Samantha Hua shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Samantha, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
I would hire me but not for reasons on paper. I got to where I am unconventionally. I have not ticked off the perfect credentials, followed the right order, nor have a created a profile that’s most enticing.
What I can offer is a genuine desire for you to be successful on the inside. After decades of struggling with emotions and things that sabotage me, I can relate to your experience. I learned that most of us are very alike (or maybe I attract that type of client). Coaching someone where I’ve been through the same internal struggles allows us to speak the same language. With understanding and compassion comes feeling heard. Humans that feel heard while being head accountable, have a greater ability to shine.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Established in 2009, Happy Food helps you reach your health and wellness goals using nutrition, psychology, and habits. We support you in a way that does not include shame, judgment, or guilt. We aim to change your behaviors by focusing on your mindset and getting to the root cause of the problem. In the end, it’s delicious nutrition and pleasurable weight loss because this becomes your daily habit.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I grew up super shy, obedient, and quiet partly due to my culture and how I was raised. I lacked confidence and felt unseen and unloved. Childhood was a tough time due to circumstances.
In 1998, some small sense of bravery led me to pick up my backpack and travel through Europe alone with very little money. I met so many humans that quite literally saved my life without knowing it. They were loving, kind, and fun. That was the moment when I felt a renewed faith about human kind. Most of us are good!
Of course there were ups and downs after that, but that trip was one that turned my thoughts around and taught me resilience, trust, and confidence. It all starts with how we talk to ourselves. Don’t underestimate what you can do for strangers.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Due to circumstances like health and war, I felt abandoned by my parents. I grew up believing that I was unlovable and unimportant. I kept to myself and replayed this record increasingly louder in my head.
When I learned to create community and trust in specific people, was when I started healing. We are not lone wolves. We are social creatures who need others for support and continued growth.
I also learned to take responsibility for my thoughts and my actions. I may not have control as a child but as an adult, I make my choices for my own life. If I take responsibility for my part, I can change. And I have! I am resilient, confident, and thriving. (We are human of course, so it’s normal to trip too.) We all have the ability and we all deserve it.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say people and communication. Without these, I am lost. I owe my life to my closest friends and strangers that I’ve traveled with. And communication is the tool that I must absolutely have to be able to maintain that level of trust with anyone.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I know I have a tribe. We need others and there’s no denying. Find a tribe; be a part of my tribe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://happyfoodhealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyfoodsd
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthahua
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyfoodsd
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-food-san-diego
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SamHappyFood
Image Credits
Renata Terra Photography
