We had the good fortune of connecting with Allie Chipkin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allie, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
“Trust yourself.” Trusting yourself is important, no doubt. However, sometimes the “inner voice” we’re told to listen to gets clouded by anxiety and fear. The voice in your head may demonstrate more about your doubts and insecurities than your gut desires. How do you recognize the sound of your authentic voice, beneath the anxiety? I’ve learned two ways. The first is somatic: close your eyes, conduct a body scan, and notice the sensations that arise in your physical body. If you’re struggling with decision-making, sit with your unanswered question and notice if your body (not your mind) is signaling “green light” or “eek.” What do you feel? Not ‘what do you think about the situation’… but what does your body say, deeper than your mind can rationalize? Even feeling “unsure” in the body signals a lack of a full “yes,” which I prefer to interpret as a “no.”

Our minds can go back and forth all day, juggling pros + cons lists and talking ourselves out of our true physical feelings. Our bodies, on the other hand, hold direct sensory information about how things make us feel on a guttural level, even if we see no intellectual justification for those feelings. Somatic sensations matter, even when cannot rationalize them. When I trust the feelings in my body, I feel deep alignment with the authenticity of my desires.

Another portal to your true feelings comes through self-compassion. My therapist once told me that the inner-voice you can trust is always compassionate. Critical self-talk usually stems from fear. The harsh inner voice urges you to run away from things you fear instead of moving towards things that inspire you. It makes sense that a loving inner-voice would want you to move gracefully towards love. That voice will lead you towards your true desires.

The next time you hear your negative inner voice trying to urge you in some direction, check in with your body. What are your cells telling you? Next, ask yourself: if I were being as kind and loving as I could possibly be to myself, what would I choose to do? Trust yourself, but, first, check in and make sure you can hear yourself clearly.  

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I write custom wedding songs for couples through my business, Give Love Originals (GLO). It all started when I needed a gift for a wedding. I wanted to give something original, personal, and meaningful to my dear friends. As a songwriter, the most obvious thing for me to try was writing them a song! When I played the song at their wedding, other guests wanted to know where they could purchase one for their friends and family members, and thus was born GLO! I wouldn’t say starting this business has been easy, but I would say it’s been obvious to me. Because songwriting has been my passion and my practice for so many years, starting Give Love Originals just felt right.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oooo- I would bring my best friends into Boulder to Boxcar coffee for an oat milk cappuccino…. and then to Brewing Market for an oat milk matcha! haha. I would bring them to hike the Flat Irons and we’d take bikes down to Pearl Street. We’d walk around and shop until we got hungry and then we’d go to Wonder for smoothies! (Haha, can you tell I like drinks?!). If the Med were still open, we’d go there for dinner and then we’d hang at The Rayback Collective to try a variety of beers or we’d listen to live music at The Laughing Goat or ETown! The besttttt.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My brothers and parents are my #1. They believe in me and literally support me no matter what, in all of my dreams. They also keep me engaged with the lighter side of life, always bringing me back to laughter and re-rooting me in love. I also want to appreciate my best high school friends – they build me up, make me laugh uncontrollably, and I derive so much joy from my connections with them. I could not be more grateful for these people who love me as my truest self. They make me feel free to create, knowing I will be loved no matter what I put into the world. Two books that keep me inspired and moving forward are “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero and “The Power of Now” by Ekhardt Tolle. “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle also really resonates with me right now!

Website: www.giveloveoriginals.com / www.alliechipkin.com
Instagram: @giveloveoriginals / @alliechip
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-chipkin-62844278/
Twitter: @alliechip
Facebook: www.facebook.com/giveloveoriginals

Image Credits
Diana Coulter

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.