We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chauntia Postell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chauntia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
When you are someone who has struggled with anxiety most of their life everything feels like a “RISK”, right? But, when I think about a life changing risk that shifted not just my trajectory but my perspective on life completely it would definitely have to be choosing to study abroad for 6 months in Kerala, India. In November 2014, I was completing my first semester of graduate school for my Masters of Social Work degree. To say I was in a constant state of worry, panic, stress and overwhelm is a complete understatement. I was struggling with going back to school full-time after working for two years, not having an consistent income because my program required 2 days of 8hr field placement and the other days were filled with classes, comparing myself to those around me at the age of 24 that were thriving in their careers, relationships and lives all together while I’m sleeping on my mothers couch in her 1 bedroom apartment, and being in an constant state of the “unknown”.
So, when I received an email from my school stating that the application to study abroad for the Summer/Fall 2015 semester was now open I didn’t think too much about it. During supervision, my supervisor at my field placement began to tell me stories about her studying abroad in Ethiopia and how impactful it was on her life. At that moment things begin to hit me that this life is not about you or your fears, it’s so much bigger than that. I was in school to bring change in the communities around me,I had dedicated the last 6 years to working with youth and families in inner cities,I had learned and studied all of the philosophies possible to create change and in that short, innocent, random conversation I finally got it. You create change by being the change- My supervisor taking that chance wasn’t about her just having an experience, it was about her being able to share that experience and inspire the people around her to go for it!
I had never known of anyone traveling and living abroad that looked like me, I had never traveled out of the states myself to be honest, I wasn’t exposed to various cultures growing up and many of the children and families that I worked with over the years hadn’t either. I was still living in a state of surviving, not thriving, not taking advantage of the opportunities around me for a variety of reasons. One being I didn’t think it was possible for me to be chosen, so why even apply, right? That subconscious lack of worthiness and esteem. Two, if I did go, what would that be like for you being a black woman in another culture and country seemingly ALONE? That fear that we as black people feel going anywhere unfamiliar. Not just will I be accepted in this space, but will I be SAFE. So many more “valid” reasons I could’ve named as to why I shouldn’t take advantage of this opportunity but none valid enough to pass up an opportunity to impact generations. Yes, to some that’s far-fetched but not when you’ve worked in certain communities that are surrounded by hopelessness, trauma and death. Not when you’ve grown up in environments where dreams can’t live beyond elementary school, opportunities are limited and mindsets are intentionally fixed by the systematic structures around them. So yes, one person, one example, one life, one RISK can change everything for every person attached to you.Needless to say that perspective shift was enough for me to not just apply but be accepted into the program!
When the time came to leave in June 2015, I went to Kerala, India really just on prayer and faith. I tried researching online but there wasn’t much posted about that area. I didn’t know what to pack, what I was going to be eating, what my living situation would look like, my roommates, nothing really. I hadn’t even watched Slum Dog Millionaire which was a blessing because my experience was nothing like that (I watched when I returned home). What my experience was like is hard to put into words, if I am being honest. I lived in a home with no hot water, no TV,no car, no air conditioning, couldn’t open windows because of the bugs and lizards, no oven or microwave, no dryer for our clothes just the BASICS and I had never been happier. I met some of the most amazing and kindest people. I learned who I was as a person without the labels and limitations of society. I learned what it meant to really live life to your fullest potential.I learned what it meant to have gratitude for everything.To be ok standing out, letting your light shine and embracing your uniqueness. I experienced a level of peace I wouldn’t trade for the world. Every vision and idea I had while there I went for it, not because I was obligated to but because I had a new level of confidence that if I could envision it, it was possible. I was able to revamp an after school program to focus on social emotional development for latch- key kids in the neighborhood with my roommate, teach social emotional learning at the nearby preschool where social emotional learning was not even a subject, facilitate 2 6-week girl groups for teenage girls that focused on self esteem and advocacy, learn about meditation and deepen my practice, grow my relationship with God and so much more. Those opportunities came because I would literally schedule meetings with any and everyone to execute my vision and ideas to bring change in the community I was currently living in. It wasn’t part of my assignment or schooling, it was a part of my purpose. One risk in applying to study abroad gave me the courage to never stop taking risks and seeing risk as the opportunity to just show someone else it’s possible, believe bigger & remember it’s bigger than you!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Chauntia Postell a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, Certified Mindfulness Facilitator, Life Coach, Inner Peace & Intentional Self Care Advocate and Founder of Prioritize Peace. In March 2020 I was in a head on car accident that left me with a nerve injury in my neck that becomes debilitating the more stressed and overwhelmed I get. After numerous doctors began to tell me they weren’t able to help me with my injury and to see a mental health therapist to deal with the stress in my life (the irony, I know) I knew this was a much deeper issue than I wanted to believe. I was subconsciously storing and holding not just my own stress but everyone’s stress within my body and now it was unbearable and something had to change about my lifestyle immediately. I thought about all that we experience in our daily lives, the impact direct, generational and vicarious trauma has on us and how we are just programmed to keep going, keep doing, keep surviving. I begin to realize that though most of us claim to want peace we have no idea what that means or where to even begin. Peace is not going on weekly vacations, winning a million dollars, or living in a world where everyone gets along or better yet JUST LEAVES YOU ALONE! It begins with awareness and intentionally healing and taking care of every single part of our beings. What I call #IntentionalSelfCare. Intentional Self Care involves more than escaping your reality but creating a reality that you don’t need an escape from. It is a lifestyle change and mindset shift that begins with you making your peace a PRIORITY. Recognizing that God wants us to live with joy, peace, and abundance, but we must make the decision to overcome any barriers keeping us from receiving it. Whether that be mental, physical, spiritual or emotional, Prioritize Peace was created to help overcome those barriers, live in the present moment and amplify the peace within through group coaching, masterclasses, podcast, morning meditations, blog post, peace retreats, in-person events, fasting & prayer groups and much more!
I am most proud of the community that we’ve been able to create through this brand. It can be extremely difficult and lonely at times choosing peace in a world where many people simply aren’t, where you are the first one in your family to break generational patterns and heal from the things you’d rather not speak about. A Lot of people talk about doing the work but the reality is the work is more than just reading self help books, blocking a few numbers and a couple therapy sessions it’s a journey not a destination. Everytime you feel like you’ve healed from one thing, or mastered peace in this area a new level is unlocked. It’s a beautiful but challenging process. So to have a community of like minded individuals to support each other through the valleys and mountain tops of our journeys is a really special thing.
My greatest hope through Prioritize Peace is to really show people that it is possible to live well, fulfilling, abundant, loving,peaceful, free, balanced lives. That a healthy, authentic, intimate relationship with God, Yourself and Others is possible. That limits are imaginary and anything is possible for each and everyone of us! No matter what you’ve experienced, no matter how you feel inside of you, no matter what you see around you, no matter what barriers exist, it’s possible for you and you deserve to live and thrive in that space but you have to believe & do the necessary work.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
In this field I think the most helpful thing in succeeding is simply showing up. Showing up in your own journey, so that nothing you go through is in vain. Transparency, vulnerability and lived- experience is huge in this field but none of that is possible if you aren’t present in your own life to grow through the lessons. Showing up for your business, everyday you wont feel inspired or motivated. Somedays you will wonder what am I even doing and does it really matter but you have to push through those limiting thoughts and develop a mindset and habits that allows you to show up and remain committed and disciplined to your vision, mission and purpose despite your feelings. Most importantly showing up for your community. It can be difficult somedays to keep going when you don’t get the support you were hoping for, your community isn’t growing as fast as you would like or you’re just tired. But that’s why it’s so important to have a mission and vision that’s bigger than you. Knowing that someone is counting on you and that your consistency and presence makes a difference allows you to move beyond what you feel like and stay grounded in what really matters. Your community trusting and having an authentic relationship with you is what makes all the difference in this field. As long as you show up and make your community feel supported they will always support you. It’s all about presence over perfection.
Have you ever had to pivot?
When I started Prioritize Peace in 2020, I had the initial thought that if I started out creating self care products that introduced self care, mindfulness and peaceful moments then it would prompt people to go deeper into prioritizing peace and overall wellness. I felt like what I had to share and give had to be eased into and made as inviting to as many people as possible. I was trying to make a brand that suited everyone while also sticking to my mission and vision. What I realized in that process is that this space I was creating was special, rare and unique. It wasn’t supposed to be for everyone and by me playing safe and small I was limiting the long term impact that I could be making by speaking directly to my target audience. Many people were buying my products but they weren’t my target audience, they weren’t connected to me and the mission and I often felt like I was taking one step forward two steps back. When I took time to truly surrender my business to God and move in alignment with what His vision was for me and my business, things naturally pivoted. Starting with a spiritual fast in July 2022 where I began leading live meditations, prayer, discussions and wellness tips and strategies. I saw a complete shift in the investment people had in their own journeys and a deeper level of connection to my audience. During that fast I received a revelation that I wasn’t supposed to be focused on selling products at this moment but using my words and presence to bring about change in an innovative way. Though it was difficult for me to stop creating and selling products and move into speaking, coaching, creating intimate authentic spaces for healing and simply showing up and sharing my own journey, I knew it was necessary. I also knew if God was leading me here, I couldn’t fail and that I would never feel alone in this process again. I was being guided and that took a lot of the pressure off that I had been feeling when I first started out. It was time for a shift, people wanted something different and deeper, beyond being “successful”, making money, finding a partner and everything else we highlight in this society. People genuinely wanted real inner peace and were just looking for a safe place to support them on their journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: prioritizepeace.com
- Instagram: @prioritizepeaceco
- Facebook: prioritizepeaceco