Danielle
“Being a woman means to be loving yet resilient. It is also trusting your inner voice when the outside world can become noisy and overwhelming. Staying true to yourself.”
Danielle is incredibly driven. Her participation in sports helped her get out of her shell when she was younger. It instilled in her the values of discipline and perseverance. Sport showed her that she was not only talented, but also strong. Danielle has been able to maintain this tenacity throughout her life. She is goal-oriented and lives her life with purpose, striving to be the woman she wants to be. But she's also learning not to put too much pressure on herself and to embrace herself for who she is - someone who enjoys the little things in life, such as a cup of coffee, a walk in the woods, or time spent with family. Meet Danielle. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
D: Hi, I am Danielle. I am kiwi born, half Croatian, have a Master’s degree in Architecture and an unconditional love for coffee.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
D: I work really hard but I also don’t take life too seriously. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed in every area of my life but now I try to live each day more authentically, doing things daily that make me happy. Getting up early every morning, going to the gym, my morning coffee and spending time outdoors gives me focus and clarity.
I am very lucky I grew up surrounded by supportive women but also incredible men. My father has taught me to think for myself, to listen to my own truth and be spiritually aware. I am very lucky that my two brothers are my best mates, they are my confidants who always have my back.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
D: I try to make sure everything I do aligns with the person I want to be rather than setting specific goals. I have found that small habits add up over time which has helped me be where I am today. Having the discipline to keep those everyday habits in place is the hardest part but also the most rewarding. That’s something I am always working on.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
d: Due to spending a lot of my life playing sport I have always had mechanisms to build my own confidence and perform under pressure. I was extremely shy growing up and I didn’t come out of my shell until late in my teens. I think pushing myself in sport and in school I naturally grew my confidence and from that I started to figure out who I was and what I was capable of.
I tend to use the same self talk in life situations now that I used back during sporting competitions. I have vivid memories of when I was 12 years old, staring at the 100m sprint finish line telling myself I’d won it already before the race had even begun. After winning that race I think it was all the proof I needed from the universe to know I had more control over my reality than I had initially thought.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
D: I would share this quote from one of my favourite books: “...For you are the creator of your reality, and life can show up no other way for you than that way in which you think it will...”
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
D: Being a woman means to be loving yet resilient. It is also trusting your inner voice when the outside world can become noisy and overwhelming. Staying true to yourself.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say if they were here now?
D: This one is easy, my mum for sure. To me, my mother defines resilience. She wears her heart on her sleeve but is also the strongest person I know. She is my role model and inspires me everyday.