Wednesday Winning - Giuditta Tornetta

Meet Giuditta Tornetta, birth and postpartum doula, baby-whisperer, lactation educator, a certified clinical hypnotherapist, a neuro-linguistic programming practitioner, workshop leader, speaker, two-time bestselling author and non-profit guru and global advocate for women. My first experience with Giuditta was as a doula for the homebirth of my daughter, then the homebirth of my son and now as a friend.  Giuditta brings loads of experience, love, and intellect to those she serves.

Giuditta practices clinical hypnotherapy and method of natural and painless childbirth that uses hypnotic techniques to reduce stress and fear during labor and delivery. Her love for women and her professional experience has enabled her to help hundreds of women in her practice and thousands of books and workshops worldwide achieve the birthing experience they desired.

In her most recent book, “Conversations With The Womb” (Balboa Press 2014), Giuditta guides women, in all phases of life, through a deeper connection to their most vital resource – their womb. I highly encourage you to purchase this book, soak up the wisdom and read below for more on Giuditta and her journey as a spiritual entrepreneur.

What happened or inspired you to start your business? 

I had started writing a book about my painless birthing experience, after my daughter’s birth, but the job of raising my children and financially providing for them took over my life. I put the book into hibernation for years, until one day my life took a dramatic change. It all began after I was let go from my latest job and was at a loss as to what to do next. One of my saving graces in life has been taking a morning walk and having a conversation with God. I asked, “What do you want me to do next? I am willing to work hard, so why am I not getting a job? How can I provide for my children?” What I heard was, “Be patient and listen. Follow whatever suggestion you hear next.”

God talks to us through people, places, and things. So, when an acquaintance suggested I look into getting a certificate in Lactation Education at UCLA, I did it without asking any questions. At that point in my life, I had been earning a solid six-figure salary and I was fully aware that a Lactation Educator was more a vacation than a profession. But I have learned never to question my Higher Power, and soon found out where the magic was. In that class, I met a doula that spoke of her job as an amazing mission of love, helping women bring their children naturally into this world without the use of drugs or medical intervention. I realized this was the answer to my lifelong desire to share my experience with other women. 

How does spirituality impact your business?  

I feel like I am a channel for the divine to speak through me, I know it sounds corny, but when I am with a laboring woman, for example, I literally get "inspired" about what she needs next, versus thinking about it and/or making a decision from my head. I let the situation inspire me on how to help her through her journey. The same goes for the workshops I facilitate around the world; there is a skeleton structure I follow, dictated by the Nine Chakras of Creation methodology reflected in my books.  But, for the most part, the group will inspire me on what to talk about or facilitate next.  

In all my work I work on healing the insecurities, the fears, and the inherited patterns that stop women trusting the Shakti (power) and wisdom (intuition) that effortlessly flows through them. It's about recognizing all of the ways we have been keeping ourselves contained and restrained in an effort to fit into a certain archetype of a woman. It’s about co-creating a whole new archetype of woman – a woman who does not keep herself small in order to make others feel more comfortable. 

On a personal level, I have a daily practice, meditation, gratitude, listening to inspiring speakers, reading books and allowing myself to stop my mind chatter and listen, truly listen to the constant messages I receive. My spirituality also comes from my ancestral background as a witch, alchemist, and healer.

How do you stay motivated through the ups and downs of owning your own business? 

The most challenging part of having your own business is self-motivation.  At the beginning of my career, I'd spend up to 12 hours at times building my platform, writing, marketing etc.  Now that my business is flowing sometimes I take an entire day off and truly enjoy the fact that I don't have to go to a 9-5 job. After 15 years of this, I still get scared if my calendar is not filled, but I often remind myself that my calendar has and will fill with people and events that are truly meant for me. 

What would you tell the younger you just starting her business?

Trust; you will be amazed at how much you will accomplish. 

How do you balance your clients, professional projects, and personal commitments?

I am a very happily single and dating sixty-year-old woman with little to no personal commitments, however, I am always on-call for work. So while my life is amazing and I have an abundance of time for pleasure I have also had to learn how to manage to have a business and personal life while being on-call for my business.  The bottom line for me is to fall madly in love with yourself so that no matter what you are always with your best lover, buddy, friend, and family. 

What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome?

At the beginning, I came from being in charge of a fluctuation from 15 to 200 people depending on the projects. I was used to an office environment and was surrounded by friends. So to all of the sudden be alone in my home-office was terrifying and felt lonely. Today I could not go to an office, not matter the financial security of a job. I figured out how to have conversations on the phone with friends when I need a virtual hug. I have Facebook to keep tabs with so many people and I actually love it. I see pictures of babies I ushered into this world 10-15 years ago that is such a great feeling. I created daily rituals for myself that help me when I am in fear of financial lack.

What project are you most excited about right now?

I am writing two books right now and I am very excited about them, but the most exhilarating this is my first workshop based on my last book Conversations with the Womb. I am premiering it in Greece this year as an off-Broadway premier before I take it on the road nationally in the United States and globally.