Flawthentic ME
Flawthentic ME
073: Discovering the Therapeutic Power of Art with Shelja Sharma
What if art could heal, empower, and reconnect you to yourself?
In this episode of Flawthentic Me, I sit down with watercolor artist Shelja Sharma, who left behind a career in education to pursue her true passion—creating art and helping others do the same. Shelja’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of creativity and how embracing self-expression can lead to healing, self-love, and authenticity.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Art as Therapy – How painting became a space for emotional release, relaxation, and self-discovery.
- Letting Go of Perfection – Why the process matters more than the final product.
- Building Confidence – How consistency and self-belief helped Shelja grow a thriving online art community of 60,000+ followers.
- Starting Your Creative Journey – Practical tips to help you explore art, no matter your skill level.
- The Power of Community – Why surrounding yourself with a community of like minded people fosters growth and inspiration.
Whether you're on your healing journey simply looking for a creative outlet to de-stress or an aspiring artist, this episode will leave you inspired.
And if you’re ready to explore the world of watercolor, be sure to check out Shelja’s courses and follow her on Instagram for more artistic inspiration! 🎨✨
Join the Flawthentic Me community of powerful women who are always there to celebrate you.. Join Group here!
Grab your Free 30-Day Self Love Calendar.
Let's connect:
Website: www.flawthenticme.com
Facebook
Instagram
There will be days when you personally would feel tired or, you know, feel sad or some personal situations happening in your life. But if you do not take your business seriously, it's not going to make money for you.
Speaker 2:This is Flauthentic Me a self-love podcast for South Asian women. A place where we celebrate self-love even when we feel imperfect or flawed. A safe space where you can be raw, real and authentic. And here's your host, self-love and mindset coach, sunny Lamba. Well, hello everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Flop and Tick Me, and I have an amazing, amazing guest with me today. Her name is Shalja Sharma. Shalja is a watercolor artist and art educator dedicated to helping beginners explore their watercolors journey. She believes art is more than painting. It's a mindful and healing tool that brings calm and joy to everyday life. Through her workshops and courses, she inspires students to express themselves creatively and embrace art as a way to find balance. Her mission is to encourage others to enjoy the process of creating, using art as a therapy, and discover its magic and every single word I said here, even though I know Shalja wrote this bio for me, but I can attest to that. Welcome to the podcast, shalja.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Thank you so much, sunny, and I feel so grateful to be here. I can't tell you because I mean, right now I'm feeling so privileged that I get to share my experience and my journey with you and all of you who are going to listen to this, so I'm really excited. So thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 2:You're so welcome. So I want to go back. Shalja and I met on our online business coaching program. We both have the same business coach and we met on this program and when we started this program, I remember, shalja, there was like a lot of doubt. I could see that and you were like I don't know what do I really like? I have art, but do I? I enjoy my art, but do I take it as a business, like I don't know what to offer? What am I doing with this? And I take it as a business, like I don't know what to offer, what am I doing with this? And I think you had like about a 1000 or 1500 followers on your Instagram. Yes, and three months program. You finished the program three months later and you had, I think, 40,000 followers and I think today you have more than 60,000 followers on Instagram. Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:And it still feels so dreamy and some days I can't believe it. But yes, it all started two years back when I was determined to turn my passion, which is arts, into a profession and I took a call without giving a second thought. I left my job. So I was working as an educator previously and that time I was in Canada working as an educator. But during that time, my stay during, you know, in Canada, it was very challenging for me because we moved there in COVID and there was a lot of job struggle and I was already, you know, feeling homesick, I was missing my family and I left a very comfortable job, very secure job, because in India also I was working as an educator. So that time was really, really for me and I used art that time, you know, as a rescue for me because since childhood I was very passionate about it and I followed it through college. But after my college, I think, life had different plans, so I moved to a corporate job. So I always miss art. So I got back to it when I was working as an educator. So, you know, seeing children, their creativity, their imagination, has sparked, reignited that passion, uh, within me again. So I started again.
Speaker 1:So during my stay in Canada, it was very challenging and art became my rescue. So, even for, like I used to, I set this routine for myself where I used to paint for 10-15 minutes, whatever time I used to get, and it made me feel so calm, so, so peaceful. So I, during you know those moments, those were the turning points for me and I was getting a lot of strong signals from universe to take up my childhood passion again. You know, those were the really strong signals I was getting and one day I just decided and I quit my job without replacing my income.
Speaker 1:I had no plan but, yes, I was determined to make it a profession which is to pursue as an artist and I wanted to teach people this beautiful medium which is watercolors. So when I was looking for options, I came across to Sonia and I really liked her idea of setting that strong foundation for your business, which, which, which you can, you know, which is a that strong foundation, that that you can, you have so much belief in and with ease you can, you know, build your business with, which is most, most of the time it was intuition based. It was not strategy that we were following, so it was all intuition based. So I received that. So, again, this coaching was a turning point for me and I kept on going. Again, I had no plans, but whatever intuitions was coming to me and whatever guidance I was receiving from Sonia, I was just relying on that information.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I designed my first course, I designed my first workshop through that training and I just started online. Since then there was no looking back and I'm so grateful I, you know, taken those steps that most people are afraid to take.
Speaker 2:Yeah, serial does that feel? I know I only talked about, okay, you have 60,000 followers that was just to show the growth but also your business group from from a place where you were. There was no business idea. Well, you all you knew was that I want to have my art as a business, but you didn't know what. And now you teach online around the world.
Speaker 1:You have students everywhere yes, so it's not just that numbers.
Speaker 2:We don't want to say that instagram numbers is everything, but you've grown of income from it. You are like literally running a full-time business, so how surreal does that feel? And you said that you you followed the universe, but do you feel that that was the main like, what played a huge role in that?
Speaker 1:I think, uh, there are so many factors that played an important role to reach where I am today. First of all, is having that strong belief in yourself, and you know, I always feel that the passion that you follow is going to be, uh, you know, bring you the most joy in the world. I, I, I believed in this, and when I saw myself taking art so serious, with so much of passion and determination, you know, I had this hundred percent belief that it's going to work for me. And I started to look outside uh, you know the thing, tools and resources that can help me to, you know, build this as a business. So, again, this business coaching was one, you know, resource that you know became very helpful for me.
Speaker 1:Other than that, uh, I feel that any business you want to continue or you want to, you know, make money out of it, you have to be very consistent in doing that. So consistency is the key here. So there will be days when you personally would feel tired or, you know, feel sad, or some personal situation, situations happening in your life. But if you do not take your business seriously, it's not going to make money for you. So you have to keep aside your personal situations, which is going on, and you have to be consistent. So consistency is the key here. And the third thing is that, trusting the universe, you know, believe in yourself and then, you know, believing that universe, that that superpower and I think this is how I turned my passion into a career, by, you know, relying on these sources, which has given me so much faith and believe in myself. So it's not just some strategy that I follow, but there were multiple factors that has contributed towards my growth and, of course, my personal journey also.
Speaker 1:I always believe in you know, as a person, you should always grow and you should always keep on learning something new, no matter if I have reached here, you know, at a peak of my career, but, but still, I always look for new learnings that can help me to, you know, grow as a person, but as well as my business as well. So never stop learning, and it can be, you know, you can learn from so many people around you. It's not always necessary that somebody who's you know a level up from you uh, you always have to look forward to that person to have your learnings, but it can be in the form of your student in, in the form of maybe your sister can teach you something, you know, an important life lesson, so you uh. So you always have to be curious about learning new things uh from in the form of academics, or maybe you know personal experiences or learning it from people. So that's what I do as a person and I always invest so much in the personal development also.
Speaker 1:I feel that is very important, even though you are not running any business, you are just a homemaker and anywhere you know anything that you're doing in your life, I always believe personal development can really bring that change in you and always help you to become a better version of yourself. So never stop investing in yourself. So these are the all factors that has, you know, contributed to reach where I am today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Wow, like every single thing in there was so true. Just like you, my journey is the same. I quit my job with no backup plan, like I had no income, nothing. I quit my job because I just knew that there's like there's more I didn't even know what it was, but there was, there's more and have kind of the same journey and I felt that the things that you mentioned played a huge role, even though I think it took me a while to understand what the universe is telling me, because I was never a religious person and never a spiritual person either. There was a spiritual side to me, but because I felt religion and spirituality are same, that's what I used to believe, so I would push it away. But once I realized there are two separate things and I started leaning into my spiritual side, that's when I realized that whole universe thing. So it took me a while to get that, but, yeah, consistency and taking it seriously um, in fact, today morning I was doing some stories on my Instagram about that.
Speaker 2:That just because you have your own business, business, business, and you do have your own time, doesn't mean that you don't have discipline. You still have to sit down and say, okay, what is on my list today, so some really really good things you mentioned there. And you said that you. One big thing I really really agree with is learning. You can learn from anyone. I learn from my child, sometimes like he teaches me big lessons, life lessons, absolutely. So that's another one. Being open yeah right, being open to learning, talk to me about so. You followed your passion, and you said that you truly believe that you should follow your passion, so talk to me about that. I started my business at the ripe old age of 40, which is not old at all, by the way.
Speaker 1:Same here same here same here, Sunny so tell me.
Speaker 2:I have some clients who are like well, you know, my life is now over, and they're like 40 years old and I'm like what do you mean? Your life is over, right? So talk to me about that, the importance. You already talked about the passion, but the whole age thing and how some people say, oh well, you know, now it's too late, or well, how am I going to pay my bills? So talk to me about that passion thing.
Speaker 1:So, first of all, you have to realize that it's never too late to start something in your life, even if at the age of 40, I had the courage to start, you know, building something from scratch.
Speaker 1:So I was, I was working as an educator, I had a, you know, good paying job if you know, I could have led my life like that but there was something inside was telling me that I need to change something, because I was not happy with the circumstances. Maybe it was professionally or personally I was not happy with something, and I think you need to realize that it's never, as I mentioned, it's never, you know, too late to start. So at the age of 40, I decided to, you know, build something which I never thought of my whole life. You know working, establishing my own business, and that, though online. So I had no experience of social media. I had no experience of how I'm going to coach people, on what colors, how I'm going to run sessions, so what are the different tools and resources I would be using? So everything was new to me. But, I said, I'm always an observer and a learner, so I learn from people and that has really helped me. So I observe people and, you know, I catch things that I really like and, you know, try to implement the same thing. So it's never late to start. And second thing is that maybe in your life you are comfortable, you know, at particular stage in your life, or maybe you're too comfortable with your job and maybe due to some personal reasons or life challenges you have, then, you know, those are feeling very overwhelming at, uh, you know, at a point. But you always need to uh feel that your struggles, you know that you are facing, are always going to lead to some kind of growth. So it's not there, it's just a temporary phase.
Speaker 1:Uh, so have that faith, take that first step and start something, you know, with very small thing, like, for example, when I started again with watercolors, I never thought of building it as a business, but what I did is to paint for 10-15 minutes every day. So that was the starting point for me, because I picked up my paintbrush after 17 long years. So I didn't have touch, you know. So I have to get back into the routine of it. I have to again build that. You know, brush control and everything that I used to in college. So, again, taking that small step, you know, finding a buddy, maybe.
Speaker 1:I used to paint with my friends. I used to paint with, you know, the children in my class. So if I've given them a task, I would also take my sheet and paint along with them. So you know, these are the small things that you can do, and small steps, let me tell you, you know, matters the most.
Speaker 1:It's not about the big and giant you know big steps that you take, but it's about those small things and the small changes that you can make. So never shy away in, you know, taking those small step, because those are going to, you know, determine your success and growth, you know, one day. So I think I did the same thing, realizing that at the age of 40, I still got me and I can build this business from scratch, no matter how long I'm going to take, but I will do it. So I think the same advice I would give to your, you know audience also. So if you left something which was your childhood dream, or you left it because you know the life happened, or due to work, but any other situation, just you know, pick it up as soon as you can, because you don't know what fun and joy and you know, life changing moments it's going to bring to you.
Speaker 2:I love, love, love, everything about that. I love, love, love, everything about that. And learning hub, where you'll receive personalized guidance to apply these transformative concepts directly to your life. Plus, you will gain access to a treasure trove of advanced coaching tools and concepts that I simply can't cover in a podcast episode. It is the ultimate destination to connect, receive coaching and dive deep into all things self-love and mindset alongside like-minded women just like you. Trust me, it's a game changer. Come join us at wwwflauthenticmecom. Slash youunlocked and let's unlock your full potential together. And now back to the podcast.
Speaker 2:When I go to your Instagram so this is just coming to me intuitively here we live in this world where it's like you know, go go, go, go, go, scroll, scroll, scroll. Like people don't have any attention span, go go, scroll, scroll, scroll. Like people don't have any attention span in a world of nine second reels. I go to your page and suddenly I feel like this urge to slow down and I see your reels and they're not like nine second deals, but they're so engaging and I just feel like it's literally a therapy. And you said that you believe in art therapy and your page is therapeutic, by the way, everyone go follow Shalja. You gotta go check out her page and it's so beautiful. It is so beautiful the colors, the art, everything is so pretty.
Speaker 2:But this whole idea of using art as therapy and I can see that on your page Talk, tell me more about that. Like, why is art, why do you think art is therapy? I know it is 100% agreed with you, but why do you think art is therapy? And this whole, how did you embrace that? How did you let go of, oh, I got to create five second reels, I got to create nine second reels. And you embrace that. How did you let go of? Oh, I gotta create five second reels, I gotta create nine second reels.
Speaker 1:And you said you had to let go of that and just embrace your authenticity. I asked for like five questions in here, okay, yeah, yeah, so. So let me address, uh, the first question that you asked that art as a healing. So initially it was a new concept for me as well. I did not take art as a healing process. You know, this was something I never experienced it before.
Speaker 1:When I was a child, I had the impression of you know, creativity is all about beautification, so you have to paint so beautifully. So that's the image I had in my mind, because that's what you know, the art teachers around me in the school and everybody who was, you know, painting around me used to tell me your art has to be beautiful. So that that kind of impression I had on myself. But until you know it, it was there till the college time. But you know, then after that I left my painting. But when I picked up my paintbrush again and it was a time when I was working with children and I first time I realized that art is not just about beautification, it's a beautiful way to express your emotions as well. Now I can tell you with example, because when I was working as an educator, it's not just one day I decided to be an educator again, as I, as I told you, I believe in learning and you know learning from people and enrolling myself, investing myself in learning. So I did one year full-time graduate program in teaching and learning, where the first thing they teach us to be childlike and how to understand a child's emotions. So this is the first thing I've learned as a parent, as an educator, and I think that has really helped me because when I always used to design my lesson plans, I always used to keep in mind the emotions and the feelings of children and I think I used art that way for, you know, some people, some children in the class, who were not very expressive and they were not sharing much.
Speaker 1:So I used to, you know, use art as a tool for them. So I used to, you know, use art as a tool for them. So maybe, you know, giving them a prompt to draw something that would really and asking them what did you do and how do you connect to it. And that time I experienced that they are opening up and sharing their emotions and feelings and how they felt. So I collected all those experiences and also I got a chance to work, you know, children with special needs. Also, again, I got trained about how we can, you know, work with children with special needs and how we can use art as a tool in, you know, regulating their emotions.
Speaker 1:So I collected all those experiences and when I was facing the most difficult time in my life, the most challenging time, I embraced the same thing. I did the same thing which I was doing with children. So I used to sit and paint and, you know, just let my emotions out by using different colors and using different mediums, so that's specifically not watercolors, but you can choose to do anything. So I think art is one of the most effective and inexpensive tools for healing and I think many people underestimate its power. They feel that it's not going to work. But I have experience, I have taught it, it to children, I have learned from my own experience. So during that time again, I would come to the same thing that it became my rescue. And this is how, you know, I grew as an artist, I grew as a person. So I think it's really a. It has the power to transform people and to specially manage their emotions, regulate their emotions and to, you know, feel that at ease and peaceful. So I think art has that power.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And coming to your second question, which was about how do you choose? Yeah, so I think somewhere it's the guidance that I've received from Sonia, our business coach. So during our business training, I think she taught us well in that way, realizing that social media is something. Just forget about social media If you are an artist and you want to really teach someone, how would you do that? So I think this question has really intrigued me.
Speaker 1:Uh, so I found out, found out a way to, you know, make my reels in such a way that would provide value to people. So I didn't want it to stay there for eight seconds or nine seconds, but I wanted to create value. So I started to share my, you know, tutorials with people on Instagram in the form of, you know, different techniques I used to share, or any art process. So, and they were, all you know, 50 seconds or maybe a minute long. And that's where, again, a turning point for me, for my Instagram growth also, because people like that content. I was providing the value and they were receiving that value and they admired it. So I think it started to take off from there.
Speaker 1:So that's why I never thought that I would create. To be honest, I never, you know, involve myself in following the trends that go around. I always go by my intuition and what is going to work for me, and you know the value that I'm going to create for my people, so I always go by those things. So never follow any trends For fun. It's okay to do so, you know, at times, but you should not forget why you are here. You are here to create value for people and I think most of the time you should stick to it, and that's how you know people admire you and you stay consistent with that, and people also, you know, appreciate you for that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah I love that, that whole idea of just what is true to you and staying true to that. Yes, there's trends. They come, they go and if you keep trying to jump on another trend, another trend, another trend, then you're never going to stay authentic to yourself. And I love that and it shows on your page, it totally shows up on your page. So someone like me I do yourself and I love that and it shows on your page, it totally shows up on your page. So someone like me, I do. I love coloring. I shouldn't say I love.
Speaker 2:I now love coloring, or maybe I always did. I never just realized it, but when I started my personal development, I realized that I need to slow down once in a while, because I never slowed down before. That. I love to dance. That's my way of emotional regulation. I put music on and I dance when I need to regulate myself and it works right. Everyone has their own modalities. But but I really was, like you know, once I started meditating, I really wanted to like have that moment where you can come out of your head and get into your body, which is dancing. Dancing is a way, but I wanted to create something and I started with coloring books, because that was the easiest thing for me to do. I said, okay, now I'm going to buy my colors. I bought this mandala coloring books and all these and I said, hey, and they're beautiful, I love, love them.
Speaker 2:So for someone like me who believes that I'm not creative, let's say, and also is just so busy going from day to day, but they want to, they want to really slow down, they want to start creating some kind of art, what's a good starting point for them and how can they stay consistent with it? Like, I do coloring, but I'm not consistent. I do it like once a week, sometimes I remember it, sometimes I don't, and then when I really feel, oh my gosh, I feel like there's lots going on, I need to calm down, then I take it out. But how do you make it like a healing practice? Every day, five minutes, how do you do that?
Speaker 1:So there are two aspects to it. You know it's about the perception of art that people have, as I told you earlier that you know when, when I was growing up, I had this perception of art as beautification of you know something. So, which is not true. It is not necessary that you have to be a creative person to use art as a therapy. So I think it's a myth that people have. Even if you have a paper and a pen, you are ready to, you know, do your art therapy. So, first of all, you don't need expensive tools and I think it's the most inexpensive way of you know, start your healing journey. So it's a myth that it has you have to be a great artist or you have to have some experience in doing art therapy. So it is as simple as you know drawing, drawing circles or doing something with even your pen. You don't need to use you know, colorful things and that's about it. And also, if you are starting someone who's new to art therapy, my suggestion would be that you know, try to do things that are easy in the beginning, for example, if your aim is to relax. Now again, you know, when I teach my students, I always tell them because they come to me learning a skill right which is watercolor medium, to me learning a skill right which is watercolor medium, and sometimes they, they ask me this question that, uh, you know, sometimes, when we are painting, uh, we are not focused or what you know, we are not consistent with it, or we we find it really challenging at times. So what should you know? We do. So I always tell them this thing that you know you need to differentiate between you have to, you know, set your intention why you are doing art for that particular day. Now there are days when you are learning art as a skill, which is, you know, my students does. So set your intention. If your intention for today is to just unwind with art, so you pick up something which is easy to do Maybe you know you want to scribble or you just want to. You know color something. As I told you, you use mandala art and you do. You know coloring in it. So you pick up something which is easy and doable to you, which does not need your mind to pay attention, and you know focus. So you know, pick up simple things. But if your intention is to learn something specific, if you want to learn an art as a skill, then of course you need to, you know, practice it more with a focused mind. So that's the difference. So set your intention accordingly while you are using art, and that will make the difference. So set your attention intention accordingly while you are using art, and that will make the difference. And accordingly, you can choose your exercise for that day. And there are so many different things.
Speaker 1:Uh, you know, people can start, uh, if they are starting their art healing journey. So, for example, I told you you can just simply pick a paper and some, uh, a pen and start doodling. How did your day went? So maybe you can create a sun and you know somebody is coming out of it and you can write 10 things about. You know, you are grateful. So this is a simple exercise, but if you do it, it will really help you to come into that positive zone again.
Speaker 1:If you're feeling, feeling overwhelmed, or you know you're emotionally, uh, you know, burdening yourself, so doing simple, simple things and tips and tricks could really help you. And you know, uh, take that coloring book, you know, try to, you know color with so many different colors. Again, it will give you, because color itself, uh, you know, is a therapy using different colors. Yeah, it's, it's so therapeutic again. So, as for the day you are feeling, you can pick and choose your activities and I I'm really glad you brought that point up, because this year my focus is to uh, you know, more side of you know, using art as a tool. So I'm coming up with so many workshops and courses in future maybe you know in coming months where I can help people who really want to use art as a therapy and just use it to unwind and relax. They're just so, yeah.
Speaker 2:So, to summarize, here's what my brain is thinking. So art is definitely a form of therapy. It helps you. You know, unwind, number one, calm down, slow down and emotional regulation you mentioned that. And also to practice your creativity. Hey, why not practice my creative juices? Just go with the flow.
Speaker 2:Absolutely yeah, and then also one thing that I find when I color is that when you are going through a lot in your head let's say you have anxiety going on there's something big coming, all these thoughts. When you start art, any kind of physical movement, you're basically coming out of your head and you're going into your body and when you come into your physical activity, of that repetitive action, it kind of helps you calm down your anxiety and I think it also helps you focus more. Like if you are someone who can't focus, you feel like, oh my gosh. There was a time I felt I had ADHD, but I don't. But it like. I felt like, oh my God, I'm always like my thoughts are all over everywhere. So it brings you to that practice, your focus. There's so many benefits.
Speaker 1:I love it now I can tell you, even if you try that simple exercise of you know creating the lines, for example, you create a circle and you, you pick up a, you know a pen and you want you start creating small lines inside it, I can tell you it would require so much of your focus into it and you would forget. You know what is going on around you because and I used to use this exercise, uh, you know, with children who used to have uh, you know hand-eye coordination difficulty because, again, when you paint something and you use your hand, uh, you, it really.
Speaker 1:For example, you do a lot of exercise and you know, uh, with, with weight training you do. So you train your muscle right. So, similarly, when you are picking a brush and you're painting some things or shapes, you're training your hand muscles and at the same time you're looking at it. So it really helps you improve your hand-eye coordination and I think it really works with early years children who find it difficult, you know, to make that coordination in balance. So these are the again, you, you know. It all comes to basic. So you just need to have a little bit and maybe something can guide you, and I think there is a lot of resources available online. Also, even if you do not want to invest in any coach or you know any person who can guide you, there are so many resources available on internet. By simply following those techniques, I think you will be able to, you know, heal yourself in the most inexpensive way, I would say.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I mean just following your page. You have so many tutorials there, like, follow those, just your simple exercises you do. You have really inspired me to start my art journey. I do a little bit. I do my coloring, beginning of the month. I kind of write the name of the month, make it pretty, and then I make my habit tracker. But that's once a month. I do it. Okay, but you have inspired me, yes, okay. So, shalja, at the end of the podcast I usually do a rapid fire round. Okay, are you ready? We'll start with some easy questions and then we'll go to more fun ones. So we're talking about art. So I'll start with something more like talk about art a bit. So I'll start with something more like talk about art a bit. If you could paint one thing over and over and over, what would that one thing be?
Speaker 1:Circles and lines inside it, and florals.
Speaker 2:Okay, circles and lines. Interesting no-transcript. What is that place I?
Speaker 1:can paint anywhere anytime. I think that's my superpower.
Speaker 2:I love that you're not like stuck on one position, one location. That's amazing. If you are a color, what color are you? White? Oh, tell me more about that it's.
Speaker 1:It's just that I relate so much to white color. Like you can notice, I am wearing a white color and I think it's just uh, the harmony and the peace that it brings. Yeah, uh, and it's super blendable. You know, you can blend it in any color and it would make the color look light, pastel and have the dreamy touch to it. So that's why I relate to white color so much.
Speaker 2:Watercolors sometimes might mean some mishap it spills or something. So tell me about that fun one time or frustrating experience when your watercolors created a big mishap.
Speaker 1:I like to call it happy accidents because they lead all this to something beautiful. But, uh, you know, I did not have such, uh you know, accidents with me as of now which would have turned into a disaster, uh, but yeah, spills and everything it, you know, it happens, uh. I mean. So one time I was just shooting, uh, making that art process, and I was shooting it with my camera and I spilled the water all over. So that time it was really frustrating because, uh, you know, I had to to post that reel within two days again, so I had to redo everything again. So, but yes, I think that's the beauty of it Even if you make accidents, I think you learn something from it. So you always have to look the positive. I always believe in looking at the positive side of it. So next time when I did it, it, I think I created it more beautifully and I came up with another idea all together to, you know, present that sometimes accidents they do lead to different results, yeah, and sometimes better results, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you love white. You're wearing white right now. Have you spilled ever like watercolors on your white? And you're like, oh no, and uh, not exactly, not exactly.
Speaker 1:But yes, my son, he does a lot he's. He does a lot when he's out and he's playing and he's just painting with me. So he does that a lot and I love that. You know, I love that part when I see colors all over, because this is what I like about painting. You know, creating mess and you are embracing that mess, so I love that part. It's a lovely sight to me yeah, I guess it is again.
Speaker 2:It's that creative part of you because you love colors and water and painting. So even if there's a spill on it, you're okay with it and you love it actually. Yes, absolutely A place on your travel bucket list.
Speaker 1:Switzerland and I want to take my son to London to visit Harry Potter studio, so that's on my bucket list.
Speaker 2:Okay, oh, harry Potter fans in this family too. Um, what was the last tv show or movie or podcast that you would recommend?
Speaker 1:I watched a movie, uh, you know, which really inspired me Wild and it was based on the story of a dog who was being kidnapped and taken to another place and this person sold him for money. In the movie it was shown that he was always known as a pet dog, or always known by his masters, but in the end it led to a beautiful place which made him realize that he's he's the, you know creator of his own journey and he's his own master. So the beautiful journey that they have depicted in that, it's really inspiring.
Speaker 2:It was very inspiring for me but it sounds like a very inspirational message and something we talked about. Like you know, following your passion and doing those things, I'm adding it to my list for sure. That brings me to my last rapid fire question, Even though a rapid fire round is not very rapid, but it's okay. The name of the show is Flawthentic Me. I want you to fill in the blanks.
Speaker 1:I am flawthentic because I think I have learned to embrace my own imperfections, so I am flawthentic in my own way.
Speaker 2:And you are Like you. Just through this whole conversation, you showed that even when you spill the watercolors, you find art in it and you find creativity. So that is like you know. You showed that even when you spill the watercolors, you find art in it and you find creativity. So that is like you know. You embrace those mishaps, those flaws and everything and that's the whole idea. I loved, loved, loved our conversation. Thank you so much. At the end, I do want to say that, Shalja, you have a watercolor floral course for beginners where anyone like me maybe, who's interested in learning about watercolors and everything it includes how to get your art supplies and how to start, like as a beginner. Everything it includes, yeah, and you do live group sessions and you also have pre-recorded modules in the program. Yes, okay. So anyone who's interested please go check out sh shelja's instagram page. Where can they find you on instagram? What's your handle?
Speaker 1:so it's at the rate s, h, h, e, l, j, a, shelja, but my name with double h and I will have that link in the show notes.
Speaker 2:shelja also does one-on-one coaching, so if you think you want to take it to the next level and you really want focused kind of learning, she is your girl. Thank you so much. I truly, truly appreciate our connection. I know we met through coaching with Sonia and we've both kind of grown together from there. I love watching your Instagram reels, your art. It's really it's kind of a form of therapy for me to just go spend five minutes on Shalja's page, so calm down. So thank you so much for being you and for all the value that you're providing.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Thank you so much, sunny, and I you know likewise, because when I see your page, I feel so inspired, as I mentioned, that I love learning from people and their experiences, so when I come to your page, I learn so much, and so that's why you know, when you have a passion this is again something that I would like to tell to your audience If you're following your passion, don't shy away to share it with the world, because you never know who you are inspiring and who's learning from you, and maybe they can follow their passion. You are inspiring them to follow their dreams and their passion, so never shy away from sharing it to the world.
Speaker 2:So and with that beautiful message we're going to wrap up. Thank you so much. On that note, this is Sunny and Shalja signing off. Until next time, keep loving yourselves and stay Flauthentic. Till next time, keep loving yourselves and stay Flauthentic. Thank you for listening to the Flauthentic Me podcast. Did you relate to something or had an aha moment? I would love to hear your thoughts. Connect with me on Instagram at Sunny underscore Lamba. You can also sign up for a newsletter so that you can get weekly tips and tools. Until next time, keep loving yourself and stay Flauthentic.