Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nadyne Hicks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nadyne , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was one of the most important lessons you learned in school? Why did that lesson stick with you?

Christmas holiday of 2005, I visited my mother and couldn’t get out of bed. A few days had disappeared when my mom walked the stairs to the upper room and asked if I was okay. Being a former therapist, she sensed something was wrong. We talked and she asked me if I had thoughts of suicide and if I had thought of how I would do it and I said yes.

How could I be depressed and in despair when I was department heading the makeup team on the hit television show, Scrubs, had 2 beautiful children in private school, a nice house and a husband? I looked like success. That’s another conversation but, you get the picture that I was not emotionally or mentally healthy.

My mom recommended a therapist and I welcomed the help. Dr, Mendes was more of a life coach who concentrated on where I wanted to go. Funny thing is, I knew I desired to write and had begun the process of applying to UCLA to obtain my BA in English. Routinely arriving early to work to utilized the production computer to complete my application.

When UCLA said yes, my life changed forever. As a 41 year old college student whose main vocabulary consisted of: “cut”, “makeup”, and “flying in”, I was completely LOST in my English classes. Honestly it felt like, I sat in a Spanish class.

I remember the day I strolled on campus (in between classes with my pink roller backpack in tow) that I halted, in the middle of what felt like thousands of kids around me, and I broke down and cried like a baby. What are you doing here Nadyne? You quit your job for this? Why are you doing this? I called my mother, who at that time was a college professor. It was the 2nd or 3rd week of school and she assured me that the other students were just as nervous only they were 18 years old. This college moment taught me to feel the fear and do it anyway. So, I persevered. I had private meetings with my professors and they directed me to free tutoring on campus and they welcomed me during their office hours.

In 2007, as I continued to walk through my fears, while in my Emerson class, I heard the concept that: thoughts create reality. This idea shook me to the core because, at the moment, past thoughts flooded my mind like a movie and I clearly witnessed how depressing they were. I immediately made an appointment with my professor. In that meeting I asked, “Do you believe that if I changed my thoughts I can change my reality?” He said, “Yes, I do.” At that moment, I made a mental decision to learn how to change my thoughts and I have been on that path since. And yes, my reality as changed lots since 2007 and my heart is light, free and filled with gratitude. I’ve come a LONG way from depression and suicidal thoughts.

Nadyne , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Depression lead me to college and college guided me to a new way of thinking and to writing. I ran with this information and eventually penned a novel, “Through Eyes That See”. The first edition was released in 2011 and the second edition was released in 2021. I also narrated it so that it’s available on audio as well. It’s a coming of age story entwined with many of my younger life experiences. It’s a small book with an emotional punch as it deals with issues that may trigger.

As I renewed my mind, I attracted teachers. I call them my angels, because they introduced me to yoga and other modalities that opened my mind, my heart and soothed my spirit. I learned about Louise Haye, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Florence Scoval-Shin, Esther Hicks/Abraham and a plephora of others. I read books and attended seminars and trainings. I learned about the brain and body connection and how we create our worlds through breath and thought. I eventually attended 3 yoga teacher training courses and trained online through Dr. Joe Dispenza’s website. I also attended a one day training with Dr. Dispenza with 2018.

All the training led me to intensely study the breath well enough that I guided breath techniques to actors and actresses on set when they were stressed. I love helping people calm their nervous system and I enjoy assisting them into homeostasis or balance. I love explaining how stress is to be short term and when it’s not it damages the immune system. So, I began to guide breath sessions and that’s how “Breathe and Soar” was born. I know I came to this earth to serve others with this information as well as to write and create content that helps people balance.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience is the state of being strong enough to withstand adverse conditions or rough handling. I am a person who see tough conditions as part of the life process so I don’t give up when I see them. Something innately in me knows to keep going. After graduation from UCLA in 2008, a tumultuous storm threw me.

As you know, I began my UCLA experience in a depressed mental state and that depression lasted a few years although the symptoms lightened each time I stepped foot in campus. To this day, I say UCLA saved my life because the atmosphere on that campus lifted my spirit and lightened my burdens.

Since, I was not working and my, then, husband could not keep a job, I endured financial hardship but I had visions of graduation so I remained on course. The bills piled and I paid what I could with my financial aid. My husband and I separated. By the time I graduated, my house was in foreclosure, my credit was upside down and I felt horrible. However, walking across that stage and receiving my diploma enlightened me. I knew I was destined for greatness.

I knew my life was BEGINNING, not ending. Once I graduated I received a call from a television show and said yes to a makeup position. I recall the day, going back and forth with the bank regarding my mortgage. Previously, the bank said I was approved for a program and that I could keep the house but that day I received a call saying I needed to send more paperwork. We had gone through this process several times. I lifted my hands on set and I said, “l surrender.” My house was in foreclosure and I was tired. That evening I arrived home with moving boxes and I told my children to start packing.
They said, “Mom, where are we going?”
I said, “I don’t know.”
There was an area in mid city Los Ángeles that my daughter loved and we decided to look there. Within 2 weeks, my daughter found a place on a renters website. When we went to see it, the owner of the duplex said, “I don’t know why I’m saying this, but: I like you. I don’t care about your credit or your past. If you have the money for the first and last, this place is yours.” That was Wednesday. We moved in Saturday. It happened that quickly.

I’m not saying this is the route for everyone, but no matter how tough my life seems, I know I am loved and l know I am provided for. I know that there is a higher power that loves me and that everything is working out for me. Over the years, I have practiced keeping it light, stepping back and observing the process. I smile because it always works out fine.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I had known about the importance of breath awareness. Since I understand how the breath regulates my body, it would have been a vital tool during my anxiety and stress. With the entertainment business comes many unknowns. A show can be canceled at anytime. I have been on show where we worked one week and the next week it was over. I didn’t have the tools that I have now to calm my heart, brain and body. Early in my career, I had bouts with anxiety, worry and depression. After I developed a relationship with my breath and body, I was relieved of that stress.

This is why I feel it imperative to give these tools to children so they can practice it throughout their entire lives. I’m not saying, they should be gurus or yogis but how awesome would it be if they had the tools to self regulate in the midst of chaos and anxiety? It would be magical and life altering!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://breatheandsoar.com/
• Instagram: @breatheandsoar
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/@breatheandsoar
• Other: Tiktoc @breatheandsoar

Image Credits
ANAIS BENOUDIZ for the pictures of me in all black and all white outfits.