The author on writing to heal and how rituals keep her inspired.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Alex Elle is as relatable as she is inspiring. She found her way into wellness through a writing practice that evolved into an online community of thousands, the “hey, girl.” podcast, and her latest book, After the Rain. We sat down with the author to hear more on cultivating her craft, creating boundaries, and community care.
What does the word lightworker mean to you?
An embodiment of grace and resilience and self-awareness. Also an understanding that the light always returns to us, especially in our moments of darkness on our cloudy days. In the wellness space, a lot of people focus on the light and it being there all the time when it actually isn’t — and that’s okay. Finding the duality in the light and the dark, and how we can hold space for and learn from both, is key.
How would you say that you are a lightworker?
I think knowing and trusting my intuition and also learning from my mistakes and failures allows me to be the light that I want to be. Not expecting perfection from myself and holding myself accountable goes hand-in-hand with being the light, bearing the light, and sharing it.
How did you begin your work in wellness?
Being a writer and being able to share my truth by way of writing [led me into] the mental wellness space. It was showing up on the page in honesty and sharing my story in a way that built community.
How did you get to the point of being so open and honest in your writing practice?
I think that the duty of people who write is to show up in their craft with a sense of vulnerability and openness. I don’t think I would be doing my work, my story, or my readers justice if I wasn’t moving through the lens of authenticity and vulnerability and humanness.
How do you honor your personal boundaries while you’re sharing stories with a community?
When I was writing After the Rain there were certain things I just wouldn’t write about because I couldn’t, I wasn’t there yet. It’s the internal dialogue about what you’re ready to disclose and what you’re ready to move through and heal from. Honoring my boundaries looks like having these reflective conversations before I put anything down on the page.
How do you hold space for others while still taking care of yourself?
I’ve been thinking a lot about self-care as community care, how we take care of ourselves and how that trickles over to our relationships, parenthood, jobs, roles, and responsibilities. I think that when we’re not taking care of ourselves we don’t show up as our best.
Do you have any mantras or motivational phrases that you find yourself returning to often?
“Nothing will work unless you do” from Maya Angelou.
I think that quote really resonates because it reminds me to keep working hard towards the things that I want and not just expect them to be how I want them to be. Especially in my self-care practice, motherhood, and my marriage. It means really showing up and being an advocate for myself, my love, my worth, and knowing that nothing is gonna fall in my lap, including self love, including self worth. We have to work for those things—that’s the soul work we have to do.
What do you hope members of your community will take away from their interactions either online or in person with you?
I hope my community trusts that they are their own expert and that they have their answers. They are not alone in their struggles, and they’re not alone in their joy.
Related Stories
