Such Different Vixens: Natalia Chouklina

I absolutely love meeting new people online. I love that the internet can so seamlessly bring two people together (one of us from Australia, one of us from Canada) and make the world feel just that little bit smaller.

Natalia and I hooked up via Skype recently and as soon as I saw her smile I melted. This woman has a huge heart. She’s here to give to the world, believe me. Beauty, joy and meaning are her lifeblood, and I don’t know about you, but even thinking about those three words paints a beautiful picture in my mind. Let’s learn more…

Sum up your mission in one sentence.

To empower brilliant women to connect to their inner wisdom and to create a life full of Beauty, Joy and Meaning by overcoming limiting beliefs and working through inner obstacles.

Can you share with us one of your most vulnerable moments (and in hindsight, what made it so beautiful?).

A few months ago I conceived the idea of creating a video interview series, which would feature inspirational women known for their beautiful wisdom and outstanding work in helping people create and live amazing lives. I dreamed of learning from them in order to share the goodness to the rest of the world.

Despite the fact that this was way out of my comfort zone (some of these women are published authors and appeared in national TV) and my inner critic’s had a lot to say about this endeavor, I went ahead with the idea and asked for the interviews. Many of them said yes! Unravel Yourself project is launching on July 15th, 2013!

Acknowledging the presence of fear and vulnerability but doing it anyway was a beautiful and empowering experience that allowed me to connect to my inner wisdom and to grow exponentially. Not to mention that working with these gorgeous women was a dream come true.

What turns you on?

My boy-friend. Sunshine!!! Swimming in the ocean. Beach hair. Great music. Fresh Flowers. Awesome books. Blogging. Courage, Truth and Kindness. Good manners. Getting stuff done! Libraries. Anything to do with intuitive living – astrology, psychics, oracle cards – LOVE the woo woo stuff!

What makes your blood boil?

This is a very rare occurrence these days but it makes me very sad to see my friends and family hurt. I also get teary-eyed when I witness disrespect towards elders.

How do you define confidence?

It’s about trusting your intuition and your actions without seeking external validation. Knowing what’s true for you and holding that in your heart at all times is a very potent brand of confidence.

When was the last time you experienced pure, unadulterated joy? Can you give us the juicy details?

I always find joy in the simplest things – it has been a recurring theme in my life.

Waking up in the morning and seeing my boy-friend’s sleepy face fills me with joy and gratitude. I look forward to these moments.

Witnessing the birth of my God daughter Makena and holding her shortly after she entered our world changed my life forever. She embodies joy and every time I see her, I can’t help but feel so happy and blessed to be a part of her life.

What makes you feel most ENLIVENED?

So many things!

– Walking on the beach, breathing the fresh air in and feeling the wind on my face.

– Feeling of openness and freedom after doing a hot yoga class.

– Travelling and exploring. Anywhere and anything!

– Writing, especially when beautiful words just flow.

– Cooking and eating delicious and nutritious food.

– Sleeping… Naps are the best!

– Laughing till my tummy hurts.

– Knowing and feeling the unconditional love and support from my family and friends. It’s one of the most precious gifts.

Combining my passions with a business I love makes me feel …

So blessed. Inspired. Grateful. It took me a long time to get here, I had to overcome a lot obstacles and inner fears. I’m so glad I did because this was all worth it!

Few people know this about me, but I ….

was a HUGE Queen and Freddie Mercury fan. My high-school friends and I went as far as organizing a fan club and publishing newsletters full of poetry and stories about the band. True story!

I’m also addicted to gelato!

I secretly wish I could …

Sing. It’s such a powerful and inspirational way of self-expression. It moved me to the core.

To me, the words ‘Such Different Skies’ mean ..

Curiosity, Adventure and Freedom.

One of my favorite quotes by Anne Lamott comes to mind: “Write toward vulnerability. Don’t worry about appearing sentimental. Worry about being unavailable; worry about being absent or fraudulent. Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it.”

She talked about writing but I feel that it rings just as true for living a meaningful life. We are all just writing our own stories so I say we make them beautiful, full of joy and meaning!

I absolutely adore Natalia’s definition of confidence. What about you? Let us know how you’d define your own brand of confidence in the comments below!

Natalia is a life coach, writer and a creator of Achieve the Impossible. Through her one-on-one coaching, e-products and the blog, she empowers her clients to transform their lives in practical, sustainable and meaningful ways, to work through fears and to discover a life of Beauty, Joy and Meaning.