Welcome to the Inspiring Women Series! My intention behind this series is for women of all backgrounds and stages of life to share what makes them love their life. My hope is that, through sharing this, you become inspired to live more of a life that you love. If you are interested in being featured in this series please send me an inquiry at danielle@danielleyeager.com and I will send you more information. I am incredibly excited about this series because I see so many women floating through life not feeling engaged, happy, or loving life. I want everyone to love the life they are living and live to the fullest!

The inspiring woman being featured this month is Luciana Naldi, here is her story:

Tell us how you are living a life you love? 

I am living a life that I love by listening to what makes me the truest, happiest, and healthiest version of myself both as a mother and as a woman, by understanding and accepting that the choices I make are mine but are also guided by the universe, or something bigger than myself and that as long as I am doing the best that I can with what I have now in this moment, I am right where I need to be.

After having two sets of twins in 3 years ( GASP! I swear I’m not lying. J) I quit my career of 10 years to become a stay at home mom.  I did it because it’s what I thought was best, what I felt I was expected to do and part of me wanted to do it just to see if I could.  It was intense to say the least. As I stumbled along, I felt uncertain because I spent all day being somebody I didn’t know how to be and had never been before. I wasn’t confident in anything I was doing. I loved my children, but I wasn’t sure how to reconcile who I was realizing I both wanted to be, (for myself) and needed to be ( for my children). I felt as if being a mother was all that I was (and that somehow devalued me in the eyes of the rest of the world), and that made me feel trapped, unhappy and alone.

Feeling like you have more to offer than just changing diapers, cooking and cleaning, but not having an outlet or even the slightest glimmer of hope on the horizon that it would end soon was really disheartening and it was like the universe was whispering to me that I needed to do something different.  I needed to look deeper into myself to find the answers.  So I started searching, talking to experts, other mothers, and attending seminars on anything that would help my physical health and mental health which turned out to be a lot of mindset and spirituality work.

By engaging in, and improving my own mindset I became better equipped to help other mothers.  I previously had only helped women and mothers improve their physical health by teaching them to nourish their bodies with food and movement. I now feel I have an entire arsenal of mental tools to help them recognize and replace habits and ways of thinking that are keeping them stuck, unhappy and overwhelmed. This makes me so excited to wake up everyday! I feel like I cracked a secret code.  I feel empowered, energized, and more equipped to deal with the inevitable plot twists motherhood and life throw at us from all angles. I also understand that I still have further to travel but I look forward to the road now, obstacles and blessings.

I changed my thoughts about myself, what is possible for my life, what I want for my life as a mother and as a woman and I embrace everyday operating from the place that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE ( Emily Williams)  and FIGUREOUTABLE (Marie Forleo)

A day in my life now means I get up and exercise as the sun is coming up. This has been my practice for about a year and it makes me feel renewed, invigorated and allows me to start my day in positivity instead of panic, which I find inspiring. I cook breakfast for my family, and am able to chat with my children on the way to school. I spend the morning alternating between playing with my children, working on projects for my mamas when I feel inspired , and supporting the mama clients I work with one-on-one.

I pick my children up in the early afternoon from school, we eat lunch together, we read books and then they all nap.  During their nap time I focus on the next best thing I can do to move my business forward, or work on my own continuing education as a coach.  Then I prep and cook dinner, we eat as a family when my husband comes home and after dinner we read, play games or play outside until bedtime. I end my day either reading something motivational, or listening to something that will allow me to feel grateful and happy in what I have accomplished for the day.

I love that I get to be the mom I want to be, how I want to be her. I love that I get to nurture and foster the parts of myself that have goals and dreams separate from motherhood.  I love that I am given the opportunity to improve myself while also helping others.  I love that my husband even though he doesn’t always understand what I am doing, supports me endlessly and has started on his own journey of enlightenment and self-improvement. I love that I feel like I’m putting more of who I really am out into the world and it’s making a positive impact.

I think my life is inspiring and motivating to others simply because of what I have endured both physically and mentally as a result of motherhood. Gaining large amounts of weight, being physically ill for 9 months with each pregnancy, not feeling tough enough, strong enough or motherly enough at times, having an identity crisis, quitting my job, knowing nothing about business yet staring each of these issues in the eye and using them to improve myself, know myself and love myself more. My hope is that other women see this not as competition or impossible standards but a glimmer at the end of their own tunnel of despair and uncertainty.  I hope it shows that ANYTHING TRULY IS POSSIBLE  and it starts with believing in yourself and looking inward instead of all around you.  I hope it motivates other women to acknowledge what they truly desire from their own lives as mothers and as individual women and take steps, no matter how small to realize those desires.

I’m living life on my terms by being the mother I want to be. Not the one society expects or tells me to be. By choosing to create a life that focuses on my family but still allows me to flourish as who I really am.

What hurdles came up on your way to getting there?

The biggest hurdles I’ve faced on this journey are fear of it not working out, doubt about my ability to really make any changes this big,  guilt at taking time to do or focus on something other than my children 24 hours a day, and lack of support from those around me at times  because of their inability to understand the journey I’m on.

What has been the biggest help in living a life you love?

The biggest help in living a life I love has been the support of my husband and sisters, and the broader community of coaches and women that I have been exposed to. Being immersed in a community or group of women who’s mindset is one that you are trying to achieve and that don’t just support you but engage in activities to move you farther along your journey is PRICELESS! Choosing to invest in myself and connect with others doing the same is what I would say has been the biggest help so far.

What is the best lesson you have learned along your journey?

The best lesson I’ve learned so far is that the “how is not my business” and to have faith in the universe and it’s magic even when we cannot see where it will lead. I used to think I had to have everything mapped out, planned out and if I didn’t then I wasn’t putting myself in the best position to succeed. I was wrong. Having a goal, working toward it, and doing the best I can with what I’ve got all matter. Engaging in the process of moving forward in any way I can as a woman and a mother matters, But how I ultimately get to where I’m going isn’t always up to me and I’ve learned to feel an incredible sense of calm and peace about that. As Rumi said “ I find peace in knowing that what’s meant for me won’t miss me and what misses me wasn’t meant for me. “

What would you say to someone who feels like living a life they love is impossible?

To someone who feels like living a life they love is impossible I would tell them to listen.  The universe whispers to us when it wants to redirect us or let us know that something needs to change.  If we don’t listen it starts to speak a little louder. When we still don’t listen, it knocks us upside the head.  Don’t wait to be knocked upside the head. The feeling that something needs to change is the whispering of the universe, or something bigger than you saying “ do it now.” It doesn’t have to be something big, but take any step in a direction to know yourself better and make yourself better.  You’ve waited long enough.

How are you continuing to ensure you love your life every day?

I ensure I love my life everyday by making sure I am choosing to do things I want to do instead of things I feel I “should do”, and listening more than I talk. Everyone we meet teaches us something and I am more aware of that then ever now. I try to show as much kindness and compassion to myself as I do to those around me and express gratitude for what I am given and what I have continuing to strive for my bigger goals and dreams. I ask those closest to me to hold me accountable for who I am and who I am becoming. And I laugh a lot.

Luciana Naldi is a former collegiate athlete, physical education teacher and varsity basketball coach. After 10 years of teaching she quit her job to become stay at home mom and raise her two sets of twins ( currently 3 and 5, ) She then started her own business phsyically training other women  and moms on the side before deciding her true calling was coaching women not only on their physical health but there mental health and mindset as well. She strives to empower, energize and equip as many mothers as possible to create the future they want for themselves and their families.  She is currently a Health and Empowerment Coach for mothers and women and runs her company, while raising her children. She is happily married to the love of her life Chris Lacey and lives on a farm in the ridiculously hot central valley of California.

Menlo College  – B.A. Liberal Arts and Humanities
Stanislaus State  – B.A. in Physical Education
Diploma of Sports Nutrition
U.S.A.W Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach- Level 1
Website – www.luciananaldi.com

I hope you enjoyed Luciana’s story of going from overwhelmed mama to empowered woman living by design. Did you gain any insights from her story? If so, please share them in the comments and if you are looking to connect with other women going after their dreams join the free facebook group Your Life. Your Way. 

Much love, Danielle