POWerful Moment 004: “You Have No Choice But To Change!” Ella Halikas on the Lessons of Failure

Summary

Pursuit of Wellness: POWerful Moment 004 - “You Have No Choice But To Change!” Ella Halikas on the Lessons of Failure

Release Date: November 6, 2024
Host: Mari Llewellyn
Guest: Ella Halikas

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Introduction

In the POWerful Moment 004 episode of Pursuit of Wellness, host Mari Llewellyn engages in a poignant conversation with Ella Halikas, exploring the profound lessons gleaned from personal failures. This episode delves deep into Ella's transformative journey from feeling unworthy and defeated to achieving her dreams against all odds. Through candid discussions, Mari and Ella uncover the pivotal moments that forced Ella to change and embrace her true potential.

Ella’s Turning Point: Embracing Failure as a Catalyst for Change

Ella Halikas opens up about a critical juncture in her life that served as the catalyst for her transformation. Reflecting on her time in Hawaii, Ella recounts her experience working at a restaurant while pursuing her education.

"I was working at a restaurant in Hawaii... I was late too many times. It's a problem. And I actually got let go from the job." [00:18]

Being fired was a moment of deep introspection for Ella. She felt "unworthy," "ashamed," and "embarrassed," yet this very setback ignited a fierce desire to seek something more meaningful.

"The day I got let go, I submitted first video." [01:25]

Pursuing Modeling: From Self-Doubt to Success

Despite battling low self-esteem and societal pressures, Ella's passion for modeling began to surface. Her friends recognized her potential, encouraging her to pursue modeling despite her reservations about her body image.

"My friends were like, whoa, how'd you do that with your face? You just turned something on. You should be in, like, you should do modeling. I'm like, oh, you're crazy. I can't. I'm a size 14. Whatever." [00:26]

Fueled by their support and her own determination, Ella embarked on a relentless quest to break into the modeling industry. She faced numerous rejections, each serving as a stepping stone towards her ultimate goal.

"I submitted my first video in 2018. Of course, I didn't get it. Tried out again. 2019, didn't get it. Flew to Miami, tried out, didn't get it. 2020, pandemic. Finally got it and was in the magazine 2021." [01:30]

Her perseverance paid off when she was featured in Sports Illustrated in 2021, a dream she had once deemed unattainable.

Overcoming Failure: Celebrating Success and Embracing Growth

Ella's journey wasn't just about achieving external success but also about internal growth. Upon returning to the very restaurant that had fired her, she experienced a full-circle moment.

"We did a round of shots. We celebrated... being there and being like, I did it. Like, I. I did it, I conquered, I did it." [01:45]

This reunion was more than a celebration; it was a testament to her resilience and the power of not allowing failures to define her. Ella emphasizes that the most significant lessons often emerge from our lowest points.

"I think when you lose something or some, you learn the most in your fails... you don't learn too much when you're winning. And I. And I've noticed that even within myself. And so when I got fired and I was at the lowest point in my life. And I think that's when, like the greatness happens." [02:15]

Lessons Learned: The Indispensable Role of Failure in Personal Growth

Throughout the conversation, both Mari and Ella underscore the inevitability and necessity of failure in the pursuit of personal excellence.

"The people who are successful are just the people who are willing to fail." [01:25]

Ella expands on this by highlighting the choices individuals face when confronted with adversity:

"You can either soak in that misery and uncomfortableness and then just say, well, this is my life, or you can choose to do everything to get out of that position." [02:57]

Mari concurs, reflecting on her own experiences:

"Hitting rock bottom for me was like the best thing that could have happened to me because, wow, I love that." [02:34]

This mutual recognition emphasizes that embracing failure is not a setback but a strategic pivot towards growth and self-improvement.

Conclusion: Embracing Change as an Unavoidable Necessity

The episode concludes with a powerful affirmation that change is not just necessary but inevitable when one faces significant challenges.

"You have no choice." [03:00]

Ella reinforces this sentiment by asserting that failures are invaluable teachers, shaping individuals into their best selves. Mari echoes this, encouraging listeners to view their struggles as opportunities for profound transformation.

"Remember when you guys let me go?... We went back and drank at the bar and like, it just was a full circle moment." [01:45]

Key Takeaways

• Failure as a Catalyst: Ella's journey illustrates how setbacks can ignite the drive to pursue one's true passions.

• Persistence Pays Off: Despite multiple rejections, unwavering determination leads to eventual success.

• Embracing Vulnerability: Sharing her story highlights the strength found in vulnerability and authentic self-expression.

• Lessons from Rock Bottom: The most significant personal growth often occurs during moments of profound challenge.

Notable Quotes

• "I have no choice but to change!" – Ella Halikas [03:00]

• "The people who are successful are just the people who are willing to fail." – Mari Llewellyn [01:25]

• "I am more grateful for those moments." – Ella Halikas [03:26]

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For a deeper dive into Ella Halikas's inspiring journey and the full breadth of her insights on failure and transformation, listen to the complete episode here.

Transcript

[A]

Thank you guys for joining me for another powerful moment from one of my favorite episodes. This is a highlight clip to enhance your week. I hope you enjoy. What was the turning point when you decided to pursue your dreams? Like, you spoke about struggling with confidence when you were younger. Like, what was the moment? You were like, I'm going for it.

[B]

So what's interesting is, okay, so I was working at a restaurant in Hawaii. So I was going to school out there. I went from my sophomore year to senior when I graduated, and I was working at this restaurant, and I was late too many times. It's a problem. And I actually got let go from the job. And it was at that time where I really wanted more for myself. I started taking photos on the beach, and my friends were like, whoa, how'd you do that with your face? You just turned something on. You should be in, like, you should do modeling. I'm like, oh, you're crazy. I can't. I'm a size 14. Whatever. But when I got let go, it lit fire in me. It was just like, what am I doing? I want more. And I remember saying, I will come back into this restaurant a Sports Illustrated model. And they all thought I was crazy. And I left and I submitted my first video in 2018. Of course, I didn't get it. Tried out again. 2019, didn't get it. Flew to Miami, tried out, didn't get it. 2020, pandemic. Finally got it and was in the magazine 2021. But I just remember when I got let go, I felt so unworthy. I felt so ashamed. I felt so embarrassed. I was like, I know I want more for myself, and I know I can accomplish X, Y, and Z, and I'm just going to go for it. And I literally, the day I got let go, I submitted first video.

[A]

I love the fact that you went back and tried so many times that, like, to me, sums up. The people who are successful are just the people who are willing to fail. And that's in my case, too. Like, I did a number of things that didn't work out to get to where I am now. So I love the fact that you said that. Did you ever go back and show them your magazine?

[B]

I definitely went back in. I didn't bring the magazine. But, like, they all know. They're like, oh, my God, you've been killing it. Whatever. I'm like, thank you. Thank you so much. Remember when you guys let me go? But no, we. We did a round of shots. We celebrated, and it was. It was great. A lot of my friends had still worked there. So we went back and drank at the bar and like, it just was a full circle moment. Being there and being like, I did it. Like, I. I did it, I conquered, I did it. And now I can just share my success and stuff with my friends. But yeah, it was a really interesting moment when that happened because I think when you lose something or some, you learn the most in your fails failures and you learn the most when you are going through it. You don't learn too much when you're winning. And I. And I've noticed that even within myself. And so when I got fired and I got like, oh, I was at the lowest point in my life. And I think that's when, like the greatness happens.

[A]

Oh my gosh. Took the words out of my mouth. I say that in every episode. I think hitting rock bottom for me was like the best thing that could have happened to me because, wow, I love that. I think so many people live life just tolerating being average. Does that make sense? Like, if things are somewhat uncomfortable, like they kind of don't like their job and they're not really doing anything they love. It's like, this is uncomfortable, but I'm okay with it because it's not that bad.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But when it gets really bad, there's.

[B]

No choice but to make change.

[A]

You have no choice. Yeah, I love that.

[B]

I know. And you could do two things. You can either, like, soak in that misery and uncomfortableness and then just say, well, this is my life, or you can choose to do everything to get out of that position. You know? And I think our failures teach us the most. And I stand by that for sure. I'm the most grateful for every failure, every loss, every release from a job, everything. I honestly am more grateful for those moments.

[A]

Thanks for listening to this powerful moment. If you want to hear the full episode, click the link in the show notes. Love you guys. Bye.