A New Chapter for Our Core Things

I started our Our Core Things for many reasons; mainly because I felt a bit stuck and wanted to find my voice through writing. I’ve been writing on Substack for almost two years now and two things have become so clear: my voice has gotten more defined and I feel so much more grounded in who I am.

Those of you who subscribed to me early on may have observed how much my writing has changed. When I first launched my Substack, I was writing about climate change and sustainability. Almost immediately, I knew this wasn’t what I wanted to write about – so I decided to start leading with my own voice and share reflections from my lived experiences instead. This shift parallels the transitions in my own life, from finding purpose outside of myself through climate policy work, to going inwards and listening, and now receiving clarity and finding my voice.

Many writing sessions later, Our Core Things has evolved into what it is now. I know that as I evolve spiritually and emotionally, this platform will also continue to evolve. But one thing is definite: I don’t intend to tell you what to do or offer frameworks to achieve a certain result. Like the publication’s name, I aim to share reflections and conversations that help you in coming back to your core, connecting with yourself, and then expressing more authentically.

Trust: In Self, The Process and The Universe

Taken during my much needed trip to Rhode Island!!

For many years, I felt something was off. I felt like I wasn’t sharing my actual gifts with the world. Since I committed to Our Core Things, this low-grade hum has slowly subsided; what replaced it is a sense of ease and alignment.

I know that I feel the most ‘me’ and spiritually fulfilled when I hold space for people in some capacity, whether as a photographer, writer or podcast host. This is the sweet spot where my soul lights up.

If you’re reading this and navigating the challenge of being in the messy middle where nothing is clear yet, just remember that clarity will eventually land. We won’t be stuck in the same season forever, because like nature, we’re cyclical and all move through our seasons. At the same time, getting unstuck requires listening to the whispers and acting on them, even when the path ahead isn’t fully certain.

One key thing this process has taught me is patience. I have tried to force answers, and rush the process many times; through all of that, I’ve realized that forcing alignment does not work. The alternative is to trust the process. Clarity comes in waves. Often, it arrives faster when we’re willing to take action on our intuition. This is where our relationship with ourselves comes in.

The more I write and speak to other women, the more I realise how much self-trust ad self-worth influences almost everything. From making aligned decisions, setting boundaries, to creating the lives that we want – our relationship with ourselves sets the stage for whether we trust ourselves enough to act on our instincts. We can only feel safe enough to express, to create, to set boundaries when we trust ourselves and the decisions we make.

I intend to keep coming back to the themes of self-trust and self-worth through the writing and conversations I have on this platform.

Where is Our Core Things going now? Over the past year, I’ve been paying attention to my own creative rhythm and the types of topics I naturally pivot towards. I write the best pieces when I’ve had time to sit, reflect and distill lessons from my experiences and conversations. Going forward, you can expect two original Substack pieces per month, and two shorter pieces based on my podcast conversations.

I also want to acknowledge this moment, and you, for being here. In this digital world where attention is scarce and expensive, you’ve chosen to subscribe, open this newsletter and read it. This means the world to me, and this newsletter would not exist without you.

Thank you for being here!!! 💫

With love,
Claudia.