We had the good fortune of connecting with Meredith Waller and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Meredith, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My relationship with risk has really shifted over the past several years. I mean, I specialize in anxiety for a reason, and as a life-long worrier I have avoided risk at all costs. However, I’ve learned that being uncomfortable does not mean that I’m unsafe, and a lot of the best decisions I’ve made have required me to take risks. Ultimately, I think taking risks is required for growth- putting ourselves out there for new relationships, leaving the comfort of a job/situation for our happiness, allowing time to learn new things, and so on. The key seems to be acknowledging that there are risks to staying in our little bubble of comfort, too- the risk of not achieving our full potential, of not finding joy, of not experiencing life fully. It’s all a choice.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
One of the things I love most about my job as a therapist is being allowed to hear other people’s journeys and stories. I think that I will forever be in awe of the human experience and how we all navigate it in such unique ways. It is so easy to get bogged-down by fears, other’s opinions, and internal self-doubt, and learning how to harness all of that to fuel growth has been my greatest mission to date. I would argue that overcoming challenges and being able to live authentically is some of the most freeing and important work we can do. Ultimately, helping people find their path in an approachable and non-judgemental way is something that I believe sets me apart from other therapists. I’ve done it myself and I’m honored to help others.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love living in Colorado because I find nature incredibly healing and fulfilling, so whenever I have friends or family visit- being outside is a big part of the plan! I love squeezing in a morning hike near Boulder -Sanitas, Anemone, Green Mountain- or going a little farther in the mountains for even bigger views near Nederland or Estes Park. For food, some of my favorites are Cinnamons in Estes Park for a sweet treat, Ay Ay Ay Tacos in Lafayette for authentic street tacos, or BirdHouse in Erie for Ramen.
I also love packing up a picnic for Eldorado Canyon State Park or Red Rocks.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have got to shout out to Brene Brown’s book “Braving the Wilderness” for giving me the nudge I needed to dive wholeheartedly into self-acceptance. It’s HARD to stand out from a crowd and be our true selves, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. I’ve dedicated a lot of my training to better understanding what keeps us from being our authentic selves and improving our self-esteem, and I think she captured this challenge perfectly. I would recommend this reading to anyone!
Website: https://www.rootedwellnesscounseling.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedwellnesscounseling/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-waller-lcsw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootedwellnesscounseling