Whitney Dyan Jones On Meditation and Intuition

Can you describe a moment in your day when you feel most grounded?

I feel most grounded at the end of the day when I'm in bed, my lamp on (I'll always pick lamp light over anything else), just reading, journaling, or literally just dissociating. Living in NYC, It's so hard to find alone time, so those nights alone in my own space are precious to me. I just lie there, door closed, not speaking, in my own world.

What role does scent or atmosphere play in creating a sense of calm for you?

I'm definitely one of those people who never leaves the house without perfume, and I pretty much always have a candle burning when I'm home. Scent is super personal to me—it makes me feel feminine, grounded, at ease — It's basically an anchor for my nervous system to come back to equilibrium. So dramatic I know.

Honestly, answering this question has made me very aware I take scent way too seriously, but it can genuinely affect how I feel and show up in the world.

Bonus answer: If I find out someone else is wearing the same scent as me, there's a 99% chance I'll switch it up. It's a melodramatic individualist thing but I've been that way forever—no saving me now.

How do you Intentionally transition from work mode to personal mode?

I wouldn't say I have an "on and off" switch - I think I'm at a point in life now where I don't feel like I have to fully detach from work to feel at ease but there was definitely a time that I did. The biggest shift for me came when I took real time away from work and got some perspective on what it actually is... It's so easy to get caught up and feel like everything is big and urgent and important, but stepping back helped me realize the concept of work is really quite silly. Most of the time, work is just a means to an end. I'm working so I can live comfortably-not to define my worth or prove who I am as a person—so I try not to get too attached to it to begin with. It's not always easy, but it's something I practice.

TLDR: On the days I feel consumed by work and its pressures, I remind myself It's all kind of silly—and that helps me shift my focus back to what's real

Do you have a dally or weekly ritual that helps you reset or reconnect with yourself?

Meditation. It's the ultimate life hack. The practice of detaching from what you think is real and just experiencing the moment and yourself exactly how it is without labels or judgement is the most freeing feeling.

I'd love say that I do it daily and I hold myself accountable but life happens and I don't always get to it. I've gone through month long periods where I never sit down to meditate because I'm in a funk or I don't prioritize it - not ideal, but life happens. But the day I come back to it.... Game over.

When you light a candle, what emotions or memories does it evoke for you?

I love candlelight. No specific memories come to mind, but there's something nostalgic and a little vintage about it. This is a good question—| think I need to actually sit with a candle lit and really feel into it. There's something there, a feeling of connection to something but I can't pinpoint it... but I like it.

Is there a particular space in your home that feels like your personal retreat?

My bedroom, door closed, laying on the floor, no one speaking to me. Heaven. The laying on the floor part has become a very comforting addition recently.

What practices help you protect your mental health as a founder?

• Taking a step back from social media. It can easily feel like everything relies on views and likes but it's actually a very small part of the entirety of the business and purpose
• I've learned to slow down and let things flow naturally. In the beginning I tried so hard to control Dyan and force it in the direction I thought it should go—but letting go, staying open, and allowing it to just exist and unfold naturally has been so much more exciting and way more fun for me.

How do you define stillness or presence in your life right now?

More than ever I live my life by my intuition. That's what presence means to me — being connected to my inner wisdom and letting it guide me. Your intuition is a very steady force - it's not loud, or logical, or confusing. It's very soft, and real, and sure of itself - so living in connection to my intuition has also created a sense of stillness.

If you could bottle a feeling you want more of, what would It be?

Excitement. I'm easily excited so there's not a lack of excitement in my life, it's just such a fun, playful feeling. I'd say it's my favorite.

In one word, what does your ideal evening feel like?

Soft

What Is the first thing you do when you need to "take a pause"

Delete social media. Get it out immediately. I need to forget everything and everybody exists for 2 seconds.