Nicole Spindler - Author, Beyond Life's Moments: An Empowering Outlook on Transcending Unexpected Setbacks

Nicole Spindler

Nicole Spindler is a human resources professional and graduate of John Carroll University. She has always had a burning passion for writing and, learning from past hurdles, to bring a message of vulnerability, self-acceptance, and perseverance. It is her aspiration to inspire others to embrace their often life-derailing situations so that they may emerge not only victorious, but empowered to face whatever may come next.

When Nicole isn't writing or working to better her community, she can be found chasing sunsets with her Maltese dog, Magellan, exploring her hometown of Pittsburgh, or scouring the local library for a first edition copy of The Harry Potter Series.

Her new book, Beyond Life's Moments: An Empowering Outlook on Transcending Unexpected Setbacks is made for those at an impasse in life, finding that they are “stuck”, at a loss on what to focus on, or wondering how to move forward. Dive in to discover your beyond! Receiving the shocking news that a close family member has contracted a rare cancer is enough to make anyone feel as though they are drowning under an ocean of helplessness. But author Nicole Spindler wasn’t about to let that happen. Instead, she chose to view her challenges as opportunities to continuously grow and seize what awaits her in future moments. 

Through a collection of personal narratives, reflections, and true stories from the likes of Stephen Hawking, Kim Chambers, Ryan Shazier and many more, Beyond Life’s Moments: An Empowering Outlook on Transcending Unexpected Setbacks invites you to discover eight building blocks to forge a continuous growth mindset for enduring life’s challenges.

I’m so excited for you to connect with Nicole, check out her new book, and follow along as she continues to share some of the key lessons and insights from her new book, and how we can view life’s challenges as transformative opportunities that lead to our passion and purpose.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

My name is Nicole Spindler. I am a proud resident of my hometown of Pittsburgh, graduated from John Carroll University in May 2019 with a dual major of Human Resources & Management, and currently work for a major bank in Talent Acquisition. I have the greatest opportunity to not only have a professional passion in Human Resources, but also to have pursued my personal aspiration of writing and publishing my debut novel, Beyond Life’s Moments: An Empowering Outlook on Transcending Unexpected Setbacks in December 2020. Currently, by day I am a Human Resources professional but after hours and in my free time, I continually strive to inspire my community, readers, and those in my life to bring their life’s challenging chapters to light through my writing, storytelling and speaking engagements. 

How did you get started?

This all began firmly on January 13, 2012 when my “perfect” world turned upside down and inside, altering my reality as I have known it to be. I found that my dad was diagnosed with an extreme rare cancer that would ultimately give him the title of being one of the longest survivors of this particular cancer and there was only one doctor willing to walk alongside my family into the unknown with this diagnosis and they happened to be of all places in Pittsburgh. Rather than viewing this experience as “the end of all things” or admitting defeat, I decided to view this derailment as the key to unlock a revolving door of infinite possibilities for myself and family; I felt that this challenge was leading us towards greater and better things, towards my profession, passions, and purpose – I had to view as transformative rather than tragic/traumatic. 

By embodying this mindset throughout my dad’s battle with cancer and to this very day as I dealt with other and future setbacks, it has allowed me to recognize all the ways I have grown, pursued my passions and cherish my life (both the trials and triumphs) to get to this present moment and beyond. I spent the last decade collecting these moments and writing them down in journals in the hopes of one day being able to write and publish my book (and tell my story). 

What inspired the work that you're doing?

In terms of my career in Human Resources, my father has worked in Human Resources for over thirty years and there has not be a day where he has come home or ended the work still passion and radiating with enthusiasm about his job. Additionally, as a huge advocate for infinite growth, I wanted a career that would leverage my love for learning and development. After my dad’s diagnosis and several months of reflection, I realized that Human Resources is essentially about managing employees by hiring, developing, engaging, and retaining them and became committed to pursuing this career path while simultaneously carrying out my dad’s legacy. 

With regards to writing, over the years I never considered writing to be a chore, a mundane task, or a mere requirement of academia; it has been and will always be a definitive and affirmative part of my identity. Writing is a way of life for me – it got me through the happiest and most tear-jerking moments in my life while providing me with an unyielding sense of confidence, reassurance, and fulfillment. The more journals I filled with moments and personal accounts of my life, the more ways I found that my writing touched the lives of others, the more I felt drawn to have a goal to write and publish a book someday. 

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

I have several passions that have further evolved as the years go by, however the biggest passion I have is to have greatest honor/privilege to positively inspire someone or a reader through my story and life experiences. I want to tell and share (with the world) that amid uncertainty or life’s challenges, there are greater and better things awaiting us if we just go beyond this moment. 

It would not be my passion if I wasn’t wholeheartedly living it out day in, day out. I have become living proof that nothing but life, light, and love will emerge on our journeys if we can go and grow beyond life’s moments.

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

My happiness blueprint consists of everything that I love and that sparks joy, while embodying a mindset deeply rooted in self-growth, gratitude, and authenticity. What brings me joy is aligned very much so to how I live intentionally and how I both need and desire to take time for myself – not just on a self-care level but by taking time for deep introspection to find the meaning for my passions, purpose and profession. I strive to focus on the present moment and have optimism for what’s ahead without getting too caught up in the future unknown. I look to create my own experiences, find and reestablish meaningful connections and find ways to do something for others. 

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

I devote/designate time to self-reflection and self-care each day to refocus on my attention on my own self, goals, and activities that are both authentic and positive. When I reflect throughout and at the end of each day through journaling or meditating, I celebrate all the moments that I had and rediscover what each moment was trying to teach me. The activities I tend to gravitate towards to live more intentionally are exercising (running, walking, yoga, etc.), meditation, reading, writing/journaling, listening to music, and having positive, quality conversations with friends or family. I practice gratitude, kindness towards others and myself and finding moments to shift my perspective from looking from the inside out to looking from the outside in.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

My younger self would be overwhelmed with joy and pride. She would be thrilled to learn that I can finally wholeheartedly say that I love my life, my story and all the moments that have yet to happen to me unconditionally. She will come to the realization that she shouldn’t have spent a single second doubting her abilities and thinking that she wasn’t good enough. She would flourish and bloom knowing that it’s great to be a work in progress and that life is all continuously growing and rediscovering yourself in all its moments. 

No matter what bridges we must cross, valleys we must navigate through or peaks we must climb, we must trust the next chapters in our lives because we do know the author – it’s us. Your story is incomparable and unique making you the only one who can write about it and tell it and perhaps even the one who needs to hear it the most. 

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation? 

I have two and they are both quotes – “However bad life may seem, there is always something we can do and succeed at, while there is life there is hope.” – Stephan Hawking

“Life will never give you anything you cannot handle.” -Joel de Carteret

What is your biggest dream?

I do believe that I am currently in my biggest dream – to inspire others through my personal stories and/or writing. I have no plans to stop writing and hope my stories continue to transcend the pages of my book(s). I want to continue to connect with countless of individuals through my writing and witness their positive transformations as well. Additionally, on a professional level, I strive to become either a manager or director in the Talent Management or Learning & Development sector for a Fortune 500 company.

To learn more and connect with Nicole check out her Linktree https://linktr.ee/nicolespindler on Facebook here Instagram @beyond_lifes_moments sign up for her author community monthly newsletter for all the latest updates here and you can find her new book Beyond Life’s Moments, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and where most books are sold. 

Joy Corner is an interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here