Exciting announcement!

I wanted to let you all know of an exciting addition to my business! Read on for the background story and what will be offering as a service to existing and new clients!
I’ve been a closeted writer ever since I can remember – it is the one thing that truly inspires and excites me on a daily basis. Ever since I was a little girl, I created fantasy stories in my Norwegian class that prompted my teacher to tell my mom “she should become a writer!” to later on in life establishing two blogs which I have to this day; this one, Sunny and Fit, as well as Arctic Grub, a blog devoted to Norwegian food, history and culture I’m also a regular contributor to two online newspapers/ magazines; The Norwegian American and La Compassionista Fashionista.

When I encountered several stints of stifled creativity over the past few months, I realized that I was standing in my own way by not owning up to what I truly enjoy doing. The answer to the question “If money were no object, what would you do?” was always “writing” for me, but somehow I didn’t arrive to the part where I actually believed this could happen for me, or more correctly; hat I could make it happen for myself. Until now, that is.

I will still continue to do what I’m doing now; I LOVE coaching other women, helping them find their true purpose in life, and this will continue to be an important part of my life. But what I realized that in order for me to keep inspiring, and to keep motivating and encouraging, I have to fill up my own tank. And I do that through writing. It’s when I feel most at home, it is when I feel most confident, and when I feel like I am serving in the way I’m meant to serve.

After much soul searching, I have been guided and led in the direction of copy writing. This now, makes so much sense to me, because I have a vast background in many different industries, I’m multi passionate about a variety of topics and have always looked for ways to integrate all of “me” into a vocation. I just couldn’t seem to combine all of my personalities, but this is finally it!!

(Hint: If you have ever found yourself in the same position as I have been in, where your feel there is still a missing piece and you’ve got a niggling feeling about something, keep searching, and you will find the answer!! )

Ok back to business:

A little bit of background info about me:

Having graduated with a degree in international business and marketing from college, I had a thriving career in the music and entertainment industry that span across a decade, where I worked in international marketing and was responsible for developing the careers of many world wide celebrities. This is where I learned to get along with a variety of personalities, develop people skills, marketing expertise and work with people from all over the globe. I learned people’s taste, market trends and going with the flow in the fast, ever changing world of entertainment.

The following decade I spent in the food and wine industry, where I started and ran my own catering company for over 5 years, and worked as a wine specialist and buyer in a variety of outlets. I have numerous certifications and specialties in this field and a broad network. Finally, my path led me to getting certified as a health coach, and later as a transformational life coach specializing in personal development and online marketing for entrepreneurs. As a ‘side gig’ I’m also a personal trainer and a devout vegan with a specialization in plant based nutrition. I collect books and love to read, in fact I may have over 4,000 books when all is said and done in my stash by now. Needless to say – I love words!

So why should you consider hiring someone for copy writing?

Having a well crafted message means everything if you want to create a brand or start and build a business, because words are the personification of what you are thinking and want to convey. They reveal your personality and beliefs while expressing your enthusiasm.

Words shows your creativity and make you stand out, allow you to define how you want to show up, which in turn will set you apart from others. Your choice of words, when crafted carefully and with a specific intention, will attract your ideal clients and repel the ones you do not vibe with. Basically, it allows you to cut to the chase and surround yourself with high vibrational people while growing your business quicker.

WORDS, then – are so powerful. As it’s written in Genesis: “In the beginning there was the word.”

What should you hire me for?

My niches are in the food & wine industry, health & Fitness, Life and Business Coaching & personal development, and the vegan and wellness sector.

Why hire me instead of someone else in these areas?

Because of my personal experience and expertise, I stay on top of everything happening in these industries. It is my job to make YOU look like the ultimate expert so you can create a trust and like factor with your clients.

Here are my specialties:

Storytelling copy

I help you tell engaging stories about your customers, your products and your ethos, anything that is going to capture interest and attention.

As a brand copy writer, I produce blog articles, case studies, curated pieces, and multimedia extravaganzas. I curate ideas and opinions, interview experts and customers, and weave in multimedia elements and use supporting facts and graphics to craft well written copy that is fresh, interesting, fun and captivating to read.

Content Copywriting

This includes how-to articles, step-by step guides, manuals, presentations and powerpoints, webinars, lead generation (ebooks and pdfs for opt-ins), white papers and newsletters.

Marketing Copy

This includes email campaigns, web pages, ebooks, video scripts, blog posts, sales and landing pages, event materials, bios, press releases, media kits and speeches among other items.

Social media / Engagement copy – this where I draw out engagement from your ideal clients and target market on social media. The key to success on social media is to stay consistent, post engaging and interesting material regularly to keep growing your tribe.

If this sounds interesting to you and you need help writing a pitch, a sales page, a blog post or newsletters, and so much more- I can help!

You may be at a place in your business where you want to delegate and focus on YOUR zone of genius… Take the struggle out of your day by letting someone else who loves doing the things you dread, do them – which allows YOU to spend more time on your area of genius and what you are meant to do!

Contact me at sunny@sunnygandara.com for inquires about pricing and packages related to your business or projects!

Bring YOU back into your life!

Do you ever feel like you are pretending? Pretending to be in love with your job, that you have it all together, the perfect life… but part of it feels like you are tied down to a certain way you ‘have’ to live, or should act? Yes, you are living up to society’s expectations, but somehow it doesn’t feel right or as satisfying as it is pumped up to be. There is something missing, but you just can’t put a finger on exactly what. As a result, you feel impatient with yourself because no matter what you try, somehow you just don’t fit in or feel complete.
Maybe you feel confused, guilty or uncomfortable when you think of really being honest with yourself and what you want…. So you just push it aside, and keep grinding. But that niggling feeling wont’ disappear, because, as the saying goes – nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know

Everything I described above is how I felt for so many years. Going from a glamorous job in the music industry flying around the world with celebrities, to following my interest in food and creating my own catering company to traveling to vineyards in pursuit of my passion for wine… none of these in isolation got me to that place where I felt fulfilled, that I had found my purpose here on earth. There was a piece missing for me, and I felt frustrated that I couldn’t figure it out. So many people envied my life and were in awe of what I was doing and had accomplished, and I found myself asking if I was being delusional, selfish and unrealistic for wanting more. After all, I had all the elements in place of what would make up a happy and successful life, so why didn’t I feel like it?

It wasn’t until I dared become very honest with myself and go in search for ME that I discovered my true purpose. Because I grew up in a very practical family and environment, as so many of us do, I was told that because I was a straight A student, naturally I had to become a doctor or a lawyer or businesswoman! After all, these were sound professions proven to create a prosperous and successful career and life! So like so many, I fell into the trap of silencing my intuition and inner voice, went to business school and did what a smart girl was supposed to do; get a ‘safe’ marketing degree and keep up my programmed persona and reputation.

Although I was a pianist and loved music since I was a little girl, I never owned the words “artist” or “creative”. It was as if I somehow was ashamed to admit that art and less practical vocations was what made me feel alive, and where I felt the most at home. When I considered going to the conservatory to become a classical pianist, people advised me that was an unrealistic profession; nobody ever made it. All of these so called professional artists ended up having to resort to becoming teachers to make ends meet. Now I wonder what these so called ‘experts’ had actually achieved in their own life, to make them qualified to blurt out opinions that potentially (and in my case did) lead to life changing decisions for someone else.

I have always been told I am a dreamer, different and daring – and a bit of a nut job probably, by some. But other people’s opinions still had such power of me, that I never gave myself permission to fully embrace these qualities. Yes, I now know to call them qualities because I see that that’s what they are, not adjectives other people who never went for their dreams, use to describe people who desire to.

Another thing I loved to do while younger, was to write. In my Norwegian class, I could really let my creativity out, where I wrote long, vivid fictional stories and let my imagination go wild. My Norwegian teacher told my mother I should become a writer, but again – this was kind of laughed at and scoffed off as a far-off dream. Becoming a successful pianist and writer I suppose was for other people, a very select few, of which I naturally wasn’t a part of. I was to become a lawyer, and stop dreaming, after all!

No matter how much you try to be practical and shut out signs from the Universe, Universe is still looking out for you and will get back around to dealing with you. After a few years in the wine industry after my rock n’ roll days and working hard as a chef feeding and entertaining others, I was led to become a health and life coach. In my circles, I met other lightworkers who had the audacity to follow their hearts and dreams too! I finally felt at home, after traversing two continents, four countries and four industries over a span of 20 years, in search of my purpose.

Surrounded by like minded people who encouraged and supported me, I got the courage to really get honest with myself, and to believe that I can do anything I put my mind to. Now when I tell my friends and colleagues about my new plans and goals, I don’t get laughed at. I get told to get out there and think even bigger! I’ve seen my dreams manifest slowly but surely in these last two years, where I have been fortunate enough to have a steady stream of life coaching clients who want to create their ideal life too. There is nothing better than inspiring other women to go big and hear the excitement in their voices when someone is there to encourage and actually believe that they can do whatever they want to do.

Meanwhile, I keep growing and learning more about myself, and just this past month the Universe reminded me of my desire as a little girl, of becoming a writer. Even though I’m in my 40s now, I am not telling myself I’m too old to start. No, I’m telling myself “Sunny, you are a writer. You are a creative. So get to work!” In addition to writing a book, I’ve decided I would love to offer my services as a copy writer and am in the works of mapping out my offerings as I’m writing this!
I can’t explain the relief and happiness I feel having finally discovered who I truly am. I also realize that it’s nobody else’s business what I choose to do, and it’s none of my business to care about what they think. I feel so grateful that I was stubborn enough to keep digging and listening to that nagging feeling when my intuition told me I needed to do more work to realize who I am supposed to be. I want everyone to be able to experience this feeling, because it is everyone’s birth right!

So why is it that we feel bored, dissatisfied, frustrated, unfulfilled, unhappy and detached from our life, work, and relationships? It’s because we are not applying ourselves, utilizing our talents, interests and skills that we were meant to use – but rather try to fit into a mold that others have carved out for us, without knowing who we are and what we desire.

This is why you can’t seem to figure out why you can’t be happy with your job, even though it pays well, you have health insurance, a great apartment, a car, beautiful children, and can afford to go on vacations twice a year. It isn’t enough! Because your soul is crying out that you need to go for your dreams, but you are silencing your inner self by doing what is expected of you from societal standards.

Do you wonder, like I did – “how did I end up here” and what is life all about? We get so wrapped up in taking care of other people, other people’s problems and lives and our day to day responsibilities that we lose complete touch with who we are as a woman, a person, an individual.

Have you stopped doing things just for the fun of it? “Because it makes you happy” is somehow not a good enough reason – you’ve got responsibilities, after all! Meanwhile these responsibilities weigh you down and make your heart feel heavy. You long for something that will make you feel accomplished, where you can use your skill set in a way that you will be of service to others and make you feel inspired on a daily basis.

I’m here to tell you that it is possible. Maybe it won’t be easy, but it’s doable. Several people before you have done it, and are doing it today. That should be motivation enough for you to know that you’ve got everything within you to succeed and do what your heart wants you to do. It has nothing to do with practicality, being sensible or realistic. If you choose to listen to your inner voice, it can change your life and help you find back to what you are truly on this earth to do.

Maybe you don’t know exactly how to get started, or how to find back to YOU. That’s where I come in. I specialize in helping women shine their light, the way they are supposed to. I also help them remember who they are and what they love to do.

Instead of trivializing what you are really interested in, giving into fear by saying you’re too old, don’t know enough, don’t have enough money, aren’t pretty or outgoing enough – I help you realize you are a star. I help you get rid of your excuses you’ve come up with that have kept you playing small, although you know you are capable of SO much more. You are unique and the world deserves to experience your brilliance. Don’t be content with average or “good enough”, go for ecstacy, complete happiness and the best!!

Believe in yourself enough to get started on your magical journey, no matter where you are in your life today. There will never be a “right” time, nobody is coming to save you or figure things out for you, and there is never a clear path to anything – you must do the work. There is tremendous power and relief in taking responsibility of your life, and I know that deep down you want to!

I would so love to hear from you if this interests you. Feel free to email me directly at sunny@sunnygandara.com or check out my website sunnygandara.com for more about me and to set up a quick chat!

The switch that happens when you go from plans to planTs!

Ever since I went vegan four years ago, I’ve tried to put into words what happened when I went from continuously attempting to follow the latest diet fad or plan, to listening to my heart and embracing a whole food, plant based diet. There was this “holy crap, I’ve found the secret … why isn’t everyone getting it” kind of feeling, coupled with a sense of happiness and contentment that I had finally found a way of eating that could provide the best of both worlds; a healthy system on the inside with a vibrant look on the outside while being able to eat a lot of food (because I’m always hungry) that was varied and delicious and provided me tons of energy and enjoyment.

Every time I survey my community about their biggest struggles when trying to commit to a healthy lifestyle is how to stay consistent. I mean life happens right? All of a sudden you get invited to a wedding with a six course menu, then there’s that vacation in Mexico where you’re bathing in tequila and tacos, and upon your return a blizzard hits out of nowhere and you’re snowed in… which naturally requires at least three bottles of full bodied red wine, pizza and chocolate cupcakes to keep you nourished for the full 24 hour duration.

Why do we develop such an unnatural, obsessive relationship with food?

The problem is three fold:

what most people are feeding their bodies when they go on a diet or follow a “plan”, is not what the body needs and wants, but is unnatural, restrictive and frankly, not very exciting or tasty. My own memories from when I was eating bland chicken and broccoli five times a day, to looking “forward” to the day when I could ‘cheat, makes me a bit sad, really. When they say ‘nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’, they are forgetting that we don’t have to compromise to be healthy, there is in fact ways to be able to eat flavorful food (and enough of it) and still meet your health goals. This is what happens when you embrace a plant based diet.
Secondly, there is not a deeper reason or why behind the desire to get “healthy”. Because what is healthy to you? And why do you want to be healthy? I’m not talking about a superficial goal of wanting to lose x amount of lbs so you can look hot while you’re at your college reunion event, there has to be a bigger, long lasting acumen. For instance, to me healthy means I’m healthy not just on a physical level, but also happy, content, relaxed, fulfilled and able to enjoy myself and detaching from other people’s expectations or pressures. Mental stress so often manifests into physical ailments, but this is also what is being minimized and devalued so often by society and even health professionals. Another big ‘why’ for me, is that I don’t want to contribute to the suffering of other beings’, mainly animals, or the pollution and destruction of our environment. I cherish everything that lives on this earth with us, and it motivates me to make better, more compassionate choices. When you find a bigger reason for the way you eat, live and love – you will not struggle with cravings for cheese, steak and ice cream, but revel in all the cruelty free, plant based options we are so lucky to have available to us!
Which brings me to the last point; people often resort to food that will give them a ‘quick fix’ or pleasure, because they are unhappy in other areas of their lives. Food becomes an unconscious addiction. Maybe they feel unfulfilled and underutilized in their job, or perhaps they have settled into a relationship they deep down know is wrong for them, but are in it because of convenience, or they feel like they are living and doing for everybody else, with no time for themselves. Many women I work with came to me because they felt lost, had forgotten who they really are, what they love to do and what lights them up. So they resorted to the only thing that would cheer them up (at least temporarily) and not disappoint: food. This is why I emphasize my work on self awareness so much in my coaching; it’s the key that will unlock so many answers, and make life a whole lot easier when navigating the road to achieving a joyful state.

I read somewhere that “dieting” is when you eat foods that make you sad. Now how depressing is that? Why do we do this to ourselves?!

The issue I see that happens most frequently when women try to go on a “diet”, is that these plans are a) cookie cutter, which means it does not account for your unique schedule, lifestyle, preferences or overall situation, b) terribly boring where you eat the same three bland foods over and over again, which then leads to vitamin deficiencies and cravings which then leads to c) not being sustainable. You end up under a pile of Cheetos, Oreo cookies and ice cream tubs because your body is screaming “what the hell is going on here?? feed us what we need to thrive!!”

There is so much pressure and obligation when someone says “I’m going on a diet”. Because the underlying implication is that now, all fun ends, no food is ever going to be enjoyable, only endured, I have to stop being myself because I’m on a mission to reach a state that I am not even sure I will truly reach or enjoy. But of course, it won’t last forever. So you see how people trick themselves into thinking that a ‘diet’ is temporary, that when they’ve championed through those tough 12 weeks, they can pat themselves on the shoulder saying “I did it man, let’s go get a beer and some nachos?” I mean, what’s the point of those past weeks then? Was it for show? For whom?

The idea should be to want to live fully and eat the foods that provide your body with the necessary vitamins and minerals it screams for so you can be in a high vibrational, optimal state of health both physically and mentally. The goal should be to look forward to every meal, to be grateful for and excited about what’s on your plate, and to feel happiness in your soul that you are not causing any harm to anyone because of what you are eating. That to me, is health.

When I went vegan, one of my biggest concern as a chef and food lover, was that my choices would be severely limited. And that I could never enjoy the flavors I had grown to love so much in dishes that reminded me of my childhood and fun, social gatherings with friends and family. I visualized having to eat salads and dry pastas for the rest of my life, but since I went vegan for the animals, I was willing to give it a try. As I started delving into my new world, meeting vegan chefs, food bloggers, nutritionists and other people passionate about this lifestyle, I began realizing that my fears were unfounded. In fact, the opposite happened; I discovered a whole new world of creative and delicious dishes and ways to prepare foods I had never even thought of before! I was also ecstatic to learn that the classic dishes I thought I had to give up, could easily be veganized and tasting exactly the same!

As with so many other things, the fears in our heads are much worse than reality. There is ALWAYS a solution to a problem, as long as you are willing to stay open minded, be flexible and ready for change so you can grow and improve.

For me, food has become so much more fun and rewarding since I embraced a plant based diet which is why I’ve devoted my life to sharing it with others. My fears held me back for years in making a change, because I had made up a fake reality of what my life would be like if I gave up certain foods. How silly I now feel, knowing what the real truth it. That doesn’t mean I beat myself up over it, it has actually helped me not taking so long making “scary” decisions in other parts of my life because I now know that change is good and makes life so much more interesting and rewarding.

I know a lot of my clients have the same fears when considering doing the switch; that they have to say goodbye to their favorite dishes, perhaps one of the few things that really bring them comfort and joy, and that they will not know where to begin or what to eat and that life will stop being fun. I get it. But I’m here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. I would be happy to talk to you about what your concerns are, what you need support around and help with. Don’t let fear of the unknown rule your health, happiness and life. Drop the plans, and say hello to PLANTS!

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Visit me at sunnygandara.com to learn more about me and how I work!

Sign up for a SPA day with me!

I’m so excited to be announcing and offering a new way of working with me! This idea came to me, as most of my good ideas do, when I was walking my dogs down by the river one gorgeous winter morning feeling gratitude and happiness for being able to live my life on my terms. I am so passionate about sharing the message of how awesome life can be, that I’ve dedicated my life to helping other women find a way they too, can live a life where they feel fulfilled.

Not ready to invest time and sign up for my 3 month signature coaching program, but still desire to make changes in your life? Here’s a way to work with me in just a fraction of the time but still get big results, and life changing results.
I chose to call it a SPA Day because afterwards it will feel like it as you will receive TLC for your body, mind, soul and business – basically all areas of your life – and I’ll show you how!

The premise of this day is this:

S = we will set you up for Success

P = let’s explore the Possibilities

This is possible by first becoming

A = Aware, or rather becoming self aware; how you think, what motivates you and inspires you

What is it?

This is a 6 hour day which will be conducted via Skype or Zoom in the comfort of your own home (or wherever you prefer) anywhere in the world, to help you get back in touch with yourself and what you are passionate about. The day is designed to help remove any confusion, barriers and difficulties you have experienced when trying to decipher what kind of life you truly want to live.

Are you living for everyone else but yourself? Are you always doing what your kids, your boss, your family, neighbors and friends want, and putting your desires last? Wondering if this is it, and even though you have a good life, secretly wishing there could be more because you are feeling you are not living up to your fullest potential?

Give yourself the gift of focusing on YOU for an entire day, with someone who will be present and there for you only, to listen to what you want, what you like and what you deep down are passionate about and dreaming about.

We will have a clear agenda for every hour but also leave room for flexibility and organically tackle any issues or needs that come along during our time together. Most importantly this day is for you and your desires.

We will set up a strategy and go through:

Goal setting

Planning

Outline and schedule tasks and activities

Execution

While we are strategizing, setting goals, planning and talking about you, it is important to FUEL our bodies with the best possible nutrition so that we can think clearly, produce more effectively as well as come up with more creative ideas. We will have a delightful plant based lunch together that I’ve planned out for us, either together or if you prefer, on your own, during lunch time.

Plus, let’s not forget to have fun! At the end of the day, we’ll celebrate with a glass of bubbly or your favorite red or beverage, going over all the things you love to do for fun, and how you can bring them back into your life so your true personality can come through and bring happiness into your personal and work life. So many times we lose ourselves in our responsibilities and put fun and enjoyment on the shelf. And then we worry we we burn out, get bored or feel discontent! Being an adult doesn’t mean we only can allow time for obligations, chores and hard work. A fulfilling existence includes showing yourself the love and respect to cultivate what makes life worth living for you. Reconnect with whatever that is for you, and see how it magically will have a positive effect on all the other areas of your life.

Who is it for?

It’s for you, a woman in mid life who have a nagging feeling that there is something missing in you life; while successful at work and otherwise, you know you are capable of and want to achieve so much more, but you just have no idea where to start or how to do it, so you have convinced yourself that average is ok. But deep down, your desires are still there and now they are getting stronger and stronger and it feels like you have to do something or you are going to burst!
Perhaps you feel misunderstood by your peers or family, you might think your vision and dreams are too big or unrealistic, yet whenever you think of them, that sinking, sad feeling comes over you which leads you to either compare yourself to others or fall into the useless “wouldn’t it be nice” kind of thinking.

This is for all women who want to uncover their true, authentic self so they can step into their greatness and live the life they’ve always dreamed of. This is for the woman who wants her skills, talents, experience and passions to be fully utilized, to finally get rid of that feeling that something is missing from their life. It’s for the woman who is tired of playing small, and dimming her light, and now want to shine bright.

What you will walk away with:

A clear understanding of who you are and what you desire in life. This is incredibly important as it will help you make better decisions in life, become a better partner in professional and personal relationships, a better leader, manager and worker
A solid, step-by step plan for how you will reach your goals, whether that is implementing a new routine in your life or replacing your corporate income to go do something that makes your heart happy
A strategy for how to achieve your vision and desires, setting you up for success
Useful mindset tools you can pull out when you start doubting yourself and feel like going back into ‘hiding’
Information and knowledge of how to take care of your body and health, which will help reduce stress, increase your productivity, creativity and enthusiasm in your life and business
Regain the ability to implement FUN in your life, without any guilt or stress. Reclaim the fabulous woman you are and see how doing so will transform you!!
Bring back excitement in your life by bringing back the REAL you!!

SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?

The SPA Day is 6 hours total with 1 of the hours set aside for lunch

The general outline of the day will look like this:

Hour 1: This is all about you, we will discover who YOU are, what you love to do, what you want to do more of, what you would like to do LESS of, and we’ll get clear on your true desires. Nothing is off limits or off the table here. You will learn what it means to employ a no excuses policy; embrace who you are and use it to your advantage!

We will delve into your WHY. Why do you want what you want? What have you been denying yourself because you feel you either a) don’t deserve it, b) it’s out of reach or haven’t been done before or c) nobody else is doing it or other people are doing it better? You don’t have to justify your why, the only requirement is that it has to really motivate and inspire you, and we will define what this is for you in an open and authentic way.

Hour 2: The most important pillar of anything is HEALTH. Whether you are a ‘health nut’ or not, we all know that if you don’t take care of your health, it will catch up to you eventually. In this hour we will go through the basic foundation of how you can set yourself up for success so that you have the energy, stamina, enthusiasm and high vibrational state you need in order to achieve what you want. Whether that is changing jobs or asking for a promotion, starting your own business, becoming a better wife/mother/daughter/friend or diving into a new area of interest for you, becoming the BEST version of you is vital in this process.

We will discuss how plant based foods is the ultimate way to feed your body what it needs, ways for you to become more active and move your body, and also finding efficient ways to fit this into your day without it feeling like it’s a chore or “extra” things you have to deal with in a given day.
Hour 3: After hour 1 and 2, you will walk away with a lot of plans, information and ideas that will require change. Change in your lifestyle, but also change in the way you think. This hour is all about MINDSET and how it affects us. Our mind can either work for us or against us, so in this session we will set you up with a set of tools you can apply whenever your ego wants to kick you back into your “old self” where everything is safe, predictable and… dare I say it, boring and unfulfilling? We will bust through any blocks you might have, whether they be related to confidence, money or skill set and have you come out PREPARED TO KICK SOME BUTT!!

Hour 4: You deserve a break! This type of day is by many in the coaching world referred to as ‘intensives’ for a reason: they are intense! So let’s reset, refuel and feed our bodies! In this hour you will have two options: You can either select to have me send you a recipe that you will cook in advance, and you can log off for an hour and eat in peace. OR we can cook together (don’t worry – the recipe will be SUPER simple and done in 15 minutes or less) and have a “Working lunch”.

Hour 5: Insights, Information and Independence Hour

After the first half of the day we will review insights you’ve had about yourself, you can come prepared with any questions you might have about anything we’ve talked about and then we will dive into how you can become more independent in your thinking. By this I mean, so many women sacrifice their own goals, vision for themselves and happiness because they feel forced to conform to society. Pressure from friends and family, as well as even colleagues, neighbors and other peers take over and that is why we have this ‘nagging’ feeling and many times end up resentful, angry and disappointed. In this hour you will get support and get clear on why it’s in your best interest to follow your own path, and how you can do this with love, without alienating anybody (or yourself!). This is often the biggest road block I see to women succeeding; have you had your ideas or dreams laughed at or brushed off, even by yourself? Thinking that is for someone else, and you just have to resort to average? This is the hour I will set you straight and we’ll define what your true path is.

Hour 6: All about fun!! Break open the bubbly, because we’re about to have fun! In this hour we will round out everything we’ve discussed, and talk about what YOU love to do that is not related to work, chores or responsibilities. What do you love to do? Drink wine ? (Check over here!) Play the piano? Paint? Read books? Be in nature? Whatever it is for you, we are going to have a lighthearted talk about what interests you just for the simple act of what it is: It moves your soul and gets you excited. Often times I don’t see this in women enough; in fact so many deny themselves the time to just have fun, relax and do things that aren’t necessarily “productive”. The reason I stress this, is I believe this is when you find your zest for life, uncover your creativity, and your true essence; the true you. Often this is the most groundbreaking hour because we return to our ‘wild woman’, the one that has laid dormant but now is knocking to come out!

Does this sound like a day you would like to experience?! As for me, I got excited just writing the outline! When was the last time you did something decadent for YOURSELF, and yourself only? Let me tell you, when you do, it feels amazing and you will get back that feeling of how kick ass you are and how amazing life truly is!!

Join my other clients who have gone through a day like this, and experienced major shifts in their life and how they approach their work, relationships, family and friends and THEMSELVES; and give yourself a present just for the hell of it because you DESERVE it and choose YOU for once! Don’t wait for other people to give you permission, to validate it or to let you know their opinion. Trust your gut and go with the flow!

I’m offering a special introductory price for the next 14 days of $997 (pay in full), or 2 easy payments of $525.

Click HERE to book a complimentary 30 minute discovery call with me where we can address any questions or concerns you might have surrounding this day. This is also an opportunity for me to get to know you a bit, and find out if you are a right fit for my spa day (it’s not for everyone!)

I look forward to hearing from you!!

With love and wishes for a spa filled life,

Sunny xo

P.S. Want to learn more about what I do and what else I offer? Check out my website for more info at sunnygandara.com

Going Vegan(st) the Grain

My whole life I’ve felt as though I’ve been going against the grain. Firstly, I never felt like I truly belonged in the country I was born, Norway. Of course I love my home country dearly, but the way people live, think and act always felt unnatural to me. It was always a culture ‘I should do this and I ought to do that” but never heart centered, to me. Everybody’s actions were based on the in authentic need to be so goddamn sensible, careful and smart all the time.

So I moved. At the age of 18, right out of high school, I decided Rome, Italy might be a more suitable place for me. The warm, affectionate and outgoing personality of Italians definitely captured my heart, as well as their passion and love for food and wine. I quickly learned the language, then thought “If life can be this much better, I’m sure there are other places out there that are even more enticing!”

So not only did I move to another country after a year in Italy, but another continent. My feet landed in San Francisco, CA, where I enrolled in college. After a year there, I got the wanderlust itch back, and decided to spend my Junior Year in Paris, France. There, at the American University of Paris, I met a sea of super interesting people from all over the world, and I felt that these people were living lives I had only dreamed about. They were well traveled, loved the finer things in life, and were unapologetic about their lifestyles.
After completing my business degree in San Francisco the following year, I naturally set my eyes on a bigger city, namely New York. This is a city not only for dreamers, but for doers. This is a place where you can find people who are the best at what they do, in every field, and there’s always something to be inspired by. I had finally found my ‘home’.

Still, after all this time abroad, I was still carrying around my need to be ‘sensible’, and to land a corporate marketing job. I kept job hunting for weeks, but I think the Universe was looking out for me, because I had no luck finding that 9-5 desk job that I supposedly had to get to be ‘safe’ and ‘normal’.

Through a relative’s connection I ended up working in the international marketing department at Atlantic Records, where I met a woman who was as untraditional in many ways as I was (after all, there are no coincidences) , and she brought me to the hot and hip label Interscope Records just a few short months afterwards, and from there on I went on to spend about a decade working in the crazy music industry, traveling the world with famous rappers and pop stars like Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean.
Family and friends at home had no idea what I was doing nor did they understand my desire to live a bigger life, but I guess hoping that they would, only set me up for disappointment. So I kept following my heart – my interest in food and wine led me to get professionally trained as a chef and certified in many specialties in the wine industry. I loved these new experiences, eating and drinking, while continuing to learn more about myself and my desires.

At the end of 2013, I probably made the biggest (and best) decision of my life, besides marrying my husband. (Oh, and I should mention I had to be different there too. He’s not a tall, blond Norwegian in the oil industry or with a job on Wall Street, he’s shorter than me (gasp!), Mexican and a rebel in many ways, just like me).

My decision to go vegan was probably what sent those closest to me off the edge, thinking I had finally lost the plot. No more smoked salmon, reindeer, fluffy cream cakes and whale meat? God forbid. But when I realized that I could no longer eat animals I so proudly expressed I loved, something happened, deep inside of me. I had taken a stand for the person I really, truly am, without seeking permission or acceptance from others.

There is nothing more empowering than this, and it led me to explore the other areas of my life where I had been timid in expressing myself and following my dreams. I have always been an entrepreneur at heart, as I very much dislike having a “job” and being restricted to someone else’s vision of how things should be done. So I started my coaching business at the end of 2015, and I haven’t looked back since.

Has it been an easy road? Definitely not. Has it been a tad scary? Sure.

After all, I don’t have the million dollar home (yet!), the boat on the fjord or the cabin in the mountains that all my fellow Norwegians friends back home value so much, not to mention pretty looking blond children. But what I do have is a passion and thirst for life, for constantly challenging myself to see what else I can accomplish and what other things are out there for me to discover. To me, that is wealth and happiness.

Following my heart and being true to myself has always been of utmost importance to me, even when I went against the grain, when nobody understood, risking to be different, to be alienated, risking to disappoint my family.

Many times I felt alone, like I was the only one who didn’t ‘fit in’ with the mold that had been created for each person, and I wished I had like minded friends or colleagues who got me.

At the age of 44, four countries and four industries later, I have finally found my “tribe”. I now know there are tons of women out there feeling just like me, and it has been so wonderful gaining new friends who don’t think I’m weird, who don’t ask me when I’ll ‘settle down’, or ‘grow up’. They love life as much as I do, they are as curious as I am and they support and encourage me daily.

THIS is why I created my coaching business – to help like minded women realize their dream, find back to their authentic personalities and be unapologetic about what they love to do. Whether that is how you like to eat (becoming vegan and not causing harm to other beings), what you want to do in life, either professionally or as a hobby- I am here to facilitate your journey to discover what that can look like for you. We will focus on all the possibilities, not all the obstacles, because if the desire is strong enough, anything is possible. During coaching with me, we will work on the mindset, steps and strategies you need to implement to achieve your goals, whether that is finding your true passion, replacing your corporate income, replace your less ideal lifestyle choices with new, healthy ones and help you be consistent, and so much more.
You already have everything you need within you to design your ultimate life, to be happy and to feel fulfilled. What you don’t need is anybody’s approval or permission.
Take the first step today, and book a discovery call with me – take a stand for yourself, because your life is happening NOW! Also check out my website sunnygandara.com for more information on how you can work with me and how I can help you get to where you truly desire to be!

With love and appreciation for the rebel in you,

Sunny Gandara xo

Are you sick of being told what you “should” do?

I am, which is why I was inspired to write this blog post. As an online vegan life coach, being active daily in the online marketing world, I am surrounded by “experts” who have been successful, or somewhat successful (and those who haven’t too) in building their brand, who feel compelled to tell you that because one strategy worked for them, you must do the same. They automatically assume that there is only their way or the highway, which only leave others feeling confused, overwhelmed, and frustrated.

I often draw analogies between health and fitness and building a business – there are just too many similarities to ignore. To give you an example: one person can live mostly off fruits and vegetables and build a rock hard body, while others have an impressive physique eating a ton of animal proteins. While I will suggest that the prior person will at least be healthier on the inside, it just goes to show that there are a million different ways to do the dishes, and they all end up getting clean in the end. While I understand that people can get very passionate about their way because they’ve experienced great results, it also poses danger to suggest that there is no other way to the path of greener pastures.

What matters here is that you follow what makes you happy, what feels in alignment with your values, and what course of action(s) will bring the most ease and joy for you. One common denominator is hard work, coupled with consistency – unfortunately you cannot escape these two factors when you want to create success; in life, health, business or personal relationships. But other than that – why not learn to listen to your instincts, your “gut”, your inner compass? Only you know what’s best for you and how you like to work. You might be a morning person, or a vampire who wakes up only after dark – when are you at your most productive? Use that time to create, and ignore the thousands of articles who say that all successful people get up at 4 am. I happen to know quite a few people who sleep until 9am and are millionaires.

Working with someone, whether that is a personal trainer or coach, that understands and gets you as an individual, sees your unique skills, talents, weaknesses and strengths, becomes super important as you set new goals and decide to embark on new challenges. What I’ve seen in the past, working with women especially, is our innate conviction that we not only can do it on our own, but that we should. Asking for help is a sign of weakness, or maybe even more – an inconvenience to others. Nothing could be further from the truth. Working with others strengthens us, feeds our souls and produces massive results!

There are currently people out there who would feel so fulfilled and happy helping you reach your goals, whatever they are. Looking to lose 20 lbs or get back into your workout routine that can help you feel stronger get more energy throughout the day? Want to start your own business or ask for that promotion but have no idea how to do it? There is someone out there for you that will help you find your north star, keep you motivated, feel inspired and make you see how important it is that you share with the world and how truly special you are. You are not alone, and you don’t have to go it alone.

Your desires are someone else’s desires too and by taking the first step to fulfill yours, you will give someone else “permission” to pursue theirs as well.

You don’t have to do what ‘everyone else is doing’. What I encourage you to do, is to get honest with yourself, allow yourself to be you, wholeheartedly and unapologetically – and you will unleash magic into the universe and the energy you put out will come back to you tenfold. Be different, be bold and be YOU. I give you permission. Now get out there and just do it!!

For more info about me and my work, go to sunnygandara.com.

blindlyfollowthemasses

The power of reading daily

Yesterday I woke up feeling blah, and I know that it wasn’t the typical “Monday blues” because I don’t really have those anymore after I decided to follow my heart and start my own life coaching business. Not only am I doing what I love to do, but I am now finally utilizing all my skills, talents and interests and feeling like I am being challenged and living up to my fullest potential. While I always excelled at whatever I was doing in previous careers, I never quite felt like those positions took full advantage of everything I had to offer. It was as if parts of me were hidden, buried, or not allowed to come out.

In my journey of building my own business, there’s a tremendous amount of personal development that happens, whether you are consciously seeking to learn more about yourself or not. You become acutely aware of your strengths, weaknesses, fears, insecurities, sources of happiness and joy, co-dependency issues, limiting beliefs, money mindset and so much more. Some of it is a thrill to discover, and other things are uncomfortable. But it’s all part of the journey in growing as a person and becoming a better version of yourself.

If you don’t have your own business, or do not ever plan on becoming an entrepreneur, there is one thing I still recommend to all women in mid life who are finding themselves in the so-called “mid life crisis”, and that is to read. To quote Brene Brown in her brilliant book, The Gifts of Imperfection, “People may call what happens at midlife a “crisis”, but it’s not. It’s an unraveling – a time when you feel a desperate pull to live the life you want to live, not the one you’re “supposed” to live. The unraveling is a time when you are challenged by the universe to let go of who you think you are supposed to be, and to embrace who you are.”

This is exactly where books come in. If you are not sure where you are supposed to go, who you really are or what you want to do, there is enormous wisdom in books. Personal development books are great, as are inspirational autobiographies and novels. Allow yourself to just “be”, have an open mind and be receptive to the meaning the words and sentences in the book might have for you. I recommend reading at least 30 minutes every day, at a time when you feel inspired or the most energetic and open to new ideas.

This is exactly what happened to me this morning, the day after I was tempted to think all kinds of negative things about myself, I felt stuck and a little down. These days happen, no matter how ideal your life is, simply because we are human beings. Or, as I like to think now, it may have had something to do with the super moon! We are all interconnected, and the Universe has magical ways of connecting with us. Reading has this magical effect on the way we feel and the way we choose to think, which in turn improves our mood. Books often transport us to a world in which we want to live, and gives us hope and inspiration to create that life for ourselves.

I decided I was going to devote 2 hours in the morning to reading, simply because I felt a yearning to, and was desperate for some motivation. It’s a non negotiable routine I started implementing for myself last year as I was starting my business, and it has been a life line for me ever since. Well, the inspiration came after only 10 minutes of reading this morning, and I got the message I was looking for, as I’m sitting here now writing this blog post, and have materials for two upcoming newsletters and feeling much better about myself. The books serve as a reminder that we have a purpose, there is so much more to learn, and we all have unique gifts that the world needs us to share with others. And yes, that includes you too!

One of my favorite books of all time, “Women Who Run With the Wolves” by Charissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D, was the reason why I felt called to start putting more work out there today. The book encourages women to find that ‘wild woman’ hidden inside of us, the one we are often suppressing because we are afraid of how we will be received if we allow her to come out, and because we often have been conditioned to become desperate to “fit in”. If we deny that part of ourselves, she will come out, sooner or later, in a variety of forms, because she will not be ignored. Why not choose to listen to her so you can use this power of yours to your advantage?

Are you feeling a bit unfulfilled and often think there has to be more to life than this? Then that’s a big sign that you should be doing some soul searching. If you don’t know where to start, start with picking up a book. Don’t know which book to start with? I just started a book and wine club (because those are two of my favorite things in the whole world) called Books and Barolo which you can join here, and we’ll pick a book every month to discuss and suggest a new wine weekly so you have extra enjoyment while reading. My hope is that this will grow into a powerful and supportive community of women who all want to better their lives, challenge each other’s thinking, all the while remembering to have fun and insert enjoyment in their daily routine (hence the wine).

Don’t hide who you really are anymore. The true you is so much better, and you will feel an enormous relief in just letting go, and in turn you will be able to indirectly give others permission to live the life they would love to lead as well. Start reading daily, and watch your life transform!

Why my life coaching is done with a splash of wine

As I am finishing up my year long coaching and business certification program this month, I have done a lot of reflecting on where I am now, where I started and how much growth as happened within me because I decided to prioritize myself and choose me first, for once. I have shared before that when the light bulb went off in my head, when I finally got tired of saying “maybe next time, ” “no, I can’t” (or shouldn’t, “one day” and “that would have been nice”, magic started happening around me.

First of all, there is enormous freedom in taking responsibility for your own life, because you realize that you and only you decide what happens to you, and that it’s nobody else’s fault if something goes wrong, neither is it their doing when you achieve something wonderful. There can be a lot of anger, hurt, resentment and frustration when we give our power to other people and put them in “charge” of our own destiny. It is not your boss’ fault for not giving you a raise or for “making you stay those long hours, that’s your decision. It is not your partner’s fault that you “have” to do the laundry or clean the house every week, you decide. And it certainly isn’t the weather’s fault that you are overweight because it always seem to be too cold outside for you to go out and run. Or Ben & Jerry’s for making that damn delicious ice cream that just happens to find itself into your freezer on a regular basis. You get my point.

Secondly, when you start prioritizing yourself and take your happiness seriously, you indirectly give others around you, who want and desire the same thing, “permission” to do that for themselves as well. So many of us live by these invisible rules and regulations in our mind about how we should, must or have to live, when in fact, we don’t even know who ‘they’ are that made them up. Is what you are doing not making you happy or fulfilled? Then why are you doing it? Or are you, like I was for so many years, waiting for that ‘one day’ or maybe next year, when things will miraculously line up for you, all the things will be perfectly in place and you will be a whole new person, even if you’ve done nothing different to work towards that? Think about it. Isn’t it time you started loving yourself, and loving life? I have been able to inspire and support many women since I started my personal growth journey myself, and I can tell you – nothing else tops the feeling of being of value and feeling like I have a purpose – I’ve finally found what I was looking for all these years!

Thirdly, I am embracing being ‘multi passionate’ and that I have a gazillion certifications and interests in a wide variety of subjects, because I have a passion and thirst for life and I never want to stop learning. So often in my life have I been shamed or met with dripping irony when I’ve started a new journey or moved into a different line of work, by people who just didn’t understand me, or maybe they felt uncomfortable because they couldn’t label me or put me in a particular box. “She’s a lawyer,’ “She’s an athlete”, etc. Just picture when I was training for a body building competition, while drinking wine and cooking up waffles, pancakes and tacos in my catering company all at the same time! What to do with me!?!

So where am I going with all of this? When I left my position as a wine buyer last year to study life coaching, I knew I would always have a love for wine, because I truly enjoy it, not just the taste of it but the mystery, learning and challenges that come with exploring the wine world. Just because I have decided to help women find their passion and purpose too, would that then mean I would have put my love for, experience, skills and years of education for wine behind me?
Most certainly not. Because now I play by a set of new rules. They are called MY rules. In my world, anyone can do anything, anywhere and at anytime as long as it makes them come alive, as long as it makes them happy and is not hurting anybody else. I’m sorry if you can’t fit me into a certain category or understand what I’m doing, but I’m actually having fun, I’m loving life and I would love to show as many people as I can, that it’s possible for them too. By modeling that you can create your own life the very way you ideally would like to see it, more people will find the confidence to create something beautiful for themselves as well that represent what they are truly about and what they love to do. And as a result, the world will have more brilliant, varied, inspired and happy members, don’t you think?

As for me, I think life coaching and wine has a lot in common, so my decision is that my kind of coaching will have a splash of wine in it – and some great plant based gourmet food too. The great Robert Mondavi put it best:

By that I mean that the food and wine will be a vehicle and symbol of enjoyment as a reminder that we need to do things in our lives for the pure joy of it. I am a big fan of inserting more PLAY into our lives, and not be so serious all the time. When I speak about conscious living in my life coaching, I mean we also consciously have to select fun and play as well, because it is in these moments we truly tap into our creativity, and get to experience what magic this thing called life is really about.

So if you are looking for your core genius, desperate for more fun in life but think you have to trade joy and happiness for financial security and know that you are not quite living up to your full potential and tired of thinking that must be for everyone else, just not you…. Let’s connect via Skype for an hour, have a glass of wine and chat! I would love to hear about your hopes and dreams and learn more about you….

You can schedule a time that’s convenience for you right HERE…

In the mean time, if I can support you in any way at all, connect with me in my FB group, Books and Barolo, Plant-Empowered Bon Vivant, on my FB page Sunny Gandara or comment here! Wishing you a purposeful, fun-filled and productive week! ❤

Celebrating my one year anniversary as a full time entrepreneur!

Last year on this day, November 1st, I had finally taken the plunge and left my full time job. I felt relieved, excited, a little scared and overwhelmed all at the same time. On Halloween I finished my last day as a wine buyer for a large retail store here in New York, where I had been for nearly 2 1/2 years, and while it certainly wasn’t a bad job (come on, many people would die to have a job that requires you to taste hundreds of wines a month), I knew deep in my heart that I was meant for something else. I was simply out of place. Again.

On November 1st, 2015, many thoughts crept in, like “Will I be able to make a living off coaching people to better their lives?”, to “Where do I start?” to “Oh shit… I’m in charge now!!”… But overall, I was in a place where I really didn’t feel like I had a choice anymore. I was tired of telling myself no to opportunities that came up because I always had to be on somebody else’s schedule, I was tired of leaving my puppies for 10 hours a day, when all I really wanted was to work from home and spend more time with them, I was tired of being in a position where I was living below my potential and not able to utilize all my skills and interests and of course… I was desperate to feel passionate about what I was doing, to feel like I was contributing in the world, and like I was making a difference in somebody’s life.

For years I had been just falling into work that seemed like it could be a good fit me, without really examining whether or not that was true for me. I listened to other people’s opinions, and ignored my own. It looked good on the outside – and to be honest, I haven’t exactly had any ‘dud’ jobs at any part of my life; I started out in the music industry working as an international marketing and publicity director and traveled the world with rockstars (and a fair share of rappers!), I worked for a luxury vodka company from Scandinavia where I met a ton of fascinating people, had my own catering company where I had a chance to create some fabulous dishes and work with some really nice people and also of course lately, worked in the wine industry where I got to travel to many of the world’s vineyards and taste wine for a living. But what might seem perfect for others, may not be perfect for you. This is where the key lies. Not to get influenced by other people’s opinion, but finding the courage to go against what everyone else wants you to do, or tells you you ‘should’ do, if, at the end of the day, you are not madly in love with what you do.

Fast forward to today, November 1st, 2016, I sit here and think “oh my, what a difference a year makes!” Not only have I been able to make a living off coaching fabulous women all over the world who want the best out of life as well, but I have streamlined my activities to focus on what is important (a miracle for me who is a bit on the artistic side and like to deal with things at the spur of the moment), I get to spend every day with my fur babies and work from the comfort of my own home, and not have to endure a grueling commute every day and waste time being in a car, and I feel like what I do actually helps people and make them feel like they can do whatever they want to do too. Most importantly – I can finally be ME! Unapologetically, without having to fit into any type of mold, I can do whatever I want to do, say whatever I want to say, and work with whoever I want to work with. Sure, there might be a couple of things in my business I’m not jumping up and down to do, but because I have a clear sense of WHY I’m doing what I’m doing and what my ultimate goal is, I gladly do them because at the end of the day they allow me to live a life that finally is in alignment with my values and with my personality. Having a purpose for why you do things in life, is key to everything.

Another miraculous thing happens too when you open yourself up to be the best version of yourself. You start attracting other like minded people into your life like yourself, who inspire you, show you what’s possible and open up a whole new world of opportunities for you. I am currently finishing up a year long coaching and business certification program where I have gained 250 new girl friends, talented, ambitious and successful women all around the globe who have the same mission as I do: to be of service and to do something meaningful with their lives. These women are supportive, lift me up and encourage me on a daily basis. They want the best for me, because they themselves have found happiness so they can genuinely feel happy for me, in return. That’s what happens when you follow your heart and go for what sets your soul on fire. These women have such a positive influences on me, I sometimes wonder how I got so lucky and how I existed without this support system. But everything happens in its own time, and it happened to me this year because I was finally READY.

Now, I will not pretend that it all has been a smooth journey and that I haven’t had days where I found things challenging, a little scary and unsettling, because let’s face it – as a new entrepreneur when you are just starting to set up your systems and get familiar with your new way of life and of doing business, you don’t really know what your next month will look like. But I decided that certainty was boring, and it was killing my soul because again – I wasn’t allowed to really utilize all that I had to give. So I traded certainty for passion. That, is what living is to me. I will choose passion and happiness any day over certainty, mediocrity and having a “decent” life. Because I know great is within reach for all of us!

There is such enormous freedom in knowing that I, and only I, am in charge of my life, and I have the power to change things I don’t like or am not happy with. There is nobody else to blame or complain about, which is probably one of the best things having chosen this way of life for myself. I hated feeling like I was giving away my power when I was pointing at other people for the problems or tough days I was going through. As if they were in charge of my day or my life, and that I had to just comply, or else… Like being in a prison!! I now know that the only person I should be pointing at is myself. If something is not working 100% the way I want to, I examine it, put more work in or revise what I’m doing. This always works, because I never quit, I keep going because I know I will eventually succeed. Having an unwavering belief in yourself is crucial when choosing a passion based life.

There is so much personal growth that goes on when you choose yourself, whether it is choosing to go into business for yourself, choosing to believe that you deserve that raise, that loving relationship, or even those extra few hours a week where you only focus on yourself and take care of you. Ultimately, when you have an inner voice that tells you “I deserve more”, it’s there for a reason. Don’t ignore it. When you start listening to it and respecting that voice, you are respecting yourself, and in turn – other people will start respecting you as well and you will get what you want and need in life. This is how the Universe works.

Take it from me: it feels SO good to take a chance on yourself and finally make the best out of this one life we’ve been given. If you know what I’m talking about, wonderful, and I’m so happy for you! If not, why not decide to choose to believe that you can do whatever you put your mind to and see what happens?! Most often we end up astounding ourselves. Get in touch with me if you think I could support you – sunny@sunnygandara.com or check out my website for more information at sunnygandara.com. I believe in you!!

A bit of my story and announcing my new coaching services!

For those of you who know me well, know I have dabbled in a LOT of different industries and have a ton of varied interests, traveled the world, lived in four different countries and have always been on the “search” for my ideal life where I could feel like myself and ultimately, just be happy. This might seem like a simple (or foreign) concept to many, but I truly believe everyone is searching for happiness, whether they want to get a promotion, lose weight, travel or make a million dollars. Why exactly do you want what you want? Probably to feel happy, right? Let me back track…

I am, as many other entrepreneurial women out there, multi-passionate and have a thirst for life and have never settled for average. I grew up in a small town in Norway, with fairly conservative parents who taught me that hard work pays off (and was necessary in order to make money), money was to be respected and didn’t come easy, and that I should focus on getting an education so I could get a good, steady job. I don’t think my parents were different from most and my education was very traditional in that respect. They were simply trying to make sure I would be “safe” and ok in the world. I was taught not to really make a big fuss about myself, be modest and respectful, and was constantly asked “what will they say or think” if I wanted to do something out of the ordinary.

I am still not sure of who ‘they’ were, but felt somewhat imprisoned by these strange creatures out there who just sat there all day long judging me, telling me what I could or shouldn’t do. Other people’s opinions and expectations of me became somehow very central to my thought process, and every decision I made started with asking myself “What will they think”…

“They” supposedly expected me to either become a doctor or a lawyer since I was an A student, to marry a tall, handsome man and have 2.5 children, buy a beautiful home in a nice town with impressive furniture, a cabin in the mountains (where we would go every weekend) and preferably a boat on the fjord, feel ok with the fact that fun would be over when you are married and that now my day would look something like going to work from 9-5, make dinner, read the paper and watch the news and be in bed by 10. And do it all over again until Friday, when we could finally have some “fun”, go for a hike in the mountains and maybe even have a glass of wine or two on Saturday night! Sigh…

Even so, I decided to do something as untraditional as move to the United States to go to college (San Francisco, to be exact) and spend all my money on my education, despite university being practically free in Norway in comparison. This was because I had become aware that the world was big and I wanted to explore it. Nobody really understood what I was doing, but half way expected me to return to Norway when I completed my education. I must have disappointed them, because after having spent my junior year in Paris and completing my senior year in San Francisco, I decided to move to New York to try my luck there in the working world, and 20+ years later, well the rest is history. I’m still in NY.

In New York, I landed in the exciting music industry where I worked for a decade as an international marketing director and traveled all over the world with celebrities, stayed in five star hotels, dined in top restaurants and basically lived la vida loca. When that journey ended, I felt I was done with the jet set life, and decided to pursue my interests in food and wine. I went from making 6 figures to making $10/hr as a cook in a restaurant, which was quite humbling. I told myself it was worth it, because following my dreams and trying to find my true purpose was more important than anything, and that I could always be making that money again. After all, I had proven it to myself.

After just a few months working as a cook and being a cocktail waitress in a restaurant in pursuit of my dreams, I decided started my own catering company, Fork and Glass with my husband. Oh yes- that reminds me: Ever since the age of 18, people back home constantly asked me the same 3 questions: “Aren’t you moving back home to Norway soon”? “When are you getting married”? and “Don’t you want kids”? I felt like an alien sometimes, because no, I didn’t want kids (unless you count four legged ones) and I was in no hurry to get married – but when I did, I made sure it was to a man that was Mexican and shorter than me, just for shock effect (not! lol). And after 20+ years in the U.S. the question “Do you like it there?” seemed kind of redundant and ridiculous. Yes, I sure do, and no, I’m not moving back to Norway.

Maybe it was the rebel in me, but in between all of this I decided to slim down, double my muscles and compete in bodybuilding shows. Instead of getting pregnant, being in a desk job tolerating life, and giving into the story that my body had seen better days since I was now approaching 40 and that’s just how life is, I strutted my stuff in a shimmering bikini and high heels covered in an orange tan. It felt amazing and I was empowered by the fact that if I wanted to look good the only thing I had to do was make a decision to set a goal and put in the work. Much like anything else in life, you just have to make the decision. The rest can be figured out.

While I ran my company and worked my ass off catering (this line of work is not for sissies and I quickly learned doing manual work for 14, sometimes 16 hours a day was not my calling), I was getting my wine education and worked for a small Norwegian luxury vodka brand which was quite fun. Because I was positive, outgoing and interested in networking and learning about new things, life always seemed to be giving me these amazing opportunities which I accepted and learned from. I was most definitely grateful for these chances given to me, but I still hadn’t found what truly lit me up, what would give me the feeling of “ah! THIS is why I’m here in this world”.

So I continued searching. I tried working for a wine importer as a sales consultant, and then moved into retail as a wine buyer for a large wine where I stayed for over 2 years, before I came across the world of coaching through my continuous search for “me”.

BINGO!! All of a sudden the lights came on and a whole new fire was lit up under me. I quickly realized that I had been coaching my whole life; I was the person all my friends would come to if they needed to talk something through or had a problem or issue, and I loved hearing about their lives and realized that we are all really challenged with the same things in life. And ultimately we all want the same thing: to be happy.

I think the most important reason I have been able to see the big picture now, at age 43, of what I am supposed to be doing with my life; to help women find the courage and confidence to design their dream life DESPITE what background they have and programming they have had in life; is when I made the best decision in my life at age 40: To become a vegan. Might as well stay on the track of being different, right??

I have always been an animal lover, but I didn’t always see the irony of claiming that title in one breath, while eating the ones I claimed to love in the next. I grew up with a dozen cats, chickens, ducks, horses, goats… you name it. But I also loved cheese, meat, eggs and fish.

It wasn’t until my late 30s when my friend started sending me videos of animal cruelty on factory farm, that I started researching and was horrified at what I found out. That this could be hidden from most people was unbelievable . Then what I found even more incredible is that people don’t really want to know, because they have a hard time letting go of the foods they have been so accustomed to. This was me for many years too. Instead of watching the videos or reading the books, I just turned a blind eye and pretended it wasn’t happening.

Until one day when I realized; I’ve spent my whole life trying to find who I am, who I want to be and what I want to do – and ignoring the welfare of beings I supposedly I said I was so fond of, was not in alignment with being a kind, conscious and truth seeking individual.

So I did something ELSE untraditional: I went vegan overnight. Which meant I had to say goodbye to any followers of my Norwegian food blog (I spent a lot of time building that community) who only followed me because of my writings about smoked salmon and brown cheese, I had to get my husband used to the fact that we wouldn’t be eating the same dishes anymore (but we found a happy compromise) and I had to get re-educated on the best way to build muscle on a plant based diet (it’s easy and much healthier, by the way). Instead of seeing problems, I started seeing solutions, which became my mantra for my new life.

So what does becoming vegan have to do with finding your purpose in life? Finding the courage to do what makes you happy and fulfilled, and being honest with yourself, of course. When I turned vegan something happened inside of me – I felt so true to my nature, so clean, uplifted and positive that I know could make ANYTHING happen in my life. What I had seen as a potential huge obstacle, really wasn’t that hard at all, and so many new doors opened up for me that had been shut before.

This is what happens if you allow yourself to believe in yourself and your capabilities of doing what you truly want to do, despite what other people say. How many times have I heard that “I have to be careful, because it can be unhealthy not eating animal foods”, that I’m not getting enough protein, B12, calcium, iron, etc. Well guess what people: I have been a vibrant, healthy and alive individual for the past 3 years I have avoided animal foods – in fact, feeling better than ever before! My point is: follow your truth, listen to your intuition – what your “gut feeling” tells you will never be wrong for you!

Don’t believe the hype. Don’t believe it when people tell you a corporate job is “safe” because you get a steady bi-weekly paycheck, that feeling a bit ‘so so’ about your life is normal, that you have to stay in a relationship that isn’t really making you that happy anymore but is ‘comfortable enough’, that carrying around an extra 20-30 lbs on your frame or feeling aches and pains in your body is to be expected when you are getting older…

Why settle for ‘ok’ when you can have AMAZING?? You only have this one life and you SO deserve it! The world needs YOU and your special talents, give yourself credit for the incredible and very special individual you are! If you don’t quite know what that is for you yet, that’s ok – do what I did, and keep looking! It is SO worth it in the end.

So where on earth would you even get started with this, you might ask? This is why I transitioning from vegan health coaching into life coaching for women just like you… who know that life has more to offer, or more specifically, YOU have more to offer. You have a desire to wake up in the morning and be excited about your day, not dread it. You want to make a difference, feel good, and you want to be able to make good money while having fun at the same time. I get it, believe me.

I am here to help you explore some options for you… Let me get to know you and learn more about your story and we can come up with some ideas together for how you can make yourself happier TODAY. I can give you suggestions based on our talks, and a step-by- step action plan to get you to where you want to be.

Whether that for you is changing your diet to get more energy or lose weight, changing jobs or even starting your own business, or picking up an old interest or hobby of yours that will get you back in touch with who you truly are and what you love doing, give yourself a gift and take a chance on yourself for once, today!!

When I finally got tired of saying “no, I can’t afford it”, or “maybe next year” or “I don’t have time,” while secretly feeling super sad inside, I made the best decision ever: I realized that I only have today, and I invested in a coach and took a massive step towards improving my life.

I can proudly say that this month I’ve made more than double my salary in my old job as a wine buyer, all while working from the comfort of my own home and spending time with my beautiful pup Scooby, and getting the privilege of coaching amazing women around the world, helping them find back to who they are and what they love to do. Best job in the world!!

Schedule a free call with me here to see how I can help: https://calendly.com/sunnyg/60-min-discovery-session

I would love to see you find your true happiness no matter what that looks like to you. Talk soon!! 🙂