Meeting with Nolyne Cerda: Listening to yourself to act better

I met Nolyne Cerda by chance and discovered a radiant and engaging personality. Nolyne is a journalist specializing in beauty and wellness. She has been writing for ELLE, MARIE CLAIRE, and many other magazines for several years.

After a year and a half that has shaken us all up and taken us out of our comfort zones, the topic of well-being has become central to many people's minds. It's no surprise, then, that I called on Nolyne to address a topic that's resonating more and more these days.

Listening to yourself seems like a basic thing to do when you're trying to be happy, but paradoxically, for many of us, it's more a matter of theory than practice. We often question ourselves and feel guilty, on the borderline between listening to ourselves and selfishness.

So how can we establish these daily mechanisms that will bring us well-being? How can we surround ourselves with positive energies? Where can we find the strength to branch out onto life paths that are more aligned with our desires?

I don't have a very linear career path, although... I'm notoriously hypersensitive and since I listen to my instincts a lot, I have no problem changing course if necessary. However, I always wanted to be a journalist, so I started quite traditionally in a literary preparatory class, then I did research in cultural history in my first and second master's degrees and I finished with my journalism school. I started in the digital press ( ELLE.fr ) then I continued in the written press (Stylist, Version Femina, Grazia), still integrated. And then the year 2020 was full of changes for me and questions, and I had to bounce back. Firstly, because I had no choice and also because I am incapable of staying and waiting. So I became a freelancer, I relaunched my webzine Marcel\le that I had created two years earlier, the big news is that a small team of brilliant women also writes in it and I unveiled my first podcast on beauty and well-being, Parlons B. These two projects are my greatest pride to date.

Life has made me specialize in women's beauty magazines. Initially, it wasn't a choice, more of a great opportunity, and I stayed there. However, with all the changes of last year and the obvious realization that the press is in very bad shape, I needed to try new things. Podcasting is a new, easy, accessible medium that offers great freedom. I had to put some old demons aside and I took the plunge. In Parlons B., the idea is to talk about beauty, well-being, and plan B with the players in the industry, but not only that. I want to cross-reference points of view, opinions, and fields that may seem different on the surface, but whose beauty and well-being are at the heart at a given moment. So, I interviewed the founders of cosmetic brands as well as artists, directors, doctors, press officers, and friends. As I write to you, we're already at 26 episodes. I didn't expect such positive feedback. I'm meeting wonderful people, and it's a real breath of fresh air. I became a journalist to write about and for people, to meet people, to learn new things every day. So far, it's paid off. I've gained a newfound freedom that I've been missing, and it feels so good.

As I was telling you, my change of status from journalist integrated into an editorial team to freelance was the trigger. I haven't left the print and digital press, I still work there and it's what makes me live but I've been thinking about approaching other angles for a very long time. I just didn't want to find the time and energy at the time I guess. I have a very critical view of the profession as it is practiced in France. I'm not saying it's better elsewhere but there are things that absolutely have to change because the press, especially women's press, is heading straight for the wall.

Essential. Vital. Primordial. We tend to forget it, but we are all gifted with an instinct. Only our hyperactive, hyper-everything society has muted it. But be careful, when I say that we must listen to ourselves, it is not listening to our ego or our brain or our reason, which constantly harp on the negative and fear. No. I am talking about listening to our heart. So it may make you smile or even roll your eyes, I agree, but I sincerely believe that this is what should be done. It is not easy. I struggle every day to stop these little belittling voices, but this last year, where I have undertaken a lot, has shown me that by listening to myself sincerely, I find my energy again and therefore I can do a lot more.

It's very important. I'm a loner, probably because I know I'm well surrounded. I'm lucky to have loving and extremely present parents. They support me a lot. I'm also surrounded by friends, girls and boys from different areas, of all ages, but who are all very caring. I no longer burden myself with people who have bad backgrounds and are closed-minded.

I have three. For me, it's NLP, music, and my hot drink ritual. Neuro-linguistic programming allows you to change your paradigms, your outlook on life or yourself, through specific words and speech. The goal is to repeat to yourself several times, in the form of a countdown, an obviously positive sentence linked to a desired state of mind or to prepare for an important meeting, for example. This should be done just as you wake up, when your mind is still foggy. In a way, it conditions the brain and changes a lot of things. Music because I can't live without it. I play the piano and sing all the time. That's good, music raises vibration levels. And my hot drink ritual is a bit like NLP. My brain is programmed with the idea that spending five minutes doing it and drinking my tea makes me feel good; it's a moment for me. So it can only send positive signals to start the day off right.

Susan Oubari's breathwork ! She co-wrote a book on the subject and her method is very accessible. She explains it in the first episode of Parlons B. It's a technique of abdominal breathing to bring down stress, to relax and above all to relearn how to breathe. Because, it's a fact, we breathe badly or even forget to breathe when... well... it's still important! I have trouble meditating but I love letting myself be lulled by the sound bath, especially by Mayia Alleaume . These are sounds that emanate from crystal bowls and are intended to recirculate blocked energies within us. And yoga! It's cliché but it's true. You just have to find the right teacher and the right practice and off you go, honestly.

There are many. But since we're talking about listening to yourself, personal development, and well-being, I'm going to focus my selection on this: