Alex Wilson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Alex, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I had a baby in July, and he has been bringing me so joy. Don’t get me wrong, he challenges me in all the ways that children do. But he also reminds me of the magic of life. He’s a joy to care for, interact with, and observe.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alex. I’m a certified yoga instructor, a local community builder, and a wellness enthusiast. I’m passionate about wellness because my own journey with wellness was what helped me find me. It started with my work in the nonprofit sector. Like many non-profit employees, I believed in the ideal of self-sacrifice and putting all others before myself. And that’s exactly the life philosophy that resulted in my experience with burnout, which ultimately brought me to my yoga practice, my wellness journey and the creation of my brand, Alex C Wilson Wellness. Through my business, I’ve taught yoga classes, organized and hosted wellness events, built a wellness-based co-working community, and more. Now I have a new mission in mind — one that brings me back to my work with nonprofits. Over the summer, I developed a wellness training that’s rooted in the practices and principles of yoga that are backed by neuroscience. And now, my mission is to help make non-profit work and public service truly sustainable by offering trainings that support the people behind the mission. Because although I no longer subscribe to the ideal of self-sacrifice, I still care about helping others. And that’s exactly what I’m here to do.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think the number one thing that breaks bonds between people is misunderstanding, poor communication, and emotional reactivity. It starts with a misunderstanding that triggers you into emotional reactivity. The next thing you know, you’re saying and doing things that you don’t really mean, driving a wedge between you and the people you care about. You can choose to stay stuck in that emotional response and leave your bonds forever broken. Or, you can reach out to communicate with the goal of expressing your feelings vulnerably, and wanting to understand where the misunderstanding came from. Plus, do the work to recognize the roles you played in the miscommunication and acknowledge them. I think it takes self awareness and a willingness to understand someone else without needing to change them in order to restore broken bonds.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I’ve given up plenty of times. But I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Because every time I’ve allowed myself to give something up — something that wasn’t working or that it was time to move on from — it’s opened up new opportunities for me to explore. Like when I gave up on working for non-profits… it lead me to starting my own business. Or when I gave up on trying to teach weekly yoga classes because it wasn’t working for me anymore, it paved the way for me to shift my focus on how and where to teach yoga. So yes, I’ve given up plenty of times, and in most cases, it’s come with grief, self-blame, and a sense of failure. But when I surrender and choose to trust that rather than giving up on something I thought I wanted, I’m actually letting go of something that’s no longer for me, there’s power in that.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Every version of me is the real me. Human beings are multi-faceted and I believe that different situations and people bring out different sides of who we are. So even though I may be a total goofball when I’m with my husband and closest friends, I’m more serious and intentional when I’m at work. That doesn’t mean that either of those versions of me aren’t real. They’re just different sides of who I am.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that what people remember about me is how I always went after what I wanted. I hope they talk about how good I was at taking an idea and running with it — whether it turned into something successful or not. I would love to be on the other side and listening in as people reminisce about the time I sold my house and all my belongings to travel the country — just because I wanted to. I refuse to be confined by the “rules” of life. I live freely, and I hope that my time on this Earth inspires others to live freely, too.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @alexcwilsonwellness
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-wilson-7743984a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@alexcwilsonwellness?si=TLFhd8RqBOKTFHAh
Image Credits
Tropical Branding Studio
