I always say..."women, we go through so much". That's not to discredit men and their struggles but it's important that we as women understand that we truly do share something from all walks of life. We always feel alone in our struggles, that no one understands or will be able to support and stand by us through the things we go through. We are naturally giving and nurturing. We tend to put others before ourselves but there is nothing like finding and discovering a balance within ourselves and in life. Starting this blog, I hoped that I would definitely develop that for myself. A balance of self-love and worth but still being able to be supportive, loyal, understanding, patient, and honest. As well as, in all my choices, relationships, career and my lifestyle would require of me. I needed to learn myself first thou.
Doing this blog series has been a journey of it's own. For everyone that chooses to be apart of this little dream of mine, I am grateful. They are a reflection of me in some aspect and that's a beautiful thought. I believe in some ways they resonate with me as well. My only desire is to introduce them in the most authentic way I can from my perspective ...out of the pieces that they so openly share with me. And, I honestly believe Nathalie is one of the most vulnerable Goddesses I have interviewed thus far. The timing of us crossing paths on instagram couldn't be better. I was so touched, inspired by her journey and process so far. Nathalie Johansson, a Swedian native, is the creator of Queens and Babes, who just so happens to be a Queen-Babe with beauty and brains to match. Strolling through her instagram, I couldn't get enough of the inspiration and wanted to know more.
checkout my interview with her below...
Q&A
1. Were you named after someone?
Not that I know of :)
2. What is your ethnic background?
I am a Scandinavian mix, with roots from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Russia. But born and raised in Sweden.
3. What or Who inspired you?
I have always had a curiosity for how things work, everything from the tiny cells in our bodies to black holes in the universe. Knowledge inspires me. Since I had children I became more inspired to start my own business to have more flexibility and freedom. When it comes to people who inspire me the most I would say the Swedish entrepreneur Isabella Löwengrip, neuro scientist Mark Robert Waldman, youtuber Eric Ho and Aaron Doughty, author Louise Hay, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins.
4. What did you want to be when you were a child?
I have always been very interested in science and physics in particular. Therefore, combined with my fascination for space and the unknown, I wanted to be an astronaut.
5. Where did the idea of Queens and Babes come from?
I wanted to help and inspire especially women, to work with their mental health and self-love so that they dare to go after what they want in life and live lives of fulfillment. The idea came after I had been suffering from depression for years, had a burnout, was sick by the breast implants I had at the time, and what I thought was "the love of my life" left me - all at once. I was lying on the balcony floor all day long for almost a month. When I was at my worst I even questioned the reason to live. I have my children on half-time and somehow I managed to take care of them when I had them, but I didn't have the strength to take care of myself.
Since I've always wanted to understand how things work (why I have the fascination for science), I needed to understand the state I was in. Even if I questioned the reason to live just for a moment, it scared me. The feelings were just overwhelming. I didn't understand my own body and mind. Why couldn't I control my thoughts and emotions? So I started looking for answers. I started reading all day long, I meditated to relax my mind, and did yoga to prepare my body for the explant surgery. It took time to heal both mentally and physically, but I healed.
During this journey I got to understand the WHY. I kind of looked back at my life and finally understood WHY I was depressed, WHY I had been sexually taken advantage of, WHY I was never in a healthy relationship, WHY I had been emotionally and physically abused, WHY I was sick, WHY I was stuck doing things I wasn't passionate about and WHY I was neglecting myself. It all came from within. Previous events and experiences in my life had caused blockages in my mind and created a limiting belief system. Neural pathways in my brain had been wired to create a lot of negative thinking. I always thought of myself as a happy and positive person (this was how the most people saw me as well). But I realized when I started to take notes of my thoughts that I was deeply depressed and had almost only negative thoughts in my head. I might not have expressed them so much, but they were there all the time.
After have been seriously ill and have healed, I knew I had to help others heal as well and/or become a better version of themselves. There is so much potential in every one of us, but we are being held back by our own minds. There is a life for us, free of worry, fear and anxiety if we choose to work for it. Because the mind is a powerful tool, if we use it right. And why I am reaching out to specifically women, is because women are overexposed to very unrealistic expectations on how to look and behave by media and the society (more than men I would say). We are more objectified, and we're still a minority in leadership roles world wide. And in some countries we don't even have the same rights as men. Therefore I would love if every woman knows that she is a powerful QUEEN and a stunning BABE, and loves and invests in herself.
6. What is your goal for Queens and Babes ?
My goal is to help women world wide to reach their fullest potential, and find balance between body, mind and spirit, and inspire them to do the same.
7. What has been the hardest part in developing and maintaining your brand so far?
The hardest part has been having too many ideas at the same time. Not really knowing what direction to take and make clear goals. It's something that needs to be worked with every day and keep the motivation to do so. It takes a lot of discipline.
8. What would you tell your younger self when it comes to where you are now in life?
Whatever happens to you is meant to happen. Stay strong and have faith. You will understand in the right time.
9. What do you want to be known for?
I want to be known for making a difference to people's lives.
10. What have been 3 key points in branding yourself so far? • Positivity and empowerment • Having feminine layouts - sending off cute vibes • Blending spirituality with neuroscience which normally doesn't go hand in hand if you ask a scientist. But I think everything is intertwined.
11. What advice would you give to people aspiring to develop a brand ?
Find out what you're passionate about, because then you will find the motivation and you'll do a better job. Take marketing and sales courses, read, read read, and watch youtube channels. And also, don’t be afraid to get out there and do some networking!
Now for some fun questions.
12. How do you relax?
I meditate, dance or do yoga. When I don’t have much time and I'm very stressed I do breathing exercises. It is very important to calm the mind.
13. What is your must-have item when it comes to your personal style?
I love dresses and wear them almost all the time except in the winter cause I get too cold. If I don’t wear a dress it has to be cute and feminine. I own a lot of pink clothes and accessories. And I really need to wear my watch since I'm a time optimist!
14. Do you have any goals left for 2018?
The main goal is to get my business up and running, and expand my brand so that I can help more women. And I hope to be able to become more flexible in my yoga practice and get into my splits again.
15. How do you keep yourself motivated and positive?
It is all about perspective and choices. I choose to feel blessed and excited every day I wake up. Our thoughts create our emotions why I make sure to control the thoughts running through my head. With positive thoughts we get positive emotions. It is not always easy, but the key is to first be aware of the thoughts that you have. After you are aware, you can start to change them. I spent too many years not feeling great, so I won’t waste any more time! I don’t look at things very seriously, I try to have fun and not worry about what’s next.
For more follow @queensandbabes or +@nathalienouvelle
