time I was running….I was also teaching. I just didnt think of it that way. Now I know, it doesnt need to look ‘traditional’ to be done. I teach in my own way cause I learned in my own way. Read More>>
Nicole Oliver
What I am being called to do now is build software that solves real problems at scale. When we last spoke, I was deeply rooted in the hair industry, creating physical spaces and products that helped women feel confident and seen. Read More>>
Bethi Lewis
Right now , I feel like my calling is to be a healer. My music is written from the point of view of someone who has survived trauma and risen above to inspire others. Read More>>
