As we’re stepping into the new year, many of us are, traditionally, seeing through their new year's resolutions. Are they really worth making? We had a chat with Carolina Pizzutilo, founding mom of wellbeing platform ada studios, on the power of inner wellbeing and finding realistic ways to make the year more meaningful on a day to day basis.
Q&A WITH CAROLINA PIZZUTILO
Q
Carolina, you’re the founder of ada studios, a platform all about wellness through small rituals. Where did that idea come from?
A
After going through three intense years - I lost my mother and quit my successful business - I moved to L.A. for 1 year. Before leaving the country, I was so identified with my job and felt like I was living purely for work. Once in L.A, everything around me fell away and I got introduced to a completely different culture. Soon I noticed that inner wellbeing is much more of a thing in L.A and for many, part of their day to day lives. Although wellbeing has always been a central theme in my own life, it's by living in L.A that the idea of ada studios arose.Despite of all the setbacks, the concept of ada gave me the strength to persevere and get back on track. I started thinking about how I wanted to shape ada studios and came to the conclusion that I especially don't want to impose anything on anyone. Neither do I want to define spirituality. All I want to do is make sure that everyone feels good in his or her own way. Community is therefore also an important part of ada. All my life I've been a connector between people and that's exactly what I want to do. Ada is my story, but that story can only be written with so many others.
Q
Speaking of like minded people, do you feel like spirituality is becoming more and more popular?
A
Sure, we're making a huge shift. I see it both around me and on a global scale. People are looking for different ways to find inner balance, whatever it may be. Spirituality is not something you should impose, but I do feel like there is a need for higher awareness as humans on this earth. Human beings are part of this energy, which is often forgotten in our fast-paced, material world.
Q
What does ‘spirituality’ mean for you exactly?
A
Spirituality can't be explained. It's a state of being. Spirituality is believing with your heart that there is an energy that leads us in a certain direction. Spirituality is seeing things you wouldn't otherwise see. It’s some kind of sensitivity where you experience things in a much more intense way. It is a matter of trusting the universe. And believe me, that's still an exercise for me every day.I do want to stress that I try to give people the opportunity to help develop inner wellbeing and stand still in the here and now. Spirituality is only one of the aspects to achieve that. Other people might prefer finding inner balance through other ways.
Q
For some people spirituality still has a vague, woolly connotation. What’s your take on that?
A
That's perfectly normal. You can't impose spirituality. Some people walk the path of spirituality, others don’t. There's no room for judgement. What I do know is that as you grow as a person on a spiritual level, it quickly becomes clear who’s in your circle and with whom you speak the same language. With spirituality, it suddenly becomes very clear what’s your life’s purpose and to where you’re heading to.
Q
Are there any other advantages you’ve found out for yourself?
A
I have a restless heart and I’ve been tested enormously for patience. By becoming more aware, I can now find peace inwards, instead of looking for it outwards.Inner wellbeing also helped me to set boundaries. I’m extremely social and the past few years I was able to completely exhaust myself. Spirituality made me find my inner balance back on a daily basis. It helps to make me feel grounded.”
Q
We’ve just started the new year which means many of us are focusing on new year's resolutions. How do you look at those?
A
I’ve never been a big fan of resolutions, because they’re often extreme. What I’d rather suggest is setting small intentions on a day to day basis. These rituals can be really simple such as drinking a nice cup of tea every day. Or simply showing more gratitude or even saying something nice to someone everyday. Small intentions, bigger outcome.
Q
And finally, do you have some book tips to learn more about spirituality?
A
The power of now by Eckhart Tolle is a good one to start off with. Signs by Laura Lynn Jackson is another one I would recommend anyone willing to dive deeper into the matter.
Carolina, thanks for sharing.You can check out everything on ada studios here.
