An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Ask if they want to talk about it — If a friend shares that they are feeling anxious or you notice that they don’t seem like themselves lately, don’t hesitate to bring it up to them. Ask them if they are okay and offer space for them to talk about it. Also know that they might not be ready to talk, and that’s okay too. The most important thing is that you open the door to have that conversation when they feel ready.
As a part of my series about “How To Develop Mindfulness And Serenity During Stressful Or Uncertain Times”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie Weber.
Stephanie is a holistic transformation coach, 200-hour registered yoga instructor, mindful meditation facilitator, and sound healer. She empowers unfulfilled women to uncover their purpose and step into their power so they can create a soul-aligned life they LOVE! Stephanie started on her spiritual path after experiencing deep burnout from the corporate world and it completely transformed her life. Now she helps women who are feeling stuck to elevate their mindset so they can fearlessly follow their dreams!
Stephanie is the founder of Stephanie Weber LLC, a holistic coaching brand and online platform focused on helping women become the next-level version of themselves. She is also the host of The Inner Sunshine Podcast, which is dedicated to helping women embody their most authentic selves, live mindfully, cultivate abundance, and shine their light from the inside out!
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Thank you so much for having me! I graduated from college with a degree in Marketing and went straight into the 9–5 corporate world out of school. However, I realized rather quickly that the office job life was not for me. I went through a difficult period in my early 20s where I was very depressed and felt completely lost. I had no idea what my purpose was on this earth, but I KNEW I was meant for more than sitting in a cube farm doing repetitive, mind-numbing work for the rest of my life.
About 5 years ago, I had an awakening when I hit my personal rock bottom. I was extremely burnt out and it started me on my journey to find deeper meaning and connection to life. I have spent the past several years investing in myself, continuing my education, and healing both physically and mentally.
I eventually left my soul-sucking corporate career to pursue my passions full-time. Since then, I have received 3 separate yoga teacher training certifications (Vinyasa, Sculpt, and Hot), my meditation teacher training certification, as well as my mindfulness coaching certification. I also became a sound healer and went back to school to pursue my dream career path in holistic health coaching and nutrition. I started my own soul-aligned coaching & sound healing business, and I now work with clients all over the world to help them elevate their mindset and live in alignment with themselves!
My healing journey completely transformed my life, and I have dedicated myself to helping other women do the same. That’s why I decided to become a coach — I want to help my clients uncover their passions and create their own personal path to happiness! Mindfulness, mediation, and sound healing also played an integral role in my transformation and I love being able to share these powerful holistic modalities with my clients and community.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
The most interesting thing that has happened to me since starting my career is how incredibly aligned I feel in my life. When I was working my corporate career, I used to live for the weekends and would try to escape my unhappiness in all kinds of destructive ways. I had the mindset that life was happening “to me” rather than “for me” and I was always searching for something to fill the void and the emptiness that was there from not doing the work that I was put on this earth to do.
Since I began listening to my intuition and following my dream of becoming a holistic coach and sound healer, I have experienced so many incredible synchronicities in my life, and I feel more aligned than I’ve ever felt before. I’m working with the most amazing clients, I’ve expanded my sound healing practice, and I lead weekly sound baths at a local studio in Chicago. I launched my dream podcast and have made so many beautiful connections by putting my voice out into the world. It’s been an incredible journey — and I’m just getting started!
What advice would you give to other leaders about how to create a fantastic work culture?
I have worked for many companies that have had a less than great work culture, and the number one piece of advice I have for other leaders is to create a work environment that respects employees and creates space for work-life balance. We’ve seen such a huge societal shift in our work culture over the past few years, and the outdated need for people to be in the office for 40 hours a week (or more) and live for the weekends is over. If your employees prefer to work from home and they get the job done, why force them to go into an office? The mental health and happiness of your employees should always be your number one priority.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
My favorite book is “Everything Is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo. This book changed my life when it came to uncovering my purpose and creating a more fulfilling life. Marie shares so many inspiring stories in her book of people overcoming adversity and doing the “impossible” in their lives and businesses. She has grown her coaching business to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, but she is incredibly honest about her journey and what it took for her to become the person and businesswoman she is today. There is something so refreshing about people who are honest about their struggles and are willing to share their stories of growth and overcoming challenges.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. From your experience or research, how would you define and describe the state of being mindful?
To me, being mindful is the practice of being deliberately and actively in the present moment without judgment. It’s a way to be fully aware of our everyday decisions and choosing to live out of intention rather than habit.
So many of us move through our days on autopilot — just going through the motions to get by. Mindfulness brings us back into the present moment and helps us focus on the task at hand, rather than having our minds wander in a million other directions. Stress is usually a byproduct of thinking about the past or worrying about the future. When we focus on the now, it helps us reduce stress, be more productive, and genuinely live happier lives!
This might be intuitive to you, but it will be instructive to spell this out. Can you share with our readers a few of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of becoming mindful?
Mindfulness includes all facets of our lives including our mindset, how we interact with others, how we talk to ourselves and how we make our choices. Instead of constantly thinking of the future or of the past, mindfulness allows us to stay in the present moment and take things one step at a time. It has been scientifically proven to help lower stress, and there’s growing research showing that it can actually remodel the physical structure of your brain!
Mindfulness can have a profound impact on our health and happiness. With regular implementation of mindfulness in your everyday life, you will most likely start to see positive shifts in your mood, lower stress levels, and an improved sense of overall well-being.
Ok. Here is the main question of our discussion. The past 5 years have been filled with upheaval and political uncertainty. Many people have become anxious from the dramatic jolts of the news cycle. From your experience or research, what are five steps that each of us can take to develop mindfulness during such uncertain times? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Absolutely — here are 5 simple steps that we can take to develop a regular mindfulness practice:
1. Create a gratitude practice
This is one of my favorite exercises that I love to incorporate into my daily routine. Throughout your day, be observant of your routine & surroundings and find ONE new thing to be grateful for. Maybe you notice a beautiful bird on your walk, or maybe a stranger holds a door open for you? When you’re doing this exercise, not only do you feel the immense benefits of gratitude, but you’re also completely in the present moment. There is always something new to appreciate and there is no such thing as something too small to be grateful for!
2. Practice being mindful while doing mindless activities
Try staying present while doing a regular, mundane activity such as brushing your teeth or doing the dishes. Rather than thinking about your to-do list or things going on later in the day, try to focus on what is happening right now. What color is your toothpaste? What do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel? This exercise is definitely easier said than done. There are so many tasks that we complete during our day on autopilot. See if you can focus on being present in the moment for just this ONE thing.
3. Practice mindfulness meditation
Meditation is the practice of training your attention and awareness to achieve a mentally clear, emotionally calm, and stable state. Mindful Meditation is a type of mediation where you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment without judgment. To do this, find a quiet space somewhere where you will not be distracted or interrupted for a few minutes. Find a comfortable seat with a tall spine either cross-legged on the ground, in a chair with your feet flat on the floor or lying down. Close your eyes or lower your gaze to minimize visual distractions and start to tune into your breath. Notice how your belly and chest move as you inhale and exhale. If you find that your mind is wandering, know that it’s totally normal! Gently bring your attention back to your breath each time this happens. Stay here as long as you want, and when you’re ready slowly open your eyes. Take note of how you feel in this exact moment.
4. Do less on purpose
In today’s society, people wear their busyness as a badge of honor. I remember I used to gloat about how busy I was when people asked me how I was doing because I thought being busy was equivalent to being successful or hardworking. Our brains are not computers — we are physically not built to multitask and jump from one task to the next and expect 100% efficiency with everything we’re doing. Doing more is not always better and taking time to rest and recharge does not make you lazy!
Take some time to consider the purpose behind your daily activities. Are you trying to pack as much in as you can, or are you giving yourself room to breathe, take breaks, and truly focus on the task at hand? Give yourself permission to do less to be fully present and notice how you feel afterward.
5. Practice having a beginner’s mind
If you’ve ever watched a baby being introduced to a new environment, you’ve probably noticed their eyes wandering around the room — completely captivated and intrigued by each detail around them. When is the last time you noticed your current surroundings with that same sense of wonder? Try spending a few minutes looking at the sights around you as if it were the first time you saw them. Do you notice anything different or new? What are the things you use daily that you usually take for granted?
From your experience or research, what are five steps that each of us can take to effectively offer support to those around us who are feeling anxious? Can you explain?
Here are 5 steps we can take to offer support to those around us who are feeling anxious:
1. Ask if they want to talk about it
If a friend shares that they are feeling anxious or you notice that they don’t seem like themselves lately, don’t hesitate to bring it up to them. Ask them if they are okay and offer space for them to talk about it. Also know that they might not be ready to talk, and that’s okay too. The most important thing is that you open the door to have that conversation when they feel ready.
2. LISTEN and hold space for them to speak and express their emotions
If they do open up to you, take time to listen to what they say rather than responding with judgment, or interjecting with support or solutions. You don’t always have to understand exactly what they’re going through or know how to fix it to be there for them. Sometimes sitting in silence and listening is the best way to show love and support.
3. Validate and show your support
It’s important to validate people’s experiences, rather than saying “just calm down” or “it’s not that big of a deal — you’ll be fine”. These kinds of phrases don’t help and can actually make the situation worse. Let them know that you are grateful they opened up to you and that you understand it’s not always easy to talk about how we’re feeling. You can also reassure them that they’re not alone and that you are always there for them if they need someone to talk to.
4. Ask how you can best support them (and offer logical advice ONLY if they are open to receiving it)
It’s important to ask them how you can best support them, rather than just offering suggestions such as yoga or meditation. Those tools are great, but they don’t work for everyone in every situation. The best way to offer support is to ask what they need in the moment. If they specifically ask for suggestions or help, then you can move forward with helping them explore options for seeking help — including seeing a mental health professional. Also, know that not everyone is ready to talk to a professional right away. If they’re open to it but aren’t sure where to start, you can help by researching therapists in the area or offer to drive them to their appointment.
5. Keep in touch
Sometimes the best help we can give someone who is feeling anxious is to make them feel less alone. Check-in every so often or invite them to meet you for coffee. Let them know you love them, and that you are always there for them if they ever need someone to talk to.
What are the best resources you would suggest for someone to learn how to be more mindful and serene in their everyday life?
There are many free resources available on YouTube if you’re looking for guided mindfulness meditations or exercises to practice. Some of my favorite mindfulness apps are Headspace, Calm, Aura, and Insight Timer. I also have several guided meditations on my own YouTube channel as well as a beginner’s mindfulness course available on my website!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
One of my favorite life lesson quotes is “You will never experience this version of you again, so give yourself permission to slow down and be with her”.
We often get SO focused on achieving, reaching goals, fixing things, and being productive that we don’t always give ourselves time to appreciate how far we’ve come and all that we have right here and now. Life isn’t always about achieving our goals — it’s about the person we become along the way. At one point in our lives, we dreamed about everything that we have right now. If we’re always focused on the future and thinking that the next moment is better than the current one, we will never allow ourselves to be truly happy.
One day you will look back on this moment and wish that you could live it again. Not because you want to do something different, but because you will wish you had enjoyed the moment more. There are always going to be things on your to-do list. There is always going to be a bigger goal, more money to be made, new mountains to climb, etc. But the true secret to happiness is to choose it every day. It’s a powerful reminder that even if you’re not exactly where you want to be yet, you can still appreciate where you are right now.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Wow, thank you so much! My goal for my life and my business is to empower others to understand their full potential and live an aligned life. If I could start a movement, it would be to help as many women as I can to uncover their true purpose, leave their soul-sucking jobs, and create a fulfilling life that they’re excited to wake up to EVERY SINGLE DAY!
I want women to understand how powerful they are, and that there is so much more to life than working 40+ hours a week at a job you hate, just to retire at 70 and hope to live out your best years before you die. Life is happening NOW! Quit the job, start the business, go on the trip, and do more of the things you love. Life is so precious, and tomorrow is never promised to any of us. Know that everything you need is already within you. Go for it!
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
Yes, please come say hi, and feel free to send me a message so that we can connect! You can visit my website at www.HeyStephanieWeber.com to learn about my coaching programs, listen to my podcast, access free guided meditations, and more!
Join my community on social media:
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HeyStephanieWeber
Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/HeyStephanieWeber
TikTok: www.TikTok.com/@HeyStephanieWeber
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/HeyStephanieWeber
Listen and subscribe to my podcast: www.TheInnerSunshinePodcast.com
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Stephanie Weber: How To Develop Mindfulness During Stressful Or Uncertain Times was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.