Keep your skills up-to-date and provide your clients with the best support. Continual education is essential for professional development.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Rosa Talavera-Kaufman.
Rosa has been a counselor, writer, and life coach for over 20 years. During her career path, she learned the importance of living purposefully. She feels that purpose leads to fulfillment and joy. Her life coaching practice focuses on improving clients’ emotional and physical well-being through spiritual and holistic methods. Visit www.talaverallc.com to learn more.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Igrew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, before moving to Puerto Rico in my early teens. As a child, I experienced many challenges, and I would say that overcoming a volatile relationship with my father took some time. Additionally, I struggled with infertility during my first marriage, and my late 30s brought me a painful divorce.
In reflecting on my life, I’ve learned to appreciate and accept the lessons these challenges have taught me. Without growth, moving forward is difficult, and repeating the same mistakes is inevitable. Using challenging experiences as opportunities for self-development can lead to discovering effective approaches to situations that are calm, clear, compassionate, and logical. I discovered my authentic self along this journey, allowing me to become a better version of myself, a person I never imagined I could become. My life is currently going well (I had a son with my first husband after four years of treatment) and I’m in a healthy and stable relationship. I live in beautiful Colorado, where I enjoy hiking, off-roading, golfing, snowshoeing, and attending concerts all year round.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
Throughout my career, I have volunteered at women’s shelters as a speaker and fashion stylist. My passion has always been empowering women to live happy and fulfilling lives. Growing up in a volatile household, surviving a painful divorce, and managing mental health issues were some of the topics I discussed. I would also assist those seeking employment with dressing for an interview.
At the beginning of one meeting, I felt extremely unwelcome by the audience. I felt the weight of hostile stares and tense body language as I began to speak. However, throughout the presentation, they became more receptive to my message. There wasn’t much harshness in the body language or looks. One young lady particularly stood out to me. It was clear that she was angry, incredulous as she looked at me. Afterward, she asked me for some assistance in choosing an outfit for a job interview the following day. The sudden change in her behavior intrigued me. As we gathered clothing and accessories, she thanked me for showing compassion and respect during my speech.
I learned from this interaction that sometimes all you have to do is show someone you care, that you are genuinely interested, that you won’t judge them, and that you validate them. It’s common for us to propose solutions to problems that we haven’t even encountered ourselves or can’t comprehend unless we’ve experienced them. Being compassionate, empathic, and listening to others goes a long way.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Not listening to my intuition would be my answer. Intuition is the ability to know something without reasoning or rational thought. It is a kind of inner voice alerting you to something impending. You know, that feeling you get without being aware of it.
My biggest mistake of not listening to that gut feeling was several years ago, when my son took someone home during a winter storm, and I immediately knew he shouldn’t have driven. As an overprotective mother, I dismissed the feeling, gave him a blessing, and one hour later I was in a hospital praying he would survive a serious car accident. Although he has since recovered fully, I have learned to listen to the inner voice or feeling when it communicates with me.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
Through holistic life coaching, I help clients improve their overall well-being and personal growth. The following are my main focuses:
- Reduce stress by teaching them meditation, mindfulness, and deep breathing exercises.
- Provide a safe space for emotional expression and healing.
- Emotional regulation. I assist clients in identifying and understanding their emotions. Changing negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs fosters a positive outlook.
- Help create realistic and achievable goals.
- Provide spiritual practices that align with their beliefs, such as meditation, yoga, sound healing, etc.
- Finding meaning and purpose in your life.
- Provide career guidance. You will find greater fulfillment and joy in your career if you are passionate about it.
- Resilience. I provide techniques for building resilience and coping with challenges.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
1. Work on managing stress. Practicing mindfulness or meditation for a few minutes a day can calm the mind and improve focus. Before getting up or reaching for the phone, meditate and practice gratitude for one minute as soon as you wake up.
2. Engage in activities you enjoy and find relaxing such as reading, going for walks, playing an instrument, or watching your favorite movie to name a few.
3. Spend quality time with friends and family. Strong social connections can improve mood and provide emotional support. Spend time talking with loved ones during dinner instead of watching TV. If you have financial constraints or schedule conflicts, you can take a staycation. I used to set up a tent in the backyard and camp with my boys for the night.
4. Self-care. Exercise and maintain a balanced diet whenever possible. Go on a 30-minute walk, incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, control portions, and get enough sleep.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Helping yourself is a form of self-care. Don’t neglect your mental health out of fear of judgment or stigma. If support isn’t an option due to financial constraints, rely on friends, family, or spiritual practices for assistance.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Becoming Your Authentic Self would be my choice. The journey to becoming your authentic self involves self-discovery and growth. It’s about aligning your life with your true values, passions, and beliefs to achieve a more fulfilling life. Take some time to consider your values, beliefs, and desires. Accept your strengths and weaknesses, and practice self-compassion. Authenticity requires self-acceptance. Think about whether your social and familial beliefs are serving your authentic self. Invest time in your passions. This will allow you to discover what your true interests are. You may uncover new paths to self-discovery when you step out of your comfort zone. Maintain a sense of honesty with yourself and others. Last but not least, be patient. Authenticity is an ongoing process that requires persistence and patience. An authentic person acts and behaves according to their core identity. It’s about leading your life with compassion, perspective and confidence. When you live authentically, you can feel happier, more confident, and more positive about yourself and others.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Life coaching, therapy, and counseling are rewarding but challenging careers. It would have been helpful to know and understand the following beforehand.
- Keep emotional resistance and regulation in check. Dealing with clients’ emotional pains and struggles regularly can be challenging if you haven’t developed a routine for self-care to prevent burnout.
- Establishing boundaries with clients. Client-provider relationships are maintained in this way.
- Understanding and supporting your clients effectively requires cultural competence and openness.
- Keep your skills up-to-date and provide your clients with the best support. Continual education is essential for professional development.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental health is most dear to me. Leading a balanced, healthy, and fulfilling life requires good mental health. It can enhance your quality of life, improve your physical health, strengthen relationships, and ensure emotional regulation. In addition, it can help individuals develop resilience and grow as individuals. It is important to prioritize mental health as part of overall health.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
You can find more information about my work at www.talaverallc.com. Please feel free to contact me via the Zant App at rosa.k@zantprovider.app or rdtalavera@gmail.com.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
