Jaya Nila
Image: Hannah Faith Oni
Pictured: Founder of Sifali Jaya Nila
One of my favourite lines in Purple Hearts by Kendrick is, “I’m not in the music business, I been in the human business” when I heard it, it clicked for me. That’s how I’ve moved through beauty and wellness, in my personal and professional life. Hospitality provides people with a precious exchange, there is no competition for the art of touch. I found my meditation through the act of giving, and then it became my ‘why’.
Unplanned but highly passionate, was the start of my journey - I notice when talking about my progress, it always ties back to my business as those are the years I’ve been most present and intentional in my creativity. Creating makes me feel brand new, it keeps my mind clear, it’s taught me mostly patience and adaptability with myself and others.
Before creating a business that worked around my lifestyle, I had four years of unlearning unhealthy habits, was balancing three jobs and bad acne, it was a vulnerable experience for me. I was hungry for progression, but wasn’t aware that neglecting my well-being would come around quick, queue burn out, low moods, and becoming pretty anti social. I had to switch things up, with focusing my life on ‘being well’, then my business in wellbeing followed me…literally.
It is my life's focus and the creativity it provides me with is my form of escapism, I can mould between five different roles in one day, there’s no restriction and I love that. If I was to write to my future self, I just wonder, will this always be the ‘right’ way of doing things, if I’m addicted to growth because it sparks a bigger vision for me and provides a positive feeling that others can experience too.. where does it end? Does it need to end, or do I need to find purpose elsewhere? I guess I’ll find out in 10 years when we have flying cars.
I’m ok with getting things wrong now, I used to fear that a lot more, didn’t like mistakes - a perfectionist.
Image: Hannah Faith Oni
(Jaya pictured with a Blue Hydrangea. Mainly native to East Asia, they have strong cultural significance and usually found blooming in early June. Hydrangea can bloom in different colours depending on the soil they are planted in. The Blue Hydrangea is said to signify gratitude, forgiveness, and understanding).
But in the process of so many lessons, I’ve become confident through learning right from wrong, rather than just walking through life in bubblewrap. I measure my progress based on how I manage my day to day, I’ll start with a focus on my mood. Followed with mindful questions like, am I actually breathing properly, have I been intentional about my words when speaking, or been at my best in treatments?
Lemonade has reminded me to sit and write again, it’s allowed me to find clarity and ask myself questions I hadn’t thought of before. I didn’t step into the opportunity intending on gaining anything specifically, but taking a step back from the bigger picture has allowed me to reflect which is the best form of stillness. It’s cool to make mistakes, it’s also good to not know what you’re doing all the time, there can be comfort in discomfort. That’s one thing you could take from my journey and embrace in your own cool way.