Seed to sprout
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
Shara builds a safe space for women to finally talk about the things they have been keeping quiet. Learn more about how Shara is challenging our beliefs and supporting women through every step of their journey.
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What could YOU build with the right community?
The world we live in was not built to support women in their transitions. Women are often told to accept the way their lives are. Women often don’t feel safe talking about their experiences for fear of judgment. Shara is done with that. Everything she does builds a safe space for women to finally talk about the things they have been keeping quiet. Shara is building programs, classes, workshops, coaching, and so much more to help women through every step of their journey. We felt inspired as we learned from Shara recently. Continue below for the whole interview.
Question 1
Tell us a little bit about you.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Tennessee. For 15 years I bounced around the mid-west as I was having my kids. I moved here to Utah about a year ago. I have 5 kids and right now I am in grad school. I am studying clinical social work. The plan is to work with women in life transitions as a therapist as well as a program and workshop creator. I want to write books someday.
Tell us a little bit about you.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Tennessee. For 15 years I bounced around the mid-west as I was having my kids. I moved here to Utah about a year ago. I have 5 kids and right now I am in grad school. I am studying clinical social work. The plan is to work with women in life transitions as a therapist as well as a program and workshop creator. I want to write books someday.
Question 2
Why do you do what you do?
What motivates you?
Throughout my life, I have recognized that women experience a lot of very specific life transitions and unfortunately, the world is not built to support them. All of my energy around my work is to support women through these changes in a way that feels holistic (encompasses their entire being) as well as engaging, inviting, and safe. I work really hard so that when women leave my space, they feel better about themselves and their experiences. This shows up in all of my classes, workshops, and coaching as well as my previous doula work. I am all about education so you can feel more empowered (stronger, more capable, aware) in your experiences.
If we continue to function in a world that doesn't support women, we are losing a lot of power. Not everyone is willing to think about the power of women (especially when we are talking about period week or birth)which is why in everything I do, it's always an invitation.
To sum up, I noticed a need that I experienced personally and I noticed the other women around me were experiencing. Women have a hard time with their personal transitions (married to not married, pregnant to not pregnant, not a mother to mother) . I am interested in bringing to light the things we don't talk about as women.
If we continue to function in a world that doesn't support women, we are losing a lot of power. Not everyone is willing to think about the power of women (especially when we are talking about period week or birth)which is why in everything I do, it's always an invitation.
To sum up, I noticed a need that I experienced personally and I noticed the other women around me were experiencing. Women have a hard time with their personal transitions (married to not married, pregnant to not pregnant, not a mother to mother) . I am interested in bringing to light the things we don't talk about as women.
Why do you do what you do?
What motivates you?
Throughout my life, I have recognized that women experience a lot of very specific life transitions and unfortunately, the world is not built to support them. All of my energy around my work is to support women through these changes in a way that feels holistic (encompasses their entire being) as well as engaging, inviting, and safe. I work really hard so that when women leave my space, they feel better about themselves and their experiences. This shows up in all of my classes, workshops, and coaching as well as my previous doula work. I am all about education so you can feel more empowered (stronger, more capable, aware) in your experiences.
If we continue to function in a world that doesn't support women, we are losing a lot of power. Not everyone is willing to think about the power of women (especially when we are talking about period week or birth)which is why in everything I do, it's always an invitation.
To sum up, I noticed a need that I experienced personally and I noticed the other women around me were experiencing. Women have a hard time with their personal transitions (married to not married, pregnant to not pregnant, not a mother to mother) . I am interested in bringing to light the things we don't talk about as women.
If we continue to function in a world that doesn't support women, we are losing a lot of power. Not everyone is willing to think about the power of women (especially when we are talking about period week or birth)which is why in everything I do, it's always an invitation.
To sum up, I noticed a need that I experienced personally and I noticed the other women around me were experiencing. Women have a hard time with their personal transitions (married to not married, pregnant to not pregnant, not a mother to mother) . I am interested in bringing to light the things we don't talk about as women.
Question 3
Where did your passion come from?
There are so many experiences. For one, I was the only girl in my family and I didn't have any sisters. I felt awkward in my transitions because no one else was experiencing what I was. I didn't have any one to let me know that it was normal. Then there are a lot of experiences I had with the other women in my life. One of my friends didn't have any support when her baby was born. It felt so abrupt to me that we are like "here have a baby" and then no one talks to the woman afterwards. When I was doing research for my own baby, I became even more aware of the problem.
My first pregnancy, I experienced a miscarriage and it was such a shocking, unexpected, painful and lonely experience. I had two groups of women respond to me. The first group was very compassionate. The other group of women were very dismissive. Most of them had experienced a miscarriage before. They would say things like "you'll get pregnant again" and "this isn't a big deal" They had no compassion because no one had shown them compassion. The other part of this group were women that hadn't experienced a miscarriage and they just didn't have the words. It became so apparent to me that women experience things silently over and over again. I didn’t want to be in the silent majority any more. I wanted to be a voice and create some light in that darkness.
With all these experiences as well as the experiences with having my own children, I began to articulate what I wish I had had and what I wanted to create for women. I wanted someone who was educated AND enthusiastic. We often only get one or the other. I wanted the expertise plus the warmth of a friendship and that is how I show up for the people I work with.
I don't think it's healthy helpful or supportive when we as women continue to quietly experience the phases of womanhood. Women should not stay in the quiet zone. It is time to say the things and to talk about our experiences. That is why I am working through this masters degree so that I can have a more thorough reach and start offering therapy. It’s not enough to just have these workshops and classes. I want to be in the space of healing and growth. Growth is really my thing. Growth in all the seasons and experiences of life especially the places that no one is talking about. There is a lot of messaging in our culture that tells us we are not allowed to complain about our womanhood. We as women are not allowed to feel as if something is off. You can see this in medical settings, with your families, in academia or in your workplace. In every space, women are kind of told "isn't this good enough for you?" There is not a lot of collaborative, creative compassion. That is what I am trying to create. A safe space full of collaboration and creativity is where growth happens.
My first pregnancy, I experienced a miscarriage and it was such a shocking, unexpected, painful and lonely experience. I had two groups of women respond to me. The first group was very compassionate. The other group of women were very dismissive. Most of them had experienced a miscarriage before. They would say things like "you'll get pregnant again" and "this isn't a big deal" They had no compassion because no one had shown them compassion. The other part of this group were women that hadn't experienced a miscarriage and they just didn't have the words. It became so apparent to me that women experience things silently over and over again. I didn’t want to be in the silent majority any more. I wanted to be a voice and create some light in that darkness.
With all these experiences as well as the experiences with having my own children, I began to articulate what I wish I had had and what I wanted to create for women. I wanted someone who was educated AND enthusiastic. We often only get one or the other. I wanted the expertise plus the warmth of a friendship and that is how I show up for the people I work with.
I don't think it's healthy helpful or supportive when we as women continue to quietly experience the phases of womanhood. Women should not stay in the quiet zone. It is time to say the things and to talk about our experiences. That is why I am working through this masters degree so that I can have a more thorough reach and start offering therapy. It’s not enough to just have these workshops and classes. I want to be in the space of healing and growth. Growth is really my thing. Growth in all the seasons and experiences of life especially the places that no one is talking about. There is a lot of messaging in our culture that tells us we are not allowed to complain about our womanhood. We as women are not allowed to feel as if something is off. You can see this in medical settings, with your families, in academia or in your workplace. In every space, women are kind of told "isn't this good enough for you?" There is not a lot of collaborative, creative compassion. That is what I am trying to create. A safe space full of collaboration and creativity is where growth happens.
Where did your passion come from?
There are so many experiences. For one, I was the only girl in my family and I didn't have any sisters. I felt awkward in my transitions because no one else was experiencing what I was. I didn't have any one to let me know that it was normal. Then there are a lot of experiences I had with the other women in my life. One of my friends didn't have any support when her baby was born. It felt so abrupt to me that we are like "here have a baby" and then no one talks to the woman afterwards. When I was doing research for my own baby, I became even more aware of the problem.
My first pregnancy, I experienced a miscarriage and it was such a shocking, unexpected, painful and lonely experience. I had two groups of women respond to me. The first group was very compassionate. The other group of women were very dismissive. Most of them had experienced a miscarriage before. They would say things like "you'll get pregnant again" and "this isn't a big deal" They had no compassion because no one had shown them compassion. The other part of this group were women that hadn't experienced a miscarriage and they just didn't have the words. It became so apparent to me that women experience things silently over and over again. I didn’t want to be in the silent majority any more. I wanted to be a voice and create some light in that darkness.
With all these experiences as well as the experiences with having my own children, I began to articulate what I wish I had had and what I wanted to create for women. I wanted someone who was educated AND enthusiastic. We often only get one or the other. I wanted the expertise plus the warmth of a friendship and that is how I show up for the people I work with.
I don't think it's healthy helpful or supportive when we as women continue to quietly experience the phases of womanhood. Women should not stay in the quiet zone. It is time to say the things and to talk about our experiences. That is why I am working through this masters degree so that I can have a more thorough reach and start offering therapy. It’s not enough to just have these workshops and classes. I want to be in the space of healing and growth. Growth is really my thing. Growth in all the seasons and experiences of life especially the places that no one is talking about. There is a lot of messaging in our culture that tells us we are not allowed to complain about our womanhood. We as women are not allowed to feel as if something is off. You can see this in medical settings, with your families, in academia or in your workplace. In every space, women are kind of told "isn't this good enough for you?" There is not a lot of collaborative, creative compassion. That is what I am trying to create. A safe space full of collaboration and creativity is where growth happens.
My first pregnancy, I experienced a miscarriage and it was such a shocking, unexpected, painful and lonely experience. I had two groups of women respond to me. The first group was very compassionate. The other group of women were very dismissive. Most of them had experienced a miscarriage before. They would say things like "you'll get pregnant again" and "this isn't a big deal" They had no compassion because no one had shown them compassion. The other part of this group were women that hadn't experienced a miscarriage and they just didn't have the words. It became so apparent to me that women experience things silently over and over again. I didn’t want to be in the silent majority any more. I wanted to be a voice and create some light in that darkness.
With all these experiences as well as the experiences with having my own children, I began to articulate what I wish I had had and what I wanted to create for women. I wanted someone who was educated AND enthusiastic. We often only get one or the other. I wanted the expertise plus the warmth of a friendship and that is how I show up for the people I work with.
I don't think it's healthy helpful or supportive when we as women continue to quietly experience the phases of womanhood. Women should not stay in the quiet zone. It is time to say the things and to talk about our experiences. That is why I am working through this masters degree so that I can have a more thorough reach and start offering therapy. It’s not enough to just have these workshops and classes. I want to be in the space of healing and growth. Growth is really my thing. Growth in all the seasons and experiences of life especially the places that no one is talking about. There is a lot of messaging in our culture that tells us we are not allowed to complain about our womanhood. We as women are not allowed to feel as if something is off. You can see this in medical settings, with your families, in academia or in your workplace. In every space, women are kind of told "isn't this good enough for you?" There is not a lot of collaborative, creative compassion. That is what I am trying to create. A safe space full of collaboration and creativity is where growth happens.
Question 4
What did you build in Soul Seed Academy?
For me personally, a big part of the experience was that I was learning from experts. They were pulling me to figure out my own experience and also pushing me. Pulling me forward and pushing me along. I gained a lot of self-confidence, a different kind of self-confidence which was really significant. I was also able to let go of some tension that I hold about not being able to do all of the things I want to do. I was able to focus in. That was huge. I told myself that this summer I am going to get these things done and they will catapult the other things. I built the website which was huge. I was able to build relationships with other strong women and gain clarity on what I really want to do. Soul Seed gave me so much clarity. It was such a fun experience. I made really good friends and felt connected to a bigger energy of movement. Not everyone was at the same pace but you had permission to show up where you are and make significant progress. The freedom of that was so incredible. The feeling was "we are here for you, let's see where you can go with this. These are the tools we have which ones are resonating with you." It was a very encouraging environment and a LOT of hard work. I want to do hard work but sometimes if it feels out of my wheelhouse I get stuck. One of the main values in Soul Seed for me was to have experts holding my hand, cheering me on, and giving me really valuable feedback. Creating a system where I could thrive.
What did you build in Soul Seed Academy?
For me personally, a big part of the experience was that I was learning from experts. They were pulling me to figure out my own experience and also pushing me. Pulling me forward and pushing me along. I gained a lot of self-confidence, a different kind of self-confidence which was really significant. I was also able to let go of some tension that I hold about not being able to do all of the things I want to do. I was able to focus in. That was huge. I told myself that this summer I am going to get these things done and they will catapult the other things. I built the website which was huge. I was able to build relationships with other strong women and gain clarity on what I really want to do. Soul Seed gave me so much clarity. It was such a fun experience. I made really good friends and felt connected to a bigger energy of movement. Not everyone was at the same pace but you had permission to show up where you are and make significant progress. The freedom of that was so incredible. The feeling was "we are here for you, let's see where you can go with this. These are the tools we have which ones are resonating with you." It was a very encouraging environment and a LOT of hard work. I want to do hard work but sometimes if it feels out of my wheelhouse I get stuck. One of the main values in Soul Seed for me was to have experts holding my hand, cheering me on, and giving me really valuable feedback. Creating a system where I could thrive.
Question 5
Tell us about your business.
How does it work?
My website has all of the information you need for my programs. Right now I am teaching birth and post-partum classes that are all about wholeness and support for you and your baby those classes are online. We also have our hormone workshops. The next one will be November 7th and it's all online as well. Soon we will have a newsletter that you can subscribe to and learn more about what is happening. Follow me on Instagram. I post a lot there on women's health and happiness. If you need support you can always reach out to me through there.
Tell us about your business.
How does it work?
My website has all of the information you need for my programs. Right now I am teaching birth and post-partum classes that are all about wholeness and support for you and your baby those classes are online. We also have our hormone workshops. The next one will be November 7th and it's all online as well. Soon we will have a newsletter that you can subscribe to and learn more about what is happening. Follow me on Instagram. I post a lot there on women's health and happiness. If you need support you can always reach out to me through there.
Question 6
What has been the hardest part of your journey so far?
It hasn't been that hard. I have taken things really intentionally. For example, I intentionally take trainings when it fits in my life. I created spaces in my time to network and connect and learn. I have been really brave. I think the hardest thing for me so far has just been time. The time and energy to really create the momentum that would feel really good to me right now, I just do not have. Which is why I did Soul Seed when I did which has been amazing by the way. My biggest challenge is managing the season of my life and how I want to show up in that season.
What has been the hardest part of your journey so far?
It hasn't been that hard. I have taken things really intentionally. For example, I intentionally take trainings when it fits in my life. I created spaces in my time to network and connect and learn. I have been really brave. I think the hardest thing for me so far has just been time. The time and energy to really create the momentum that would feel really good to me right now, I just do not have. Which is why I did Soul Seed when I did which has been amazing by the way. My biggest challenge is managing the season of my life and how I want to show up in that season.
Question 7
What does healing the world look like to you?
Healing the world means that I'm doing my own inner work and self-awareness so that the people that I interact with feel safe and loved. When I am engaging, whether as a friend, an acquaintance, a family member, or through my business, I am doing my own self- adjustment and alignment so I navigate that space in a way that promotes healing. Both for myself and those around me. You think when you have a therapist that they have it all together and they are healed from all of their wounds ever, and that is just not true. It's so liberating to realize that we are all just healing. For me, it's about individual processes of healing and the collective movement that will happen as we interact with each other in safety. People know when they feel safe and when they don't. When we talk about the transitions of women a lot of the reason women feel uncomfortable talking about it is because we don't feel safe in our experiences. It feels like it's going to be judged, it's not good enough, it's not quite right, it's dirty, it's uncomfortable, no one talk about it, it hurts. Pick your thing but these are the reasons we don't feel safe in our experiences. Part of what I want to be a contributor in is providing the words and the dialogue that ignites that safety and hope. When we feel safe we feel hope and when we feel hope we are on the path to healing and growth.
What does healing the world look like to you?
Healing the world means that I'm doing my own inner work and self-awareness so that the people that I interact with feel safe and loved. When I am engaging, whether as a friend, an acquaintance, a family member, or through my business, I am doing my own self- adjustment and alignment so I navigate that space in a way that promotes healing. Both for myself and those around me. You think when you have a therapist that they have it all together and they are healed from all of their wounds ever, and that is just not true. It's so liberating to realize that we are all just healing. For me, it's about individual processes of healing and the collective movement that will happen as we interact with each other in safety. People know when they feel safe and when they don't. When we talk about the transitions of women a lot of the reason women feel uncomfortable talking about it is because we don't feel safe in our experiences. It feels like it's going to be judged, it's not good enough, it's not quite right, it's dirty, it's uncomfortable, no one talk about it, it hurts. Pick your thing but these are the reasons we don't feel safe in our experiences. Part of what I want to be a contributor in is providing the words and the dialogue that ignites that safety and hope. When we feel safe we feel hope and when we feel hope we are on the path to healing and growth.
Question 8
Any last-minute thoughts?
Soul Seed felt like a miracle. I was in the right place at the right time. I met the people I needed to meet and I was in the cohort that I needed to be in with the people I needed to be with. I learned the things that I needed to learn in the season where it was the right time. Now I can share my website and have it do the talking for me especially now that I am in school and don't really have the time to explain everything.
Any last-minute thoughts?
Soul Seed felt like a miracle. I was in the right place at the right time. I met the people I needed to meet and I was in the cohort that I needed to be in with the people I needed to be with. I learned the things that I needed to learn in the season where it was the right time. Now I can share my website and have it do the talking for me especially now that I am in school and don't really have the time to explain everything.
