Meet Maya Nahra, RD, DAIS | Registered Dietitian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maya Nahra, RD, DAIS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maya, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Yes, I think the pandemic created such a spot for me specifically in business. This answer may seem odd at first however there’s a meaningful point I wish to communicate –

In my experience, knowing what ‘version of you’ is driving you to keep going versus what ‘version of you’ is driving you to give up, holds the answer as to what to actually do.

What do I mean by ‘what version of you’?

As a personal example, there was a ‘version of me’ in my younger years in business who was driven by the need to be loved or liked. Therefore, business developed and grew in a way that – unknowingly at the time – served my own selfish, ego needs. I said yes to creating new services that I didn’t really want to do. Because of this, the business lacked direction. I felt drained and frustrated. In this situation, I should have stopped and given up, but the unhealed, trauma, unaware ‘version of me’ drove me to keep going to meet needs that didn’t need to be met.

Does that make sense? I hope that does. Let me give you the opposite example:

In later years, after becoming more self-aware of these versions of myself, it became easier to let go of the old I had built and develop and grow business in a way that was aligned with the business’s greater mission, vision, and values. There was ‘less of me,’ meaning, the business wasn’t there to serve the ‘old version of me’s’ needs. There are indeed things that drain me and frustrate me and make me feel like I want to give up, yet I keep going, which to me, is the right answer. Why? Because I believe this ‘version of me’ is the true-er, more authentic one.

There’s two additional noteworthy points here…

I don’t think it’s giving up as much as it’s a ‘letting go.’ There’s a difference there. Also, I believe this awareness can be applied to lots of things in life – why I want this man or woman, this food, this house, this car, this health goal…. knowing ‘what version of me’ is doing the wanting is an extremely helpful measure in life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a registered dietitian and owner of Nuuaria and The Southwest Dietitian Group. Once again, as in my response to your initial question of keeping going or letting go, the latter was born of what I needed to let go of in the first.

Nuuaria is an education company in which I teach habit and behavior change principles and methodology to the public, corporations, organizations, and health practitioners. The method is founded on the premise that to change behavior permanently, we must first change how we think. Therefore, behavior change theory and application are combined with evidence-based practices in neuroplasticity in the areas of everyday mental wellbeing and nutritional health. Nuuaria has served thousands of clients and many well-known organizations, municipalities, and non-profits within Arizona and nationwide since 2012. (Nuuaria.com)

The Southwest Dietitian Group, newly opened as of January of 2022, is an insurance-based dietitian nutrition practice in Gilbert, Arizona (and telehealth) specializing in sustainable change. We serve as a general practice helping our patients in most areas from weight management, cardiovascular health, and Diabetes to thyroid health, digestive issues, PCOS, food sensitivities, and more. Because of our focus on sustainable change, every patient and client receive a complimentary habit change program. I am currently seeing patients there and specialize in sustainable weight loss for all-or-nothing dieters. (SouthwestDietitianGroup.com)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Jeremy.

Jeremy and I came together as boyfriend and girlfriend exactly one month before the stay-at-home orders for the Covid-19 pandemic. This was also the time I made the decision of ‘giving up/letting go’ in my business. Needless to say, our dating life was a little different. We got to the ‘real stuff,’ real quick.

I later came to understand that the inner qualities Jeremy and I share and have grown together, including mutual self-awareness, honesty, open and vulnerable communication, mutual respect, and unconditional love for ourselves and each other – were the prerequisites I needed to be successful in the letting go process.

He was there for me, unconditionally. I honestly credit him for my ability to make the transition. So, my shoutout goes to Jeremy, my moon and stars.

Website: https://southwestdietitiangroup.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real_change_dietitian/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayaenahra/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MayaNahraRD

Image Credits
Kay Eskridge