Latest / Feminine Fire with Bec Cuzzillo / How To Use Your Intuition To Build A Business You Love with Clare Lovelace

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How To Use Your Intuition To Build A Business You Love with Clare Lovelace · Feminine Fire with Bec Cuzzillo

• 0:47
  Today I'm joined by the founder, owner, and lead teacher at Soul Tribe Studio, a thriving yoga studio here on Yuin country in my local town on the east coast of Australia.
• 0:57
  Originally hailing from the UK, Claire Lovelace has over a decade of experience as a yoga teacher.
• 1:02
  She has led 10 200-hour yoga teacher trainings and over 15 yin teacher trainings.
• 1:08
  She's facilitated over 30 retreats and guided countless students and teachers on their own paths.
• 1:14
  She's also recently published her first book.
• 1:17
  Welcome to the Feminine Fire Podcast, Claire Thank you.
• 1:21
  Thanks, Bec.
• 1:22
  Thank you for having me I am so excited to chat with you today.
• 1:26
  So firstly, congratulations on the launch of your book.
• 1:29
  I had the pleasure of co-hosting your book launch a few weeks ago, which was really fun.
• 1:35
  And so I'd love to kick off our conversation there today.
• 1:37
  Your book is called Wild Trust, and it's a memoir about how you've lived your life intuitively, really.
• 1:46
  How do you use your intuition in your life and your business?
• 1:50
  I find that when I move from my intuition, when I follow my intuition, things tend to flow.
• 2:00
  And, uh, I've learned that when I don't the things that I knew were maybe not a good idea, and I just went ahead and did them anyway.
• 2:09
  They were good in a way because I would learn a lot, but things wouldn't really work out the way that I, uh, wanted them to.
• 2:17
  So I h- I've been playing with moving from my intuition for a long time now, for many, many, many years.
• 2:27
  And, uh, I think it just started from necessity of, of just time and time again not trusting the feeling, going with just my logical mind, and it all sort of falling apart.
• 2:39
  So now when I get an intuitive feeling about something, or when I'm not getting any kind of intuitive feeling, or I'm not feeling like the, the impulse or the the moving towards something, uh, instead of just pushing things forward like I used to do or going ahead anyway, I will take a bit more time these days to check in with myself, uh,'cause it's not always clear at first.
• 3:11
  So that can look like instead of just saying yes to things straight away, which I used to do, that looks like for me now intuitive living is more like sleeping on something, uh, going out for a walk going to spend a bit of time, uh, in the ocean, things like this before I say yes to things.
• 3:32
  That's an example of how I use my intuition I love that so much.
• 3:37
  And it's so interesting, right?
• 3:39
  Because that slowing down can feel so against what we've kind of been conditioned to do, right?
• 3:47
  Like, we've been conditioned to be productive and to move quickly and to make the most of absolutely every moment, and actually slowing down and giving yourself that time can feel a bit uncomfortable.
• 3:57
  Did you find that when you started doing that?
• 3:59
  Oh my God, yes.
• 4:00
  And I still find it really, really, really uncomfortable.
• 4:03
  Anyone that knows me, like, will probably be laughing if they listen to this because I, I just, I just move fast.
• 4:11
  Uh, I'm a manifesting generator in human design.
• 4:14
  I've got a lot of driven energy.
• 4:18
  I don't like to wait around.
• 4:20
  I mean, who does?
• 4:21
  But I've definitely got a lot of this sort of fire energy within me.
• 4:27
  So it's really been something that I've, I've had to cultivate, and I still find it really hard.
• 4:35
  And you're so right that we are so conditioned to value productivity, to value ticking things off the list, to, to value achievement, and resting and taking time and slowing down.
• 4:54
  All of these things are not as obviously fun or feel as, as, like, satisfying sometimes as, like, just getting loads of stuff done.
• 5:04
  But I've found that if I don't give myself that time to pause, check in, do a yin practice get in the ocean, like I said, then I just end up, uh, saying yes to loads of things that I definitely shouldn't or not being clear, and that's not good for me and it's not good for other people either.
• 5:25
  So yeah.
• 5:27
  And I also find, like, I'm-- I can't really be creative.
• 5:30
  My ideas just seem to kind of dry up if I don't rest and take time away from my work essentially.
• 5:40
  Even today, I feel like it's been a really big time in general, but there's lots of things with the studio that I'm always attending to, and it's just been one of those weeks where there's a lot of moving parts, and every day I'm like, "Right, I need to get through this, this, this." And I genuinely do need to get through all of these things.
• 6:01
  you know, I'm not just going to not do these things because I have, you know, a business and there's lots of things that do need attending to.
• 6:08
  But instead of just working through today so far, which I could have easily done, I got really, like, tough with myself and I did a yin class, and it's quite easy because it is at my studio and I'm at my studio, so I don't really have any excuse.
• 6:26
  But I took, you know, 75 minutes out, did a yin practice with another teacher, which yeah, you know, I have a lot of my own practices, but it's lovely to practice with someone else and, uh Even though part of my brain was like,"Oh no, you really don't have time to do this," but actually it's the best thing that I could do in those moments.
• 6:46
  And I heard this quote once and it's like, you know, everyone could meditate for five minutes a day.
• 6:53
  Unless you feel like you don't have time, then the suggestion is to meditate for 20 minutes.
• 7:00
  So it's like in those ti- in those times when we feel like we don't have time, paradoxically, yeah, that's when we actually need to slow down for anything to come through, I found.
• 7:11
  I so resonate with that, and it's so interesting, right?
• 7:14
  Like, the more you feel like you're busy, the more you feel like you're, like, overwhelmed, or you've got so much to do, and you don't have the time to get all of it done, actually the best thing you can do is take a beat and, and pause.
• 7:28
  So I love that, and I think so many people will resonate.
• 7:31
  It's definitely a conversation I've been having with so many people about, like, just how fast time is moving and how m- they feel like they just don't have a lot of time to get all of the things done as a business owner.
• 7:44
  And obviously you speaking to how you do that, I think, is really powerful, and it's something that I think a lot of people will be like, "I know that I need to do it." And even just hearing you say, like, "I had to get really hard with myself," It's so interesting.
• 7:59
  It's like you've got to force yourself to do the thing that you know your intuition is telling you that you need.
• 8:05
  I know.
• 8:06
  And this is my job, which makes it even funnier.
• 8:09
  Like, if I have to force myself to go to yoga at my own studio and it's my entire job And it's been my entire life for, like, 15 years, I'm like, "Whoa, how is…" You know, it's, it's hard.
• 8:20
  And I think a lot of, like, spiritual business owners who are in that similar industry or in that space of, like, being an energy healer or doing this kind of spiritual work a lot will probably resonate with that because it's like it's easy to do it for our clients.
• 8:34
  Even I know in a whole nother realm, like I talk with a lot of people who are in that kind of creative, uh, space where they're supporting other business owners, whether they're like VAs or social media managers, that kind of thing.
• 8:47
  Most social media managers I know do social media for other people really well, and they don't do social media very well for themselves.
• 8:54
  Yeah.
• 8:56
  It's like it's so much easier to do it for our, you know, for our clients and for our people, but like doing it for us, it's like a whole nother ballgame.
• 9:03
  Totally.
• 9:04
  And obviously yoga is such a big part of your personal practice.
• 9:08
  I imagine that also links in with your intuition.
• 9:12
  Is it one of the practices that really helps you anchor into that?
• 9:16
  Yes, absolutely.
• 9:18
  And I mean, what yoga is, you know, that's just a, that's like a whole huge conversation really, I guess.
• 9:23
  But When I first started practicing yoga, and yeah, it's been a long time.
• 9:28
  I think I s- I first started practicing in 2010, so yeah, that's 16 years ago.
• 9:33
  Uh, when I first started practicing yoga, it was the first time that I had that kind of space to, to actually listen.
• 9:42
  It was the first time that I'd heard a, a teacher or a guide or anyone saying,"Oh, like, how do you feel today?" You know, walking into a class and the teacher saying, "Check in with yourself." Like I'd never heard that before.
• 9:54
  I'd never… I was like, "What?
• 9:54
  Like check in with myself? Okay, what does that mean?" It was the first time that I'd had any kind of introduction to like my inner world.
• 10:03
  Even though I've always had a really deep relationship, I think, with my inner world.
• 10:07
  I just didn't really know like what that was.
• 10:11
  I didn't have a framework.
• 10:12
  So yoga really gave me a framework to connect in with my inner world through like postures, through different kinds of breath techniques, through different kinds of meditation.
• 10:25
  Like essentially focusing my mind on something so that I could realize, oh, oh my God, like my mind is just having all these thoughts all the time.
• 10:34
  Like, that's really interesting'cause if you don't have some kind of practice, and I don't… You know, some people are just born into this world and they just chill naturally.
• 10:43
  I'm not one of those people.
• 10:45
  So I think I really need yoga.
• 10:47
  It even says in the Yoga Sutra this text that's thousands of years old, it literally does say that.
• 10:52
  It's like some people are born into the world, and they don't really need these practices 'cause they're already calm.
• 10:57
  But for everyone else we need some sort of practice to stabilize the mind because otherwise, it, it, as we all know, the mind can just go, go, go, go, go.
• 11:09
  It makes up stories all the time.
• 11:10
  It tells us things that isn't true.
• 11:13
  It's a really helpful, useful tool that allows us to write books and produce podcasts and run businesses.
• 11:19
  Like it's amazing, but it's also if we're never ever training the mind, for most people I think that we can just become really a slave to the thoughts.
• 11:28
  So, for me, my yoga practice, which, you know, it, it, it's always varied in terms of what I do.
• 11:37
  But every single day, I always, you know, no matter what, I'm always have what you might call a meditation.
• 11:45
  I don't know, like, I'm… even terms, I'm kind of like s- like hesitate to use terms like meditation even because that can mean so many things, and it can be, you know, taken in lots of different ways.
• 11:57
  But every day I do take time to be with myself.
• 12:02
  you know, most of the time from a really tangible perspective, that's when I wake up in the morning, I do Sit.
• 12:09
  You know, I have a space in my house where I do sit, I'm just still, and I just feel, you know, the morning, like it's really, really early.
• 12:16
  I just sit in that stillness.
• 12:19
  I'll usually light a candle and I do have a, a ritual practice.
• 12:23
  Like I'll, I'll do some chanting.
• 12:25
  I'll-- I have a gratitude practice.
• 12:27
  But I, I take that, that kind of time first before everything kind of ramps up in the day.
• 12:34
  'Cause I feel like most of the day I'm running around like a crazy person dropping everything all over the floor and ah, like, like that.
• 12:43
  But yeah, I, I always have that day and that check-in at the beginning of the day.
• 12:47
  And sometimes that's then some movement, like then some asanas, some yoga postures, maybe then, you know, it, it could be d- It's different things.
• 12:53
  But and that's changed and evolved over the years.
• 12:57
  But yeah.
• 12:59
  I, I mean, if you wanna call that meditation, I, you know, I think that that's my, practice that supports me in following my, intuition.
• 13:07
  I love that, and I think, you know, everyone's version of that will look slightly different, I imagine.
• 13:12
  But even just the way you were talking about it, the fact that it looks a little bit different every day.
• 13:18
  It might be this, it might be that.
• 13:20
  You might have like, you know, you follow what feels right in the moment, I imagine.
• 13:25
  And I always, you know, sometimes talk to clients, particularly people who are like, "Oh, I'd really love to start trusting my intuition more.
• 13:32
  How can I do that?" Like, part of it is, is giving yourself the space to actually have those, those feelings and those thoughts of like, "Well, what do I want?" Like asking yourself in that moment, like, "What do I feel called to, to do?" And then actually following through on that, you know?
• 13:47
  So actually being willing to have that trusting what that thought is.
• 13:51
  But even just in those micro moments, I think is so powerful because it builds that trust with your intuition more generally when you then might be making bigger decisions in life and business.
• 14:01
  It's like, you know, you've already got that relationship with that inner voice or that inner, uh, feeling where it's like, "Okay, well, I feel like I do wanna move my body, so I'm gonna follow that, and I'm gonna trust that feeling, and I'm gonna actually action the thing that I'm feeling drawn towards." Yeah, definitely.
• 14:17
  Definitely.
• 14:18
  And I think, you know, it, and it, it can be confusing because it's not always gonna feel good.
• 14:24
  It's not always just gonna be like I'm in the flow.
• 14:26
  Like, I mean, I find even, like, carving out that space for myself in the morning you know, I love it when I'm in it, but, but still, you know, after all these years, I still have to kind of wrestle with myself often to not just start checking my emails or not just to, to not just go to, into work mode or whatever it is.
• 14:45
  Like, there is still… I still find it challenging.
• 14:48
  So I just, you know, really wanna tell everyone that, that it's not just, like, this flowy thing and I'm just following my intuition and it's, like, so easy.
• 14:59
  It's easeful in the moment when I'm, when I'm sitting and when I'm in my practice.
• 15:05
  But it is a discipline.
• 15:07
  Like, it, it is a discipline, and I think, you know, we-- that word discipline has lots of negative connotations for people, can do and it's not, again, a very, like, fun word.
• 15:18
  And I don't think that, you know, we should be pushing ourself to do, you know, this thing every day and dah, dah, dah.
• 15:24
  That's not what I mean.
• 15:25
  But there is a level of discipline required to meet ourself, you know, regularly, uh, 'cause otherwise it's so easy to just download all the courses about yoga or download a meditation course or sign up for something or read a book about yoga or, watch a YouTube about, you know, meditating.
• 15:46
  It, it's easy to, like, gather all this information, but actually doing it is a whole other thing that, that, that is-- can be hard.
• 15:54
  It's challenging, right?
• 15:55
  Because sometimes we think, "Oh, ugh." Lots of people find it hard, and I do as well find it hard to discern what is my intuition.
• 16:04
  Like, what, what's just my thoughts?
• 16:06
  What's… 'Cause if I was always listening to, like, uh, what I want to do, you know, my mind might just go, "Well, I want to just lie down and, like, scroll on Instagram." Like, s- just because that's sort of like a dopamine hit or something.
• 16:22
  But that, you know, that, that's not really, like, what my soul wants to do.
• 16:26
  But there's that part of my brain that just, like, wants the quick fix that just wants that.
• 16:32
  yeah, you know, there's so many things that we can distract ourself with.
• 16:35
  So I don't know if that makes sense, but I think that's an important part It is, and I think it's the difference between being able to discern, like when you're, you know, with discipline for example, and having discipline around a practice, or having discipline around, you know, things that we need to do in our business because we actually do need to do them.
• 16:54
  Having that discipline can feel really uncomfortable when you are like, in some ways forcing yourself to do something that you don't really feel like doing right in that moment.
• 17:04
  But then how do you discern what the difference is between that kind of discipline and that kind of feeling of resistance, that actually if we push through that resistance, on the other side of that it is actually gonna feel easeful when we're sitting in that moment, or it is going to feel really good when we've gotten those things done that we need to get done.
• 17:22
  But discerning the difference between that kind of discipline and then that pushing against things that, you know, perhaps our intuition is saying like,"No, this is really not a good move for you," or like, you know, really pushing something that isn't aligned.
• 17:37
  And being able to dis- discern that can be quite tricky, I think.
• 17:41
  But I love hearing you talk a bit about that.
• 17:43
  Now you've obviously got the yoga studio.
• 17:46
  You've had that for eight years?
• 17:48
  Yes.
• 17:49
  So I started the studio in, yeah, 2018, kind of October, 2018.
• 17:57
  Amazing.
• 17:58
  tell us a little bit about that.
• 17:59
  What do you, what do you find the most challenging thing about running a yoga studio?
• 18:04
  Or what's the best thing perhaps is a good question to start us off with?
• 18:08
  It's funny 'cause I, I honestly think, like, the best thing and the most challenging thing can be the people.
• 18:15
  And I don't mean that people are challenging.
• 18:17
  I mean, obviously people can be challenging, but, uh, that's not really my experience of running the studio.
• 18:22
  cause everyone who comes, you know, that is so, wonderful and kind and… But I think what I mean by that is especially for me, because I, I'm quite, like, an introverted person, even though no one really believes that.
• 18:36
  I can be extroverted, but at, at my core, I'm quite introverted.
• 18:41
  I like a lot of my own space.
• 18:43
  I'm really, really happy just, like, pottering around by myself.
• 18:46
  So being around people, like, all the time I- it's something that I've kind of had to, like, get used to.
• 18:54
  And at the same time, it's, like, my favorite part of it 'cause I love how people meet each other at the studio how relationships are formed at the studio, how, you know, there's whole groups of people that come to the studio now that are, like, all friends, and everyone can come and, like, uh, so many people have, you know, met all their friends here.
• 19:13
  it's so wonderful to witness that.
• 19:14
  And, and I've met all my friends here at the studio.
• 19:17
  Like, all of my best friends are, like, I've met them through the studio.
• 19:21
  So the people are my favorite thing.
• 19:23
  And I guess what's most challenging is, yeah, the different kind of roles that I'm playing all the time, that can be really challenging.
• 19:32
  like all of my teachers, like, are also my friends, and all of my students.
• 19:37
  I'm, like, in different kind of ways, but I'm really close, like per- in personal ways to, like, a lot of my teachers and my students as well.
• 19:47
  So sometimes that can be challenging, like that all of these different roles that I'm playing as a studio owner.
• 19:54
  So I think just balancing all of that with then also wanting to have my own time, and then also, like, you know, wanting to have family time with, with my husband and yeah.
• 20:07
  I think just balancing all those roles and responsibilities is probably the most challenging.
• 20:12
  And the thing that I love about it most is the people.
• 20:15
  it's like two truths can be true at once, right?
• 20:18
  It's, it's not one or the other.
• 20:20
  It's often, in my experience, both.
• 20:23
  And I think running a business even just more broadly can be quite like that because it's, you know, we don't necessarily run a business because it's easy.
• 20:32
  You know, running a business is not the easy path.
• 20:35
  We could go to a nine-to-five and someone could give us a paycheck at the end of the day, uh, and then we could leave it behind.
• 20:41
  But it's also equally, in my experience anyway, like just the best thing ever.
• 20:47
  So it can be challenging, and it can be wonderful, all of the things all at once.
• 20:54
  Yeah, definitely.
• 20:54
  And I think because I've been doing it for so long, like I've owned the studio for like such a long time it's really hard for me to even like know because it's just what I do.
• 21:04
  It's just what I've been doing like forever, and it, it's not forever, but it feels like forever.
• 21:09
  So yeah, just feels like my normal I know one of the things I really love about the studio is that you've always got something happening, and I feel like, you know, that can help, I think, when you've been running something for so long, when you've got things that are happening and it's dynamic and you can be creative and you can have different events and workshops and retreats and things like that that you're doing.
• 21:32
  And it's one of the things that I think's so wonderful about the studio, because you've always got that happening.
• 21:36
  You've got guest teachers coming in.
• 21:38
  There's a real fun kind of fresh energy in the space.
• 21:41
  And obviously that kind of community building aspect is really important to you, even just being in that, you know, I know when you walk into the studio, you know, there's a communal space for people to kind of hang out in.
• 21:53
  How do you keep motivated and excited about the business side of things when you've been doing it for so long?
• 22:00
  Oh my God, that's, yeah, that's easy.
• 22:02
  I'm always so excited.
• 22:04
  I'm just-- I'm always so excited about it.
• 22:06
  I don't know.
• 22:07
  I love teaching, I love sharing yoga, I love talking about yoga, and I love yoga philosophy, and I love putting on, like, events, and I love the teachers that come in and everything that they wanna put on.
• 22:20
  I just, I love it all so much.
• 22:22
  Like, I, I can't ever imagine it, like, not being exciting, so that's never, that's, like, never, ever a, a problem or an issue.
• 22:29
  I mean, I think, like, in terms of, like, the, all the events that we put on, and we do put on a lot of events uh, the hard thing is, like, having all these ideas and it's just like, I just feel like there's not enough days to, like, put all these events on.
• 22:44
  So, yeah, I mean, I think, uh, uh, d- uh, yeah, the, the kind of enthusiasm, that's, like, never been, never been an issue.
• 22:51
  And I, yeah, it's interesting to know, like, what's behind that.
• 22:55
  I guess I just really, really love it so much, and I, I think I-- because I'm constantly seeing the results.
• 23:02
  Like, I'm constantly seeing people sort of walk in maybe not feeling great, walking out feeling amazing.
• 23:07
  I'm always getting this feedback from everyone like, "We really love this space," and like, "This is really, really helping me in my life right now." Or, "I'm going through a really, really hard time and I just need this.
• 23:17
  I just need to be here." Like, I'm always getting that, like, positive reinforcement, so I think that that just, that just keeps everything, like, really, really fresh all the time because I'm just like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah." Like, if, if, like, no one was coming or, I don't know, it might be a different story, but probably not'cause I just love teaching anyway.
• 23:35
  I would just probably be, I don't know, in here teaching to no one or something.
• 23:40
  it really speaks to something that I think is such a core part of, you know, being in business for the long term, and that's being really connected to that why and that mission and that purpose that you're describing there around, like, being able to see the transformation that this work does for your people.
• 23:58
  And having that feedback where you get to see that, I think is really powerful and obviously motivating in that way.
• 24:06
  It's one of the things that I know, for example, when I've got clients or when I, I myself have gone through, you know, times in business where it hasn't been as easy, or there's been moments where it feels like, oh, I don't… You know, this isn't working for some reason.
• 24:19
  Having that kind of why and that mission, and something that I often will do is, like, have a look at messages that past clients have sent me where they've talked about, like, "This has been so powerful for me." And it just really anchors you back into that.
• 24:34
  Like, no, there's a reason why I'm doing this, and right now it's not the easiest thing for whatever reason, but actually, it's really important work, and I love what I do.
• 24:43
  And so, really kind of staying connected to that part of business, I think is such a powerful thing to have and to kind of keep into through all of the seasons.
• 24:55
  But I think it, it helps when, you know, particularly in those challenging times Yeah, definitely.
• 25:01
  You ha- like, I feel like you need to, like, believe in what you're doing.
• 25:04
  Like, that sounds very obvious, but everyone's really different.
• 25:08
  But for me it's important for all of us to, like, make money, but, like, making money for the sake of making money, it's just, that's never been my… I haven't, I've ne- I'm not driven that way obviously.
• 25:21
  Otherwise, I wouldn't be teaching yoga and having a yoga studio.
• 25:24
  And I'm not, I'm not saying that you can't make great money teaching yoga and having a yoga studio.
• 25:28
  You absolutely can, but it's like, it's never been the motivator.
• 25:32
  And so I think, you know, and, and sometimes, like, things will come in or maybe there's an opportunity that comes in and I'm like, "Oh, I don't really know about that." But then it's like, "Oh, but it's really good money." And, and you know, sometimes I'm just like, "Oh, I'm just gonna, you know, sort of do it." And, then it's like if I do something, you know, in the past, historically, if I've done something, like an example is before I had the studio, I was teaching yoga, uh, in Sydney for four years and there was some corporate gigs that I, that I had picked up.
• 25:58
  And at the time when I was teaching yoga in, inner west you know, lots of people are looking for classes.
• 26:04
  There's a lot of yoga teachers, and there's a lot of work out there, but everyone's kinda hustling a bit and stuff like this.
• 26:08
  And the corporate yoga classes were seen as a bit of a kind of gold standard of, like for teachers, like a bit of a kind of holy grail 'cause they usually paid better than studios.
• 26:21
  And I got offered like a was with, with this kind of company that got yoga teachers for corporates, and they offered me, like, this really kind of attractive gig.
• 26:31
  And I did say yes, like, because of, because of the money, and I was like,"Well, I am teaching yoga, and I do love that." you know, it was more because of the financial gain, which is totally fine.
• 26:43
  And then I, like, sort of said no to some other studio classes because of that.
• 26:47
  But then very quickly, I was like: I don't actually think this is for me.
• 26:50
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm doing what I love, yes, but I just don't really feel like I'm, like, fitting in in this environment.
• 26:57
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, I just don't feel like I'm kind of giving it my best, and I wasn't, like, as motivated about that.
• 27:02
  But then very quickly, I was like: And I think if I look back on that, it's like, yeah, because I-- it was just about the money, like, in that instance.
• 27:09
  But then very quickly, I was like: everything I do here is like, obviously it ha- it like, it has to, it has to sustain itself.
• 27:13
  But then very quickly, I was like: So it's-- I'm not trying to say that I just do everything, you know, for free.
• 27:18
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, obviously I'm, I run a business.
• 27:19
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like we-- people come and they pay for yoga classes, and they pay for workshops and teacher trainings and all the rest of it.
• 27:25
  But then very quickly, I was like: I don't like sit down when I'm like thinking about, "Oh, like, I wanna run a workshop." I'm like, "Oh, what's gonna make me the most money?" Like, I'm never-- That's definitely not my-- It's n- that's never what I'm thinking, which isn't bad.
• 27:35
  But then very quickly, I was like: H- and I think that if someone's really into like making money and that, like, that genuinely does excite them, great.
• 27:42
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, go for it.
• 27:43
  But then very quickly, I was like: But it's just not-- I, I think it's just really good to be honest about what does actually excite you.
• 27:48
  But then very quickly, I was like: What makes you go like, "Ah," like,"I'm really excited about that."'Cause if you're not, if you're not excited about it yeah, it's, it's just gonna feel like a slog.
• 27:57
  But then very quickly, I was like: And, and putting on events and everything, like it is, it is really hard work.
• 28:01
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, honestly, I have, I do have my moments and sometimes I'm like, "What am I doing?" Like, "Why do we have like so many events on?" 'Cause every single event, it's not just like, "Oh, just put an, put an event on and people will come." Like, it doesn't work like that.
• 28:11
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, every single event, you have to tell people about it, have to create all the graphics, have to, you know, create the whole event, have to make sure the booking thing's working, and then keep telling people, keep telling people, keep telling people.
• 28:22
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's like, it's a lot.
• 28:23
  But then very quickly, I was like: So yeah.
• 28:25
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yeah, I feel you.
• 28:26
  But then very quickly, I was like: And I feel like most, most business owners will will feel that way too, you know?
• 28:30
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's like, it's not as simple as putting it up on the website and then they come.
• 28:35
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's, No.
• 28:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: it's the marketing that goes into it and feeling like you are telling people over and over again the same thing.
• 28:42
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yes.
• 28:43
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yeah.
• 28:44
  But then very quickly, I was like: But it's like even that can be, you know, fun.
• 28:46
  But then very quickly, I was like: You can make it fun.
• 28:48
  But then very quickly, I was like: like if you just keep coming back to, yeah, why are you doing it?
• 28:51
  But then very quickly, I was like: Why are you doing, why are you doing it?
• 28:52
  But then very quickly, I was like: Do you have any tips on how you make that fun?
• 28:56
  But then very quickly, I was like: like I think just remembering, like, what I love about, you know, whatever workshops are coming up.
• 29:00
  But then very quickly, I was like: So, at the moment, like over the la- next couple of months, we've got some really, really great things happening at the studio, like loads of epic offerings from teachers that are here at the studio that I love.
• 29:11
  But then very quickly, I was like: I've got a teacher coming from San Francisco next month as well.
• 29:15
  But then very quickly, I was like: And it's just when I'm doing all the admin and I'm doing the, the graphics and things like that it's just remembering for me, this is gonna be so cool.
• 29:24
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, so many people are gonna benefit from this.
• 29:26
  But then very quickly, I was like: And that makes it fun.
• 29:28
  But then very quickly, I was like: And also hot drinks, lots of different drinks make it fun.
• 29:33
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, yeah, make yourself a really nice beverage.
• 29:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yeah.
• 29:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: Cacao is really good for making it fun.
• 29:39
  But then very quickly, I was like: if you can do something like I, I tend to like, you know, ha- make a little space, light a candle, have a, get the incense.
• 29:46
  But then very quickly, I was like: You know, you can treat your admin like a yoga class as well.
• 29:49
  But then very quickly, I was like: Put on some, you know, like nice music, like make it a kind of ceremonial space.
• 29:53
  But then very quickly, I was like: I don't always do that.
• 29:54
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like sometimes I'm just like sitting on the floor like, "Ah, I gotta get this done." But you know, that's a lovely way to yeah, to tu- to tune in and, and make it more enjoyable.
• 30:04
  But then very quickly, I was like: I think I always think of, uh, s- you know, spiritual business owners having a little bit of that edge, not that we always use it, but, like, we know how to make things special and sacred and, and ritualize different things, and it's like if we can take that, that we might, you know, apply to different things and then put it into our business to make things like admin a little bit more enjoyable, then why wouldn't we use that, you know?
• 30:27
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's a little bit of a superpower, I think, that we can have when we know how to do that.
• 30:31
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yeah, yeah, definitely.
• 30:32
  But then very quickly, I was like: And it's like we're doing it for ourselves, so it kind of is fun.
• 30:35
  But then very quickly, I was like: If I was doing loads of admin for someone else, I'd probably be like,"Oh my God," like, "This is so boring." But because I'm doing it for the business and, like, for me really, it's like, "Oh, this is cool," you know?
• 30:46
  But then very quickly, I was like: We talked a little bit about, earlier, the mindset piece, you know, those kind of thoughts that we can have, and if we can, if we don't work with those, we can, you know, be a bit of a slave to them.
• 30:59
  But then very quickly, I was like: What have been kind of the biggest mindset shifts that you've had to make as a business owner?
• 31:05
  But then very quickly, I was like: Thinking that I need to make everyone happy is probably one of the biggest mindset shifts that I've had to have, and I'm still, like, not great at it.
• 31:14
  But then very quickly, I was like: But as a business owner, yeah, I do have to make decisions that sometimes people don't like.
• 31:21
  But then very quickly, I was like: They're not into them.
• 31:22
  But then very quickly, I was like: And yeah, I've really had to work hard at letting go of the need to be liked by everyone.
• 31:30
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's really good for me.
• 31:31
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, I feel like having a business is such a great teacher for me 'cause I get to g- come up against all these really hard things all the time.
• 31:40
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's definitely like growth on steroids.
• 31:43
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yes, totally.
• 31:45
  But then very quickly, I was like: Other mindset shifts, I think like things like that I used to tell myself like, "I'm bad at business.
• 31:52
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm bad at numbers.
• 31:53
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm bad at money.
• 31:54
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm not organized." These are things that I used to tell myself.
• 31:58
  But then very quickly, I was like: "I don't know what I'm doing." there's definitely an element of like, I don't know what I'm doing, and like, I really don't think anyone does really know what they're doing.
• 32:05
  But then very quickly, I was like: It like, we're all just kind of, yeah, bumbling around and, and that's just how it is being alive on Earth, I think.
• 32:13
  But then very quickly, I was like: there's a lovely part to that I like the unknown.
• 32:15
  But then very quickly, I was like: I like the great mystery.
• 32:16
  But then very quickly, I was like: But I used to-- I think I did used to really sell myself short and just think, "Oh, I'm just, I, I'm just silly.
• 32:22
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm just no one's gonna take me seriously," you know?
• 32:26
  But then very quickly, I was like: And a mindset shift that I've been working with, and it's, yeah, just through, I guess, evidence base.
• 32:32
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's like, hang on a minute, like I can run a business.
• 32:35
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like I'm doing it.
• 32:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's going really well.
• 32:37
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm, I'm still doing it.
• 32:38
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, I don't know, I, I read some stats the other day about yoga studios, which is like unfortunate that a lot of yoga studios, they don't make it past, I don't know, four years or… And that, you know, the same with so many businesses.
• 32:51
  But then very quickly, I was like: Obviously, there's that stat about like most businesses don't make it past the first two years or whatever the stats are.
• 32:57
  But then very quickly, I was like: I don't know.
• 32:57
  But then very quickly, I was like: See?
• 32:57
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm not very good at numbers, but I'm getting better.
• 33:01
  But then very quickly, I was like: yeah, so like that kind of self-worth piece has been a big mindset shift for me.
• 33:08
  But then very quickly, I was like: Being like, actually, yeah, like I am good at this, and that's, and, and that's, that's okay.
• 33:14
  But then very quickly, I was like: I don't always, you know, get it right and, but it's like there's, it's like, well, I must be doing something right.
• 33:21
  But then very quickly, I was like: Absolutely, I would say that.
• 33:24
  But then very quickly, I was like: it's like you don't know what you don't, what you're capable of, I think, until you're doing it sometimes.
• 33:29
  But then very quickly, I was like: And it's like, "Oh, no, actually I am doing this thing, and it's going okay.
• 33:34
  But then very quickly, I was like: Actually, maybe it's going well.
• 33:35
  But then very quickly, I was like: All right.
• 33:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: That's cool.
• 33:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: That's exciting." And I love what you shared there around evidence, and it's something where it's like you actually often can't think your way out of a mindset shift.
• 33:46
  But then very quickly, I was like: You probably actually need to go and do something, and then create some evidence for yourself that's gonna help you kind of bring that mindset forward Totally.
• 33:54
  But then very quickly, I was like: That's 100% it.
• 33:56
  But then very quickly, I was like: you can't just wait till you feel, like, ready or all the rest of it.
• 34:00
  But then very quickly, I was like: The, all of the mindset shifts, I think they do happen, like, on the tools, on the job, like, as you're doing it.
• 34:06
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yeah, but 100%.
• 34:08
  But then very quickly, I was like: Hmm.
• 34:08
  But then very quickly, I was like: I think sometimes too you don't realise how far you've come until, you know, maybe you come up against the same kind of challenge and then you're like, rather than maybe a few years ago where you might have spiraled if that thing had happened, now it's like, "Oh, actually I don't, I don't care as much," or like, it, it's not impacting me.
• 34:29
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm not coming up with all of these thoughts about how I'm terrible at whatever it is that I'm doing because of this external thing that's happened.
• 34:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: You're actually able to go, "Okay, I can see where maybe I could have done something differently," but like ultimately it's not the end of the world, and it doesn't impact your own self-worth as much as it might have previously.
• 34:47
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yeah, 100%.
• 34:49
  But then very quickly, I was like: And I'm always just like pinching myself like, "Wow," like, "I can't believe that I'm actually doing this." Like I-- and I do tr- I do reflect back and I think, you know, like little kid version of me would be like, "Whoa, that is so cool." Like, you know?
• 35:03
  But then very quickly, I was like: I think she'd like look at me now and be like, "Oh my God, I can't believe that this is what we're doing." Like, "This is our life." Like, "That's, that's awesome." And so I like to think about that, and I like to, yeah, just contemplate, yeah, how far I've come because, yeah, it wasn't always like this I think you mentioned part of your practice too is that gratitude piece, and I think something that can happen when, you know, we might have big goals and we're striving to do things and we wanna, you know, grow this way and make this happen, it can be very easy to feel like we're behind or, you know, we're not there yet.
• 35:40
  But then very quickly, I was like: And rather than taking that time to kind of go, "Oh, wow, look at how far I have actually come," like, "Look at what I have already created," we kind of move on to the next thing.
• 35:50
  But then very quickly, I was like: And I know for me anyway, having a gratitude practice really helps me kind of like anchor into like those moments of like, "No, I can see, you know, what I've created so far and I can be really grateful for that." And I can still want to create more, but I don't have to constantly be in this thing of like always striving and feeling like I'm behind on where it is that I wanna be.
• 36:13
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's really, really important to do that, to bathe in the goodness and the blessings, like, and yeah, to, to really, to really say thank you for that and to really remember that.
• 36:23
  But then very quickly, I was like: Something that I like to do is think about one thing that I have now, and I could reel off so many diff- so many things that once upon a time I really wanted.
• 36:32
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, I remember when I first started practicing yoga in-- when I was living in Canada at the time, in Toronto, and I was really getting into it.
• 36:40
  But then very quickly, I was like: And someone said to me, "Oh, have you ever thought about being a yoga teacher?" And I was like, "Whoa, like, that'd be the coolest job ever, but I could never do that." And then I was like, "Oh my God, maybe I could do it." And I remember thinking my 100% dream, like if I n- what would tell me that I'd made it in life was if I ever saw my name on a yoga studio timetable, like, Teacher Claire Lovelace.
• 37:02
  But then very quickly, I was like: So I like to remind myself of that because I was like, I so thought that that was not possible, but I was like, "That's how I know, like, I've 100% made it." But of course, because then you get the thing, and then I'm t- you know, and then it's like you- there's the next thing, you want the next thing, you want the next thing.
• 37:16
  But then very quickly, I was like: So yeah, I think it's really thousands of classes.
• 37:19
  But then very quickly, I was like: I know.
• 37:20
  But then very quickly, I was like: I know, I know.
• 37:21
  But then very quickly, I was like: I just couldn't have imagined it at all.
• 37:23
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's so cool to think about, you know, blowing your own mind, I think.
• 37:27
  But then very quickly, I was like: And then also knowing that then if you've been able to do that in that way, then you're able to do it again, right?
• 37:33
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, the, whatever that next goal is, there will be a moment where future version of you is looking back and going,"Oh," like, "I've done it," you know?
• 37:41
  But then very quickly, I was like: And I'm, or I'm doing it, and it's just a normal thing now.
• 37:45
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yes, exactly Something that I would love to kind of wrap up our conversation chatting with you about is a little bit more about your book, Wild Trust.
• 37:54
  But then very quickly, I was like: Can you share with us a little bit about the inspiration behind the book, you know, what Wild Trust is, you know, why you wrote this?
• 38:04
  But then very quickly, I was like: I've always loved writing, and I have just always expressed myself.
• 38:10
  But then very quickly, I was like: I feel like I express myself well via the written word.
• 38:14
  But then very quickly, I was like: And it's just something that's come naturally to me.
• 38:17
  But then very quickly, I was like: Again, not easy.
• 38:18
  But then very quickly, I was like: Writing is definitely not easy.
• 38:20
  But then very quickly, I was like: But um, yeah, I feel like I have a natural aptitude for it.
• 38:23
  But then very quickly, I was like: So it's something that I've always done.
• 38:24
  But then very quickly, I was like: Like, I've kept travel blogs.
• 38:25
  But then very quickly, I was like: I did loads of creative writing when I was much younger.
• 38:28
  But then very quickly, I was like: And then since I've been a yoga teacher I've written things about yoga, you know, like for, uh, my blog or for social media and things like this.
• 38:37
  But then very quickly, I was like: And since I've had the yoga studio, I've been sending out email newsletters, which started off just like your standard email newsletter, "This is what's happening at the studio," but they quickly evolved into big, long, sprawling stories about my life, about reflections, uh, about nature, about, you know, yoga teachings.
• 38:59
  But then very quickly, I was like: And people really loved those stories.
• 39:02
  But then very quickly, I was like: I mean, some of them did.
• 39:03
  But then very quickly, I was like: Lots of people unsubscribed as well, but the They weren't your people Yeah, exactly.
• 39:09
  But then very quickly, I was like: The people that really, you know, liked them, liked them, and I started getting lots of comments on these stories, and I'd go to the supermarket, and people that I wouldn't know would start coming up to me and be like, "Oh, I read your piece on this and that." And I'm like, "They've never even been to the studio.
• 39:23
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm like, "How are they even on the news- on the email list?" But I was like, "That's really cool." And so, after doing this for, yeah, eight years and writing lots of different pieces and I kept getting emails from people saying, "You should write a book.
• 39:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: You should write a book.
• 39:36
  But then very quickly, I was like: You should write a book," like over and over and over again.
• 39:39
  But then very quickly, I was like: And I'd always wanted to, wanted to write a book, but again, I thought I could never do that 'cause I'm not disciplined enough is what I thought, and I, I'm, can't focus, so how am I ever gonna write a book?
• 39:49
  But then very quickly, I was like: Again, I had to move past that limiting belief and do a mindset shift on that.
• 39:55
  But then very quickly, I was like: and so I thought, "Yeah, okay, I am gonna write a book." And I thought,"Well, I'm gonna write a memoir about my life because it's what I know.
• 40:04
  But then very quickly, I was like: I'm gonna start there." And I thought, "Well, I've already got all of these essays that I've been sending out for years.
• 40:12
  But then very quickly, I was like: Maybe I can use a bit of this as well.
• 40:15
  But then very quickly, I was like: I started the project.
• 40:16
  But then very quickly, I was like: I started pulling, like, pieces together, and then I did lots of kind of new writing and tried to, like, you know, fill in gaps and things like that.
• 40:23
  But then very quickly, I was like: And over the course of a few years, probably three years I wrote the book,"Wild Trust." And yeah, then did the whole process of, like, editing it, and yeah, and lots of, lots of moments of like, "This is all total crap." Like, "Who's gonna-- Like, no one wants to read this." Lots of moments of like, "Yeah, this is awesome," and then lots of moments of like, "What am I doing?" yeah, so it's a memoir about, about my life, about how I've somehow been able to follow, yeah, follow my intuition, trust, like, metaphorically jump out of the plane and trust that the parachute's gonna come up.
• 41:04
  But then very quickly, I was like: Metaphorically take a big leap of faith and trust that as I'm jumping, the net's going to appear.
• 41:11
  But then very quickly, I was like: And how that's, yeah, got me here in, to, to Australia, like, in doing this, living on the South Coast, m- running a yoga studio.
• 41:23
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yeah, through this kind of just jump, just go for it that I call Wild Trust.
• 41:28
  But then very quickly, I was like: It's such a good message, and I feel like such a great one, I think, for business owners, 'cause I, I think so often, I know that this is not written just for business owners, but from my perspective, it's like, requires so much of that trust, I think, and just taking the leap of faith when you don't necessarily know what the outcome's gonna be.
• 41:47
  But then very quickly, I was like: And I think what you share in this book and what we've talked about today has been such a great example of how that can obviously lead to all of the things that, you know, you want and desire.
• 42:00
  But then very quickly, I was like: Thank you so much for coming on the show today.
• 42:02
  But then very quickly, I was like: Before we wrap up, how can people find and connect with you?
• 42:06
  But then very quickly, I was like: my yoga studio is called Soul Tribe Studio in Mogo on the South Coast, and you can find us at soultribestudio.com.au.
• 42:15
  But then very quickly, I was like: Have very active Instagram, so that's @soultribestudio.
• 42:21
  But then very quickly, I was like: And you can email me, hello@soultribestudio.com.au Amazing.
• 42:27
  But then very quickly, I was like: We'll make sure we have all of those links in the show notes, and I'll also link to your book as well because it is a great one.
• 42:32
  But then very quickly, I was like: And if people wanna kind of dive into Wild Trust a little bit more, I think it'd be a great read Yeah, I keep forgetting that I've written a book.
• 42:40
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yes, I wrote a book.
• 42:41
  But then very quickly, I was like: You can buy the book at the studio.
• 42:43
  But then very quickly, I was like: You can buy the book at Maria Bookshop.
• 42:45
  But then very quickly, I was like: You can buy the book on Amazon.
• 42:47
  But then very quickly, I was like: Yes, go and buy "Wild Trust." Thank you.
• 42:50
  But then very quickly, I was like: Amazing.
• 42:51
  But then very quickly, I was like: Thanks so much, Claire