Women’s issue advocate, best-selling author and self-help guru, Melissa Ambrosini is on a mission to help women be their most fulfilled selves - something we're passionate about here at INIKA Organic. Host of the number one podcast ‘The Melissa Ambrosini Show’ and an in-demand and interactive speaker, Melissa is a leading figure in the personal development industry.
How did you become the master of self-improvement?
I wouldn’t say I am a master, I would say I am still mastering! Repetition is the key to improvement and that’s exactly what I’ve been practicing for the past 9 years! Embracing my true self and embodying what I teach.
Tell us a bit about your journey to writing Mastering Your Mean Girl and then Open Wide?
I write the books that I wished I had at the start of my journey. Mastering Your Mean Girl flew out of me at an insane but radiant pace. I loved the writing process and sharing openly from my heart. Writing Open Wide was a little more challenging as I bared everything to the reader. I shared very honest stories from the most private and intimate parts of my marriage and life. Moving through that was a challenge I had to take on, and I’m glad I did!
When you were younger, did you envisage this as your future? What did you want to be when you were a child?
There is no way I could have dreamt of this incredible life! I started dancing from the age of 3 and LOVED it - in my younger days I always wanted to be a performer and I fulfilled my dream of living in London, dancing at the Moulin Rouge in Pairs, becoming an actress and even working as a TV presenter. I never thought I would be writing books, podcasting, mentoring, speaking and teaching others how to unlock their full potential. It’s wild. But I wouldn’t swap it for anything. This is not the future I predicted, but it’s the future I’m madly in love with and beyond my wildest dreams.
What is one thing that you would like people to know about you, that they might not already?
I’m mostly an open book, but I haven’t spoken a lot about my obsession with Jazz music. I mean, have you ever really stopped and listened to Jazz? The emotional range a single song can explore makes my heart soar! I secretly wish I had the skills of a smooth Jazz musician.
What is your top tip for women to remove themselves from the daily noise, and manage a busy, stressful life and reduce the mental load?
Your inner Mean Girl will always be there unless you learn how to master her. Part of that is taking the time to meditate, hang out in nature and just be in stillness. Whenever the mental load gets too much, I go back to my 3-step “Mastering your Inner Mean Girl” process which goes like this.
Step 1
Practice Awareness. Become aware of when your Mean Girl pops up and tells you that you’re not good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, whatever enough. Most times we are so unconscious and not present that we aren’t even aware of her internal dialogue, so becoming aware of her words is the first step.
Step 2
Gently close the door on her. Once you are aware that she has popped up, you can now choose to gently close the door on her. It’s not about fighting her or waging an inner battle - that’ll just cause more pain and suffering. Instead, it’s a gentle act that comes from a place of pure love for your beautiful self.
Step 3
Choose love instead. Once you have gently closed the door on her, make the choice to come back to your heart and choose love instead of fear. It’s so much more fulfilling when you do.
How did you become the master of self-improvement?
I wouldn’t say I am a master, I would say I am still mastering! Repetition is the key to improvement and that’s exactly what I’ve been practicing for the past 9 years! Embracing my true self and embodying what I teach.
What were some of the key challenges you’ve come across in your life?
Like I’ve shared in my books, hitting rock bottom in 2010 and ending up in hospital with my health ripped away from me was incredibly challenging. As was having my best friend pass away from cancer, another friend commit suicide and my only grandparent (my beautiful Nonna) leave her body. I’ve had some incredibly challenging times, but all of them have taught me so much about myself and life.
What do you think is the single biggest change women can make to achieve better work/life balance in 2019?
I think striking a perfect balance between life and work 100% of the time is a near-impossible task which I don’t strive for. I don’t believe there is a perfect balance between work and life because there are going to be times when your work requires more of you and there will be times when your personal life takes the front row seat. So, I believe it’s more about staying balanced within yourself. Nourish your temple, move your body, meditate, get to bed early, spend time outside in nature and do the things that fill you up from the inside. If you are balanced within yourself, you can handle it when your work or personal life requires more of you.
Why do you think natural products/makeup are important?
Our skin is our largest organ and whatever products we put on it get absorbed straight into our bloodstream. Your skin essentially drinks whatever you put on it - whether it’s natural or chemical laden. If you wouldn’t eat your moisturiser, mascara or perfume, it should not be going on your skin. Our bodies are already dealing with overload simply from pollution and other environmental toxins related to a modern lifestyle. So, don't make your liver work even harder to detox out the chemical storm of the every day. Love your body, treat it like a temple and only use organic and natural products. Your body will adore you for it and you’ll feel the difference in your energy levels and health.
What are your favourite INIKA Organic Products and why?
I love the Baked Mineral Foundation Powder (Freedom is my colour), the Baked Mineral Blush and Long Lash Mascara. I like to keep it simple and they are the three main products I use every day.
Tell us one thing you do for yourself every day, to be a little happier and healthier?
Meditate. It’s the one thing I do every single day no matter what. It’s a vital part of my routine because it makes me feel so healthy and happy ... and why wouldn’t you want that for yourself?!