This month Anna Dunleavy joins in on the HER WISDOM series, she is a photographer and coach originally from Poland but has found her feet here in the UK and is following her passions and crafting out a meaningful career for herself.
Anna shares with us how she stays grounded in difficult times, her comfort TV show and how women inspire her to follow her dreams. So now, on to the interview...
How do you begin your day? What are the things you do to get started?
I usually start my day with a shower and a cup of coffee. There’s no set routine as such, but I tend to have breakfast with my husband, and start slow, before heading upstairs to my little office around 10am. Once a week, I’ll start my day with a wild dip, and it’s a great way to wake up and spend some time in nature before the day really gets going. In lockdown, I used to spend time journaling each morning, and it was a nice way to ease myself into the day.
Share your favourite piece of wisdom and why it means something to you.
This too shall pass. When we’re going through a difficult time, those words can be comforting. Knowing that everything is constantly changing, and nothing truly remains the same. As in nature, we go through cycles; we ebb and flow just like the tide. At the same time, these words also remind us to live in the moment - nothing is permanent, so it’s important that we pay attention, and stay present.
What is your go-to thing when it all gets too much?
I usually turn to old TV series or movies, you know, the ones you’ve seen multiple times. There’s a real comfort in knowing the familiar story, and what’s about to happen. Gilmore Girls is often my go to. If I’ve had a stressful day, a walk always helps. I don’t always feel like it, but I know I’ll feel so much better after stomping it out for a little while. Fresh air and nature are a powerful combination!
Who are the women that inspire you?
I always look up to women who go out there and do what they love - whatever that might be. You can tell when someone is really passionate about something, and that’s hugely inspiring to me. I grew up thinking that a job was just a job, and whilst sometimes that’s true, my eye is always drawn to those pursuing things that light them up.
How do you see yourself and what makes up your sense of identity?
This is a tricky question! The topic of identity has been on my mind a lot lately, but I’m not sure I’ve arrived at any conclusions yet. I’ve been reconnecting with my Polish roots, and last summer, I visited my home town for the first time in years. So I guess you could say that my roots make up my sense of identity. I think I’d call myself an observer, and my move to the UK definitely contributed to that. Perhaps it’s no wonder that I ended up doing two jobs that require me to observe, and really see people - both through photography, and coaching.
If you could spend 5 mins with your younger self what would you tell her?
I’d tell her not to worry so much about what other people think. I think I missed out on experiences and opportunities because I was worried about how I might be perceived by others, and what they might say. I’d tell my younger self that life is short, and to live it fully. People will always have an opinion, so don’t let this stop you from having fun.
What does confidence mean to you, what builds yours?
Confidence, to me, isn’t loud or overly external. It’s a quiet, grounded knowing that you’ve got your own back. You feel steady, centred, surefooted. It’s the feeling that you can support yourself no matter what comes your way.
Taking action definitely helps me to build confidence - the more I do something, the easier it gets. But I also think that looking after our wellbeing is crucial, too. For me, time spent alone, being out in nature, finding ways to ground myself through gentle movement, are all ways that help me build quiet confidence. When I’m stressed or stretched too thing, that’s often when this sense of feeling grounded disappears.
What's challenging you right now?
I recently started a part time Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology. Juggling this alongside full time work is a struggle at times, but I’m enjoying the course so far, and love the stretchy challenge it provides. My background isn’t in psychology, but it’s an area I’ve always been interested in, so it feels good to finally dive a little deeper!
Tell us more about your latest or next project.
I guess you could call it a project of sorts: my Substack newsletter. I’ve recently set myself a goal to write at least once a week, with the caveat that I get to decide if I want to publish it or not. It’s a little labour of love, and I’m excited to see where it takes me. I always encourage my clients to follow their threads of curiosity, and this was mine!
Connect with Anna on Instagram, Substack and her website below:
IG: @anna_dunleavy
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