Returning to the Heart: My Co-Creation Journey

Today I feel compelled to bring you into the inner workings of my creation process. There is something about sharing the deepest parts of your soul that is beyond healing and I find that it draws me back into alignment. When I speak from my truth, I feel myself becoming a closer embodiment of who I’m meant to be, my authentic self. 

We live in a world overflowing with curated personas and performative expressions. So many people share what they think the world wants to see, rather than what their soul longs to express. In a rapidly evolving world, this is a pivotal moment. We can be swept into the spiral of distraction and fear, or we can turn inward and choose authenticity.

In my world that means allowing my inner self to guide me to express my soul in the ways I know I was meant to. For me, authenticity begins with creation.

Creation feels like prayer. When I turn an idea into something tangible, I feel my divine power radiate outward. I transform vision into substance, and in doing so, I transform myself. I’ve always been this way. It’s what drives me. It is equal parts my purpose and my offering to the world.

What began as DIY projects in my childhood eventually led me to chemistry, formulation, and the art of working with my hands. Every step along the way taught me skills I would one day find myself teaching to others…

Discovering My Voice as a Teacher and Leader

As I moved through my career, I realized that teaching came naturally to me. Growing up shy, I never imagined myself as a leader. But I’ve learned that until I have mastered a  skill I tend to stand back and observe. Once I do master it, I love guiding others toward that same understanding. It’s some of the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done.

Teaching is what led me to start my blog over six years ago, and it’s what keeps me writing today. Sharing knowledge is my form of service to the world, and it continues to fuel me.

Being a shy person I have always thrived in independent thought. However, something unexpected happened on my journey: I realized that teaching is not a solitary act. I had been raised to believe that success meant relying solely on myself, but collaboration began calling to me. Learning to restructure myself out of a productivity mindset made it clear that progressing through life independently could only get you so far. As I partnered with team members and stepped into leadership roles, I found myself craving co‑creation.

I found myself challenging myself in new ways when I collaborated on projects with other people and that led me to seek a way to incorporate this element into my business. That desire eventually led me to begin consulting for small businesses in the natural cosmetics and herbalism space. And suddenly, my creativity overflowed. Working with other women—each with their own dreams and visions—expanded me in ways I never anticipated.

The Birth of GoldenFinch Skincare

Around this time, I began working closely with my cousin Charlotte. An entrepreneur with a beautiful boutique and a heart full of vision. She dreamed of offering skincare that was intentional, botanical, and free from unnecessary ingredients. I knew I could help bring that dream to life!

Over the course of a few months, we co‑created a three‑step skincare ritual rooted in herbal wisdom. And just like that, the GoldenFinch Skincare line was born.

Years later, that line has grown into six plant‑powered products, each infused with the same intention and care.

What’s interesting is that without my consultation work—without helping other small businesses bring their products to life—I don’t think I would have launched my own line. But everything unfolds in divine timing. And here I am, seven years later, with my own skin and haircare brand, Elemental Botanicals, and a thriving product line created for my cousin.

Returning Home, Returning to Purpose

As my journey evolved, life brought me back home to Illinois. Back to the very place where Charlotte’s boutique lived and breathed. Not long after I returned, she reached out and asked if I wanted to work more closely with her at the boutique.

And so my boutique life began! And I have loved every single second of it.

I never expected to fall in love with retail, but interacting with the people who cherish our skincare has been life‑changing. For years, I worked behind the scenes, never seeing the faces of those who benefited from my creations. Don't get me wrong! I love working behind the scenes to make magic happen, but to be honest, sometimes I can feel a bit disconnected doing so. Being in the front of the house has reconnected me to the heart of my work.

It has even awakened a new dream in me: the desire to have a storefront of my own someday.

Life aligns opportunities with such divine precision. When I needed a part‑time job, Charlotte needed help. And through this alignment, our co‑creation has deepened in ways we never imagined. Together, we’ve blended my love of blogging with her interior design expertise to launch a blog on her website!

If you want to check out this blog, do so here! There I will be sharing more of my knowledge of botanical beauty and cosmetic science while Charlotte shares her home design wisdom.

I can’t wait to see how our businesses continue to grow and intertwine.

Living in Alignment With Your Divine

Fulfillment often arrives in the most unexpected ways. But one thing is certain: you find it when you live authentically.

No two people are made the same. Each of us carries a unique experience, a unique voice, a unique offering. The more you unfold your own journey, the more you align with your divine.

Until next time…

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