We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cara Nissen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I never intended to have my own business. Everyone in my family worked in education or another “safe industry.” I feel that with the pandemic, everything went out the window and there was no such thing as being safe. It was about taking a leap of faith and really going after your dreams. Working for yourself is not as glamorous as it may seem, but you are in the driver’s seat and have the ability to make an impact. You are in control and get to wake up each day with excitement and new ideas and waking up in the middle of the night with new ideas. I started my journey a few years back and I kept hearing a call to keep doing the work that I was meant to do. When I connect with others and share my story in an authentic way, they are blown away by my story. They tell me to keep going to and to be myself. I know it will work because of who I am, what I have to bring, and my story. I know I will have an impact on others as others have had on me.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a certified life coach. I work with clients in one-on-one settings, and in addition host group workshops and group coaching sessions. I primarily work with women with chronic health conditions, providing a safe and empowering space for them to show up as themselves with no judgement. I am also a highly-sensitive person (HSP) and am highly empathetic. Others have said I have a heart of gold and I am here to make the world a better place. What I believe stands out the most is that I approach each individual as themselves and show up in an authentic way for them. I believe life is so much more than surviving and help my clients step into their power. I also teach undergraduate psychology courses and mentor girls in the community.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Yes, I was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease at the end of 2020. I literally felt like my world was ending. I had gone through a recent breakup, and have never felt so alone when I received the diagnosis. I decided that I wasn’t going to let lupus own me, so I started to join a few support groups- one through the Lupus Foundation of America. I also spend the next few years unlearning unsupportive behaviors and learning how to embrace who I truly am. Almost three years later, I am thriving and able to support others on their journey.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I love this question! I truly believe it comes from the connections we make. Social media can feel a little impersonal, so I believe in the power of community. It doesn’t matter how many followers you have- how many followers do you know, have you engaged with? How do you make them feel like they are part of the community? How are you engaging with them? Are you showing up as yourself?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/cara.nissen
- Instagram: @bloomwithcara
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-nissen/
- Other: Book a session (free for readers): https://tr.ee/hNE8P5GhUO
Image Credits
Ligia Cristina Chin Robyn Richardson