Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Solis.
Christina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all started in 2014, right after I graduated from college and decided to book a spontaneous trip to Thailand. It was my first time ever leaving the country and within those eight days, something fundamental inside of me had changed. Before this trip, I believed I had to follow society’s “rules” and get a job straight away. I was on track to land a job in public relations or marketing. It made sense, felt comfortable and felt stable. However, once I settled back from the trip and had some downtime at home, I realized I had so much more I wanted to experience and accomplish, rather than taking an average 9-5. Just two years after my trip to Thailand, I packed up my bags, without a return ticket home, and said farewell to the only place I have ever called home.
Of course, my mom was worried about my wellbeing, so I promised to write blog posts, including day to day details of my travels, my inner thoughts about being away and overall documenting my personal growth during this once-in-a-lifetime journey. It seemed like I have “made it”. I was traveling around the world and making my dreams come true. Along my travels, people started to follow my worldwide journey, curious about this lifestyle I committed to. All was going well, until my travel partner’s kidney failed, forcing us to be medically evacuated, back home — back to square one.
I came home and fell into a depression. I felt like a failure. I didn’t want to let anyone in. I no longer wanted to share the in’s and out’s of my life. I was devastated, embarrassed and most of all, I felt defeated. I went into “hiding” for a few months, sorting out my feelings and what my next step was. One day, I woke up to a few emails asking me what happened to my blog. People were apparently looking forward to my weekly updates and wanted to know where we were now. THIS is where the crossroads appeared. I could be the victim of my story OR I could play the cards I was dealt with.
I decided to shift my focus on creating a travel-lifestyle brand and transitioned into what I was experiencing that very moment, raw, genuine, personal growth. I changed my brand to “Grow with the Flow” and decided from that point on, I would share it all. The good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Just as life REALLY is, full of ups and downs.
While I was overseas, during the medical emergency, I wrote letters to my travel partner, as a way to process what was going on and express all the feels I was feeling. I posted these 14 letters as my resurgence. Not only did others appreciate the vulnerability and honesty of this post, but also felt the power of unapologetically being seen for who I was and what I was going through.
After some time of sharing what I was growing and going through, I felt called to begin creating communities and offering experiences to help others grow through what they go through.
I began with my vulnerability workshops, which is essentially a small group of open-minded individuals, who need a safe space to explore things that aren’t generally talked about in the mainstream world. Each month, I host an event, with a certain topic for others to come together, open up, inspire, help and let one another know we are never alone.
I have also hosted a variety of weekend, day and international trips for women to explore new places, meet new people and get out of their comfort zone.
If you would have asked me ten years ago, what I would be doing… I would have never guessed this is where I would be today.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
HAH not at all. I’m not sure is there is ever a smooth road. I face struggles constantly. Being an entrepreneur, it is tough to constantly believe in yourself and your vision. Even the most passionate people question themselves sometimes. I have found that the surrender in just allowing things to fall into place has been hard for me to 100% accept. I like to have some control, and at times, you just have to let it go and trust the process. I am constantly working on my inner-talk and self- confidence, which seems like a struggle at the moment, but I know It is just a growing pain that we all go through.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
To Grow with the Flow is an all-encompassing personal growth brand. I not only offer relatable reads about what I am going through or what I am working on, but also host events so others can have a similar experience, whether it be in personal growth, travel or both!
I am known for showing up authentically and vulnerably and offering a space for others to do the same. I like to talk about “controversial” topics and give voices to topics/communities that need someone to speak up.
Like I previously said, I offer monthly vulnerability workshops, which is essentially a small group of open-minded individuals, who need a safe space to explore things that aren’t generally talked about in the mainstream world. I created this for others to come together, open up, inspire, help and let one another know we are never alone.
I have also hosted a variety of weekend, day and international trips for women to explore new places, meet new people and get out of their comfort zone.
I am also in the process of making some Grow with the Flow accessories, which I am SUPER excited about!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have started sooner, thrown all caution to the wind and spoke my truth years before I did this time around.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.growwitheflow.com
- Phone: 7608896499
- Email: c.solis91@rocketmail.com
- Instagram: secretsofsunshine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christina.solis.18
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC9qwNoy9QSRXLHKgoKLHtw/
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