Lindsey Thornburg is more interested in the journey than the destination.
Raised in Colorado and Montana, the designer attended fashion school in LA, then moved to New York City, collecting inspiration along the way for her eponymous collection of ethereal dresses and separates.
At 30 years old, her attitude shifted: she lost a dear friend and realized that she needed to forge a new direction in her personal life. So began Thornburg’s affair with health consciousness: she started attending yoga retreats, detoxing and prioritizing creative alone time. Ever since, she has been committed to maintaining her physical and mental wellbeing.
Here, Thornburg explains why it’s never too late to shift consciousness:
Live The Process: You were raised in the mountains of Aspen and Bozeman, attended fashion school in Southern California and now live in New York. How have your surroundings influenced your approach to wellness?
Lindsey Thornburg: In both places I was raised, life is all about outdoor activity. It's inherent to the culture and so deeply embedded in my roots that it has stayed with me over the years. Being young and impressionable in California wasn't necessarily about health. Luckily, the beauty of wellness is that it’s accessible at any time as long as negative patterns haven't taken a permanent toll. It wasn't until I turned 30 that I really committed to healing my body and mind.
I needed a drastic change; I had hit a wall spiritually and creatively. One of my nearest and dearest friends passed away, so life became very different. I knew if I changed my physical behavior, my mentality would have no choice but to follow suit. It was then that I started going to yoga retreats at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Once able to detox and really experience what it is like to be operating from a toxin-free place, my consciousness started shifting.
LTP: How do you tune out distractions to your creative process?
LT: Truly, I choose to spend a lot of time alone. From my perspective, when you spend time alone, you can wholly identify what actually is hindering your creative process. I also don't have any computers in my house, and I put my phone on airplane mode after 10:00pm, so that I don't get caught up in a late-night Instagram black hole. It's imperative for me to take extended periods of sobriety to ensure I'm looking in, as much as I'm looking out.
LTP: How do you process both criticism and praise of your work?
LT: I'm open to both. In terms of criticism, it takes me a minute to lick my wounds, shed a tear, talk about it, make sure everyone around me agrees that the critics are wrong and take what I can from it to grow. Praise is rewarding because what we do isn't for everybody, so it's nice to hear when it resonates with people.
LTP: What tips would you offer to people who aspire to explore new places and try new things, but fear getting out of their comfort zones?
LT: I guess I'd try to get to the root of what's holding them back from being more curious about their time in this dimension. If all else failed, maybe I'd suggest thinking of how comfortable their comfort zone will be after they've exhausted themselves with new experiences.
LTP: What does happiness look like to you?
LT: The resources to travel freely. Nothing too fancy—just the freedom to get up and go. It’s working for myself, being creative; me and my family having health, wholesome food and lots of music. Oh, and some nice pairs of boots. I love a good boot.
LTP: What does it mean to you to "Live The Process" and how do you do that every day?
LT: It’s being thankful. Being aware of your physical and mental self. Learning to identify what is ego and what is self. Putting myself in humbling situations regularly. Drinking lots of water. Eating lots of greens. Laughing. Practicing yoga, working out. Practicing patience. Not taking myself too seriously. Using less social media and reading more books instead. Not responding from anger. Keeping my channels clear of negativity, so that I can be open to positive experiences. Surrounding myself with other people, who are interested in harnessing these vibes. Trusting my path and enjoying the ride.