Life Update: Moving through Anxiety
Notes from the Heart
Hello you beautiful humans!
So, it’s been a few months since my last “Notes from the Heart” newsletter edition. On this lovely Autumn afternoon, I finally find myself with some quiet hours at the computer, and it feels like the perfect opportunity to write out this newsletter - a little life update on what I’ve been up to over the Summer, and now, Fall.
The summer started with a big push beyond my comfort zone: Leading our “Midnight Light in Iceland” retreats - the first time I had ever fully planned and executed such events that involved 2 straight weeks of guiding, teaching, and, well, being very social - quite the feat for super introverted me over here!
To be honest, I think I’m still recovering. 😂 But… at the same time… my heart is soaring with gratitude for the friendships made and the experiences had. The energy was seriously very special, and I still can’t believe how beautiful those weeks were. I felt so lucky to have somehow attracted a community of beautiful souls on those retreats, and that, along with a lot of inner self-work beforehand, really helped boost my confidence in myself to do more of these kind of events in the future.
In the past 10 years (well, probably all my life, really), self-doubt has always resided deeply in me. But in the lead-up to these summer retreats, I took time each day to sit with myself and meditate on how everything could go right (instead of the usual spiraling thoughts of every worst case scenario that could possibly happen, ha!). I took an online summer course on moving beyond anxiety, journaled lots, and worked on comforting & befriending the little anxious animal inside me. I learned how to be with it, how to treat every situation (and myself) with kindness, how to trust in each moment, to trust I had something worth sharing. And, though it’s an ever-ongoing process of inner work, I’ve found myself more at ease this summer than I’ve ever been before, when in the past I would have been in total complete mind chaos. ❤️
After our Iceland retreats, we hit the ground running back home in Canada. My partner Kris and I immediately joined a crew of 14 friends on a back-country trip in the Rocky mountains for a few days - dropped off by a helicopter in the high alpine, an adventure that involved hot sun and stifling forest fire smoke, which overnight turned to snow storms, lightning and 70km winds that snapped my beloved tent and forced us to sleep inside an abandoned glacier science hut. The hut rattled all night with the snow and wind coming through the broken walls and roof, and at one point as I huddled in my sleeping bag shivering, I thought Kris was gently caressing my shoulder to comfort me at 3am. Until I heard him snoring on the other side of the hut. Turns out, I had a pack-rat buddy (or several?) crawling over me and trying to join me in my sleeping bag. In my delirium, all I could do was huddle deeper into the bag and couldn’t stop laughing at the situation and how life led me to that point! What else can one do? 😂
The day we came out of the mountains, windblown and exhausted, we were already on our next mission: Get to Vancouver Island to start a week-long trek on the West Coast Trail! We had 24 hours to get from the Rocky Mountains to the Island (a 15-hour drive including the ferry ride), find a new tent along the way, sleep for a few short hours, and then embark on the trail. This trail holds a very special place in my heart, having done it solo over 7 years ago. I was so excited to go back, and this time, I wanted Kris to experience it with me. We ended up also being joined by one of my best friends (and super talented photographer), Rob Woodcox.
That week on the West Coast Trail was absolutely magical. I ended up being so inspired by the moody atmosphere that I filmed almost the entire experience, along with Kris, who somehow carried a super hefty 100-500mm lens for the entire week?! He captured some absolutely stunning footage!
This week, I just finished piecing together a “video journal” from all our footage… and though it’s not perfect, I have to say I’m quite fondly proud of it. It brings back that special feeling I had while on the trail - that peace that comes with being surrounded by rainforest and ocean all day, every day. I would be honoured for you to watch it:
After the West Coast Trail experience, we headed back home (currently Banff, AB), where I’ve been for the past month now, catching up on work and preparing for our West Coast Retreat next month (in which we still have one spot left open - scroll down to learn more!)…
Between the workloads, I’ve also been sneaking out every day I can to get in some serious hikes and to enjoy this late summer/early autumn weather before the high alpine snow renders hiking season finished for the year. This week, I just returned from 5 nights camping in Mount Assiniboine Park with Kris and Pepper. The colours are currently bursting in orange, golds and reds! I snapped this self portrait below, and the next day, we woke up to 6 inches of snow covering the landscapes. It’s wild how fast winter comes back to these mountains, and it makes me ever more appreciative of every fleeting summer/autumn moment.
Now, as I currently sip a cup of tea and watch the autumn leaves blowing past the window, I’m trying to slow down and really soak in this final week in the Rockies before the next travel/work whirlwind begins.
Up next, I’m headed Miami to spend a week at Adobe MAX, where I’ll be doing a talk about my work (which I’m equally honoured by and super nervous to do 😂)… after that, I head back to the West Coast of BC for client photoshoots, scouting, final prepping and then leading our upcoming week-long creative retreat at the end of October.
In all of this, I notice my social anxiety returning in waves, but I’m learning that that’s okay. I’m learning that it’s okay to be unsure. I’m learning that all the little bits of magic in life reside in the unknown, often surprising us with unexpected beauty. I’m learning that the harder I try to control how life plays out (situations, events, how people see me, how to make money), the less room is left for those magical, heartfelt experiences. I’m learning, and re-learning, to take each day as it comes, to trust each day as it comes, and to put kindness at the front of everything I do. To let the world handle it from there.
As I wrap this up, I’m curious to know from my fellow anxious humans out there - what do you do to help soothe your mind? What helps you to boost your confidence in yourself? Do you have any favourite methods for slowing your heart-rate and helping a chaotic mind feel a little more at peace? Feel free to leave a comment on this post, I’d love to hear from you!
I’m sending you all so much love and light as we enter into these Autumn days. It means a lot to me that you’re here reading this, or watching my latest video journal.
I’m so looking forward to sharing more of these moments with you here soon!
May you find peace and beauty around you, wherever you are.
With love,
Lizzy
Whimsical West Coast Retreat: Oct 27 - Nov 2
We have ONE SPOT remaining for this retreat…
The absolute deadline to apply for that spot is THIS MONDAY!!! (Sep 30th)
We have no plans of doing this retreat again in the future (this is a very special one-off), and we need to lock in our final number of participants by Sep 30th.
So, that means today is your last chance to apply to join us for this incredible week-long, all-inclusive West Coast Retreat - happening in less than a month!
If you’re interesting in learning how to create powerful and story-telling images in stunning natural locations, while forging friendships with our small group of amazing humans over the course of an inspiration-filled week, please read all the retreat info and send in your application here:
Editing Presets:
I’m so excited to have put together this pack of 20 Presets (+ 1 free editing tutorial), pieced together after 15 years of fine-tuning my editing process. I hope you love these as much as I do. 🥰
I'm very very introvert as well. I feel that the reason that I even become more anxious in social setting because I am very concerned how I would look for others or I have an expectation towards myself to be in the certain way. I feel that the best thing is to let all of that go and tune into the portal of your heart to express yourself from the heart. Express your truth. And people can feel that energy. That heart energy. I know that it's hard to do because we're so wired to use our mind all the time. I also struggle a lot as well. But I believe, it's ok I'm learning and trying bit by bit over time.
Laying my hand on a tree, placing my feet on a sandy beach, rubbing the soft edges of sea glass or beach stones and yoga. When feasible, yoga in nature:) These things instantly calm me.