I’m so honoured to be invited to the podcast The Soul Filler by Dr. Rali Gerog where we talk about self-love, body image and art photography.
It was a lovely summer day and I welcomed her in my studio in Poblenou. Here is the full interview - it’s packed with truth, art and real life examples.
Let me know if anything has resonated with you.
Here we are, after another workshop. Our busy digital life and desire to somehow get to do what we love and care about leads us to content creation despite the fact we like it to not.
Don’t worry, I’m here for you!
So many professionals and service providers literally “need” to create content for their business, but might not have the technical tools or the budges to hire someone who can do it for them. This is the exact reason I decided to create this workshop to help them and make it easier. Content is not scary and it doen’t necessarily has to be perfectly polished to seat with. What is important is to market your business, be “out there” on social and show what you’re about.
Personal connection is more important than the most perfect photo or video, because your clients will connect with you first and then the product/business. This is especially important for small businesses. Once you got it going and with practice you’ll see how easier it hets ever time to create and publish the content. You can literally make every little this a reason to post and connect with your audience.
Don’t wait until things are perfect or you feel ready - this day will never come. Start now, start as you are, start scared - it’s ok, we’re all on the same boat even if we might upgrade to better seats.
Here is a little behind the scenes from the workshops.
If you have any questions or would like to boo your spot - send me message.
How many times have you given all of your love to anyone else but yourself? How often do you fool yourself that if you show how deep and carrying your love is same will come back to you and fill you? Which person you usually put first - your child, your spouse, your family, etc. ?
Don’t get me wrong - giving love is the best you can do. And for sure the love and kindness you give out will come back to you in some way, share or form. But what you’re looking for outside of yourself will never complete you, will never make you feel the way you’re longing so desperately at times to feel.
There are different kinds of love, although the core feeling is the same. What we miss to acknowledge many times in our lives, especially when we’re young or unexperienced, is that the love we want is only possible to be received from someone or something outside of us. The love that we want has never been and will never be anywhere else but inside of our own Self.
The true ability to love and care about others is first reflected on the ability to love yourself. The way you treat yourself is crucial. We tent to give more than we actually have, emptying our own cup completely dry, giving to those we love from desperation and lack rather than abundance and fulfilment. What happens then? - we need up with a burn out, illness, relationship collapse and satisfaction. We say we did everything for them, we did everything they wanted, but what did we do for ourselves, what did you did for you?
How many times you neglected your own needs to please someone else, even if it’s your own child, to then receive unappreciation that made you feel even emptier? It’s hard to say no and ignore the needs of your loved ones, but you cannot give what you don’t have already. If you try to, and we all have done it, you do both party a disservice - you end up lacking value for them and drying out inside. A so called ‘act of love’ turns into a demonstration of toxic trades, patterns and behaviours.
Even on the plane they say “put your own oxygen mask first” - you can’t help outers if you don’t take care of yourself First. This is not a selfish act, but a necessity. It’s not something to be ashamed about, rather the contrary - showing act of self care is the way to teach your children and loved ones the importance and benefits of self-care, value and potential there is in the act.
So next time you feel tired, want to spent time with yourself, have a desire to nurture yourself in any way - do it! Do it for you, for your inner child and that will reflect on your current relationships. Your children will be happier to spent time with self-fulfiller parent, who let them drink from their overflowing cup.
You deserve it by birth right.
United Colors of Benetton a brand that went beyond fashion with its visuals and subject matter. A brand that made a mark, a change in our history. A brand the visuals of which were my most earliest reference and admiration of diversity in bodies, ethnicity, religion. A reference for how we should be - united!
Who is Oliviero Toscani?
Oliviero Toscani is an influential Italian photographer best known for his provocative advertising campaigns for the fashion brand Benetton from 1982 to 2000. Toscani's work for Benetton broke traditional advertising norms by using bold, socially charged imagery to spark conversation on global issues like racism, war, HIV/AIDS, and inequality. His controversial campaigns, often devoid of direct product references, transformed Benetton into a brand synonymous with social awareness, blending art, activism, and marketing in a groundbreaking way. Toscani's work remains a powerful example of using photography to challenge societal norms and inspire dialogue.
How powerful visuals can change the way we see our bodies regardless of fashion?
Oliviero Toscani's work for Benetton teaches us that body image can be approached with honesty, diversity, and inclusivity. Through his campaigns, Toscani showcased people of all races, ages, and body types, celebrating human individuality rather than adhering to conventional beauty standards. His unapologetic portrayal of real bodies and authentic stories challenges societal pressures and encourages acceptance of one's own body. Toscani's work reminds us that visual media can be a powerful tool to redefine beauty norms, promote body positivity, and inspire self-love by embracing the full spectrum of human diversity.
Your body - so uniquely created, magnificently intelligent, with senses that you need no explanation to, but just required to follow.
We often see our body as a regular object that serve us biologically and die. We focus more on ageing of the skin and shape of the muscles, than on the abilities to feel, regenerate itself and even guide us.
But our bodies a re more than what we can see and created for more than to use our sensations in a regular manner.
Are you aware of your inner wisdom? Have you experienced “strange” situations, dreams, thoughts or voices that have proven to you there’s something more than what we see?
Surely you have the feeling of a Deja Vu. Or when you think about somebody and they call you shortly. Or when somebody is untrue with you and despite their assurance of the oposite, you have this knowing deep down that later reveal the real truth.
Your body is here not only to serve you and help you live an amazing life, but to guide you to follow your deepest desires. It’s here with you, for you and you only - your personal assistant of the Universe who happens to be your best outfit too.
Pay attention. Keep a journal. Don’t ignore that quiet inner voice. It’s all aligned and here for you. You just carefully listen…