Dawn Smith-Theodore shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Dawn, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Absolutely Integrity….. i believe that if you lead with integrity in all areas of your life that people are drawn to you because they can trust you. You are a person of your word, you are honest, tell the truth, and you cannot be attached to the results.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a psychotherapist and eating disorder expert with over twenty- five years of experience as well as being recovered from anorexia. I was a professional dancer, a former flight attendant, and owned a dance studio in Los Angeles for twenty-five years. I am an author of 2 books…..”TuTu Thin….. A Guide to Dancing Without an Eating Disorder” and my most recent book, “Mother, Men and Me…. A Memoir of Anxiety, Anorexia and Affairs.” I am currently working on making my memoir into a television series. I am also the host of the podcast “TuTu Thin:… How to Be. A Healthy Dancer and Athlete in Mind, Body and Spirit.” I am an international speaker and provide insight from a dance professional’s perspective, helping dancers and parents around the world navigate healthy living.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I had a belief that I was never good enough and that I always had to strive to be better and “perfect.”
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
As I wrote in my most recent book, I found out that the person who had raised me was not my biological dad and that my dad was a friend of our family and that I had dated my brother and nobody stopped it.
I was so ashamed of this and felt as though it was my fault. When I started psychotherapy, it was helpful for me to see that I had nothing to be ashamed of any more. Psychotherapy changed my life and allowed me to see that I was a survivor and I needed to learn to live.
My book, “Mother, Men and Me” allowed me to explore all these feelings from the past and was very cathartic. I would not be where I am today without my life to this point. The valleys have helped me to learn and be able to move forward as a strong, independent woman.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I believe in authenticity. I tell my clients that the outside and the inside have to match or there is like an earthquake going on inside of you. Be yourself and lead with honesty and integrity. People will be drawn to you.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I give everything in my life 100% for me and not for anyone else. It matters to me how I show up in the world. I have learned to not care about what others think and to please myself. You have to be proud of yourself and I can honestly say that I am very proud of all of my accomplishments and also of who I am as a human. I lead with kindness.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dawntheodore.com www.mothermenandme.com
- Instagram: @dawn.smith.theodore
- Linkedin: Dawn Theodore
- Twitter: dawnstheodore
- Facebook: Dawn Smith-Theodore
