MELANIE VAN KUYK WELLBEING WOMAN Q AND A

2013-03-04
Melanie, founder of The Change Effect, is a beautiful mum of two who inspires women to live meaningful lives that they adore. I connected with Melanie recently via our Beautiful You Life Coaching training and we hit it off straight away.
 
melanie van kuyk

1.     What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about life… and all the parts of it that make it amazing. I am multi passionate and approach everything I do with all my heart. My passions are wide and varied! I love being healthy and fit, nutrition, personal growth, constant learning, travel and renovating. Time with my family and seeing the world through my children’s eyes. I am passionate about living a life full of love, balance, laughter and good company - creating a life you love. For me, this means my family, experiencing as much as possible with them, creative ventures, heart fuelled adventures and building a business that enhances my life - not simply ‘work’ that takes me away from it. I’m passionate about all things happiness and wellbeing - which for everyone can look slightly different. I love having so many varied passions - it keeps me inspired and motivated.


2.     Who or what inspires you?

Wow - so many things! My children & partner in crime - they inspire me to really push myself to be the best version of myself possible. People that follow their heart, takes risks and live courageously. The promise of possibility really excites me - my belief that anything is possible when you truly want it and are willing to work for it. I’m driven, not afraid of hard work and a challenge inspires me. I am both grateful and inspired by all the amazing things in my life already - the ‘charmed’ life that I lead inspires me to keep going - anything is possible.
 

 3.      How do you nurture your wellbeing every day?


This is a challenge! Did I mention I love a challenge?!
As a mum of two toddlers this is and certainly has been the one that ‘falls off the list’ easily. My greatest lesson after having brain surgery was the realisation I have to prioritise my own needs at times to be a stronger mummy. I now try and care for my own needs as much as I possibly can!
The small things make a difference for me - I need ‘mummy time’ before I start my day. I make getting a shower, make up on and hair done part of our routine before going downstairs to breakfast madness. I ensure I eat healthy, fresh (and mostly) organic food - very little to no refined or processed foods.  I listen to my body - from when it needs to move to when it needs to rest. I invest in a coach for myself to 'check in’ as needed. I enjoy my own company - as anyone self employed with a young family knows, peaceful moments are golden. I’ve learned you can’t always create these moments but you can appreciate them when they arise! In these moments I allow myself some space, drop my own expectations and cut myself some slack - it’s been one of the most nurturing things I could have possibly done for myself.
 

 4.    What is the one action you would like to add to your daily routine?  Something that you believe would make a positive difference to how you feel each day but are not currently doing.

I would absolutely love to meditate more. Before the demands of family life and being self employed I used to meditate for at least an hour every day - it was bliss. Nowadays I do ‘mini’ meditations - 3 minutes here and there when possible, but I need to make more space for it in my day, I have grand daydreams of making myself a cosy little nook in a sunny corner and making it my space for meditation, setting intentions and affirmations - all the powerful things that fill up the little gaps in my time at the moment that need the space to take centre stage sometimes!  I think it would help me keep focused (the downside to having so many passions is my ‘want to do list’ being taller than me...not that that’s hard!) 
 
 

5.      Fast forward to age 90. Imagine you are sitting in a rocking chair, reflecting on your life. In a few sentences, what would you like to be able to write about the way you lived your life?

 

What a powerful question!  I’m 90 so firstly, I’d celebrate my wrinkly tushie off for living to such a grand healthy age! Hopefully do a little dance with my hubby (he is stubborn enough to live to be 110!) Then I would reflect upon my life; 

 
What an amazing adventure. I’ve lived a love fuelled life and have made the most of every single opportunity and lesson I’ve learned. I’ve raised my children to be very confident within themselves and capable of doing anything they set their mind to. I have always been kind and respectful of others. My life has taken me around the world, led me to meet the most amazing people and I’ve laughed a lot.  I’ve always been so grateful for all the amazing gifts in my life - and proud to say I worked hard for them.  I sit here comfortably watching my ever growing family and I feel pure joy.  I believe in my lifetime I have made the world a nicer place and I’m comfortable that my family following me, will do the same in theirs.

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