YOU ARE ENOUGH.

BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO

Live From Your Heart:

When I started Naturopathic Medical school I was ecstatic to be on the path to helping people create their highest state of well-being. Then, day by day, I found my own mental, emotional, and physical health declining as I studied for long hours and lost touch with my sense of awe and wonder for living.

One thing that got me through my first year of medical school was my constant commitment to my morning yoga practice. Those few moments of taking care of my body, mind, and spirit were all I needed to get through the day. Student colleagues often commented that I always seemed so relaxed and capable. However, on the inside, I was feeling tragically unhappy.

Then I saw a sign in the hallway that read, “Intuitive Development Through Nature And Shamanism.” Every word resonated with something I wanted more, and I found myself attending every class possible with the unconventionally happy and eccentric teacher of Shamanism.

Upon graduation, I slowly realized that I didn’t want to be a doctor. I had completed medical school to earn the degree, but it wasn’t my passion. Shamanism was my new passion because I could help people be happier, and I saw being happy as the most important aspect of being healthy.

I struggled to admit this to myself and others, leading to a confused and disjointed start to my career. I tried starting my medical practice, only to find that people usually sought me out for my Shamanic skills. So, after a couple of years of avoiding it, I finally began to market myself as a teacher and practitioner of Shamanism and my life and career unfolded.

After about three good years of building my practice around Shamanism, my commitment was tested when all at once, a large portion of my regular clients had life changes that caused them to stop seeking my services. With my income drying up and my marketing not yielding results, I took a high-paying job working for an MD. I had prayed for reliable income instead of praying for my most fulfilling life to unfold.

As I continued to work as a doctor, I felt less and less satisfied with my work and my life. In fact, I felt miserable again, as I had in medical school. I was sacrificing my true nature, desires, and soul calling to pursue an unconventional path.

Every day while driving to and from the office, I fantasized about starting my Shamanism practice again, until finally, the day came that I couldn’t deny my instincts any longer. The only problem was that I had zero time to do anything except work at the clinic. So, I made the difficult decision to walk away from my career as a doctor to pursue my passion for Shamanism.

It took courage to do that, but the choice to honor my heart’s desires has truly changed me as a person. I’m happy and fulfilled every day, and nothing is more important than that.

Being someone who loves science and spirituality, I’ve found myself seeking to describe what makes Shamanism so profoundly transformational. I find in medicine that when people understand how and why something works, they’re more likely to do it. So I’ve adapted my programs to include ancient techniques in a way that fits with modern interpretations and times.

Now that I’ve come to terms with my inner truth I feel I’m finally being authentic to myself and to others around me. I now understand that I can’t give the best of myself unless my heart is fully invested in what I’m giving.

Here are some key points to help you live from the heart:

● Explore what you want to learn, study, and practice. That calling is your soul saying “yes” to something and if you honor it you’ll be rewarded with happiness.

● If life gives you hard lessons, go with the flow, yet be true to yourself as often as you can and the tides will turn back in your favor.

● Living from the heart means you’d rather be true to yourself than be “normal” and you embrace that the world needs your particular talents and abilities, even if they’re odd or eccentric. In fact, the world needs this more than ever.

Every day is a new adventure for me, and I’d be happy for the adventure of connecting with you through email at Eve@EveHarmony.Health or via my website at www.eveharmony.health. May the beauty of life surround you!