We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lacey Pruett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lacey below.
Lacey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
I realized that the world’s definition of success, fulfillment, and health doesn’t work for me anymore, and if I was going to live my life to the fullest, I needed to create my own definition of these. After following the traditional ladder of success, after college, I realized that I wanted something more. I wasn’t fulfilled with my work, and I felt called to support others in a bigger way. I left Corporate America to start a full-time Fitness and Wellness career, and started growing even more as a person and for my life. My work and schedule freed up more time for my family and fun, and because I was working in a new industry, I was meeting new people and building new, fulfilling relationships. My creative brain started opening back up, and I was able to publish my first book in 2019, and my second will be released this year (2022.) The moment I decided to make changes and seek out my personal definition for success, fulfillment and health led me through the greatest journey to my authentic self. I am different than others in some ways, and different isn’t only okay–it’s abundant.
Lacey, 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?
My life looks completely different than what I set out to accomplish in school, and this fact is one of my greatest lessons–stay open to possibility. No matter how successful you get, or how content you feel, stay open. The best may still be yet to come. I wanted to be an author since I was in middle school. I love words, and excelled in the language arts. I love stories and feel that is one of our greatest powers. The stories we tell, share, and collect determine how expansive our life is, and as an author, I enjoy sharing stories that connect women through adversity and change. Being a woman is special, but it’s also challenging at times, and the community of womanhood needs to stay connected and nurturing, despite our differences. I learned this lesson moving through a difficult season of my life that set me apart from other women. Deciding to not have children of my own, made me different than most other women, and left me feeling a sense of un-belonging for a season. As an author and a yoga teacher, I look for ways to bring groups of women together to inspire each other and connect through adversity or challenge. This could be as simple as bringing fun back into a workout or fitness program, to gathering together for a book discussion or fireside chat. I am most proud of my personal health & wellness journey, which I share parts of in both of my books and other writings. Connection is a requirement for the human experience, and I feel most successful when I can be a part of the solution for others by simply sharing my stories. My first book, High Performance Detox, shares tips and tools I used to step off society’s stage and into authenticity. My next book, Elevate, shares how to rise up when life gets you down. Let’s start a conversation at www.laceypruett.com or on my Instagram @laceypruett
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
That women had to look, be, and show up in a certain way. Society shares little truth about what a successful woman looks like, and it leads younger women to pursue relationships, careers, and looks that aren’t meant for them. Worse, on this quest to live up to society’s standards, women get hurt, lost, or sick in the process. I worked hard to shed some of the limiting beliefs I collected throughout my years, and to start making my own rules for my life, how it will look, who I will be, what roles are fulfilling to me, and started to make self-care and rest a priority. We live in a world where busy is an achievement, but in reality, staying busy all of the time takes its toll on our health. By re-learning how to schedule my days, what to prioritize, and self-care, I get to live a more abundant life, fulfilled and in good health. We live in a world where women are encouraged to get married and have children before they get too old to do so. In reality, women can be fulfilled simply living a life they create for themselves. If that includes marriage or children, great, but it may include staying simple, curating great friendships and building a career or focusing on other passions. We live in an abundant world, and each of these options can be a version of success for women.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
The health and wellness industry is so abundant, so always stay open to possibility. Even if it’s not what you thought you’d be doing, remember that doorways are opportunities. I never thought I would become a yoga teacher, but now I’ve added aerial yoga to expand my practice and teaching skills. I discuss my journey through yoga and aerial yoga in my new book, Elevate, and yoga has helped me manage through difficult life situations. I am grateful for all of the knowledge available through the yoga community, and it blends well with my other experience. Stay open-minded with how to get where you’re going and always remember the breathe through all of it. Inspiring others never goes out of style, so there is always room for more wellness professionals. Be sure to put your personal flair on everything you do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laceypruett.com
- Instagram: laceypruett
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/laceyauthor
- Linkedin: lacey.pruett
- Twitter: laceypruett
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/laceypruett
- Other: I teach live classes at www.urbanvybe.com and book personal training sessions both online and in-person.
Image Credits
John Doty