We recently connected with Saloni Patil and have shared our conversation below.

Saloni, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think success is a subjective concept. Success is measured differently by everyone. Some measure it monetarily or through achieving personal milestones. Personally, I would define success as achieving the goals I set, and the growth that happens in the in-between stages.

More specifically, I think success requires tenacity and passion. In my endeavors, being tenacious has pushed me toward working hard and persisting through difficult times. I live by the mantra, “it’s tough to beat someone who never gives up.” The last year has taught me that being tenacious requires you to take a leap of faith, put yourself out there, and take chances. It feels scary and uncertain but also breeds meaningful experiences and growth. So, I think it really does boil down to the willingness to keep trying and working towards goals in the big and small ways.

Moreover, I think passion is necessary for achieving success. When a project or opportunity aligns with my values or what is in my heart, I find that is when I feel most passionate. Resonating with the purpose or mission of a project has always helped me succeed. I have also noticed that passion generally helps me be more prepared, detail-oriented, and invested in the small parts of my work. Rather than being in the passenger seat, I feel inspired to be in the driver’s seat and lead.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Hi everyone! My name is Saloni, and I am 22 years old! I graduated from San Diego State University in 2021, with a BA in Psychology and a double minor in Child/Family Development and Public Health! Currently, I am pursuing my Master’s degree in Public Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health!

I started my wellness/lifestyle blog in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. As I was finishing up my time in college, I noticed how heavily wellness had impacted my life. From going to the gym to gratitude journaling, and perfecting my green juice recipe, I saw how the concept of “wellness” had transformed my life for the better. I wanted to encapsulate my experiences and share them in the hopes of inspiring others. So, to channel my creative voice, I created my blog! The blog started small, a compilation of 10 posts, and my most avid readers were my parents and best friends. The blog was my passion project, and I was determined to make it a success. That summer, I started taking my writing more seriously, publishing 1-2 blog posts a week. I reached out to print/digital magazines, shared my work with them, and that is what put me on the path to freelance writing. It was certainly a process, lots of emails, yes’s and no’s first and third drafts, but looking back, it helped my blog gain traction. I was able to connect with so many amazing publications, creatives, and writers. They taught me new things and helped me gain confidence in my work.

I think what sets my blog aside from others is that I see wellness as a multifaceted process. As a Los Angeles native, I witnessed how toxic and commercialized wellness culture can get. It can become exclusive and illustrated as something that only certain people can achieve. I want to challenge that. Wellness exceeds the green juice you drink or the cycling class you go to every morning (though I love both these things). Wellness is ALSO how you treat others, how you interact with your environment and the relationship you have with yourself. Wellness extends out into every part of our lives. As a gal in my 20s, I’m still figuring out life! I want to share this process honestly on my blog, along with the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I hope that sharing my own experiences inspires people to dig deep and live a life they are proud of.

Now, 2 years into freelance writing, and creating for my blog, I’m most proud of staying consistent and growing up with my writing. Sometimes, in the beginning, it felt like a slow start, or there were lulls in publishing, but I found that staying consistent and continuing to write and adapt helped. I also am so proud of staying true to myself in this whole process. It can be easy to write what’s easy or what you think people want to hear, but I have tried to write what feels true to me and stay authentic.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to connect with and uplift other people through my work.
When someone reaches out to me and tells me how one of my articles impacted them or resonated with them in some way, it is the best feeling. These interactions remind me that writing can be a common thread that draws people together through shared experiences or emotions. When I started my blog, it really was just a way for me to articulate some of my own experiences, and I think it is so cool that people seemingly relate to that. I feel so honored and just grateful that my work is connecting with people in that way. There is truly nothing better than uplifting someone with my words. Even if it is just one person, I feel so lucky.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My work as a writer and creative is rooted in the mission of being intentional and understanding wellness as a multi-faceted process. Wellness is a process, and it takes time. I have learned that small habits, mindset shifts, and practice help you achieve different aspects of wellness. Moreover, I think taking the time to learn about yourself and what works for you is so important. Wellness is deeply personal, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. I hope I share this complexity through my writing and inspire others to live a life that is uniquely their own. Time passes quickly, and for this reason, I value intentionality. Thinking about my “why” and “how” has rooted me in intentionality, and helped me use time and opportunities in a valuable way. I hope my writing and work as a creative always reflect this.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://salonipatil.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saloni_patil/

Image Credits
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