Taking My Own Path
By Ria Patag
Who is your role model? Why?
I have a lot of them! There are many powerful strong women in my life, including my mom, who I can’t help but admire. Specifically though, in the world of fitness, business, and overall self-development, I look up to Nastassia Ponomeranko, a fitness business owner. This is because she’s a young female business founder who pursued fitness entrepreneurship, taking a unique career path. Whenever I get discouraged, I think, “If she can do it, why can’t I?”
What are you most proud of in your life?
I’m most proud of following a non-traditional career path to pursue my business dreams. Instead of earning a college degree, I decided to launch my own business. While that is definitely not the route for everyone, it was perfect for me. It was also the first decision I made with faith in myself and I’m proud of that. I knew some people would be disappointed and judgmental, and I knew it was a big decision, but the pursuit of my dreams and what I actually wanted - to be a fitness business owner - was more important than approval. I’m so glad I took the leap.
What are you passionate about?
I could talk about self-development and entrepreneurship for hours on end. Self-development, the pursuit of constantly trying to become better, is so amazing to me. Once we hit a goal, we set a new one, and then set a new one after that. It’s incredible that we can do literally anything we set our minds to do, as long as we take the steps to go there. Our only limitations are the ones we place on ourselves. It’s human nature to make excuses and give up, but just because the path isn’t easy that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.
I’m also passionate about empowering young women. Society tells young women, “X, Y, and Z about you is ugly or wrong.” This causes so many insecurities, and, as a result, we make ourselves small to appeal to others. Insecurity is literally normalized, and it’s almost taboo for a young woman to be confident in herself. I really hate this. I want all girls to feel empowered, feel uplifted, and like they’re allowed to take up as much space as they want. I want to help guide women to confidence.
What makes you feel confident?
Positive affirmations may sound silly, but confidence stems from our mindset and impacts how we carry ourselves! If we’re constantly telling ourselves, “I am ugly,” “I am too tall/short/skinny/fat/whatever,” or “I wish I looked like XYZ,” we’ll start to believe those negative things. I would recommend anyone struggling with confidence to counter these negative thoughts with uplifting ones. Tell yourself you are worthy, beautiful, and enough.
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
I have so many quotes that resonate with me, but right now my favorite is: “Growth over comfort.” It’s short, but it says a lot in three words. It’s easy to stay with what’s easy or familiar. What’s hard and scary is what makes us grow and become a better person. Thinking about this simple concept reminds me that when it gets lonely or hard, I just need to keep pushing - and I’ll be stronger on the other side.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve got a lot of learning left to go. One of the biggest things I’ve learned and would tell my younger self is to make more memories and enjoy life in the moment. You can’t go back in time, but you can make the most out of your present and future. Get out of your comfort zone. Get off your phone and just live.
About the Author
Ria Patag is a fitness influencer, and founder of an activewear brand, Bolt Active. The brand was inspired by the fact that young women were underrepresented and their insecurities were exploited. Her mission is to inspire and motivate young women to be their best selves possible and find confidence within their existing beauty. Check out Bolt’s new releases at boltactive.com.
