Archana is a breath of fresh air and the creator and founder of Mandala Creations, a brand where her passion for personal growth shines through. A girl after our own heart, she believes that the best way to uplift humanity is by uplifting ourselves first and raising our own consciousness and her brand Mandala Creations is all about providing those positive reminders.
We spent some time with her to find out more. Be warned, it’s impossible not to be inspired by Archana..
Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching your brand Mandala Creations…
Back in 2012, when my son was 2 years old, I went through a pretty low period. During that time, he would stick stickers everywhere around the house, including bathrooms! I would remove those stickers pretty much everyday and one day as I was removing a sticker, I just stopped and smiled. I smiled at his little joys. And that moment I became aware of my own thoughts and that I wasn’t happy being in that state of mind.
I decided then that I would leave those stickers and they would serve as a positive reminder. Every time I would see them, I would change my thoughts to more positive ones and it truly did help me get through that time.
Gemstones have also been something that I’ve always been attracted to as they naturally promote good energy. I would carry various gemstones with me and loved learning about their properties.
Thus, Mandala Creations began with the goal to remind others to be more aware of their thoughts and that they have the power to change them.
Uplifting others is something you like to do, why is this important to you?
Because we are at a time where we all need to be uplifted. And the best way to uplift others is by uplifting yourself first. Our energy has a huge impact on others whether we see it or not. So by being in an elevated state helps not only you but others as well as it creates a ripple effect. And that’s what I want people to remember about themselves through my products.
I love that personal growth is something you focus on. What tips would you offer someone who wants to grow on a personal level?
Our mind is so powerful, and just as important it is to learn new tools, it’s also important to unlearn our old programming.
Start by being aware of your own thoughts and behaviours. Most of our thoughts are on auto-pilot and we think and do out of habit. We don’t even realize it as it’s become a routine. But once you have that awareness, you can begin to implement changes.
Changes don’t need to be so drastic either. Start small. Once I became more aware of my thoughts, I would try to replace them with more positive ones. Affirmations are wonderful as well but they won’t work unless you feel it and believe it to be true.
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned this year?
The biggest lessons I’ve learned are to live more authentically and doing things that are aligned with me and not out of fear of judgement. Being a people pleaser, it’s hard for me to let go of that fear. But I’m slowly learning and realizing that everyone has their own fears and insecurities. We’re all in this journey together and some might take a different path and that’s ok. Not everyone is supposed to fit in the same box, we all have different talents and gifts. But if we do things out of societal expectations, we’re not truly happy and fulfilled and suppress our inner powers.
If you were to describe your brand in three words, what would they be?
Inspirational, intentional, meaningful
What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur?
Just start. Don’t worry about being perfect. You can always perfect it after. If it’s something that brings you joy and fulfils you, then it will all just fall into place.
I’m still learning a lot being on this journey, and just being open to whatever comes my way.
Talk us through an average day in your life…
My morning routine is practicing mindfulness, gentle exercise and meditation. Then start the day by getting some work done. It ranges from creating new products, photographing, editing, creating content and fulfilling orders.
This past year has been different having my son at home. But it has been nice because I got to spend some extra time with him. We try and go for walks and bike rides and have some serious conversations about Minecraft! Evening is our family time and we play games or watch a movie.
How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?
A big part, and it’s allowed me to connect with so many wonderful people and I will always be grateful to that. But it can get overwhelming too. It’s so easy to compare yourself with other brands and feel that you’re not doing enough. But at the same time, there is lots of inspiration too.
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?
Costa Rica! I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve said I want to go to Costa Rica. I secretly want to move there, grow my own food, be surrounded by nature and drink chai all day long!
What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?
I have too many! But love this one by Dr. Joe Dispenza
“If you want a new outcome, you will have to break the habit of being yourself, and reinvent a new self.”
What’s next for you and the brand?
I’m currently working on a children’s collection which my son has also been helping me. Really excited to launch this collection as it’s something that I feel passionate about. As a child I grew up with very low self-esteem and I wish I knew the things I know now back then. I believe personal growth is so important for kids because these are tools that they can use to help them navigate into adulthood. My hope is that this collection will help them remember their own powers and use them.
What does self care mean to you?
Self care means listening to your body. It means resting when you’re tired or saying no to things that don’t align with you and not feeling guilty about it. You cannot give when you’re empty so fill yourself up however you need to.
Where can people find out more?
You can find me on Instagram @mandalacreationsto and my website www.mandalacreationsto.com
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