36: Resting Deeper with Violeta Donawa
Violeta is a clinical social worker and therapist who works with her clients using a healing justice framework. In today’s conversation, we cover the importance of rest, tuning into ourselves, and pivoting when it comes to having a healthy relationship with money. Violeta also talks about how spirituality has been an important part of her work--both with how it relates to money and how it relates to her clinical work.
Takeaways
Rest. Wow, if Violeta’s self-led “Rest Deeper” retreat wasn’t the reminder I needed to slow down, recharge, and go within, I don’t know what will be! I love this idea of creating a self-led set of days where you fully unplug and do what helps you to feel rested. Whether resting for you means reading a stack of books, getting out for long walks each day, or creating art, I hope Violeta’s retreat inspires you. I also loved that she created self-care without paying for extras. So often, we think of self-care as spa-days, but there is something so healing about simply unwinding in a way that works for you. And in a year full of living-at-work or living-at-school, I imagine we could all use some true downtime.
Importance of spirituality. Violeta reflected on when she tried to do things with her money in a very prescriptive way, that she felt herself running into roadblock. When she turned inward and started incorporating spirituality, then she was able to make money feel healthy for her. I’ve shared examples of how to incorporate spirituality with money by journaling on it, creating a ritual by tending to a money tree or plant, or aligning your financial goals with the phases of the moon. And I’m serious about that moon one! If you haven’t checked out my Full Moon Parties, they are where I host a party to help us release money shame, in alignment with the full moon which symbolically is a good time to let go of what’s no longer serving us.
Pivoting when something isn’t working. Violeta shared that she followed the advice of “go to college,” then later in life, going back to school thinking the PhD would be “her ticket” to security (sounds a lot like episode 35 with Joe Sanok). She shares how she gave herself permission to do things differently, and I encourage you to do the same with your money if it doesn’t feel right for you.
Violeta A. Donawa, MA, LLMSW, (she/her) is a clinical social worker and therapist whose work is grounded in a healing justice framework. This means that she works with clients through a multi-dimensional lens that often incorporates psychoeducation on the influences of larger social systems on the mental health of clients. She views mental health and wellness as presenting needs of the mind, body, spirit, and emotional selves, as well. In addition to her role as a clinical social worker and therapist, she also serves on the board for the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network. When not working, she can usually be found deeply engaged in her own inner work around what it means to show up as fully human in this world. She is a proud graduate of Wayne State University (BA), Michigan State University (MA, ABD), and the University of Michigan (MSW). You can learn more about Violeta on her website or Instagram @donawawellness (her handle has since changed after we recorded this episode).