Welcome to This Is Me Thursdays! To read other posts in this series, click here. If you want to be involved, please email me for more details! Today, learn more about Sarah Steckler, someone I connected with when I used to have my old blog series Self-Love Saturday!
Sarah and I have been connected over Instagram for years now, and it’s been so fun to stay in touch for so long. She’s taught me so much about being mindful and in the present moment, as well as redefining what productivity actually means. She also talks a lot about self-love, anxiety, her adorable dog who’s also named Bella, music and so much more. She’s such a creative and wonderful person, and I know you’ll love her as much as I do. Visit her website and podcast, and let her know you saw her post here! You can also buy her Mindful Productivity Planner and her Daily Productivity & Brain Dump Book!
This Is Me: Sarah Steckler
Share a little about yourself and what you’re up to these days.
This past year has been about getting back to basics both in my business and personal life. It’s meant decluttering things that don’t drive my business forward and pouring more of my time and energy into routines and people in my life that make me a better person. This next year is all about working on my home sanctuary and getting things to a new level of organization. In business, it’s about focusing on the growth of the Podcast and helping more creatives self-publish their own journals!
What does life purpose mean to you? Does it really exist for you/all of us, or is it just some pipe dream?
To me, my life purpose is always my presence and being as present as possible in the moments that I’m in. There’s endless pressure nowadays to strive for more, to do more, to “succeed” in bigger ways, and while I’m all for a challenge and for stretching myself out of my comfort zone, my main goal in life is to be able to have the stillness around me that allows me to sink in and be grateful for how simple life can be. The more I can intertwine the work I do in the world with the ability to be intentional and aware each day, the more I’m doing it right.
What motivates and inspires you in your life?
I’m a type 5 on the enneagram which means that data and information drive me. Any opportunity I have to learn is something I’ll jump on and continual education fuels my mind and soul. I love learning new things about myself, the world, how things work, and how I can create efficiency loopholes in my life. I’m also a big fan of watching people go outside of the norm and do whatever they want by being true to themselves, which inspires me big time!
Is what you do now what you always imagined doing? Why or why not, and what have you learned because of that?
I love this question! And I’m happy to say yes and no. I never imagined I’d be running a successful online business, creating journals, and helping others launch their creative ideas out into the world, but it’s everything I ever could have wanted and more. I always knew I wanted to be out in nature as much as possible and work in yoga pants and that’s my reality now! The biggest lesson I’ve learned through all of this and finding my path is that you have to be open to it looking different than what you think you want. There are many “hows” to what you truly want.
What’s something you desperately want other people to know or realize that may help them in their lives?
When it comes to being productive and reaching those big dreams in your life, there’s immense power in focusing on ONE thing at a time and going hard with it and it’s SO important to focus on what’s POSSIBLE over what’s perfect. If you can remind yourself of these two things daily, you’ll do the thing in no time!
How do you define belonging and connection, and how have your definitions changed over time?
I’d love to say that connection starts from within because it does but it’s also not that simple. Connection and a sense of belonging is a combination of playing with the canvas you’re given. Painting and brushing and also noticing how the colors bleed on the material you have in front of you. The more I “paint”, the more connection I find because I see more of myself in both the similarities and juxtaposition of how I melt into the world around me. In the past when I’ve felt like I didn’t fit in somewhere, it only led me to find connection and belonging within myself and with a new group of people. I think this process is ongoing and it never ends. We have to keep painting and exploring and navigating our path. That is how we belong.
What’s something you make sure to do every day/week/month that helps you practice self-care and self-love?
I have to do a daily (or every other day at the least) brain dump. Taking 10 minutes to write out all of the ideas in my head, all my worries, all my creative ideas, all of my to-do and catch up items. It gives me so much more mental energy and peace of mind. I use the Daily Productivity & Brain Dump Book to do this and it seriously has made my life so much more rewarding. It’s a daily practice of decluttering and clearing my mind.
How do you define success in your life and/or business?
I define the success of my life and business at any given time by three pillars; is it sustainable, are you connected, is it energy/joy producing? When these three elements are met, I truly feel like I’m thriving all around.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
If and when you feel stuck (because you will throughout your life) just remember to start from where you are, in the moment you’re in, with what’s available to you right now.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Steckler
