Designing Your Sanctuary with Nicole Rivers

Ready to transform your living space into a holistic sanctuary? 

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Rivers, the founder of Brave Heron Studio, to chat about how your environment can impact your mood, mindset, and overall well-being. Nicole shares valuable insights on creating a space that supports healing and growth. 

If you're into interior design, wellness, and making your home feel like a cozy hug, this convo is for you. Tune in and get ready to rethink your space!

Check out the detailed show notes (https://tarakermiet.com/podcast/) and leave your thoughts or questions about today's topic.   

Nicole's complimentary Holistic Space Review: https://brave-heron.kit.com/holistic-space-review

To connect with Nicole:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/braveheronstudio/)
• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fieldnotesbynicole/)
• YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClrZteozoZtDsSJpIVb_mtA)
• Website (https://www.braveheronstudio.com/)

Need a little more balance and a lot more badass in your life? Check out my 1:1 coaching sessions designed to help you tackle your biggest challenges, manage stress, and create a personalized plan for success. Your first 30-minute session is free! Visit tarakermiet.com to get started. 

Want to turn your dreams into reality? Check out my 7 Days to Crushing Your Goals mini-course! This course is packed with practical lessons and hands-on activities designed to help you define your “why,” leverage your strengths, and take decisive action. By the end, you'll have a clear plan and the tools you need to crush your goals. Visit tarakermiet.com/crushyourgoals to join the course and start making things happen! 

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Nicole and Brave Heron Studio
• 2:35 Nicole's Current Passion: Pole Fitness
• 9:05 The Journey to Holistic Interior Design
• 21:16 Creating Healing Spaces
• 28:37 Creating a Welcoming Space
• 29:13 Balancing Elements in Your Home
• 29:48 The Impact of Lighting
• 31:16 Open Concept vs. Separation
• 37:33 The Importance of Decluttering
• 44:37 Designing with Intention
• 47:37 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Transcript

Tara: [00:00:00] All right. I am sitting down today with Nicole, the founder of Brave Heron Studio, and she is not your average interior designer, and I'm actually. Really jazzed for this conversation because I personally love interior design and decorating and creating space that is comfortable and expressive of who I am.

So I'm very excited to talk with you, so Nicole is a seeker, an artist and holistic designer who helps highly sensitive women and wellness focused businesses

Nicole: Also it gives you the ability to sign.

Tara: aligned spaces that support healing, clarity, and expansion.

And honestly, after I just read that, I wanna like have a breath of fresh air like that just, Ooh, feels good. So my hope is that today we're gonna talk about how the energy of your space really does impact your mood. Your mindset, your overall wellbeing, and what can shift when you start designing your environment with intention.

So after this [00:01:00] conversation, listeners, you might rethink your office setup. You may look at your living room and you're like, this vibe isn't working for me anymore. And even just what messages your environment might be sending you without you even realizing it. So with that, Nicole, welcome to the Balanced Badass Podcast.

Nicole: you so much for having me, Tara. This is such a pleasure and an honor and I'm really excited to, um, speak a little bit more about what I, what I do and how you can use interior design to be transformational in your

Tara: Yeah. Awesome. I, like I said, I'm so excited for this. So before we jump into. Probably my personal interest in things that I'm excited about. Um, I wanna, I start every episode, um, every guest episode I should say with the same question. And I love this question 'cause I learn so much about people. And that question is, what is something that you're loving in your life right now?

Nicole: Um, so this is, um, a great question because I actually just started exploring [00:02:00] a new, um, let's say modality when it comes to somatic movement.

Tara: Hmm.

Nicole: it is so, I, I feel like it's, um, a little bit of like a taboo, like, do I share, but I've recently started sharing this kind of journey, um, you know, a little bit on social media and like with, with friends and things.

I have started taking, um, poll questions. class, like pole fitness, pole

Tara: That is so cool.

Nicole: is so cool. It is so cool. I am addicted. I am all in. I'm, it? I started like

Tara: I.

Nicole: last two weeks before the end of last year. And so I'm on level one. I'm like on this beginner's journey. got a beginner's mind, a beginner's eye, a beginner's body. and so it's like, it's really fun. And it's, um, Like a lot of embody, embodiment, sensual movement, and it's a, a workout.

Tara: Oh, I bet.

Nicole: yeah, it's like [00:03:00] super, super intense, um, but it's so much fun.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: So that's what I'm loving, um, that's kind of like when I'm not in, got my design hat on, um, know, not doing other fun things for myself, um, that's kind of where you'll find me at the Pole Studio.

Tara: That is so cool. I love that. I, um, I have a dancing background, so anything. In that world is fascinating to me and I've always wanted to try a pool dancing class. Um, I actually, right now I've got a knee injury that I'm dealing with, so there will be no pool dancing in my future for some time, but maybe once I've healed and recovered and all that.

But that is so cool. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm glad you shared that because like you said, it can be seen as taboo, but it shouldn't because it is,

Nicole: Mm -mm.

Tara: it's about building your confidence. It's about. Fitness and finding fitness and movement that you enjoy because so much we're like, so often we're putting ourselves into these boxes of like how we [00:04:00] need to move.

Nicole: Especially for women.

Tara: Yes.

Nicole: put ourselves in boxes and the society says like, this is how you need to show up

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: need to do. so even like, you know, there are things that we don't have to wear because on pole, um, there's this saying, the pole needs your skin. Like, so you're not really often wearing a lot of clothes.

So there is a lot of, um, you know, I guess like, Like you're accepting your body, like seeing

Tara: Yeah. Yeah.

Nicole: and that sort of thing. So it's been, um, very, very opening and healing, um, It's just like, it's, it's bringing things into my life and opening my eyes to, um, things about myself that I hadn't really considered in a while.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: and I'm late stage. I don't have a background in dance and I'm, You know, I'm 40, 40 plus. So, it's like, it's a real, real journey. And it's very exploratory. And it's really been expansive and like, magical. So, yeah, I would recommend it. If you can get, if you can get there. I have an injury [00:05:00] too, actually. I just, I pulled my hamstring like a month ago.

Tara: Oh no.

Nicole: healing, but I haven't stopped. Cause I'm just like, I don't want to miss anything. I want

Tara: Yeah, yeah.

Nicole: but yeah, I'd recommend it to a friend. Oh

Tara: That's awesome. What I love too is that it's what a great way to like get out of your comfort zone. You know?

Nicole: my gosh. So, it's so much that.

Tara: I.

Nicole: it's so not what I would normally find myself doing. Like, I am certified in yoga. Like, you know, I did my 200 hours. So, I'm used to moving my body. I've done weight training. I still do weight training. Like, I, I'm, I'm pretty active, um, walking, that sort of thing. But not like this and it's not like I don't dance like, you know, go to parties

Tara: Oh yeah.

Nicole: all that kind of stuff, of course, and, um, moving in ways that I thought were like, Oh, this is kind of sexy, but like, not this is like next level because it's just not for like, it's not about the male gaze.

It's not about anybody. This is like for me, you know what

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: just, um, you know, I think women and people who are [00:06:00] Um, guess lean into, um, I guess women -centered thought, you know, who are maybe feminist or like womenist in that, in that sense, because there are men that are there too.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: trans people, you know, it's very open, it's a very open type of

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: Um, but yeah, just like, you know, sensual, and even when we're doing fast songs, it's still about like, just like enjoying your body for enjoying your body's sake, you know.

Tara: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Nicole: it's still not, it's, it's, it's, it's an art form, but like not even adjacent to interior design, you know,

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: So that's why I was hesitant to share when I started sharing. I was like, what are people going to think? And I was like, Can I, can I curse? I don't know. Like,

Tara: Uh, you, you can curse. This is a safe space.

Nicole: I'm like, fuck it. I don't really care what

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: is, you know, this is my one life. It's my one life.

And I'm embracing all that is wild inside. Cause I, you know. Good [00:07:00] girl, fit in that box. I don't want to fit in anybody's boxes. I don't,

Tara: Uh,

Nicole: in

Tara: yes. I um, I say like, as soon as I turned 40, I'm 41 now, and as soon as I turned 40, I was like in my fuck it

Nicole: Yes! Did it

Tara: like.

Nicole: didn't all your fucks just kind of like,

Tara: Like they just went away out the window. Um, like, I mean, it's fascinating. I quit my job. I do not care like how I look in as far as like in public. Like I don't put any persona on anymore.

Like you get what you get. I mentioned that earlier, like when we were just chatting before we hit record. I was like, you get what you get with me. So. Um, and I think there's so much freedom in that, so I'm really glad that you shared that too, just because, you know, when I talk about burnout, when I'm talking with folks, one of my first steps is like, we've got to get you into a world outside of your work, because that can be so all consuming too.

And so finding hobbies [00:08:00] that get you out of your comfort zone that are fun, that. Are not related to who you are identity wise, as like a professional or so key to. So I love that.

Nicole: Yeah.

Tara: I could probably do a whole episode talking about pole dancing. So maybe another episode is in our future.

Nicole: Okay.

Tara: but I do wanna get to your professional work and what you do because like I said, even just reading that description is like a breath of fresh air.

So I wanna start though with the conversation of before. Your studio came to life before Brave Heron came to life. What was the journey that led you to kind of having this blend of holistic interior design, but combining it with healing work? Because like you said, you're not like your average interior designer, something very different about the work that you do.

So was there a moment or experience that really just clarified this path for you?[00:09:00] 

Nicole: um, I talk about this a little bit. I give a little kind of snippet in on my website and talk about it. Um, there were a bunch of experiences. I think, um, critical mass happened for me around 2018. Um, my, there's a lot of, um, A lot of, uh, I guess, synchronistic events, things that were happening and kind of like dots connecting that I was not aware of, um, because I wasn't paying attention. um, I have, I didn't have like the, the best childhood, had very traumatic kind of like upbringing, but then, you know, I did some did some things, and I kind of like was just pushing through. I'm a person, um, my, my parents are, are strivers, very, very high achievers. and so culturally, I didn't grow up with a lot of like, you know, you get time to like, Sit in your feelings and feel the things and it's like, no, we don't [00:10:00] have time for that.

Like,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: have time for your feelings. Like, you know, we got to go. You got things to achieve. You know, we have excellence and you've got to work twice as hard to be, you know, just as good and like all of that programming. Um, and that I think I carried a lot of that. And, um, in the therapeutic world, they talk about, um, I think my body was remembering all of these things, even though in my mind, it was like, no good. Oh, that's some bad days. and you know, I had struggle. I've always struggled with anxiety and depression, but overall, I was like, you know, I just pushed through. Just, just keep going. Just keep going. It'll, it'll work out. Um, around 2018, um, things just started to get better. Things started to erupt, like things, you know, what was a whisper, you know, for many, many years became a loud shout. Um, and so things just started to fall apart, like my marriage, um, my health deteriorated, um, like extensively, where, [00:11:00] you know, I was just, I had lost tons of weight, and I, um, was having these crazy headaches, and, you know, my body was swelling, and just, like, signs that everything was not okay.

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: And so my, you know, my family encouraged me to go to the doctor and they, like, couldn't figure out what was going on.

And, and, I mean, I think to the point of having a lot of trauma in your family, there are multiple people in my family, like, immediate. then grandparents who have autoimmune conditions, like, multiple people. and we know that autoimmune is often linked to, um, emotional trauma and not speaking your truth, not showing up authentically, right?

And so eventually I was diagnosed with, um, lupus and like four or five other autoimmune conditions. and so that, you know, and I was, I was, I was hustling, like really buying into that hustle culture. Um, working this job where I worked on commission and I was just trying to make it happen. Like, you know, just, just make it happen, not sleeping, um, [00:12:00] not eating right. And so, yeah, that kind of forced me to stop. I had to take a step away from my job. I had to figure out what I was going to do about my marriage. I had to look at the relationships and the people that I was spending time with and how Um, I was showing up around them and how those experiences were making me feel so it's like a gigantic pause. Um, and then I just kind of, uh, in that experience, I decided, the feedback I was getting about what a life with these conditions look like, I was like, No, that's not going to be my experience. Additionally, I think two years prior, my sister, two or three years prior, my sister had been diagnosed with lupus.

She has lupus

Tara: huh.

Nicole: I have lupus SLS. Which I thought was like, that's not possible. It's not genetic. like, you know, it doesn't, you know, it's not like, you know, you pass on blue eyes.

Tara: Right.

Nicole: but apparently it runs in families that are, you know, Extremely, [00:13:00] you know,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: um, so, uh, yeah, I had kind of like been walked alongside her through that experience. she, by the time I was diagnosed, she was doing really, really well in remission. And, you know, um, and I was like, no, I'm I don't care what the doctor's saying, like I'm going to be good. I just, I started on this journey and I began to change my lifestyle. I, um, again, changed relationships, changed the way that I ate.

I started, I moved down where my parents lived. They live in a rural part of, um, part of the state. And so it's quiet there. They don't have streetlights. um, you can hear the foxes and, and, and the cows and, you know, there are the bears wandering. Um, and I went there. They've got, Um, know, fresh food and, um, you know, my, my, my stepmother, God love her, she would cook for me all the time.

And it just slowed my, slowed my life down, like everything just. went like [00:14:00] extremely fast to like slow motion. Um, and in that time, you know, they'd live by a river. I would get up in the mornings. I'd go walk by the river. I'd walk in the neighborhood. Um, I just spent a lot more time in nature. I got into hiking and um, Again, just started to really work with my environment.

I'd always had an interest in interior design. I had started, um, previous to this back in 2012. I started grad school and started, you know, pursuing a master's in interior architecture. But then because of, like, You know the anxiety and some of my like health issues. I just had to pause like it was just too much Um, I was burnt out like I just couldn't do it all. Um, so yeah I I ended up kind of circling back and I was just like I was determined I was like I need to get in alignment so Just exploring like, you know meditation and who I was and remembering the things that I liked and just in nature I began to like talk to Source, talk to God, like this [00:15:00] is not the experience I know I was meant to have.

This is not, this is not who I am. This is not, you know, I know that I'm not going to be sick all my life. Like I'm just kind of like expressing all of these things and I was like, I'm just not, I'm not going to accept that this is the way my life has to be. Um,

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: and so I started just like leaning into other, other tools, other modalities, and yeah, I, um, I think once I moved into my own space and, um, you know, completely separated, when I started going through the divorce process, it was like I've got a, I've got a set up.

a home. I've got to set up a container. If I'm going to heal, I need like space to do that. I need space that's going to hold me and hold, you know, my transformation and these emotions and all of this stuff that I'm going through. And when I walk into that space, it's got to look good and it's got to feel good to me.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: was really, really important because, um, you know, I've been in a lot of chaotic environments [00:16:00] and in places where it's just like, you know, maybe it's not everyone has a design eye, but just like it's energetically chaotic.

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: on top of that, like the way that it played out, it's maybe dark and heavy and maybe cluttered and all that kind of stuff.

And that, you know, I've always been a very, sensitive person even growing up my you know um my birth mother will say you know uh you know you're always very high strong like you just felt everything and my dad was like you you feel before you even think like everything is like sensory for you um And so it was just that, like, what can I can create? Because we spend, I spend so much time inside. What can I create that gives me that same feeling that I have when I'm standing by the river, or when I'm hiking up a mountain, that feeling that I am a part of something, that I belong, that I'm a part of a community, that I'm significant, that I'm, um, I'm special, and that I'm not special.

Like, I'm a part of all that is. How can I get that feeling all the time? When I come home, um, or when I go anywhere, [00:17:00] you know, when I go to work or whatever. Um, and so, yeah, I started really exploring that and

Tara: Hmm.

Nicole: of what got me to here because I realized that I could, I've been in remission now since 2020.

Tara: Oh

Nicole: Yeah. So like almost, almost five years.

Tara: yeah.

Nicole: and so I don't say that interior design is what was the key to that. Like, obviously not, you know, there was a lot of, um, medicinal interventions

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: of things that I did, but I know it played a key part. that I know for sure. And because I know that and I, I experienced it, I know that it can work for other people.

I know that that's a part of well -being and a part of wellness, um, for other people. It's like the next phase of wellness. I know we've, you know, people talk about all the other aspects, but often don't talk about where live. And

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: hugely important because again, that's where we spent like 80 percent of our time.

Tara: Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing that. I, [00:18:00] there's. That literally could be the entire episode. 'cause there's so much there that I wanna highlight. But the first thing that comes to my mind is you needing to restore your kind of baseline wellbeing to create that foundation, to be able to heal fully. And knowing that, and recognizing and having the strength to put yourself.

Nicole: I

Tara: environment that, you know, would give you that foundation that you needed. Um, I love that because that's what, when I'm talking with folks and working with folks, you know, a lot of times they're coming to me and I even experience this in the, like, depths of darkness, right? Like your body's giving up on you.

You know, I, I can relate to a lot of like the headaches, the. Physical symptoms that you [00:19:00] start to feel. That's usually when people start paying attention to burnout because they have to,

Nicole: have to, right? Okay.

Tara: they have no other choice. And I'm always like, okay, you know, you can't just focus on addressing those symptoms and expect everything to be hunky dory later on.

But if you don't address those. You can't get into the bigger root stuff and the root causes, so you have to get back to that, like restoring your wellbeing and that foundation so that you can build off of it and get better and find yourself in a situation

Nicole: you can always send them

Tara: that heals you in whatever way you need that.

I also love you talking about space and, and coming home and having, just

Nicole: them from

Tara: having that container. I love that you used that word, the container. To hold you and

Nicole: you

Tara: you are and what you need. That's something that I have always like personally really tried to create is a, a [00:20:00] home space or an office space that felt like home to me.

It felt like a warm hug. It was also welcoming to other people, like when I worked in higher education, that's where my background was. I like prided myself on my office space being a space where students wanted to come and just hang out or take a nap or whatever they needed, because that was something that was important to me.

But also I knew I was gonna be my most productive and best self. Not just productive for the job, but like productive for who I am. Um, and so I really appreciate that and I really wanna get into,

creating those sacred.

Nicole: going to open a new menu

Tara: Spaces, those sanctuaries within your home, your office space, can you share

Nicole: to go

Tara: that looks like in practice?

Some actual elements

Nicole: working for the existing And

Tara: make a space feel, feel like a sanctuary for those listening that want to

Nicole: going to screen that

Tara: maybe reexamine their spaces that they're spending time in.

Nicole: Yeah, absolutely. [00:21:00] Um, and I wanted to say one more thing that you made me think of when you're talking about the container. So I think that when you are going through processes, of, um, transformation, those sorts of things, setting boundaries, all of that.

Sometimes that is, you know, change can be. But it can also be disruptive, um, painful, uncomfortable. And so, yeah, that's where, like, having that place that feels like a hug. You know, it's like there's part of your life where everything is shifting and changing and, you know, it's shaking. But then you've got this place where you can ground and you're going to feel rooted and it's, you know, you can anchor.

Anchor

Tara: Yes.

Nicole: um, so, yeah, creating, creating spaces and, you know, beginning to create a sanctuary, um, in your home or in, you know, the place that you work. I think it can start [00:22:00] small. Sometimes when, um, People think about design or think about making changes. I think it really expands it and get overwhelmed by the thought of like, my God, I'm going to have to change my whole entire house and who has the time and it's going to cost so much money.

But don't think it has to, it has to be that way. there are small, incremental, sometimes free things that you can do to make adjustments in how, um, how we're going to like focus on home right now because that's the place that we

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: most control at work. It can kind of be a little bit different, although there are some things that you can do like in your workspaces. So, I go into a lot of, um, homes often, you know, to, uh, do site visits, or, um, you know, to talk to people, and whether I'm working or not, when I go to anyone's home, I'm always, like, analyzing [00:23:00] any space, like, I'm always, like, in the back of my mind, like, taking it all in, like,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: and so some simple things that I often notice is, um, sometimes like something as simple as opening your windows, right?

Like letting in natural light, um, blinds. I have a few friends that are from other countries, you know, people who were not born here. And I remember having a conversation with one of them. Shout out to my friend Sharon, if she listens to this. Um, but we had this conversation, she was like, What is it with Americans and covering the windows? who is going to be looking at you? What are you so afraid of? don't want the sun? You've got the blinds, and then you've got the screens, and then you've got all this protection in your windows. And I was like, You know, I never thought about it like that

Tara: Good point.

Nicole: you know, like a second nature. I go into, um, homes and I used to be this way too. Like, you know, I, when I sleep, I like it very, very dark. But [00:24:00] even, you know, during the day, I just wouldn't really, I didn't have the time. I didn't open the windows. Now I have, really large windows in my home. and there, you know, at least in the living spaces, they're open, they're letting the natural light in. Um, because I've realized I am a person that really needs a lot of sunlight.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: affects my mood. So the roughest times for me are like the winter, you know, the winter

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: but opening your windows, um, and like literally opening the windows and letting fresh air in so that, um, You know, you can circulate air.

A lot of times we have things that are in our home that are plastics and, you know, are off -gassing and, you know, so we need to, um, have good indoor air quality. Um, but also just letting sunlight in. So like, you know, opening the windows to the natural sunlight is like a really easy thing. Um, in terms of like air quality, if you can get.

You know, something like an air purifier. That's really nice to have, especially for folks who have allergies, um, [00:25:00] suffer with things like asthma, I another simple thing would be like, what objects do you have in your space? So, if we're talking about, say, the bedroom, again, another place that we spend a lot of time in, um, what does that look like?

Do you, is it, can you freely walk around to get to either side of your bed? you know, do you have art in there that is, um, Is it calming, that is relaxing? you know, is it really, really cluttered? Um, if you're, one of your hopes and goals is to eventually call in a relationship, is it set up so that someone else might want to spend time in there with you?

That sort of thing. Um, and so when we talk about object placement, we have, you know, Also studied, um, feng shui and some of the other, uh, modalities. It's important to think about what you're bringing into your space. Um, so the artwork, the books that are around in, [00:26:00] you know, in your area, I think can also feed how you feel and how you show up. Um, and then balancing elements.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: um, I know I live in Jersey. When I go to certain parts of Jersey and I, you know, like, I like to go to open houses and look at, you know, those type of things. people use a lot of wood. Like, I think, you know, sometimes the spaces are not in that, not balanced when it comes to thinking about the different elements, like earth, fire, water, I've gone into places and it looks like you're just like walking into a tree house, you know,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: that can feel, you know, That can feel sometimes heavy. Um, So there, I think there are small things that you can change. Lighting is another key one. Um, Overhead lighting can feel very oppressive. It's, it's not great.

Just the way that it is when you go to work and you've got the fluorescent lights like. You can change your entire environment if you let go of using fluorescent lighting and bringing in [00:27:00] lamps.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: small lights throughout the space creates a mood. Um, switching to red light bulbs like for your bedroom or even for your entire living space after a certain time of evening.

You can work with your circadian rhythm so that your body understands, Hey, it's... Eight o we're beginning to wind down because in a few hours we're going to go to sleep. So that you can still see, but again, it signals to your brain, um, that it's, it's time to go to, it's time to begin to rest.

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: and that's the kind of light you see when the sun begins to go down. Um, you know, Some other things, like we all know about the phones. Not keeping

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: near you all the time, not keeping your phone in your bedroom. Um, so those are like some, some simple things. Um, mirrors, using those to make spaces feel more expansive, at what colors you're using in, in your space, whether

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: whether you went to paint, or whether it's something as simple as I want to bring in some pillows or some art that [00:28:00] um, feature colors that are energizing or calming or you know, whatever you need to feel.

Tara: Yeah. Yeah. When you were talking about that, it, it made me think of like my living room. And I think why I was Dr. So drawn to our house that we live in now is the color in the main space. So we have an open main space, so kitchen, dining, living, all kind of one space, which I like, but I think also, like for me, I.

We've learned, my husband and I, it limits our art ability for like on the wall. 'cause you don't have as many walls. And we have a lot of windows, which I loved because I like the natural light. And my husband could probably sit in a cave and be fine, but I'm like, no, let's open the, let's open the windows.

Let's get the blinds open. I definitely love the natural light, but it, uh, the color of the wall, which you can change obviously, but like when we moved in, it was a perfect color for us [00:29:00] because it was a calming blue, like a sea blue color, and it, I was like, I love this. And it was a perfect combo. 'cause we have a fireplace.

So when you were talking about the elements, like I was thinking like, okay, we've got the wood floor, we've got the calming, like sea color wall, the light that comes in. But I can, you know, when it's cold outside, which is not often here in North Carolina, but when it's cold, like we can pop up, you know that fireplace on and it does like.

I've lived in a few places. I've moved around, like I think we calculated last time. I've like had 17 moves, but this is the place that has felt most home to me because of all of that, I think.

Nicole: Yeah,

Tara: Um

Nicole: that

Tara: mm-hmm.

Nicole: you pick up on that, like, even as you were trying to choose a place to live. It's like, oh, you know, I'm drawn to that. This feels

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: Um, those, those pings, those [00:30:00] references, those. inclinations pay attention to those things.

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: Um, and when they come up and it's like, uh, this is uncomfortable or I don't know, you may not be able to explain why it can maybe feel completely irrational. No explanation doesn't matter. If it doesn't feel good, what can you do to make those adjustments? And I

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: about the open concept. don't know if we're going to be stepping away from that a little bit more. Um, but taking all the walls down, I have loved open concept. I really have, but My current apartment I moved two years ago from an open concept has more walls, and it's been nice. It's

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: to have separation and walls.

Tara: I do. I like the separation idea and like for some people we are not huge like party throwers or anything like that, or like gathering, so. I can see, like if you're in a setting like that where you're an entertainer and you really like to have people, like, having that open concept would be really nice.

But for me, like I don't wanna look [00:31:00] at the mess in the kitchen if it's there

Nicole: Mm -hmm.

Tara: all the time. Because back to what you were talking about, like chaos. I, I need a very tidy space. I am one of those folks. And so I do not function well in clutter. I, um, I too am very sensitive to. Physical clutter, just noise, clutter, all of that.

So I think I missed some of that. Like separation,

Nicole: Yeah.

Tara: that like outta sight outta mind kind of thing.

Nicole: when you don't have walls, it becomes, I mean, you can always use furniture. There are other

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: But it's, it's a little more challenging to create pockets, right?

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: what, you know, what we were talking about ways to, to include this in your home, like you don't have to do your whole entire space, right?

It could be a little corner of a room where

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: like your little reading nook or, um, maybe it's just your bedroom or maybe it's just your kitchen. But when you don't have walls and everything is wide open, it's, it's a little bit more of a challenge. Not impossible. but it can be [00:32:00] challenging. And I'm similar, like, loud noises, colors, like, I get overstimulated very, very easily.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: Um, and so, to retreat, especially if I, you know, not right now, but if I was living with someone, I would need, like, I need to close this door, and you be on the other side of the wall, and I'm on the other side of the wall

Tara: Yes.

Nicole: gotta, I've gotta retreat, I've gotta restore, like, I've gotta start all over again.

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: needs to be some division.

Tara: Yeah. Yeah. What's been killing me? Um, 'cause I've worked remotely now for several years and I've had a dedicated office space for that because I know I need that separation just mentally. 'cause I know how I am with work and, and. Crossover and all that. And it's been killing me 'cause I have a knee injury, so I can't work at my desk as much as I'm, I usually do.

So I've been having to work from the couch, which is like, so not my typical preference.

Nicole: yeah.

Tara: Oh man. And it's [00:33:00] like even just the clutter that that's causing, 'cause like I've got my computer and my mouse and like. The webcam and all that kind of stuff, and like little things that are piling up on the coffee table like that is not functioning well for me, but it's, I know it's a short term thing, so.

Nicole: and even with that, like, subconsciously, because, you know, neuroscience is part of this,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: your body will associate Those areas where it's supposed to be your rest and relaxation and pleasure areas with the fact that you do work there, which

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: you know, um, a lot of people recommend that you don't bring things like TVs and laptops into your bedroom

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: now, when your body goes in, it's like, it's wide awake.

Oh, we're going to work here now. It's time to work, right? It's time to be on. It's time for the ideas.

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: you're saying, no, now I want to relax, but it's very similar to how you train a dog. Like this is, but this is where I go to work. Like,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: is where I do my thing. So your brain is going to be giving you the ideas, but you're like, no, I want to rest. [00:34:00] So even that, like where you are doing the more, um, Yang, more active, more, um, that energizing, uh, is important because, you know, You may not consciously recall that, but subconsciously your body remembers. Your body is always taking messages

Tara: Yes. Mm-hmm. That's such a good point. So I wanna talk, we talked a little bit about like. Some small tweaks people can make to better fit their environment. But I also wanna talk about maybe some subtle design elements in our homes or our offices that might be unknowingly draining our energy or reinforcing some outdated beliefs that we might have.

What are some things that we may wanna pay attention to that we could then tweak and change?

Nicole: [00:35:00] Um, starting with some simple things, I would say one of the big ones is, um, your collections.

Tara: Hmm.

Nicole: Plutter. Um, what kind of

Tara: Can you tell my husband that, like loud and clear please?

Nicole: I'm starting with that one because I think this is, this is the one that's the most toughest for most people,

Tara: Yes.

Nicole: right? Like, um, I also used to be a person to kind of just hold on to everything because, you know, someone gave this to me and,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: liked that person and it was a gift.

I can't just get rid of it. Um, but Yeah, I learned to get rid of it. Because there, again, everything is energy, right? So,

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: is energy, and it is, that's been proven. You know, science proves that, and ancient wisdom has been telling us that for centuries. Then, the, uh, attachments, the stories, um, the energy that's associated with an object, um, Things can, can make spaces [00:36:00] feel heavier and also bring back, bring to remembrance, things that you've moved on from or you're

Tara: Mm.

Nicole: um, looking to be associated with or looking to manifest.

So I, um, suggest looking at your collections, looking at the things that you're holding on to, you know, holding them in your hand physically and taking a moment, a few moments, a few deep breaths and what does this mean to me? Why is it here? what memories are associated with this thing? Um, holding it, does it even feel heavy?

Does this make your, your stomach flip -flop when you're kind of holding it because of, you know, the person who gave it to you? And are you holding on to it because of obligation? Because, you know, someone, you like gave it to you or something like that. Have you even used it? Like, when was the last time you picked this thing up? And I think going through that when it comes to collections [00:37:00] and, um, the things that we hold on to being more aware and conscious may be helpful moving through the process of letting, letting things go. And I say moving through the process because it's not easy to,

Tara: right.

Nicole: for many people to say, Nope, I'm editing.

I'm getting, I'm getting rid of it. And I, um, I encourage the perspective of not like I'm getting rid of it and I'm throwing it away, but maybe I'm giving it a different home. This is no longer serving me. I've gotten the, the, the gift of this, This piece, this object, this book, this whatever it is, I've gotten what I needed from it. And now someone else may be able to really benefit from

Tara: Hmm.

Nicole: So maybe I need to pass it on because this, this thing still has a life and still has more to give. But to someone else,

Tara: Mm.

Nicole: me, not here. I'm ready to pass this on. Um, so I think that's a good practice to start to look at, um, uh, clutter and collections.

When we talk about. I [00:38:00] mentioned this before with art and books. So, if you are, a lot of, I think a lot of the work that can be done in homes is um, like an inside, it starts with an inside job. are, what are you looking to, um, Achieve, manifest, look at what you're looking to feel. Um, so asking questions like that, taking a moment, maybe doing a meditation, um, I share, create with my clients, spatial affirmations often. So kind of sitting in your space and really imagining, like visually seeing yourself walk through your ideal space. What would it look like? What would you see? where are you in your life? Are you trying to get a new job? Are you trying to manifest more friendships? trying to, do you want to feel more of a sense of belonging? I think those, in those desires are, um, [00:39:00] the secrets and elements to what you can bring in your space. So if it's, say you want to bring in, call in a new, a new job, then perhaps, um, look to the, the things that you, that you can bring in. See you walk into your home. So are they communicating to you the confidence that you need?

Maybe giving you messaging about how you need to move forward as far as the job that you want to get? Are they confidence building? So if you have job, if you have books that are related to like getting that next job, maybe those are some things that you want to like, maybe put in your entryway or put on your bookshelf at eye level so that you can see them.

Because again, Self -consciousness is always picking up those things, um, if you're looking to feel more grounded, more rooted, even looking at the type of furniture that you have. I have noticed in my space, um, I have tended to be transient a lot in my life. And so all of my furniture sits up on high legs.

[00:40:00] A lot of my furniture is very leggy, because I am always often like, nope, I'm not staying here long, I'm getting ready to go. And so there's not a lot of furniture that I have that sits on the floor, that's solid and grounded and sits on the floor. So even things like that, you know, um, what does your furniture look like?

Does everything look like it's floating? It's just

Tara: Yeah,

Nicole: the floor, because that may, again, subconsciously communicate to you, like, This is not, this is not stable. Like

Tara: it's not permanent. Yeah.

Nicole: not permanent. I can't rest here. I can't get comfortable here. Um, and so that's another, you know, a few subtle things that you can look at. the positioning of your furniture, uh, when you come into your home, are you able to freely walk from room to room? Or are there objects that you've got to like jump over, move over, move around? That's, you know, that's friction. Um, you come into your, your space and there's Amazon [00:41:00] boxes or, you know, there's just stuff that you've got to navigate through.

So now instead of coming in and like, ah, and letting the day go, you've got to still, you're still on, you're still, you know, Maybe going in and out of fight or flight because it's like, well, now I've got to figure out how do I get from here to here and how to get to the, you know, the bedroom, I get to the bathroom and, you know, all of those kind of things because you've got to navigate your space because there's no clear flow to

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: where you want to go. We talk about rituals when we talk about designing your space, one of the things you would like to do is, um, you have a writing practice and you'd like to, um, figure out you'd like to have more, integration of your writing practice or ways to encourage yourself to feel like writing more. So maybe for you, that is, um, I want to start my day with a cup of tea or a cup of coffee and then move right into, um, the little nook that I, you know, where the sun comes in just [00:42:00] right and I'm cozy and, you know, this is my favorite chair. So let's set up your home in that way. Um, Where is the, the tea and the coffee, you know, where is that, where are those goods to get your day started? Are they easily accessible or do you have to get up and like figure out where everything is and then pull it out and, you know, because it's, if there's friction there, you're going to be less likely to engage in that because it's like, oh, now I've got to, got to find it.

I've got to boil the water, but maybe you set up a station in your kitchen, um, and then, you know, In the evening you prepare your space the night before because this is where I'm going to write and I've got, I've got my books already set up. I've got my writing, you know, um, my favorite pen and everything. Um, so I think there are things that we can, um, do with intention when we're, we're designing with intention, uh, that communicate to us, um, without us even having to know so that you can kind of set your life up to have different outcomes, if that

Tara: Hmm. Yeah. [00:43:00] First off, I feel like you were in my home. 'cause a lot of things you were describing, like the Amazon boxes. Woo uh. 'cause we get like our dog food delivered and we've got five dogs, so it's a lot of food all the time. And there's always a box of dog food sitting at the front entry. Now we don't really use our front entry.

We come in through the back anyway, so that's not necessarily like. Our entryway, but I was like, damn, she just called me out. 'cause I got, we got Amazon boxes, but I do have my coffee station 'cause that is one thing that I, I'm very clear about. But one thing I collect are mugs, coffee mugs. 'cause I like the process of coffee, but I have way too many mugs.

Like you can only use one mug at a time. So no one needs a hundred mugs. But yeah. Um, I think Nicole, I could talk to you. All day. 'cause I love this kind of stuff. I told you like, this is my jam. And I think you've shared so [00:44:00] much, just tiny tweaks of what to pay attention to, kind of what to look out for, things that we can change.

Even just lighting, like you said, like my husband loves the overhead lights with the, it feels like you're, you've got a freaking spotlight on you. And I'm like, no, no, we're gonna put on like 25 lamps because I prefer that warm tone of lighting.

Nicole: mood, it creates a mood,

Tara: It does. Um, but I know we are at time and I want to be cognizant of that.

So I have one more question for you that I ask every guest, and that is this podcast is all about balanced living with badass results. Hence the name, the Balanced Badass Podcast. So my question for you is, how do you define being a balanced badass in your own life?

Nicole: I think this is, this is a definite, um, work in progress for me. I

Tara: I love it.

Nicole: um, working on the balance part. [00:45:00] I think the badass is definitely coming together. I'm

Tara: Nice.

Nicole: further down that road than I am on the balance part. and, and that has just been from, um, being brave and, and just being bold in, in my life.

And like we talked about earlier, just stepping outside of my comfort zone and, um, being. true to myself as far as like my boundaries as far as kind of like what i want to do just being kind of less concerned about what other people are going to think because i think that the fear of what other people are going to think or say is what keeps many of us small and keeps many

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: living in the boxes that we've been told that we have to stay in now the balance part uh that looks different depending on kind of where i am in my life and what

Tara: Fair.

Nicole: going on.

I am an entrepreneur. Um, right now I have a few different, I don't want to call them hustles, but activations that bring [00:46:00] in income. And so entrepreneurial life is, um, not one, uh, that is kind of, um, when you're starting off, I don't think that it allows for, um, Balance. So I'm trying to create that. I think I'm still looking for ways to create that and I'm creating rituals and creating opportunities where I can say, you know, I start, try to start off my day with me first. What do I need to do for myself to be able to show up in the world functioning in the way that, um, as the woman that I want to be, like that I'm proud of and that, you know, is authentic to me. And so, yeah, still working on the balance part.

Tara: Yeah,

Nicole: I'm up and down if

Tara: that's fair. I think though, um, that honest answer is important because. To me, balance is about where your energy is and you choose how your energy goes so that you feel balanced in that season of life. And [00:47:00] I, one way that I describe balance is like someone on a, on a, on a balance beam, like a gymnast, on a balance beam.

Like they're not standing straight up all the time. They're wobbling and shifting their energy and their weight around. And that's, that's to me what balance is like, it's. Sometimes you have to give more to your work, and that is if, if that is fueling you and giving you the energy and the life that you need in that moment, that's okay.

Like you don't have to be perfectly 50 50 balanced work in life and all that. Like,

Nicole: Yeah.

Tara: off, that's not even realistic. But um, I think that's fair. And many of us, we're all just a work in progress trying to figure this out. So. Um.

Nicole: I think that's, that's, that is, is more accurate to where I am. I'd say it's more about harmony and the

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: and kind of the ebb and flow and really just If I could [00:48:00] say anything, learning to trust myself,

Tara: Mm-hmm.

Nicole: like when I, when I feel like, oh no, I need to rest, not overriding that and saying, no, but you've got this checklist and you've got this checklist.

It's like, no, but my body said I need to rest.

Tara: Honoring what you need.

Nicole: that and trust that what's for me is still going to be for me and still going to be there, even if I have to take a few days or a few weeks off. Yeah,

Tara: Yeah. And I think if nothing, you learn that from your experience back in 2018. So really kinda, you need to honor that for your health and wellbeing. Yeah.

Nicole: Because

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: like there's, there's nothing that's worth sending me back to where I was. I'm not,

Tara: Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, if folks want to learn more about your work, if they wanna connect with you, where can they find you?

Nicole: So many places. I was just talking to ChattyPT last night about like, how do I streamline all these channels

Tara: Oh Lord, I know.

Nicole: Um, but when it comes [00:49:00] to my design work, Brave Heron Studio is my website. And, um, so that's BraveHeronStudio .com. You can find me at Brave Heron Studio on Twitter. Instagram. And then, um, when it comes to me personally, I am Nicole Rivers on Instagram is my handle. And then if you're interested in following my kind of like lifestyle poll journey type of thing, um, that's at Still Unfolding on, on Still

Tara: Oh, I like that.

Nicole: Still Unfolding on TikTok. So

Tara: Cool.

Nicole: a few, a few places that you can, you can reach out to me.

Tara: Yeah, and I'll be sure to link everything in the show notes so it's easy to find you and connect with you. But

Nicole: Absolutely.

Tara: wanna thank you so much for your time. I had a blast and learned so much from you, and I can just tell like your energy for [00:50:00] those watching on YouTube, like you'll be able to see it like you bring energy to the screen and I, I love that.

So thank you so much.

Nicole: you. It's been such a pleasure. I've enjoyed this conversation immensely and I enjoy your, your podcast. You've had some tremendous guests on here. And I think this

Tara: I.

Nicole: is definitely timely, um, especially in the, the season that we're in right now and the way that the world is moving. And one last thing I wanted to share that I will be, um, sharing with you and you can put in the show notes.

Tara: Yeah.

Nicole: complimentary holistic space review for

Tara: Oh yeah.

Nicole: and your viewers where they can engage with me, um, for 30 minutes and I can give them feedback, you know, send me pictures and video of their space and I can give them feedback on what I, um, intuit from the space and some suggestions if they're interested in beginning on the path to creating small sanctuary spaces or just kind of like creating more of um, um, Attracting more wellness and more, more well -being into their spaces.

Tara: Awesome. Thank you [00:51:00] so much for that. I appreciate that. I'm sure folks will take advantage of that and I hope folks do so. Yeah. Well, I think we're gonna wrap up. Um, I just wanna ask everybody, you know, as always, if you are loving these kinds of conversations that, you know, go beneath the surface, uh, just make sure you're following the show.

Share it with a friend I. Would love it if you'd leave a quick review if you haven't already, just because it helps more badass burnout professionals find their way back to balance. And we all know that's what I'm all about. So until next time, take care of yourself, friend, and your space.