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Davina Rankin
When I think back at it now, I always kind of felt like I wasn't really enough. Everything kind of got thrown upside down. I left my marriage. I had to do a full 360 of my life. And what I realized was that today's.
Podcast Host
Guest is an embodiment coach, energetic healer.
Davina Rankin
Keynote speaker, and founder of the Upgrade.
Podcast Host
And the Upgrade space.
Davina Rankin
And journey from public figure to deeply embodied leader has been one of radical.
Podcast Host
Transformation, which we dive deep into.
Davina Rankin
Joining us today is Davina Rankin.
Podcast Host
I know that recently you have gone through a bit of a celibacy choice experience. What actually led to you making that decision?
Davina Rankin
I was doing lots of work for, you know, Zoo and Ralph and fhm, and I felt external validation I got from others. The more confident it made me feel. I always say it's, you know, poor spiritual hygiene to allow everyone access to you. And I think for a really long time of my life, I was leaky with my energy. I gave it to everyone and anyone who needed it. Now I'm like, sorry, no. I say no to everything.
Podcast Host
You said that you came face to face with some really uncomfortable truths about yourself. Would you be comfortable sharing some of those?
Davina Rankin
It's gonna make me emotional.
Podcast Host
All right, Balances. I'm back at the Pivotal Conversation Studio here on the Gold coast, and joining me today is the lovely Divina. Davina. Welcome to the Balance Theory.
Davina Rankin
Thank you so much for having me.
Podcast Host
I'm so excited to have you here. I think just based off the brief interaction we've just had before we jumped on air, like, I'm very excited to hear more about your story and. And just connect with you deeper. You know, when you meet people and you just feel a click.
Davina Rankin
Tribe. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Podcast Host
So I know that recently you have gone through a bit of a celibacy choice experience. I'd love for you to share with us what actually led to you making that decision. Why did you make that decision and what that experience has been like for you.
Davina Rankin
Yeah, well, I guess taking it all the way back my whole life, when I think back at it now, I always kind of felt like I wasn't really enough. So, you know, growing up as a teenager, I was always looking at the girls in the video clips, and I worked in retail for a majority of, like, my teenage life, so being surrounded by, like, mannequins that had, like, the perfect bodies and these big, beautiful boobs and hips, I wasn't really that blessed. So I had always kind of felt like I was a little bit, you know, one step behind. So I felt. And I saw myself constantly trying to, you know, be more or trying to find more validation or I guess trying to show up in a version of myself that wasn't quite me in order to be loved. So I found myself as soon as I got. As soon as I turned 18, I invested in implants. And I was so happy with them because I was like, yay, I finally feel sexy. I finally, finally feel confident. And I really threw myself into, like, modeling. So this was like back in the day when like, men's magazines were like a thing. Well, there was like, magazines, so I was doing lots of work for, you know, Zoo and Ralph and FHM and that kind of stuff. And really, I feel like I felt that the more external validation I got from others, the more confident it made me feel. But I guess there was always a part that just. I didn't quite feel whole. So, you know, I constantly felt like I was chasing and chasing and chasing. And that kind of showed up in so many different ways, like with choosing the wrong people in relationships or the wrong type of men, friendships, social circles, just things just never quite felt aligned for me. And now I really understand why. But it wasn't until I gave birth to my beautiful daughter that I gave birth to my daughter right in the middle of COVID So. So not only was. It was like, oh my gosh, you're a mum now. Your whole life has turned upside down. It was like you now have to just sit inside and like, deal with it and not have any social interaction.
Podcast Host
You've completely cut that external validation.
Davina Rankin
Totally. Yeah. And I was going through a huge thing. So I think there was just years and years and years of different types of trauma and interesting things that have popped up over time that it had been so easy for me to distract myself from. And. And then, you know, having such a huge life transition with becoming a mom, doing it. Also through Covid, I was also a new wife too. Like, in those few years, I just found myself really coming face to face with some really uncomfortable truths about myself that I had never really sat with myself and looked at my shadows and looked at my ways of thinking and looked at these cycles that were playing out in my life. And with that, you know, everything kind of got thrown upside down. I left my marriage. I had to kind of do a full 360 of my life and really start doing some deep internal work. And what I realized was that I have been using everything else as a crutch in order to not kind of face my inner demons or my shadows. So I. When I came out of my marriage, I really just wanted to devote a lot of time to myself and to my healing. I didn't want to distract myself from it anymore. I was really excited just to sit with myself and just to pour this love and attention that I so easily, easily was pouring out to others into myself. And I was really excited because I, you know, was able to just not date, be celibate, and pour all my love into me for one whole year. And that was, like, a huge milestone for me. And now I'm, like, on nearly two and a half years.
Podcast Host
Wow.
Davina Rankin
Yeah. And I. It has been the most incredible, incredible, incredible journey for me. Like, I feel more like myself now than I ever have in my whole entire life. I'm really. I'm really certain, and I'm really. I'm really grounded, and I'm really know who I am, which is really beautiful, because I think my whole life I was trying to figure out who I was through different people, through different experiences, through different, you know, crutches. But at the end of the day, what I really needed to do was, like, ignore all of that and come back to me. And it hasn't been a pretty journey, but it has 100% been worth it.
Podcast Host
Yeah. This is such a running theme with so many guests, where they kind of reach this point in their life. And I think this is a part of our human experience, right. Where we realize the layers that sit around us. And we have to come to a point if we want to be authentic, we have to work out what parts are really us and what parts are just taken on from other people's opinions or stories as time has gone on. I'm going to ask you more about celibacy. I'm going to ask you more about the external validation. But I want to know. You said that you came face to face with some really uncomfortable truths about yourself. Would you be comfortable sharing some of those?
Davina Rankin
Yeah. Oh, God, I don't even know where to start.
Podcast Host
Maybe even just. Just the biggest one. That was the biggest epiphany for you, or.
Davina Rankin
Yeah. You know, I think the biggest thing was if you were to ask any of my friends or family, they would be like, oh, she's so confident. She's so loud. She's so outspoken. Like, she. She must be fine. So I think the biggest part, like, yes, there is a big part of me that is loud and extrovert and seemed quite confident, but the biggest underlying thing was this sense of unworthiness. I just never felt worthy. I always felt like maybe love was going to be fleeting so I had to show up and be more or do more or chase. Like, I never felt like things were meant to come easily or naturally. So I spent a lot of my time forcing like a lot of my relationships I literally made happen. Which, I mean, look, it's not a bad thing. Like if you want something, go get it. Cool. But like, from what place are you chasing? You know? Are you chasing because you feel like you need this in order to feel whole? Or are you chasing because this is something that's meant for you? So I never really had that connection to self to quite understand, you know, in what direction I was going. I think I just followed what I thought I needed to do or what I thought or who I thought I needed to be. I never actually was guided by my intuition or my connection to self. Yeah, I was very busy. There was a lot of head noise constantly. And it feels really nice now because I just be. I really just be. And I feel genuinely so comfortable in my skin now. Another thing that happened in that interim when I was a new mom and that whole thing, I realized that my implants were making me really sick.
Podcast Host
I've heard this happen to so many people.
Davina Rankin
Yes. So I, that was another huge thing. And I. I realized that I was going to have to have an explant. So that was another huge thing that came. Came up. I was like, well, who the am I if I'm not like sexy with boobs? Like, not only am I a new mom, I don't know who I am, but now I have to lose my boobs. Like it was actually I got flipped upside down. And I'm so grateful because I feel like it really just threw me in the deep end. It was like my body and the universe had been trying to tell me over all these years in like little subtle ways, like, no, you don't need to do this. No, like maybe think again. But then it was like, well, you're clearly not listening to me. I'm going to turn your whole world upside down. Yeah. So I had to really practice radical self love because I'm like, no amount of vanity is worth my health now that I have this little baby. Like, I'm not going to put my life at risk in order to be appealing anymore.
Podcast Host
Like, especially if it just leaves you in this perpetual state of unworthiness. Right?
Davina Rankin
Yes.
Podcast Host
And feelings of not being enough. I can definitely relate to your experience. Obviously I've had a very different one. But in the sense of growing up thinking that this Feeling of enoughness or worthiness will come from outside in. And it's really actually powerful when you realize you make the shift and you realize it's an inside out feeling and you can find it in any moment. And God, it takes a lot of work and you have to practice it. And even once you're good at it, like you still have bad days, I still have moments where that those feelings creep up and I can notice them and I know what to do and how to navigate them now. But it's such an important thing to learn and I think everyone's on their own journey and will have their own signs and experiences to get there. But it's really important to find that self acceptance. I mean that's, that's why I love hosting this show because I love sharing so many people's different experiences to inspire other people to find that within themselves. So if we kind of circle back to celibacy, how did that even come up as something where you're like, this is going to be a part of this radical self acceptance, this period where I'm going to focus on myself? Like, I mean, I guess in my circles anyway, it's not something widely spoken about. It's not something I would think of as part of this like healing journey. So was it something that you came across that someone recommended? Like how did you come across it and then how did you decide, like, yes, this is right for me?
Davina Rankin
Yeah, well, honestly, I think I accidentally fell into it because at that point of time, you know, going through a separation with a little one is tricky as it is. I really didn't want to make any decisions that were going to jeopardize the, the relationship there. So that was really at the forefront of my mind. And two, I just had no energy. I had no energy. You know, I, the last thing I needed to have on my plate was trying to like date someone, you know, I really just wanted to pour this time and effort into myself and into my daughter and into my growth. Like I didn't even really know what I wanted to be doing work wise. So think so. Ev. Everything has changed in two years for me and I feel like by keeping my energy to myself, you know, that sexual energy as well, it's, it's creative energy. So I feel like by me just sticking to my bubble, by me just pouring love into myself, I was able to like create and I was able to birth and I was able to like have these beautiful new ideas that I don't think I would have had the space for if I was being leaky with my energy. I always say it's, you know, poor spiritual hygiene to allow everyone access to you. And I think for a really long time of my life, I was leaky with my energy. I gave it to everyone and anyone who needed it or, or if I could help out or if I needed to feel more important or more needed, I would just. And I'm like, I'm done. I just want to focus on myself. And yeah, it's honestly amazing what can happen in a year when you pour all of your energy into yourself. It's beautiful. And not having to think about anything else except for you and your wellbeing and your daughter and your business and what dreams you have.
Podcast Host
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Davina Rankin
Yeah, it's. It's also just a really beautiful permission piece for me to be able to know that, like, I can say no to people. I was such a people pleaser, such a yes person. And I would feel deathly guilty if I. If, you know, somebody wanted something from me and I didn't feel like I really wanted to do it, I would still say yes.
Podcast Host
Can relate to that.
Davina Rankin
You know, like, and now I'm like, sorry, no. I say no to everything. And without an explanation, too. Like, I used to have to over. I used to over explain why I want to say no to people, which is ridiculous. But that's just, you know, the conditioning that we have.
Podcast Host
We must justify it totally.
Davina Rankin
We must be good girls. We must, like, do things for others. We must say yes. Like, we must be there. But it's like, you know, I feel like when I say yes to myself, I also allow other people the space for them to look after themselves, too. Like, I don't need to save everyone.
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah. It's. It's right. Because, like, in. I look at my very close friendship group now, and if one of them were to say, look, I really need this night to myself, there is not a part of me that would be like, oh, my God, she's canceled on me. Like, because there's that mutual respect and. And vice versa. Like, if I go to the extent of saying, hey, I'm pulling out of tonight because I'm not feeling it or I'm t. Yeah. There's no judgments. It's really important to surround yourself with people that, you know are on the same page or have people around you that are prepared to, like, match. Match your energy and, like, reciprocate those boundaries.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
One thing I'm sorry, I was going to say.
Davina Rankin
Well, that's it. That's a really good thing to talk about too. Like, when you are on your healing journey and you do start saying no to people and you do start having boundaries and you do start flourishing or you do start, you know, having a bit more vitality or radiance about you, People don't like it and they disappear. They are gone skis. And thankfully, you know, I have such a beautiful group of girlfriends, and they've seen me over all of my different eras and they love me no matter what. But it's been really beautiful, too, to see, like, where I had been pouring energy in and where it's not reciprocated. And I Don't have any energy vampires in my life. And if there is a space or, you know, a room that doesn't align with me now, I'm like, okay, sorry. Like, it just. It's really nice. You actually just naturally get rid of the vampires when you decide to step into your power.
Podcast Host
Yeah. I love this analogy of thinking of your energy like something that's leaking, like something that's a reserved amount. Being very mindful who you give it to. This is like, this has been a journey I've been on the last two years. I think, especially since I moved overseas, my life kind of hit the reset button across everything, across the people I could see on a regular basis, where I was training, where I was living, how I was. Like, everything hit the reset button. So it was like this really cool opportunity for me to reallocate my energy, even with who I'm staying in touch with. Right. From Australia. It's like, the people I used to have coffees with, like, where are they now? You know, like, it was a really good forced cleanse for me and I think I really needed that because I was sitting in that leaky energy place where I would say yes to everyone, and I felt so guilty if I couldn't be everything to everyone all the time. And I just was nothing to myself, you know, I was. I had a very, very similar experience. One of the things I wanted to ask you about, which I'm actually very interested to hear in your experience. So you talked about how, you know, you kind of had this external validation and you felt sexy when you had this praise and you're, you know, this poster woman on the front of men's magazines and you felt really feminine and confident. So now that you've kind of had a polar opposite experience, right, you have shared how you had an explant. You are now on this celibacy journey. So it's like really quite the opposite. How do you feel about your feminine energy now?
Davina Rankin
Yeah, well, going back to the men's magazines and stuff, I actually didn't feel confident. I looked it, right. I never felt confident, but the praise and the validation still filled something for me, even though I didn't feel confident, you know, and, like, surface level. Yeah, yeah. So my energy now. I honestly love myself now. Like, I would be so proud of Davina. I would be proud of me now if I was looking at myself in the future 10 years ago, if I was to see this woman who is a mother and how she's showing up for. Oh, it's going to make Me, emotional. Yeah, I would feel really proud of myself. And like, I. This is who I want to be for my daughter, and this is who I want to be for my friends. And yeah, like, it's. It's also who I want to be for other women. And that's why I love the work that I do, like working in embodiment and energetics and being able to be a safe space for other women to feel held and loved and accepted and not judged. Because, look, I've done my fair share of judgment, judgment on myself and for other people over the years because I wasn't happy within myself. So now being able to be in a place where I feel so secure and solid and grounded, I'm actually able to show up for everyone in such an authentic and honest and caring and loving way. Like, I have never been this kind or this loving or this supportive genuinely ever in my life. But I had to walk, you know, the road myself in order to get here. Like, I can't. You can't be that person for other people if you're not that person for yourself first. You know, there's always going to be resentment for other women who are doing well. If you're honestly feeling like you are not enough, you know, you can. You can't be there for other people if you are coming from a place of lack or scarcity. Scarcity. It's just not going to happen. So now I can see, like, wow, it is worth it. Because how I can show up in the world for others now is so much more than what I could have ever thought I could have before.
Podcast Host
That's really beautiful. And I would actually love to dive deeper into the work you do now because one of the things that I get a lot of comments for that people love about the show is how practical tips really do come out of the conversations we have. So one of the things I'd really love to ask you, this shift from looking for external validation to really being able to sit with your own self, Love. What are some practical things that you either teach or that really worked for you that help with that transition?
Davina Rankin
Yeah, I think sitting with yourself is one of the most terrifying things that one can do. Really, if they haven't done that before.
Podcast Host
And you're talking literally, like, sit there and, like, meditate. Like, when you say that, what do you mean?
Davina Rankin
Well, even just, like, say, if you have just come out of a breakup, being at home by yourself without drinking, without dating, without distractions, distraction or eating, literally, just being able to sit in whatever emotions are Arising is really uncomfortable because we live in a day and age where we are pumped with distraction. Like, we are not doing the same thing for longer than 10 minutes at any given time. We're all over the place. So I remember when I first started going to yoga and I would arrive in the room and I would see, like, the yogis on their mats, and they'd be like, oh, breathing and stretching. They'd be, like, taking up space with, like, their pre stretches. And I would arrive and be like, okay. Like, I feel so awkward sitting here. Like, I don't want to make any noises. Like, when's the lady gonna come in and start? And that was, like, right at the beginning of my journey. And now I go to my yoga class and I arrive and I'm like, okay, what feels good? And I, like, let my body ease into the moment, and I realized I'm like, whoa. It's funny how much more okay I am with being in my body now than what I was before. I used to feel so uncomfortable being in my body. It wasn't the room or the yoga class that made me feel uncomfortable. It was me being me that made me feel uncomfortable, that I wasn't able to relax in a room full of strangers. So just being able to feel what is coming up in your body is one of the toughest things that one can do. So embodiment is, you know, becoming curious in what your body is telling you, having, like, somatic inquiry. What is this feeling that I have in my chest right now sitting in front of Erica? Like, what is this? Okay, maybe I'm. There's a little bit of fear of being heard here. Am I going to say the right thing? Am I going to offend someone? Just being able to sit in and take notice of what's coming up for you without judgment and just knowing that whatever you're feeling is actually okay. We don't need to fix it. Sometimes we just need to acknowledge it.
Podcast Host
Really interesting. And so, I mean, because obviously, like, a lot of people talk about things like meditation and journaling. Is there anything quite niche or specific you've done, whether it be a specific practice or way of doing things that you found quite useful that you could share with the listeners? Yeah.
Davina Rankin
I've journaled every single day since the 22nd of the 2nd. 2022. That was the first day that I wrote in my journal, and I was like, oh, my God. And I was pretty. I started journaling because I felt that there was too much going on in my mind. I was kind of in A crossroads of my life. I wasn't sure what was going to be happening. And ever since then, journaling has been such a powerful tool for me every single day. Some days I journal about things that I'm worried about. Other days I journal about my wins and how great life is. Some days I journal in the morning to figure out, you know, what my day's gonna look like, how I'm gonna tackle any obstacles that will pop up. Some. Some days I journal at nighttime to just offload everything from the day so I can start my day fresh the next day. But writing things down and having the perspective of being able to, you know, look at your day or your thoughts on paper is a really powerful tool. And it gives you a lot of clarity, I find. And it's also a really great way to set yourself up for success as well.
Podcast Host
Yeah. There's a reason so many people talk about it. You know, it wouldn't be as widely spoken about if it wasn't a valuable tool. And I think with journaling, it's one of those things where you can just, like, do what feels right for you. Like, there's obviously specific ways you can follow, but people also just free. Free. Right. Which is just a way to, like, brain dump. Right. My therapist calls it brain dumping. Yeah. Which is quite useful. You can do it on your notes, on your phone too. If you don't have, like a physical journal, like, it's just a way to expel what's in your mind.
Davina Rankin
Yes.
Podcast Host
So for someone listening who resonates with what we're saying, they maybe currently feel they are or have been through many years of seeking this external validation. What's like a simple first step they can do to start shifting back into their own self care, their own self love.
Davina Rankin
I would honestly recommend journaling to start with because it's a really great way that you can see what works in your life and what doesn't. So I was starting to notice, you know, in my journal, the days that I would have my bad days, I would be around specific people.
Podcast Host
Interesting.
Davina Rankin
You know, you can start picking up on those cycles and. And then I would realize the things that made me feel really good. So it's just a nice way for you to kind of have a bit of a compass because, you know, at the beginning of your journey, it is hard to figure out what it is you actually like or what it is that you've been told to like. Yeah.
Podcast Host
It's hard to distinguish what's you and what's the layers of you.
Davina Rankin
Exactly. So Journaling is a really great way for you to start to figure out, okay, what do I like? What do I want to explore? Explore. And then I think too, this is an interesting one. But I love. I am so, like, I'm very funny with my Instagram, and I only follow people that I genuinely have an interest in. And I feel really awkward when I meet new people and they're lovely, but I don't follow them back because I'm like, I appreciate you, but I really just want to surround myself when I am distracting myself on social media. Yeah. I want to make sure I'm looking at the right things, and I'm looking at things that are in alignment to what I. What I'm interested in now. So I kind of went through and did a massive cull of my Instagram because I was kind of following a whole heap of people that were hot or like gym people and things like that. And I was like, I don't think that's me anymore. What is something that I'm interested in? So it was more the holistic side of things, more health and wellness side of things. More like natural hacks and stuff. So, you know, we do spend a lot of time on social media. So if you can clean it up and make it, like, informative and educational, then, yeah, it'll just make that growth a little bit easier because at least you're distracting yourself with things that you find beneficial.
Podcast Host
100 and it's one of those. It's an easy thing to do because we're so programmed to just. Even I like, you know, you just open your phone, you go on Instagram, sometimes you don't even think about it. Yeah. If you can curate that environment, which is one, you spend a lot of time in, you know, environments. And not just physical places and not just physical people. It's all also the way we consume. And that's a really good way to start subconsciously programming. But I want to set a challenge for anyone listening who has been struggling with this external validation, feels like they're not as connected with themselves. Maybe it's a phase. Maybe it's something they've been going through. To try journaling for a week, just try it. And the reason I say that is, I mean, for me personally, like, I don't journal, but I meditate. Right. And I think whatever your thing is, there's no right or wrong. It's just carving out space to notice your thoughts and how you're feeling. If you don't allow for that space, we just distract ourselves.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
Like really, like sometimes I sit at home and I'm like, I'm itching, like I need to vacuum. I'm gonna cook, I'm gonna order this. Oh, let me just check this email. You know, you just want to get up and go. So having a practice like that anchors you first thing in the morning or last thing of the day. So a seven day challenge for anyone listening who feels they really need this, like just commit for seven days and just see how you feel. You know, I think it's only going to be beneficial.
Davina Rankin
And you know, as women, it' is our superpower to be able to feel and to be able to lead with our intuition, to be able to lead with our feeling. And we've been so conditioned to, you know, live our life with strategy and like, it's all this cognitive stuff and of course it's going to feel really overwhelming. But now I genuinely live my life that if it doesn't feel right, then it's not right, even if it might look right. And there's some things like when I have to give an answer as to why I'm saying no, it's like, look, I know it look good, but something just doesn't quite feel right about it. And the more that you sit, you know, in your feelings and the more you sit in your body and you have awareness around what is a yes and what is a no, like that is, let that be your compass. Women are such amazing feelers and we have just been kind of numbed out to fit into, you know, societal norms or standards or strategy. But when you can lead, especially if you're a businesswoman or an entrepreneur, like if you can have a heart led or an intent and intuitively led business, that is what's going to hit to, you know, your clients or the consumer. But even just being a woman or a person in general, when you are a felt person, it's magnetic. You can't, you know, you can tell someone a mile away that is embodied in who they are and what they believe. Because you're like, oh, I don't know what it is about them, but I love them. Whatever they'll say, I want to listen to. You know, I don't feel like she's trying to sell me anything because I feel that from her. I feel her energy, I feel her love or I feel her grace. So being able to come back to, you know, your felt senses and being able to have that connection with self, you'd be so amazed at how that can guide you in the most divine ways.
Podcast Host
Yeah, definitely. I've actually recently felt this in my journey, where I was briefly telling you before, so I worked as a corporate lawyer for like five, six years, and the corporate world was never for me. And I kind of thought I'd be done and dusted with law, you know, and. And just find something else to do. But 12 months ago, I, you know, and through this podcast, I've been doing a lot of work on myself. Embodiment, understanding my own intuition, trying to be the most authentic version of myself. And I always kind of looked at my career as this very corporate clinical thing. Like, I never really bridged those two things together. And so when I left my corporate job and I started offering my legal services as a consultant. Right. So now I have a bunch of clients that I do projects on with them. Yeah, on. As a lawyer, I actually am able to show up as the same person. I show up as a host, as a friend for my family. I put the same energy into it. And the way that has catapulted into success in that business is not something I could have imagined because I just thought that being a lawyer, you know, it has this very corporate stereotypical rap to it. You know, people wear suits. It's really not me at all. I would much rather meet my clients over at my favorite cafe where I know the waiters and everyone's really warm and get to know what they like about their lives. Not just a single project we're working on. Every time I share that I have a podcast, they're so interested, they follow, they ask me for ones to listen to. Whereas before, I used to be so scared even bringing it up because I didn't want anyone to think I was doing anything but work. So it's really interesting when you give yourself permission to be more than one thing.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
To fully be authentic in every single area. Like, to actually be able to say, you know, I show up the same for my friends that I do in my job, like, with the same energy and the same amount of care. And it's genuine, it's not forced. Yeah, it's really amazing what happens. Like, I really couldn't have foreseen the success that came with that, but it's just put me in this place and I'm so grateful where I just feel so much alignment and I feel really grateful that I didn't do away with law, you know, And I found a way to make it work and kind of create the real. Like, I really loved the work, but I hated the environment it was in. So for me it feels like I've picked up the work and put it in an environment that works for me.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
So it's really powerful. And you just don't know, you know, like I was sitting in so many jobs in the past thinking, I hate this. I don't want to do this for the rest of my life. Like, why am I even here? Like, how did I end up in this? So for anyone feeling that like all these experiences lead you to where you need to be and they give you a point of reference for what's not right for you, which is equally as important.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
As those moments that are right for you.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
So I just wanted to share that because you're right. Like when you actually show up that way in all your areas equally, you know, and you can just be yourself and not have to turn it on and off depending on where and who you're with.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
It's really powerful the way magnetizes, you know?
Davina Rankin
Yeah. And another thing quickly touching on that is when you do practice more embodiment and you are able to sit in those uncomfortable feelings more and more, that actually gives you more capacity to be able to enjoy the really good, yummy feelings as well. So like when you go through like when you are being heart led and you have like these bad days or these bad moments or these lessons that pop up, but you're able to sit with it and be like, okay, I understand. That's good. Cool. We can keep going. Your window of tolerance expands. So when you actually allow yourself to feel the bad and to process the bad and to sit with the bad, then you're also allowing yourself to be able to marinate in the really good. And like I'm telling you, when you are in alignment, life feels really good. But what we don't talk about is that some people have been so used to being within their comfort zone that when things start going good and things start feeling good, they want to self sabotage. So embodiment and sitting with yourself and journaling and understanding what's popping up in your body is a really good way for you to be able to also have the capacity to deal with everything that comes with being in alignment as well. Because when you are in alignment, it feels so good. Some days you're almost like, why hasn't something gone wrong yet? But it's like, you know, things can go wrong all the time or every day. It's a bit of a roller coaster, but you don't really notice it that much because it feels good doing what you're doing and Being in alignment.
Podcast Host
And you just have a different perspective too. It's like. Yeah, I think, like being in alignment is not that everything's rosy and perfect all the time. It's just that you appreciate the ebbs and flows of life.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
You know, it's all a part of it, which is. I think it's important to call out too.
Davina Rankin
Yeah. Yeah.
Podcast Host
I would love to dive into more like your. The. The transition of you going into motherhood. Because obviously that's one I'm about to embark on. How did you find your experience with your identity, becoming a mum and then your sense of self? I mean, I know that was like bubble wrapped in a lot of other things you were experiencing at the time. But for new moms, people that are moms that feel maybe they've lost themselves or are worried that that will happen. Can you share a little bit about your experience and thoughts around this?
Davina Rankin
Yeah, I will. Becoming a mom, I completely lost myself. But what I did realize was how mean I had been to myself because, like, I had this little baby with me and I was kind of, you know, with raising her, I was also raising myself essentially. It's like I had been reborn and I was kind of going through it. And I'd realized because I struggled quite badly with postnatal depression, so realizing, like, how negative my thoughts had been was something that I was like, wow. I had been really beating myself down for many years. So I actually through, you know, Covid, I brought out a series of holistic kids books which were all about, like, affirmations. So the first one's called Empowered Mood. Second one's Mindful Mood, and the third one's Love Within Me because I realized that if I had only just had these tools and understood this at a younger age, or if my parents understood this and the importance of, you know, positive self talk, positive body image, positive self image. Maybe the way I had, all the decisions I had made through my life may had been different.
Podcast Host
But then you never would have released those books.
Davina Rankin
Exactly.
Podcast Host
Sitting here today.
Davina Rankin
Exactly. So it's it all. It was all divinely planned and it was all meant to be. And so although I lost myself for a moment through motherhood, I also found myself in a really big way.
Podcast Host
Wow.
Davina Rankin
Truly found myself. It didn't happen overnight and it wasn't pretty. But I. Yeah, it. If she hadn't come along, I really am not sure if I would be the person who I am today. Yeah.
Podcast Host
That's pretty incredible, isn't it?
Davina Rankin
Yeah. Yeah. There's something very special about Our babies and what they, the gift that they are.
Podcast Host
Yeah, that's. I always say I'm actually very excited to learn from my kids. Like I think they teach you a lot because they're just so pure and innocent and they take us back to a time before a human is conditioned. Yeah. And they just know how to be and enjoy and feel joy in their life and.
Davina Rankin
And she thinks I'm the sexiest thing in the whole entire world. She's always like, oh my God, mommy, you look so good. Like you were just. Oh, like she pumps me up like you wouldn't believe. And I'm just like, wow. Like I wish I looked at myself the way you look at me, you know, like the way that they look at everything is just so beautiful. And now I've been able to, been able to put those glasses on and just look at life, at what it is. Like, why have we over complicated it? Why are we putting so much pressure on ourselves? Like we're allowed to play. I think that was the biggest thing. I just didn't allow myself to soften or play or be connected with myself or with nature or with others truly. Because there was always such a fear of being seen or being heard or being left. So yeah. It's just. They're amazing. They are amazing. And I, I say, I think one of the best tips of advice that I can give to mothers is like to allow yourself to be a kid with them too. Like you don't always have to be in the mum role. Like allow yourself to play as well.
Podcast Host
That's beautiful.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
And so with all this work you've done kind of on yourself, your own journey, how has that kind of influenced the way you, you parent? Like are there any specific things that you do with your five year old now. Yeah. That are a direct byproduct of the things you've learned and kind of tweaked for yourself.
Davina Rankin
Yeah, yeah. For instance this morning, like she was getting dressed and the necklace wasn't perfect and she absolutely cracked it. And I really admire the way like at first when tantrums started happening or you know, big emotions started happening, I didn't know what to do. This is prior to my own work. But it would trigger the absolute out of me because I'd be like, oh my God, this is too much, I can't like that. But what they are doing is so natural and normal and that is how we should be processing our emotions. We should be like, if we need to scream, cool, go scream if you need to shake it out if you need to sit on the ground and shake for a little bit or if you just want to cry. Like, it's a process. And the reason we have, you know, stored traumas and stuff is because we're not allowing our body to complete a full process of feeling and emotion. So that's why when you go into like a breath work or, you know, some kind of energetic healing, your body starts moving in interesting ways because it's just processing, doing that process. And I just watched her this morning and she was like. And then a real loud one would happen and I was like, wow, you're amazing. And I just sit there and I'm like, do you need a hug? And she's like, no. And I'm like, okay, do you want me to go? And she's like, no. And you know, she just wants to be held. Like, she just will. Not literally, but just being able to hold. Yes. Seen and heard and witnessed and supported. And it, you know, two minutes later she's like, all right, let's watch Bluey. Like, she's fine. So it's just a really beautiful reminder that, like, we're allowed to do that too. We can go dance it out, sing it out, shake it out if we have to. But like, people feel so uncomfortable doing that for themselves. They're like, no, we have to be quiet. And. Yeah. So just definitely allowing her to be big with her emotions and for us to talk about her emotions and bring awareness to them in her body is something that I'm very, very big on in our household.
Podcast Host
Yeah. That's nice. It just goes to show as well, like, how important you doing this stuff for yourself is for when that time eventually comes, you know, like, for people listening. I guess what I'm trying to say is whether you want to be a parent or not, like, it's. It's really important foundation work to do for you because then I think even, like, you'll be a mentor for someone at some point, whether it's siblings, friends.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
You know, Even like parents now will kind of come to me for advice now that I'm a bit older and we have a different dynamic. And so I think you working on yourself is a really beautiful way to then support other people as well. You know, it's just like an A byproduct that is just so beautiful.
Davina Rankin
Yeah, absolutely.
Podcast Host
This is kind of making me think of. I don't know why, but in my mind, I really want to ask you. We, you know, we've talked about genuine self love and, and having These practices that help us do these things. How do we know the difference with when it's genuine or when they're kind of just like band aid fixes and things that were just ticking off like K Cooler journaled this morning. Yeah.
Davina Rankin
Yeah. Well, I think, like genuine self love is. Isn't always pretty. Like, sometimes it means, like, asking yourself some, like, questions, like shadow work, going a bit deeper into maybe a cycle or bringing up something from the past that maybe we've wanted to forget about. But in order to kind of move forward, it's beneficial for you to sit with those uglier parts of yourself, maybe asking yourself, you know, what parts of this is true? Like, am I narcissistic? Am I this? Can I show up like this someday? Some days, like, just not always looking at the bright and bubbly parts of yourself and being like, oh, you know, I'll just have like a bath, a magnesium bath and I'll feel better. But, you know, really working with your triggers, like, why is this popping up for me and what part of myself is this triggering? You know, and sometimes it's not really pretty. It's just that going a little bit deeper, like a magnesium bath or a facial or like taking yourself to a retreat might not be that beneficial if you're dealing. If you're dealing with some deeper traumatic things that are actually stunting your evolution, you know?
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That makes sense. Like it's layered.
Davina Rankin
Yes.
Podcast Host
Right. And so those things that I kind of look at them like topical things.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
They're beautiful. And they can work so well when you do them in tandem with, like, the inner work.
Davina Rankin
Totally.
Podcast Host
The other thing that just made me think, which is something I've really tried to understand and sit in the last few years, is whether it's triggers or whether it's judgment. So if I feel myself holding a judgment, either about myself, about other people, and often this one's interesting. It's. It's a judgment I think people will have about me. It actually shows me what judgments I'm holding about the world. Right. Because I don't know what you're going to think about me if I'm doing X, Y, Z. Yeah, it's just what I think you're going to think about me. So if you, you know, if we go back to journaling and meditating, if you let yourself sit in the curiosity of why do I, you know, think that it would be weird if I started a cooking page and people would start looking at me a certain way? Is it because I would think that someone is weird or I would be triggered by it. So I think we constantly get these opportunities to be curious and learn about ourselves. It's just whether you take the bite, you know, whether you let that then guide you and you be judgmental when you sit in that, or whether you say, actually I'm going to get curious on this and get to know myself a bit better. Like, that's something I've really tried to do to go deeper because the, the it's sometimes scary. Right. And you don't always get the opportunity every day or know like how to do that. But just a practical one for me is whenever I feel judgment or triggered is taking that curiosity down a notch rather than just being like, I feel so triggered and sitting in that kind of top level frustration.
Davina Rankin
Totally. Yeah, absolutely. And it's hard. Like it's work. Like, sucks. Yeah, it sucks.
Podcast Host
No one wants to be like, oh yeah. Like that's because I think like I'm a person or because I'm not good enough. Like that's not easy to admit.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
But it's important for your evolution.
Davina Rankin
Totally. Yeah, absolutely. There's things that come up for me constantly, especially with working with other people, that I'm like, why do I feel away about this? And then I'll go into, I'll be like, oh, okay, cool. Like, just because you feel a certain way about something doesn't mean that you are that way. It just means that you haven't had a awareness around it before and you can change. Like, you can change that you don't have to be that person. And coming back to celibacy, when it comes to self love and self care, celibacy in itself can be like, you know, a band aid of self care and like self preservation. Right. But what goes into being celibate and maybe looking at your own self love and self care, even that in itself isn't pretty. Like kind of going back into, we're going to talk about a pleasure practice. Sorry guys. But come coming back to myself and being like, okay, what do I even like, how much performance have I been putting on for others? Like, what? How does it feel to be in my own body by myself through a pleasure practice and you know, sitting back into my senses and things like that was so uncomfortable. I call it like de armoring. And that in itself was an absolute trip, you know, just going back and figuring out who I am, what I like, what's normal, what feels interesting. You don't really have that kind of an opportunity when you're with different partners because you're too busy, busy thinking, like, is this my good angle? You know, what is he thinking right now? Is this good enough for him? Is he going to call me tomorrow? So like, look, celibacy is like the band aid that can, you know, help with self love and self care. Cool. But then what goes into the work that you do in your celibacy isn't always pretty. Like it's interesting. The kind of, you know, traumas and emotions that actually get stored for a woman in her womb space and by exploring yourself can actually bring up like a lot of emotion and a lot of things that maybe you haven't wanted to address. So that's a perfect example of like self care and self love. But it's not even, you know, being celibate isn't always pretty or glamorous.
Podcast Host
Yeah, no, that's, that's a really good call out. And it's interesting. It's just made me think like often, you know, whenever you start your sexual experiences in life, you just kind of are perpetually on this path. Like you may never actually stop to ask yourself those questions like, and get to know yourself on that level because it's always like, I don't know, it might just be something you envision with somebody else. So to actually then take this as like part of your own self development and getting to know that like actually whether you're single or in a relationship would be extremely beneficial. You know, it's just another angle of getting to know yourself. It's a. Yeah, it's a high part of your energy. It's, it's a human need. It's a part of evolution. Like it's a big part of life. And so actually taking the time to understand yourself within that space I think is actually really interesting. Whether it's through celibacy or you know, just actually taking the time for yourself. Yeah, interesting.
Davina Rankin
And even seeing your own cycles around, you know, your own arousal or, you know, kinks or what kind of shame you have around. You know, whether it's masturbation or if you can't do it without watching porn or it is like a whole new thing in itself, which is really fun to explore. So much so that I'm studying sexology as we speak.
Podcast Host
Amazing.
Davina Rankin
It's literally changed. My life is coming back to myself and you know, just figuring out who I am and what I like. And I realize that we need to be talking about it more and we need to give women more permission to be able to feel embodied and to feel Sensual and to feel okay in their body. Because we are. Yes. People and we're constantly trying to please and be everything for everyone else that when it comes time to us looking after ourselves, we completely neglect it. And I think there's something really powerful about a woman who's stepped into her pleasure and who owns her pleasure. It's. Yeah. When you can unlock that side to yourself, I feel like it completely can change your life. Like, I know it completely changed mine because I'm like, well, what the actual fudge have I been doing my whole life? Like, life gets to feel this good. Why did I sit in mediocre for so long? Yeah, it was. Yeah.
Podcast Host
That's so interesting. So you're studying sexology. So what is the most interesting thing you've learned so far?
Davina Rankin
Well, at the moment. So I'm only right at the beginning of it now. So going into, like, nervous system and the brain. The brain body connection. The body mind connection. It's just so interesting. And like, our senses. So. Yeah. It's in the different ways that one can be aroused that we don't even think about. There's so many different areas that are arousing for us that we are too busy in our life to even care about. We just think that there's one way of doing things and that's it. So there are so many different ways that we can bring pleasure into our lives. I think more than anything, it's the embodiment part of it that I really love is being able to live fully and loudly and to be a sensual being. I just feel sad that I was so numb for my whole life. And that's not just, you know, numb down there. I mean, like, numb in general. I didn't allow myself to, like, sit and marinate and to feel calm or to feel bliss or I was just constantly running around and thinking my way through life. But, yeah, the embodiment side of things and being able to just feel comfortable being your authentic self is something that I just. Yeah. I love and I wish. Yeah. When I talk to different women, too. I think when you're embodied and you're calm in your nervous system, you really allow people to feel calm in their nervous system and to feel okay in whatever way they're choosing to show up right now. And that in itself can be so healing for another human because other humans aren't used to being, like, allowed to be themselves.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Davina Rankin
You know.
Podcast Host
Yeah. Well, I'm excited to rehab a conversation when you finish your studies and you can give me all the tips And.
Davina Rankin
Yeah.
Podcast Host
And download kind of what you've learned. Because this is such an interesting area. I have a girlfriend studying it as well, and I just think it's not something widely spoken about. It's still, like, quite taboo, but it's something I'm. I've definitely always been open to and always interested to learn more about. And as I said before, it's important whether you're single or in a relationship. So, yeah, very excited to see where that takes you. But, Davina, I want to thank you so much for coming on the show today. It's been a real pleasure getting to know you and hearing your story and just being able to connect with you. You have really beautiful energy and all the work you've done is very apparent. You just feel like a very grounded, regulated human. And it's been really nice connecting. Connecting with you today. So thank you for your time.
Davina Rankin
Thank you. That's such a nice compliment. No, I really appreciate it and it's been an absolute pleasure.
Podcast Host
Thank you. Only Boost Mobile. Boost Mobile will give you a free year of service. Free year. When you buy a new 5G phone. New 5G phone.
Davina Rankin
Enough.
Podcast Host
But I'm your hype man. When you purchase an eligible device, you get $25 off every month for 12 months with credits totaling one year of free service, taxes extra for the device and service plan online only.
Episode: Break This One Habit and Watch Your Self-Worth Transform
Host: Erika De Pellegrin
Guest: Davina Rankin (Embodiment Coach, Energetic Healer, Founder of The Upgrade)
Date: June 1, 2025
This heartfelt episode explores how breaking a single self-sabotaging habit—seeking external validation—can lead to radical self-worth and personal transformation. Guest Davina Rankin shares her journey from public figure and model seeking approval from others to self-embodied leader, delving into celibacy, motherhood, and healing from within. The conversation unpacks practical tools for rebuilding authentic confidence, curating boundaries, and finding joy in self-discovery.
[02:11-06:49]
[04:49-06:49]
[06:49-13:02]
[08:12-10:23]
[10:23-11:31]
[11:31-13:02]
[16:41-18:18]
[20:41-23:06]
[23:06-28:58]
[30:16-31:33]
[31:33-33:34]
[36:40-38:27]
[39:02-42:38]
[46:15-52:04]
[52:04-56:28]
Davina ([06:50]):
“I feel more like myself now than I ever have in my whole entire life. I’m really certain, I’m really grounded, and I really know who I am, which is really beautiful.”
Davina ([13:02]):
“I always say it’s poor spiritual hygiene to allow everyone access to you. For a really long time, I was leaky with my energy…Now I'm like, sorry, no.”
Davina ([23:35]):
“Sitting with yourself is one of the most terrifying things that one can do…We are pumped with distraction…Just being able to feel what is coming up in your body is one of the toughest things that one can do.”
Erika ([30:16]):
“Try journaling for a week, just try it…It's just carving out space to notice your thoughts and how you're feeling. If you don't allow for that space, we just distract ourselves.”
Davina ([31:33]):
“As women, it’s our superpower to be able to feel and to be able to lead with our intuition…if it doesn’t feel right, then it’s not right, even if it might look right.”
Davina ([40:39]):
“Although I lost myself for a moment through motherhood, I also found myself in a really big way.”
The conversation is open, vulnerable, and empowering, with both women expressing warmth, relatability, and honesty. The episode is rich in practical tools (journaling, boundaries, embodiment), powerful perspectives on self-worth, and compassionate encouragement for anyone feeling “not enough.” Through Davina’s story, listeners get actionable ways to break the habit of living for others, start honoring themselves, and experience deep personal transformation—without guilt or shame.
For listeners seeking a life of greater authenticity, self-love, and freedom from external validation, this episode provides both inspiration and a how-to guide.