In conversation with Nicola O’Donoghue (CEO and Founder of intogreat)

Meet Nicola - a person who meets life with grace and chooses to live each day wholeheartedly. She is also the driving force behind Intogreat and we are so excited for you to meet her.

What do you want the community to know about you?

I am warm, friendly, intellectual and someone who cares deeply. Oh, and I’m a proud Scouser (which means I’m from Liverpool, UK)!

I’ve achieved a lot of success in my life; I have a Master of Arts in Jurisprudence from Oxford University, a MBA from Cambridge University and have worked for organisations such as Slaughter and May, Ernst & Young, LexisNexis and HSBC Bank. Despite my success, I definitely spent far too many years not feeling good: there was always too much to do and not enough time. The pace of life is relentless. 

I’ve faced some tough chapters in my life; burnout, abusive relationship, divorce, struggling business and had to work hard to transform my own life; rebalancing, cultivating self-love, and aligning my life to my values and purpose. 

My lived experience has definitely made me resilient and strong. My friend Kate once shared a poem with me and said that it perfectly sums up who I am;

“She is unshakable. Not because she doesn't know pain or failure, but because she always pushes through. Because she always shows up and never gives up. Because she believes anything is possible no matter the odds. She is beautiful because of her courage to believe that the darkness can't hold her as long as she continues to create her own light.” 

I’ve learnt how to be vulnerable, consistently commit to doing the work and the importance of surrounding myself with people and things that replenish and affirm. My family, Mina (my fur-child), close friends, music, food, a good bottle of wine, meaningful conversations around my dinner table, getting lost in a book, a bubble bath, yoga, candles – these are what help keep me grounded and fulfilled. 

‍What does ‘stepping into your greatness’ mean to you?

It is a journey of self-worth and self-love because greatness is your true essence. Your inner beauty. It is what makes you unique. It’s not shying away from doing the work in order to show up as your authentic self in all aspects of your life, each and every day. It is going into the world from a place of purpose and self-compassion, unapologetically putting yourself first.

‍How do you practically do this in your life?

What works for me might not work for you, and it’s important to stress that everyone’s journey to greatness will look different - because we are all unique! I’ve tried lots of things and what seems to work for me is starting my day journaling using Intogreat’s Daily Companion to a Great Life! I have regular breathwork and yoga practices. I eat a nutritionally balanced diet, try to limit my alcohol intake and get enough sleep.

I am discerning about who I spend my time with, and the relationships I have in my life. I tend to spend my time with like-minded and purpose-driven individuals, who keep me passionate, creative and fulfilled. I am a life-long learner: constantly reading, listening to podcasts and being curious about relationships and life.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed and stressed, I actively take steps to shift my energy, which usually means having a little dance party in the middle of the day or snuggling Mina! I also see a therapist, and a coach when I need extra support. 

Are there people you admire who are actively stepping into their greatness?

Alok Menon is phenomenal. Their appearance on the “We Are Man Enough” podcast is something everyone should listen to. It is a life changing listen. Alok is a gender non-conforming writer, activist and performance artist. Using their voice to educate and advocate for the right for everyone to express their true authentic self without fear of harassment. They are authenticity manifest and hugely inspiring to me. They inspire me to honour my authenticity, and to face hate and judgement with love and compassion.

What piece of advice do you have for anyone who is starting their journey to greatness?

Firstly congratulations! It takes courage to want more for yourself and your life. 

Secondly, I would encourage them to get clear on why they are starting this journey. Having a clear vision of what they want to be different in their life, the person they want to become, how it will feel when they get there and why this is important, will give them the strength to keep going when things become difficult. And things will be challenging on this journey because they are making a change and change is uncertain, which ignites fear and our inner critics whose goal it is to stop them from stepping out of their comfort zone and into greatness. 

Thirdly, I would encourage them to access the community. So often we feel alone and believe that we are the only person in the world who is struggling. This is simply not true, and using our beautiful community as a support system will help keep them energised, inspired and moving forward. 

If you want to find out more about Nicola, in particular her professional background and why she started intogreat, check out her podcast episode- Coming Home to Yourself.