Reve Insiders is an exclusive network of global leaders, businesses, brands, professionals and creatives that we have had the pleasure of working with or have stumbled across in some shape and form. We take an inside look into the lives of some of them. What makes them tick? What are they adding to the world to make a difference in the lives of others? In this week’s 10 questions interview series, we asked Betty Varga – A Mindfulness Coach to share a little of her story with us and the importance of living well. 

REVE INSIDERS: Betty, tell us a little more about why you became a mindfulness coach? 

Betty Varga: Personal development has always fascinated me. I read countless books on the topic and attended many courses by amazing experts and role models. By doing the inner work, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of myself and my role in the world.

All the techniques that have worked for me I wanted to share with other people as well. For several years, I’ve conducted courses and workshops and had one-on-one coaching sessions with clients. My eyes lit up every time I had the opportunity to support someone taking steps forward on a path of their own and following their true passion. It made me happy and fulfilled to be able to show them the potential I saw in them. The more I’ve discovered about myself and how the mind works, the more I realized what a stressful lifestyle I have created for myself. Non-stop courses and coaching all day, no time for lunch, no energy for preparing anything heathy at all, no recreation… I had been burning the candle on both ends for quite a few years – until my body shut down. Burnout.

That was my biggest wake-up call for which I am truly grateful. It gave me the opportunity to redesign my whole life: I slowed down and started focusing on my wellbeing, set clear boundaries and implemented lots of healthy habits into my daily routine. My life has changed and is the complete opposite to what it was. I’ve never felt so connected to what my soul truly wishes for and I’m happy to guide others on their journey as well.

REVE INSIDERS: What was your experience like moving to 3 countries and starting from scratch? 

Betty Varga: It takes courage to give up the familiar and jump into the unknown without a safety net. This is exactly how it feels when you move to a country you haven’t been to before without having the promise of a job, an apartment or a stable relationship. There is this endless excitement, spiced up with some fear that keeps you going while your logical mind asks you if you had lost it all. I can tell you this: If you are open-minded, curious and humble, you will find the right people to start anywhere. I am grateful for the amazing connections I have made ever since I left my home country Hungary in December 2009. I have been through the most beautiful and the most terrifying experiences of my life in this time and I wouldn’t change any of them for anything in the world. These made me who I am today. As people say, “Life is the biggest teacher.” Well, if you want to learn fast, live abroad.

REVE INSIDERS: Based on your instagram stories, you make some beautiful herbal, natural teas and healthy, plant-based meals. You seem incredibly health-conscious, how did you begin your wellness journey? 

Betty Varga: For most of my life, everything was alright regarding my health. I could always eat whatever and whenever I wanted. Pizza at midnight? No problem. A bit too much of cakes and cookies? Just let me do a light workout for 2-3 days and it’s all gone. According to Ayurveda, my constitution is Vata and most of the individuals of this type can gain or lose weight easily and need just a little bit of workout to stay in shape.

Of course, I was happy that my body could deal with all the unhealthy choices I’ve made without any side effects but basically I took it for granted. Then, in the summer of 2020, my digestion broke down. I knew something was off because I got so tired after every single meal that I could have fallen asleep right at the table. At first, I thought I must have consumed too many carbs, so I reduced them and did a cleansing as well. I also banned everything from my kitchen that contained refined sugar or wheat to reduce the inflammation in my body. I’ve been okay for a while but after 3-4 weeks, the problems appeared again. I’ve consulted with three nutritionists and visited a TCM practitioner but after every strict diet they suggested, the digestive disorders kept creeping back.

I was so desperate of finding a solution that I’ve read many articles and books and listened to countless interviews and podcasts on nutrition. I started changing my diet and became a vegetarian. I have been a pescetarian for ca. 3 years prior to that, so giving up fish wasn’t a big deal for me. The more research I have done, the more I realized how much our food choices affect everything from our wellbeing to our hormones or energy levels and well, to illnesses. As I started to see the bigger picture, about 9 months ago, I went vegan. Eating clean with lots of fruits and vegetables has had a positive effect on my health.

The main reason that made me turn to natural remedies was how easily doctors would prescribe me some medicaments to support one organ while damaging another. I didn’t see why I would have to choose between the health of my intestine, my reproductive system or my liver.

My fascination about herbalism grew as I dived into ancient healing methods and also remembered how my grandma used to take me to collect herbs and prepare teas or infusions. There is so much to learn about natural healing methods. I have just started out and been really enjoying this process. Living sugar free and eating clean, using lots of Ayurvedic spices, drinking lot of water and herbal teas, appreciating and preparing my own food and most importantly, taking time to eat in peace – all these are very important changes that I’ve implemented in my life during the past 17 months. Besides that, I kept my daily mindfulness practices as well: meditation, yoga, journaling, being in nature and learning something new every single day.

My health has been improving month by month and at the last blood test all my results were in the normal range, including my liver’s which I am very glad about. This journey has been a real eye-opener for me and I am grateful for everything it taught me about my body and my health.

REVE INSIDERS: What’s one of your most memorable moments? 

Betty Varga: One of my kindest memories is a sunrise hike I did with some friends and fellows 3 years ago. We all got together the night before and had an amazing time with barbecue, bonfire talks and lots of laughter at the childhood home of a friend. We spent the night there, woke up around 3.30am and went to hike to one of the most famous peaks in the neighbourhood. It was a magical moment standing up there with everyone and waiting for the first sun-rays to kiss the mountains.

REVE INSIDERS: From beautiful hikes in the mountains to perfect nature snaps, we’ve already established that you’re BIG on being in harmony with nature, in what other ways do you stay inspired? 

Betty Varga: Nature is truly my happy place but I also find a community of like-minded souls very important. It’s such an amazing feeling to talk to people from all around the world who share the same values, are interested in personal growth and wellbeing and aim to think on a higher consciousness level. Without that support system, I don’t think I would feel this balanced and connected. Listening to podcasts of amazing human beings is another form of getting inspiration. I combine it mostly with cooking or working out.

REVE INSIDERS: How did you make the decision to make a home in the Alpine Rhine Valley? 

Betty Varga: That’s a story for itself but let’s just say I visited a friend on the way from Germany to Hungary and ended up staying here. It was 8 years ago.

REVE INSIDERS: Can you share three of your favourite and most highly-recommended books with us that can really help shift one’s mindset?

 
Betty Varga: Richard Branson is one of my role models. I admire how he has built successful and world-known businesses while keeping his humour, kindness and love for adventures. His autobiographies Losing My Virginity and Finding My Virginity are a must for any kind-hearted entrepreneur. Napoleon Hill’s classic Think and Grow Rich is a book anyone should read and reread from time to time. The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani has deepened the shift of my mindset and taught me brand new tools and techniques.

REVE INSIDERS: Since you have dealt with burn-out, tell us about your personal antidote for it.

 
Betty Varga: The answer is as effective as simple: nature. In the darkest times of my burn-out, nature has been the only thing that motivated me to get out of bed and do something for my health. I keep returning to it not only for recharging my batteries or getting inspiration but also before making a hard decision or if I feel overwhelmed.

REVE INSIDERS: If there was one thing you could tell your younger self, what would it be? 
Betty Varga:  “You are capable of way more than you could have ever imagined – trust your intuition.”

REVE INSIDERS: What is a personal favourite quote of yours? 

Betty Varga: There are many quotes that resonate with me but if I had to pick one, it would be Eleanor Roosevelt’s “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

You’ve reached the end…

A big thank you to Betty for sharing parts of her journey with us. The more questions we ask, the more we want to know! We are set to publish a new 10 Questions blog interview every Thursday for the months of November and December. A new tradition that we’re adding to the list of them as we grow.

And always remember…

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

Voltaire