i love what i do // 02.
"Anytime we are aligned with our highest self, the place where our big dreams come from, we are contributing to the greater good."
MINDY SCIME, 36
Occupation: Mama, yogini, teacher, writer, therapist.
College major: Psychology
Ruth: How long have you loved what you do?
Mindy: I have loved what I do since I first dove into the world of entrepreneurship six years ago!
R: How did you feel and what did you do before now?
M: Before I created my businesses I worked as a psychologist and researcher at a local university. On paper, my life looked amazing. I had a “good” job in my field, a beautiful home, a loving partner, and a healthy child. However, I found myself sick often, chronically tired, and feeling oddly empty. I was confused because I had been taught that if I checked off all the markers of a successful adult life I would find happiness and yet I felt unfulfilled.
R: When was the first time you realized that you love what you do?
M: My first business began when I allowed myself to acknowledge my deep desire to teach yoga. I was sure people would ridicule me (who decides to teach yoga the year after they finish a Ph.D.?) and therefore I was terrified to speak my dream out loud. I took the first step by telling my husband that “someday” it would be cool to teach yoga. A few short weeks later he called to tell me he had a group of women who wanted me to teach them yoga. I had no studio. I had no yoga teacher training. They didn’t care. They invited me into their homes and just like that I was a yoga teacher! I remember the feeling after the first class when the women came up to pay me. I couldn’t believe they were handing me money for having spent a beautiful hour moving and breathing with them. I saw how quickly the Universe had responded to my desire and I started to believe there was another way. I started to believe I could craft a sustainable career around my heartfelt desires and wild dreams. To this day, I get a pinch-me feeling every time I walk into the wellness center where I work. I have been known to cry after teaching yoga because I am so grateful to be doing work I love.
R. Describe what you do now and what a typical day looks like.
M: One year after declaring my dream to teach yoga, my husband and I purchased a 120 year-old building in our community and rehabilitated it into the wellness center of my dreams. Within the wellness center, I have a thriving private practice as a psychologist and I am the director of my beloved yoga studio. I also connect with my tribe of brave, badass women online through my weekly love letter and online offerings.
No two days are the same for me and that’s how I like it! Currently, I am a half-time stay-at-home mom to my two amazing daughters. On those days, my time is focused on playing with my toddler and taking care of things for my teenager. I will often work in the late evenings – researching, writing, and doing behind the scenes work like returning emails, updating websites, or blogging. My days at the office consist of seeing therapy clients and teaching yoga and meditation.
R: What were the steps you took that got you to loving what you do?
M: The first and biggest step I took was to allow myself to consider what I really wanted to do with my life. Until my 29th year I never thought about what I yearned for or felt called to do. I simply did what I thought was the next right thing, what I felt I was supposed to do. When I stopped to consider what I truly desired it was life-changing. The next step was to share my vision with others, beginning with my husband. From there, things fell into place for me very quickly. Opportunities seemed to appear out of nowhere. Synchronicity became my daily norm and I could feel the Universe supporting me as I moved toward my dreams. I held my big vision in my mind and every day I took a small step toward it. One year later I quit my job and became a full-time entrepreneur.
R: Is there something about your work that makes you feel like you're contributing to a greater good?
M: Most definitely! Being of service is one of the guiding principles of my work. By working with people in the field of health and wellness I get to see the positive impact my work has on others on a regular basis. It is truly an honor to hold space for and witness these beautiful souls as they navigate their healing journeys. I also share my journey through my blog and weekly love letter and I like to think of it as sending out little ripples of inspiration. Beyond this surface layer, I also feel that I am contributing to the greater good by following my heart and living my dreams. Anytime we are aligned with our highest self, the place where our big dreams come from, we are contributing to the greater good. Being in this place, living from this place, helps us to vibrate high and spread joy and peace. We are all sending something out into the world. When we are tuned into our true self and honoring her in our daily lives, we are sending out a whole lot of goodness!
R: Do you have any advice for others on their way to loving what they do?
M: Let yourself dream big.
Get clear on what you want.
Say it out loud.
Trust the Universe.
Breathe deeply.
Take one baby step at a time.
Repeat.
R: If you could whittle it down, what was the ONE most important thing you did to begin loving what you do?
M: The one most important thing I did was to tune into my own inner voice. You have to know what you love before you can love what you do! I had spent my life trying to please other people, never considering what I actually wanted. Once I heard my true self, there was no turning back. I knew I had to honor my truth no matter what other people thought. My dreams and desires felt like such a strong, resounding yes that working toward any other version of my life seemed crazy. I couldn’t believe the Universe would gift me with such a vision if it wasn’t meant to be.
Mindy Scime is a therapist and yoga teacher who believes in breathing deep and dreaming big. She is living the life of her dreams by creating sacred spaces in person and online for women to follow the path home to their true selves. She is grateful to guide a tribe of brave, badass women who are transforming the world by creating authentic, aligned lives grounded in their own divine wisdom. In addition to her blog, you can hang out with Mindy on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
