LifeTwo's Exclusive Interview with Nina Boski

LifeTwo's Wesley had a chance to sit down with Nina Boski, the force behind a company called LifeBites and we are posting here under Nina's profile.

LifeBites creates products that help make personal growth part of people's daily lives. Recognizing how time-consuming reading a self-help book or implementing a self-help strategy can be, Nina breaks up such problems into easily digestible steps (e.g., “bites”) that can be implemented in an “anywhere, anytime” lifestyle.

LifeTwo discovered Nina and LifeBites while researching products and programs that address the transitional issues encountered by individuals in their midlife years. We were drawn to her positive and entertaining approach to personal growth, which we think comes across below.

While we typically ask our interviewees 20 questions, in the spirit of the LifeBites' philosophy we reduced the number down to a more manageable 12.

12 Questions for Nina Boski of LifeBites

Nina on the “LifeBites” Approach

LifeTwo: Is LifeBites more effective as a prevention strategy or as a treatment for problems that already exist?

Both. LifeBites is for anyone that needs a little help or motivation to get him or her thinking about his or her life. Whether you are into prevention or it’s your first time thinking about a problem, LifeBites is used as a tool to help you question, explore and discover your life.

LifeTwo: LifeBites advocates breaking problems up into smaller, easier to solve components. Is this incompatible with a more holistic approach that might call for addressing problems in their entirety?

LifeBites has a holistic approach in that the company’s value system explores issues on all levels – Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. However its not designed to be the end all. We are not the solution, or nor should we be for one-on-one help. We will provide thought –provoking topics and resources for people to help them get inspired. We do promote the need to address problems in depth; but then they would be directed to someone for specific help.

LifeTwo: Please explain what you mean by the “anywhere, anytime” approach.

LifeBites is launching in December on the LIME network (Steve Case, founder of AOL’s new venture) to create content for TV, Sirius Radio, Internet, iTunes, Continental Airlines, and in-store retail locations across the country. The goal of LifeBites is to be everywhere the consumer is and getting them motivated about their life.

LifeTwo: Why do you describe your approach as “East Meets West”?

I work with my own clients’ one-on-one. I use an integrated approach that incorporates the practical with the holistic. Whether you are spiritual or believe in physics, it’s all the same when talking about energy. We are made up of energy. Energy really is emotions in our system that is either blocked or flowing. I personally work with the charkas (known as the energy centers of the body), and then I combine it with a very practical approach to life – helping clients both build and dream. I look at the body and emotions as a system all working together. An East meets West approach combines the best of both worlds.

LifeTwo: Your website features movie trailers. What is the connection with mainstream entertainment to your mission?

1) People have quick attention spans. You can’t just serve up information and expect people to hang out for a long time. You have to deliver it in a way that makes it entertaining. If you can do that, people will want to engage with your content and you can build a stronger audience. 2) I also think that people explore their own life through movies. I know when I watch a movie; I will relate the theme of the movie to my own life in some way. 3) Using movies as a tool evolved into LifeBites. Because my background is in media, I would work with the movie studios. In launching the radio show initially, I was told that I was going to air on a radio psychology channel. When that fell through, they put me on their entertainment channel. I had to find an angle to relate psychology to entertainment. Because of my relationships with the media, I was able to use movies to help people relate to life. The concept just took off, and we have been using movies ever since.

LifeTwo: Your materials mention “self-discovery”. What do you do to enable or assist this process?

LifeBites helps people discover themselves by getting people questioning. We have a line of cards that help people explore life issues. We also provide resources for people to get help, whether it is in the form of a life coach or books, etc. The reason why we emphasize self-discovery is although you can search for answers, you’ll come to realize answers can really never come from someone else or the outside world. Your answers are yours alone, inside of you, like a precious gem, just waiting to be found.

Nina on Midlife Challenges

LifeTwo: What are your thoughts about the changes and challenges individuals go through as they progress through their midlife years?

Midlife is exciting or depressing for people depending on how much growing, learning and exploration they did earlier in life. Usually when people hit midlife, and have not done any work on themselves internally, they hit a brick wall – and the question goes something like this: “Is this all there is?” If you embrace this season of life, your midlife years can be a very transformative time that becomes very fulfilling as you move through your second half or Life Two.

LifeTwo: What do you say to someone who at 40 believes their ‘best years’ are behind them?

This is a good question. I think I would find out the “why” behind that belief statement. A person has to get a hold of the belief about it before they can change it. So I would not spend a lot of time talking them out of it, as I would exploring the “why” behind it, and seeing if there is room for a new reality.

LifeTwo: What should people do who are simply overwhelmed by life?

Stop. Less is more.

I think we have become addicted to “doing” in life, especially in the United States. We live to work instead of work to live. Most of the time, being overwhelmed is self-induced. Many times when working with clients, I help them slow down. Not always easy, given we are given accolades by people when we say, “I didn’t even take a vacation this year.” We think it’s a good thing to do, do, do! I think we really need to take a look at our values and our priorities, and make shifts to bring our life into balance again.

LifeTwo: What do you suggest for someone who sees a family member or friend going through challenges in midlife but aren’t doing anything about it and are resisting help?

There is a saying in psychology, “most people don’t want to get out of the frying pan; they just want to turn down the heat.” You have to decide if the person you are trying to help wants it. If not, you will only get frustrated and potentially make the situation worse. I think the only thing you can do is suggest things and support them by loving them and validating their existence. I find when I can support people by accepting them for who they are – crisis and all; sometimes they wake up to their life, and want to make a change on their own. However, if it’s a situation where it is suicidal, you may need a professional intervention or someone in your religious community to get involved.

LifeTwo: Does having a midlife crisis have a silver-lining?

No pain, no gain! Crisis, problems, pain are all just indicators and that something is out of balance. To me, every crisis or problem has a silver-lining when you make it out the other side. Do you ever notice when you cry or resolve an issue, how much lighter you feel? Sometimes, you come away feeling like a different person with a new perspective. I think midlife can be one of the most calming, yet exciting times of your life if you embrace it. What I know from people who are going through it, including myself, is that you feel much more aligned with YOU -- Who you are and what you want. Usually a crisis in midlife is just trying to get your attention to get you on track. You might have to stop living other people’s truth and begin living your truth. So if you can listen to your own voice and not that of your family, friends or society, you will usually come through feeling much more empowered and alive!

LifeTwo: What is the most important thing someone can do to insure that they live a satisfying life?

Be true to yourself and go for it!

Thank you Nina!

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