E24 Reflections from a Magical Week at the Summit Retreat 🏔🪞

Pollen: For Creative Entrepreneurs with Diana Davis

In celebration of the culmination of the first of many Diana Davis Creative retreats, we share snippets from the Summit Retreat in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

In this episode of The Pollen Podcast, we discuss experiences, lessons, and personal and business reflections from the summit. Cait, Shelagh, Meera, Ani, and Caitie talk about their favorite parts of the retreat, overcoming dream achievement guilt, being one with nature, the power of making authentic connections, and much more!

Listen to this episode and be inspired to join the next Diana Davis Creative retreat!

Create your own creative entrepreneurship story of clarity, professional confidence, and profit. Join Diana’s 90-day group course Camp Clarity and learn everything you wish you already knew, like how to land dream clients, harness the power of social media, and make the money you deserve. Learn more here.

🔥 Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

1. Learn how to avoid feeling guilt for wanting more after reaching your goals so you can continue to grow and expand.
2. Embracing change as an inevitable sign of growth in your business and personal life.
3. How the DDC Creative Retreats call your fullest potential forward.

📘 Resources

• Learn more about this episode’s guests: Cait Cepeda | Shelagh Curran | Meera Meyer | Ani Paoletti | Caitie Corradino | Tiffany Swan
• Connect with the wonderful team behind Diana Davis Creative Team: Alyssa Wible | Maria Herrera | Alexandra Smith
• Achieve the life, career, and clients you’ve always wanted (and fully deserve!). Join the waitlist for Camp Clarity! The 7th Round will start in October.
• Join the waitlist for the ASCEND Mastermind, a four-month immersive mastermind for entrepreneurs ready to scale their next mountain. ⛰️
• Attract your dream clients with my free masterclass!
• Access other courses from Diana Davis Creative.
• Connect with me: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

🎧 Episode Highlights

[07:26] Cait’s Mission & Mindfulness Yoga

• Cait is one of Diana’s first one-on-one clients.
• She is the first Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher in the New York public school district.
• Her mission is to help people of all ages, sizes, and genders live their best lives through mindfulness and yoga.
• She believes in the power of giving adults the mindfulness and mindset tools to share with their children.

[09:25] Dream Achievement Guilt

• People often feel guilty for wanting more after achieving their goals and aspirations because they think they should be thankful.
• It is okay to want more.
• Change is a sign of growth. Embrace growth and expansion.
• You can shift and evolve while following our desires — even in a different modality.
• Tap into the feeling that you want, and you will be able to live to your fullest potential.

[12:07] Cait’s ‘Summit’ Retreat Reflections

• Cait finds the experience transformative through breakthroughs, healing, and authentic, meaningful connections.

• Vulnerability and openness can lead you on a deeper path to your highest fulfillment.

Cait: "Life, in general, is like a hike up a mountain. You sometimes have to take that first step, and then you realize that it's super challenging once you start going, and altitude keeps picking up."

• Take ‘quantum leaps.’
• Slow and steady does not win the race — be agile.
• You have to move and go to the thing you know is waiting for you.

[18:27] Cait’s Brand Photoshoot Experience

• Cait always wanted to work with Ani, and the retreat made it possible for her.
• She felt in the moment with herself during the shoot.
• The shoot helped her reconnect with her body and appreciate existing in her skin.
• It also made her see how beautiful the body is and how it works automatically without us even thinking about it.

[24:17] Shelagh and Her Clients

• Shelagh is a registered dietitian specializing in hormone health and PCOS.
• She finds joy in helping her clients heal hormonal imbalances and manage PCOS holistically with food freedom.
• Shelagh believes that she is her clients.
• She does not believe forging a great relationship with her clients is unprofessional.

[28:39] Shelagh’s Nature Experience at ‘Summit’

• Shelagh finds the retreat to be a grounding experience with nature. She felt held by the Earth and the universe.
• Her favorite part was plunging into the cold waterfalls and finding peace in the water.
• She also loved the deep connections she made during the retreat.

[33:59] Meera’s Love for Connection

• Meera is a financial advisor and the CEO of her company, Life.Money.Balance.
• She empowers women to feel excited about money and confidently grow in their wealth.
• She is a people person, and the retreat reminded her of the interconnectedness of people.

[35:42] Meera’s Reflections from ‘Summit’

• Meera's reflections during the retreat were about motherhood.
• The retreat was Meera’s first time being away from her child. It provided her the clarity of not constantly thinking about giving support to others.
• It also reminded her of the importance of giving credit to her husband — that he is capable and can care for their children.
• The retreat also taught Meera to listen to her body and not succumb to people-pleasing tendencies.
• We do not owe it to anybody to stress our bodies.

[43:06] Ani as a Spiritual Brand Photographer

• Ani is a spiritual brand photographer who helps her clients tap into their deepest spiritual beings.
• The retreat allowed her to let her inner child and teenager come out and play after being suppressed by the world's demands.

[46:07] Ani’s Cosmic Shopping List

• Ani was able to revisit her cosmic shopping list during the retreat.
• She learned to list the more important things in her life.

Diana: “Because we're doing [what we dream of], we don't give ourselves the credit for what we're already achieved.”

• Don't force change or transformation. Instead, aim for more of what you have.
• Listen to the Pollen Podcast's episode on the cosmic shopping list here.

[46:07] Caitie’s Retreat Reflections

• Caitie and Diana started as each other’s clients in photography and fitness businesses.
• Caitie is a registered dietician, nutritionist, eating disorder recovery coach, Reiki practitioner, fitness instructor, and yoga instructor.
• She is also the creator of Full Soul Nutrition and the host of the podcast Whole, Full, & Alive.
• Watch out for Caitie’s episode with Diana where they talk about their learnings from their ‘crazy spiritual breakthrough breakups’.
• The retreat taught Caitie to go full force into being herself — to have the freedom to incorporate everything she learned throughout her life.

Caitie: “[The retreat] has reminded me that I do need to embrace all of who I am — all of that stuff I talked about — because shying away from it isn't serving anyone. It's definitely not serving me to suppress any aspect of who I am.”

Enjoyed this Podcast on the Power of Retreats?

Never underestimate the power of community and nature! Retreats are a great way to be one with nature and be in community with others. The 'Summit' retreat is the first of many to come, so be on the lookout for the next one if you’re interested in being a part of this beautiful experience!

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Connect with me on Linkedin: Diana Davis Creative.

Thanks for listening! Stay tuned to my website for more episode updates and other exciting programs and resources!