We recently connected with Kiani Monét Harrell and have shared our conversation below.

Kiani Monét , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

I believe many people have a fixed mindset about what they want to do in life. When someone asks, “What do you do?” both the question and the answer often imply a reference to a job or career. While it’s wonderful that some people love their jobs, it’s disheartening that comparatively few truly do. Many people disagree with the idea that you can start over as many times as you’d like. Starting over doesn’t just mean changing careers—it could mean picking up a new hobby, exploring unique environments, or mingling with new communities. You never know what connections you might make, big or small. A 30-minute conversation with a stranger could change your life—mentally, physically, or even financially.

In this fast-paced, profit-driven society, most of us either fall into the category of doing what we love without material wealth in return, or we get so caught up in earning wealth for survival that we lose the time, energy, and passion for pursuing what we desire. I’ve experienced both.

In the past few years, I developed a deep passion for herbalism. I used herbs to heal certain internal imbalances and wanted to share that healing with others. This led me to launch a skincare business with products I personally curated, made entirely with natural ingredients. As a writer, I thought it would be helpful to include a blog on the business website to maintain transparent communication with clients. It started off well, and I’m still in awe of the experience. However, it eventually reached a point where it no longer felt like I was doing it for myself.

While I was proud of the progress, I also felt drained. I realized it was best to keep that passion for myself and those closest to me while exploring other aspects of my life. Since then, I’ve been tuned into my writing and other hobbies that feel more aligned with who I am. There’s no doubt that there’s more to come—I always have something up my sleeve.

No matter your current occupation, it doesn’t hurt to dip your toes into activities you enjoy. As children, we dream of being the most visionary things: a singer, a firefighter, a doctor, and more. We’ll never have as much time left as we do in this very moment. Take some courses, classes, or lessons. Either you’ll enjoy it and invest more time into it, or, at the very least, you’ll get to say you tried.

Kiani Monét , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I discovered herbalism after a three-year journey of dealing with persistent hormonal issues, both internally and externally. I constantly struggled with fibrocystic concerns, inflammation, and various other imbalances. While I was eating healthier, I wasn’t actually addressing the root cause of my issues—I was simply adding better foods on top of them. Like many, I researched my symptoms, and most success stories I found stemmed from prescription medicine. However, I was never a fan of pharmaceuticals and didn’t want to rely on something that would only mask my pain as long as I continued taking it. While I acknowledge the benefits of pharmaceutical science, I knew it wasn’t the only path to healing.

As I dug deeper, I came across the world of herbalism. I read personal testimonies of people using herbs to address everything from simple imbalances to serious conditions like cancer. I was intrigued. I began researching herbs that aligned with my symptoms and obtained them. I already understood that herbs are not a quick fix. When I first started taking them, I could see why people often dismiss their effectiveness—herbalism is not a concentrated formula designed for immediate relief. However, it works holistically, providing deep, lasting healing if given the time. While I didn’t experience instant relief, I felt more in control of my health. I knew that even the smallest improvements were meaningful.

I realized that herbalism is as much a mental journey as it is a physical one. You cannot expect herbs to work while maintaining the same diet, habits, and mindset that contributed to the problem. Well, technically, you can, but the benefits won’t be as precise or profound as you might hope. Over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen and Tylenol allow you to continue harmful habits while temporarily masking symptoms. Herbalism, on the other hand, is a practice. Herbs are tools that bring the body into a state of balance and reflection. The healing process amplifies your emotional state—perhaps even emotions you’ve suppressed long before taking the herbs.

Before experiencing physical healing, I had to confront many mental and emotional aspects of myself—shame, confusion, doubt. I hadn’t realized how frequently these thoughts affected me. You might wonder: how do thoughts relate to herbs? At some point, it clicked—I couldn’t expect something external to heal me if I wasn’t making internal changes myself. I couldn’t place my belief in an outside remedy if I didn’t also believe in my own ability to create healthier habits. With that realization, I stayed consistent—not just with herbs but with healing myself mentally. Over time, my imbalances lessened, and I began feeling better inside and out.

Knowing I wasn’t alone in these struggles, I wanted to help others who also sought alternatives to prescription medicine. As my health improved, I shed a significant amount of inflammation and continued my herbal journey, researching extensively to curate my own natural products. I always emphasized to my clients that our skin is a reflection of our internal health. However, I also knew that using natural ingredients on the skin is far more beneficial than applying chemically formulated products. I also decided to add herbal blends to my inventory based on customers’ specific concerns.

I was excited and passionate about my business because I had firsthand experience with the benefits of what I was creating. While I understand that every body is different, I firmly believe that returning to naturally derived substances—whether produced in the body or in nature—is the most organic form of detoxification. Herbs can benefit anyone in some way, shape, or form. I chose the name Nature’s Monét for my business because it held both intentional and personal meaning. My middle name is Monét, which means “to be heard.” Since my business was an effort to move away from commercial brands and embrace a more holistic approach to healing, the name represented nature being heard. It perfectly encapsulated everything I wanted people to take from my business.

I built my website, started a blog, and developed my formulas. The entire creation process took about eight months before launch. I loved gathering inventory and handcrafting each product, including designing the website myself. I’m still incredibly proud of the effort I put into it. When I finally launched, the response was beautiful. The support I received, along with the joy of seeing real people benefit from my products, left me in awe. Little old me was actually helping others along their journey.

I continued promoting on social media and even scheduled a pop-up shop that wasn’t all successful financially but I learned a lot from the experience. I felt everything at once—excitement, nervousness, joy, and overwhelm. As rewarding as it was, doing everything on my own had both its advantages and its challenges.

I was putting time into my business, and that was wonderful. However, I was dedicating more time to creating products and working with herbs than actually using them for myself. It reached a point where my focus shifted solely to getting others to see the value in these products and herbs. I didn’t need validation for my business—I knew it worked for me—but in my efforts to help others see the vision, I lost sight of it myself. I wasn’t as consistent with my own herbal and holistic practices as I had once been. All of my energy was going into the process, leaving nothing for my own self-care and healing.

After about five months post-launch, I shut my website down. While I ultimately felt relieved, a part of me was disappointed. I wanted Nature’s Monét to remain a part of me—and it still is. I continue my skincare and herbalism practices within my own life and for those around me, which feels even more fulfilling. As for Nature’s Monét, there’s so much more in store. Right now, I’m taking the time to explore other paths that resonate with me on a deeper level.

Even while running my business, I stepped further out of my comfort zone by attending my first writing show. I was beyond ecstatic to have the opportunity to be in that space—to read my work and listen to others share theirs. Writing has always been one of my passions, and immersing myself in that community truly shifted my mindset. Knowing I could exist in that space without yet having serious experience was a huge motivator for what’s to come.

I don’t want people to just see a name for my brand—I am a multifaceted being. Though it can be overwhelming to decide which passion to pursue, it’s also freeing to know that I can reach any level I desire with the mindset I have. I am the brand—my lifestyle, my work, my experiences are the brand. There will always be success in what I do because I strive to engage only in the things I love. I expect nothing in return from a business, an opportunity, or a community other than the experience itself—and that, to me, is more than enough.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

In my opinion, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is not having to fit into a box. You can learn, explore, and become something new every single day. Of course, if you love what you do, you might not want to change your path—but you can still expand your skills and channel your energy into different areas. Niches are great when you have a singular goal or passion. However, in this age of striving for success, people often lose sight of the small, meaningful pursuits that bring them joy.

As a creative, you belong to a community in every space because you are being authentic—true to who you are and what you love to do. I believe that as long as you create with love, you are already succeeding. I love that people can’t define me by a single expectation or label. It’s freeing to pursue all my passions, and those who recognize the beauty in that bring the utmost grace to networking spaces.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to embrace every meaningful facet of myself, uncovering new passions, skills, and experiences along the way. I want to live with curiosity, constantly evolving and pushing beyond the limits of what I once believed possible. In doing so, I hope to inspire others to do the same—to step outside of comfort zones, to pursue what truly fulfills them, and to realize that they are never confined to just one path. Life is meant to be explored, and every discovery within ourselves brings us closer to our most authentic existence.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: naturesmonet

Image Credits

All images were personally taken by me or close friends that allowed me to use their content!