WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN US ON A RETREAT? WHAT EXCITED YOU MOST ABOUT THE RETREAT?
I decided to come on a Pangea Dreams retreat because I felt like I was at a bit of a standstill with my Instagram and blog. I was feeling unmotivated, uninspired, and not really sure what to post. I knew I had these creative juices in me, but was struggling to unleash them and allow them to free flow. I was most excited about all of the workshops that were included in the retreat. I felt like they were going to give me the kick I needed to get me inspired and feeling confident enough to work towards becoming an influencer. I was also incredibly excited to meet the wonderful hosts and the other boss babes that were coming on the retreat!
HOW DID YOUR LIFE CHANGE AFTER THE RETREAT?
After the retreat, I honestly feel more inspired than ever. Before, I was lacking the confidence to feel I could really do this whole social media-influencing thing. I know it takes time to build and grow, but I now feel so much more confident that I am capable. I also have an insane amount of content I can post which is amazing! My confidence towards reaching out to brands, creating a media kit, photography, editing, content creation, and what makes a good photo has really been boosted as well, which to me, is my biggest takeaway. I also loved the meditation and self-healing component to the retreat. I am already a meditator and yogi, but that doesn’t mean I was up to date on how to take care of myself. I’m much more conscious of how I take care mentally, and I set intentions for the week now to ensure I’m meeting my goals. I still work my 40-hour job, but I’m making my personal creativity more of a priority, as well as now taking full responsibility for my work’s social media account, which is huge for me!
DID THE RETREAT LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
Honestly, I tried to have zero expectations of the retreat. I wanted to go into the experience with a totally fresh perspective and a beginner’s mind. I was there to learn and didn’t want to feel like I knew anything already or knew what was going to go on. But, if I did have expectations, they definitely would have been surpassed. I was totally blown away with the knowledge of the hosts, the kindness and willingness to connect of the other women, the hospitality and beauty of the resort and Tulum, and the positivity that surrounded the entire experience. There is so much negativity and competition that is associated with social media, and to be in a setting where there was absolutely none of that was so comforting and motivating.
DID PANGEA DREAMS SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS? WHAT SKILLS DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE RETREAT?
Pangea definitely set me up for success. It is their whole ethos that they want women to succeed in the online world and I could feel that the entire time. The hosts made me feel comfortable straight away, and I felt like I could go to them with any questions, concerns, thoughts, or victories. The biggest takeaway skills for me are from the photography and editing workshops. The editing tutorials, as well as the time spent shooting photos and watching the hosts take their own was really valuable to me. Also, the self-care skills we learned from our resident healer on the retreat were an amazing compliment to everything. It reminded me how important it is to take care of ourselves first, and everything else will naturally follow.
TELL US ABOUT THE PHOTO SHOOTS AND CONTENT THAT WAS CREATED WHILE ON THE RETREAT!
Well of course we got a bit unlucky, and it rained nearly everyday on the retreat, so we had to do our best to take advantage of the hour or two of sunshine we had to shoot! We were given ample amount of time to shoot around our gorgeous hotel, as well as designated photo shoot time at the Tulum Ruins, in Tulum town and at cafés, on beautiful beaches, and really wherever else we could allow our visions to come to life. The hosts were really successful at giving us each attention during photo shoots, offering to photograph us, give us pointers, or help us with our own cameras. We were also gifted some fabulous bathing suits and clothing, so we were able to shoot those brands to get a feel of what it means to collaborate. I definitely have enough content to post for months. I even find myself editing photos at work…shh…don’t tell my boss!
HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE SURROUNDED BY OTHER LIKEMINDED WOMEN? HOW DID THAT MOTIVATE YOU?
This was the most fulfilling part of the retreat for me. Straight away we were all on Pangea Dreams for the same reason; we wanted to succeed online. The difference though is that we were all there to also help each other on their journey and offer support in any capacity. This was major for me. I didn’t really realize how much I was lacking in confidence about my content until I was forced to look at that face on. But having women around me who were either feeling similar, or who had felt this way once and overcame it, was truly empowering. Being surrounded by genuine, authentic, and kind women who uplift each other to achieve their goals is something I hope every woman can experience in their lifetime.
