Coached by Van

☀️ IMAGINE BEING FREE of burn-out and exhaustion. You radiate joy, feel fulfilled, and are deeply connected in all parts of your life. No longer in Survival, but Thrival.

☀️ WHAT IS IDENTITY HEALING?

It’s when your:

✨ insides match your outside // wholeness

✨ beliefs and values are lived, expressed, and visible // embodiment

✨ words match your actions // integrity

✨ choices are deliberate // intention

✨ energy, optimism, and creativity are abundant // flow

✨ body, mind, soul are at ease // inner peace

✨ mental, social, spiritual, emotional, and physical needs are met // alignment

BECOME A MEMBER OF SUNSET COLLECTIVE

SIGN UP Link in my Bio

There’s still time to enroll into my new group coaching offering. I decided to extend through to next week! If you’ve been feeling stuck and a tugging in your heart to do something about it. This is your invitation.

I would love to support you on your journey!

We kick-off next Tuesday 11/15 at 11:00PST. Replays of the workshop portions will be available because I know life happens (some of you are entrepreneurs, aspire to break out on your own, perhaps you’re in a big life change, or are busy moms).

We meet 2x a month Live for 90 min, 3 months Nov-Dec-Jan, 6 sessions total, $88/mo.

Schedule: Nov 15 + 29, Dec 13 + 27, Jan 10 + 31

Explore identity through reflective journaling, courageous conversation, and creative play (including intuitive art).

As a founding member, you get to be a part of helping me shape the community with your feedback. You’ll also have the option to continue group coaching at a special rate. I’m beyond excited to get this started next week!!

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IS ON THE HORIZON FOR YOU.

DM me with I’m Ready or ask me anything.

Warmly,
Van

💜☀️✨

Healing is messy, not pretty.

Part of the practice is the acceptance that healing is a life long journey.

You will never figure everything out perfectly so let that expectation go. Don’t wait to live just because you haven’t figured out all your s**t! Healing is a layered process.

When you finally move through one thing, another surfaces. Examining one story reveals other forgotten stories. Having accountability to follow through consistently is essential.

Also, know when to seek support. Make asking for help normal. If a therapist, coach, mentor, friend, etc. is not bringing more Ease—there’s nothing wrong with you. It’s that they may not be what you need right now. Get clearer about your needs, learn to express, and you’ll find more alignment.

What is meant for you will be.

Navigating our inner world is not easy. It is at times very difficult. Heart shattering, even. There are tools, practices, and perspectives that you have no idea about and they can be life changing.

Surrounding yourself with people who can hold space for you or have been or are also experiencing what you are going through is powerful. You are not alone.

If you feel called to explore alongside other women who want more clarity around identity, I have a few spots remaining in Sunset Collective. We begin in November. DM to claim your space. Or share with someone who could benefit!

—
Become a Founding Member

I’m excited to finally launch, Sunset Collective, a nourishing community for exploring personal identity.

A brave space for practice and exploring identity: courageous conversations, deep connecting, reflective journaling, and intuitive listening and creating.

Group Coaching, Peer Support, and Creative Play.

How would your life transform, if you could learn to:

☀️ show up whole

☀️ love, accept, and trust yourself

☀️ use your voice

☀️ listen to inner wisdom

☀️ access joy within

3 months, 2 Zoom calls a month, 90 mins, small peer group of 10 women for $88 / month with option to continue.

Next step is to respond in DM with I’m Ready!! Tell me what’s your current biggest identity struggle.

Warmly,
Van

Monday Meditation:

I will not let fear and anxiety distract me. I am safe sitting with uncertainty and do not need to have the answer right now. I surrender to the unknown. I do not need to have everything figured out perfectly, in order to take the next best step. I am present and wildly curious to the unfolding. I am not behind. I am not missing any opportunity. I trust that what is meant for me to receive will arrive at the exactly the right time. I am worthy and deserving. No matter how hard things get, I always have access to joy and light within.

The words we choose to speak to ourselves matters. I invite you to start with these affirmations or revise with your own language. Repeat daily. Anytime you feel your energy is dim. Place your hands on your heart, take deep breaths, feet on the ground, and feel the words surrounding you.

Along with my morning meditation practice, I’ve started to return to integrating intuitive doodles. This one I began with a line drawing, filling the pages with shapes. Used a limited color palette. Sometimes, I draw while I’m listening to a webinar, group meeting, podcast (something with a short duration). It helps me better focus and retain information. I do enjoy putting on my favorite tunes, setting a timer, and using this time to reflect.

What other affirmation statements would you add? If you’ve never done intuitive or meditative doodles, will you give it a try?

Let me know how this resonates in the comments.

Love and Light,
Van
☀️✨💜

A few ways to find a rhythm.

☀️ Put it on the Calendar

☀️ Start Small

☀️ Notice & Celebrate

☀️ Keep Going

By following these practices, I now have a steady morning meditation and breakfast ritual that began during the pandemic and became essential for minimizing stress. I no longer need to have it written in. It’s
become an integrated part of my being. I’ve applied this process to other habits such as daily walks, creating art, having gratitude, and being present.

Remember:

When you fall off the wagon, as we all do, note the consequences of skipping. How do you feel when you don’t do the thing? What is getting you side tracked? What small shift can be made? Do you even want to continue? Or is it time try something else? Are you clear on motivation and why you’re doing the thing?

☀️ Be Kind. Give yourself grace. There’s no failure, only opportunities for learning!

This is by no means a comprehensive list. I would love to hear your thoughts! Share in the comments what practices have worked for you in the past to make new habits stick?

Light and Love,
Van

Play with your food!!

Since my kids were little, this has been a house rule.

Last week, I made a commitment to get into a Fall rhythm, including create art daily and explore new simple recipes. This avocado toast is a result of a process that checked off both.

So breakfast became brunch because I squeezed in a mini food style shoot. Spontaneity leads me to feeling joy because of the unexpected discoveries!

Also beautiful food delights me to no end! I realized that lately cooking has become very practical and default to what I know, rather than for pleasure. I want to change this!

Trying new things is another path to moving out of sameness. I learned a new cutting technique from my friend and client Chef Kiya. And I had toast the other day where the egg was poached. So I changed out my usual fried egg. Delicious!!

Next time, I’ll share a few ways to find a rhythm and make new habits stick.

What is one way that you form new habits? Sharing is caring! You never know who’s reading. It could open the door what else is possible.

Warmly,
Van
💜☀️✨

—

Community:

I’m launching a members community Sunset Collective. A brave space for women in life transitions to explore identity, have courageous conversations, be wildly seen, and practice showing up. Tag or share with someone whom could benefit!

The trial run is 3 months from Nov-Jan. We meet twice a month on Zoom for 90 minutes. It’s for you, if you crave deep connections and community with other soul led women: entrepreneurs, creatives, healers, leaders, moms. We are not just one thing. We wear many hats!!

Sunset Collective is a mix of group coaching, peer support, and workshopping. It’s powerful to be witnessed and witness other women growing through what they’re going through, messily and with compassion.

I’m only accepting 10 people to co-create this experience together. Message me about your biggest identity challenge and why you think this group is exactly the support you need.

“I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.” -Tracee Ellis Ross

What you give attention to amplifies. You can’t control factors outside of you, but you can choose what happens internally; to lead and create from a place of love versus fear.

When you’re willing to do the work and move with the discomfort of uncertainty, you discover the gold of the in-between space—where the unknown becomes known.

* Mural located inner southeast Portland. Does anyone know the artist’s name? *

I celebrate who I am today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

I am not defined by my past.

My past informs my present and my present is a gift that shapes my future.

I invite in change every day.

I honor my wholeness, the light, shadow, and all that is in between.

I love who I am becoming.

Reflection: What stories, feelings, thoughts do you notice show up for you when the self-love affirmation above is expressed?

As always, I love hearing from you, in the comments or DM. Tag someone who could benefit from this Monday Sunset Mantra. Sharing is caring. You never know who’s reading and your story showed up at the right moment for them!

Sending lots of love and light!
Van
☀️✨💛

COMMUNITY:
If you found this and my content transformative, you’ll get more of it in Sunset Collective. I’m launching a trial 3 month members community for women going through a life transition (whether personal and/or professional). I’m only accepting 10 people at this time. We will meet 2 times a month on Zoom for 90 minutes. It’s a brave space for courageous conversation, to be seen and heard, receive not only give support, pause, and deeply connect with inner Joy + Wisdom, and build community.

It’s a powerful experience to be witnessed and witness other women growing through what their going through. We don’t just celebrate and honor our wins, but we also share the struggles and how we’re messily navigating these challenges.

DM me and share why you think Sunset Collective is exactly what you need?

Tag a friend who has been feeling isolated and could benefit from a nourishing support system.

I’d love to support you all on your journey and co-create
an experience together!

When you dream, you fly.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

Start with a Vision and it’ll continue to take shape, as you brave forward.

I know sometimes it feels impossible.

Some days you don’t want to get out of bed.

It’s okay to take a break, a pause, a nap.

I want to remind you, when you close your eyes at night, be in deep gratitude for the gift of being alive.

Each morning when your eyes open, is another day for a fresh start.

Each moment of every day you have a choice, breathe in deeply, listen to the stirring in your heart, and take the next best step.

Stay wildly curious.

You may be delighted, for the unexpected is often times exactly what you need, at the right time.

Keep reaching for the moon and stars, Loves.

Love and Light, Always.
Van
🌙✨

[Some Saturday night notes pouring out from my heart.]

Happy Friday! It felt great to get back into creating art this week.

I searched through my photo archives and revisited some favorite images. I remembered how much I loved wandering my city on foot and camera in hand. That slowness and curious exploration are integrated into my daily practices. This drawing is of a visit to Rockaway Beach with friends pre-kids (aka the Before Time).

Making always connects me to JOY!

How about you? What are you getting into this weekend for fun?

Light and Love,
Van
☀️✨

Identity is fluid, not fixed.

We grow and evolve over time. As a result, our needs, interests, choices, beliefs, and relationships change.

What once served you well, got you by or helped you survive or felt supportive, may no longer.

Consistently slowing down and going inward is a practice that allows you to listen deeply and reveals truth hidden underneath the surface.

When you become more aware, you start to notice when things feel off or a need is not being met. You make clearer, intentional choices, ask for the right kind of support, set (better) boundaries that protect your energy.

This is Identity work.

The world needs you to show up fully in your blend of magic and heal communities!!

Thursday Thought: I only have space and energy for what is meant for me.

—
I’m launching a brave space for women to practice showing up, be wildly curious, and have courageous conversations.

Nov 2022 through Jan 2023

Sunset Collective meets 2x a month, Live over Zoom, 90 minutes, PST Time Zone.

I am only accepting 10 people in this first cohort. There are 6 spaces remaining.

Are you craving deep connection?

Do you know a woman who is in a life transition who could benefit from more community?

Are you ready to get unstuck, dream bigger, and SOAR?

Do you crave being seen and heard?

Identity Healing is Self Love

DM to claim your spot! Tell me what is your current identity challenge and why this sounds exactly the support that you need?

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Warmly,
Van

Sometimes dinner takes longer to finish making because I start to get lost in the ”extra” within something that is often overlooked—scraps. Garlic and Shallot Skin Petals. Magical when you pause long enough to appreciate! Joy Mode activated!

💥🧄🧅🔪📱

✨ There is SO. MUCH. BEAUTY. in the MESS. 🤍💜💗✨

Sending you light, love, joy… in whatever cracks and nooks that you can find. I promise, it’s there, if you believe.

45-60 minutes playing with my food is never a bad thing! I should be packing for a 5 day retreat, Camp
Yes! I’m one of 5 counselors, guiding the HEART Crew throughout the experience. Team Purple! 💜 We’ll be in the woods, no tech, completely unplugged to deeply connect. It will no doubt be healing and impactful. Can’t wait!!

✨☀️

Warmly,
Van

Tired but good.

4 weeks is a long time to be away from home.

See you soon, Portland. I miss you!!

Thank you, California. It was an amazing, unforgettable experience! So many nourishing conversations with friends old and new. Ate all the delicious food. Wandered urban and nature spots. I have a back log of stories and photos to share. But first, my body needs to rest.

My eyes and heart cracked wide open during this trip. I’ll be returning with a clearer perspective and more wildly purposeful.

Who’s ready to get messy with me? I’m scheduling identity coaching clients for October and November. I am also developing in-person and online workshops since many of you have asked! Yay!!

☀️ Are you on the verge of a break through? You reach out towards the horizon, but can’t quite touch it.

☀️ Are you feeling restless? Like you are meant for more, but not sure what.

☀️ Are you lacking soulful sparkle in your life and work? You don’t wake up everyday excited.

☀️ Is your head is swarming with (too) many ideas and interests? Making it hard to visualize clearly and decide which path to explore.

All of this is normal and completely human!

I support you on a journey to becoming more aware, awake, and alive through deep connection within and creative play.

Go to the website link in my bio, click on Contacts, complete the short form, and I’ll be in touch to schedule a quick clarifying call to see if we are a good fit.

Also, sign up for the newsletter and get Sunset Notes in your inbox (in the nearish future). I’ll also send essential announcements, such as updates on my book creation process.

Can’t wait to share the Joy with you!

Warmly,
Van

If you’re new Here—Welcome!! I’m an Identity Coach and Community Facilitator guiding change making Creative Entrepreneurs and Agency Teams to deeply connect. I holds space for people to heal, discover their Blend of Magic, and express with purpose. My mission is that no one ever dims their light by choice. ☀️