green crush: meet zahra of soulful seeds

meet zahra | soulful seeds

location | nashville, tennessee

eco voyage's green crush series showcases green living advocates who are committed to mindful lifestyles and dedicated to protecting both the environment + all those who inhabit planet earth. today we meet zahra, the ebullient wellness blogger behind soulful seeds blog + founder of women ministries online with a passion for growing spiritually + living healthfully. zahra is an ardent mental health advocate + a savvy slow fashion enthusiast who shares her tips for living that mindful lifestyle through faith, fitness, self love + vegan eats.

live

ev: what is one small action you might encourage others to take to live a more compassionate, cruelty-free lifestyle?

zahra: Choose to be aware! Many people are scared to know the implications of their current lifestyle on the planet, animals, and their own health. Instead of turning away information, try to absorb all the information you can; this will inevitably lead you to pursue a more aware and conscious lifestyle! Books to read include: How Not to Die: Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reserve Disease and Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life.

love

ev: tell us three personal qualities about yourself that you would never change?

zahra: Probably my compassion, work ethic and sensitivity! [Self love is an ongoing practice and Zahra offers insightful posts via her Mindful Lifestyle, Faith + Mental Health categories. She’ll help you continue to show yourself patience + compassion while striving for emotional, psychological + physical balance in your life via her thoughtful posts including 7 Prompts to Affirm Positive Thoughts and Overcoming Negative Thought Patterns.]

learn

ev: how and why did you decide to go vegan and to pursue a green lifestyle? are there books/movies which you might recommend to others who are interested in learning more about the issues of animal rights and sustainability?

zahra: I love this question! I primarily sought out veganism because of the health benefits but was ultimately compelled to go vegan and spread my love for the lifestyle because of the environmental aspects of it. I actually have a whole article with ALL my favorite vegan resources I recommend to others interested in learning about the lifestyle!

work it

ev: you create weekly content for your website and for social media; it takes a lot of time + dedication to sustain your own blog. what motivates you to do so?

zahra: Amen to that! I stay motivated because I absolutely love the entire process from content creating to interacting with readers! It warms my heart to hear feedback from people reading my content and learning new things from it!

wear it

ev: describe your favorite outfit from head to toe including any favorite vegan fashion brands.

zahra: A jumpsuit from ASOS (thrifted from Thred Up - my favorite way to shop thrifted and second hand), paired with some vegan Birkenstocks, and some bracelets from Pura Vida!

into the calm

ev: what do you do to decompress when you're feeling a little stressed?

zahra: I go to a yoga class and workout! One of my favorite, soul-feeding things to do is look through my prayer journal for verses I highlight and delve into. This practice brings me closer to the Holy Word, and enhances my understanding of the Text in the context of my own life. Truthfully, when I am anxious or worried about something, the first place I go to is usually not God. I usually try to find hope from the encouragement of a friend or loved one, and though that is helpful, it truly isn’t sustainable. When I do eventually realize that and turn to GOD, I get an unparalleled source of hope. God has the answers. He might not reveal them all to us, but He has them in His hands, and this, my friends, is the ultimate source of hope.

get happy

“God is infinitely more powerful than our fears and worries. He is always with us- you just need to let Him in to tap into the vast love, safety, and trust He provides.”

ev: share four things that make you really happy.

zahra: The color yellow, sunflowers, the [show] The Office and my friends+ family. Volunteering and participating in community service allows you to connect with your environment and use your unique skills to help those around you. As an added benefit, engaging in service has been proven to be a wonderful way to boost emotional well being and professional skills! There are some great databases and resources for volunteer opportunities. Use these sites to find volunteer opportunities near you:

it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a superhero

ev: if you could invite three people to a private dinner party, who would they be?

zahra: Pauli Murray [the American civil rights activist + lawyer, a women's rights activist, Episcopal priest, and author], Mother Teresa [the indefatigable Roman Catholic nun + Nobel laureate for her lifelong missionary work with sick children], and Miley Cyrus [singer, actress + animal rights activist]. [Editor’s note: now that’s one eclectic and fabulous mix of women! Count me in!]

ev: if you had one superpower, what would it be?

zahra: The ability to fly!