Today we’d like to introduce you to MaKayla Wright.
Hi MaKayla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I became very passionate about health at a pretty young age. A driving force in this was seeing so many family members suffer from chronic diseases. In and out of hospitals, multiple medications, and struggles with mental health due to the weight on their shoulders. I have to pay homage to my grandmother Joan who was the most caring and compassionate LPN. She opened her home to family members that were sick and took care of them when she could. She exposed me to the world of healthcare when I was younger and I’ve been learning and expanding since then. Something remarkable happened right before I began college. One of my family members that suffered from heart failure completely changed their diet & lifestyle. They simply had no choice or things could have ended very badly. Their transformation was incredible and I wanted to understand how nutrition impacts our health and diseases we may encounter. As I got further along in my journey, I realized the need for advocacy was deeply needed in the health space. Even if you don’t have a position, you can still be an advocate within your community. One way students in my department advocated was through reestablishing a community garden at our school. This garden would grant access to fresh produce for students, something that was truly needed. We were able to take what we learned in the classroom and implement it in a way that served those in need. This is a similar model that I bring to what I currently do with Internal Joy and beyond. Breaking down the complexities of health and developing programs that cater to communities in need. My journey is still unfolding but I’m thankful for every experience that has shaped me into who I am today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road but it has been beautiful nonetheless. Business requires you to expand your thinking on a daily basis. What may have worked a month ago, may not work anymore and you have to be okay with pivoting and using your discernment. Also, building from scratch takes time. Living in a fast-paced society, sometimes it may feel as though you aren’t where you need to be but in reality good things take time. Setting a sturdy foundation is extremely important so even as you encounter different challenges, you can always resort back to your vision and your why. Some personal struggles I’ve had to overcome is putting myself out in the world and allowing myself to be seen. I am more introverted naturally however, I’ve had to learn the art of communication in various settings. Also, when you enter the business space, you will quickly realize that everyone does not have the same values or priorities as you. Speaking with someone whose entire purpose is to make as much money as they can is completely different from speaking with someone whose goal is to sustain themselves comfortably while still making a difference in the world. The clash in values requires more discernment in seeking mentorship. Not comparing yourself is key as well because everyone is at different stages and have different goals with their impact. Challenges are simply a part of the journey but thankfully, we are capable of overcoming them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Internal Joy?
Internal Joy (IJ) was created to address the complexities of holistic wellness and to provide a safe intellectual space for conscious development. The name, Internal Joy, emphasizes that joy is a state of being and should not primarily be contingent upon external factors and influences. The goal is to create a community of people and empowered networks to sustain spiritual vitality to promote emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
Internal Joy currently offers a tailor-made coaching program to assist participants in changing their dietary habits and eating behaviors. Nutrition and mindset coaching is included in this. Our culture has been steered towards restrictive fade-based diets and supplements. Internal Joy works within a person’s current diet to address mental blockers and triggers, increase knowledge of foods, and provide the necessary tools to sustain a lifestyle change. In addition to this, Internal Joy hosts events such as women circles, in collaboration with other clinicians, to bring conscious development tools and techniques to the community at large.
Brand-wise, I am most proud to be a vessel for others to blossom. I am also proud of taking a leap of faith and trusting myself with this journey. What I want people to know is Internal Joy is truly a safe space for you to experience joy from within. We’re all aware of the restriction and false narratives that is very common in the nutrition and wellness space. There’s no need to put on a mask to see changes in your life. Come as you are and allow the transformations to unfold. Internal Joy goes beyond the physical and it is my honor to be of assistance.
What’s next?
There’s a lot cooking in the kitchen for Internal Joy and I can’t wait to share the news with the public as it comes into fruition. I’m hoping to expand my team in the near future, continue to collaborate with others, and so much more. I’m allowing the journey to unfold as it should and constantly making adjustments to provide the best services.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internal_joy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/internal.joy
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/internal_joy
Image Credits
Amonetphotography by Alivia Stewart. (amonetphotos.com)
