– What is your mission?
– I am sure that every person on this planet has a mission. We do not invent it and do not assign it to ourselves. We just follow a certain path, perform important tasks and certainly give a lot of energy to the world, and first of all to people. Our actions have an impact on the lives of other people. Personally, I help them get on the path to health, youth and beauty. I teach them how to do this in a way that does not kill themselves, but to support their bodies throughout life and in different life circumstances.
– How did your interest in functional medicine begin? How did you realised that this was your calling?
– To be honest, I didn’t think it was a vocation at all. It was just that I fell in love with chemistry at school, I fell in love with chemistry, and then I chose universities for admission where I had to pass an exam in this subject. As it turned out, these were mostly metallurgical professions, or something like a laboratory assistant, or, what I was more interested in the medical field. That’s how I ended up at a medical University, but I quickly realised that removing internal organs from patients with the last hope of saving them was not for me. I didn’t want to save lives, when it was too late, when timely treatment was either not provided or did not help. That’s how I came to understand that my area of expertise is preventive medicine. Because it works effectively, it really helps, it prevents diseases, and I like it. I started looking for ways to help me delve deeper into this topic and came to the to the conclusion that biochemistry is the key to everything. For some reason, it is not surprising that this is my favourite subject. In addition, all functional medicine is built on biochemistry. And then I started to develop myself – studying in different countries of the world, attending seminars, courses, and trainings. I was so I was so passionate that I still can’t stop. Probably, from that moment on working in this area has become my vocation.
– What are the most important milestones in the development of the Dr.Tolstikova brand?
– I think that the creation of my Instagram page was a turning point in my practice. Before that, I was Dr Tolstikova, but somewhere in a narrow circle that was gradually expanding through word of mouth. Of course, I practiced, had patients even among officials, but my media face was not yet a media one. When my Instagram page appeared and I started filling it with useful information, my experience grew, and along with it, my popularity grew, and I was approached by famous athletes began to contact me. At the same time, I realised that a lot of people don’t know even the most basic things about know even the most basic things about health. So I took up teaching and soon started teaching and soon started an online school called the by Dr Tolstikova. This project has been successfully operating for five years and graduated more than ten thousand students. However, it is currently has been suspended. An even larger project is being prepared to replace it, which will provide more in-depth knowledge – the School is growing into an Academy.
– What stage of your career was particularly challenging for you?
– I can’t say that all stages of my career are easy, because everything I do I do is actually a movement against the system. In this case, you always face difficulties. The difficulties of marketing, pharmaceuticals, protocol medicine, dissent. It is quite difficult to overcome all this resistance. However, I’m used to working in this mode and going on my way, so it’s no longer a challenge for me. I’m just developing, looking ahead and staying the course. So, probably the most difficult thing for me psychologically difficult for me was the closure of my School. Moreover, not because it is ineffective or does not benefit people. No. It’s about different views on things with my business partner.
– How does work on a new brand product begin?
– With the creation of a team. This is the most important thing, because a lot depends on the team. If people get infected with your idea and energy, then it just multiplies, scales up and turns into a fantastic project. In other words, figuratively speaking, you need to build a ship and put people who will move in the same direction. Of course, this team must be made up of like-minded people with common views and values. They should be united by a common goal aimed at achieving results.
– What do you like to do in your free time?
– I like to be quiet, I like to be alone, I like to watch something romantic and read something lyrical. In other words, I like to do something sincere, emotional, exciting – something that brings joy and pleasure. Because I spend most of my time working with patients. This is also very important to me. But we must not forget about relaxation and recovery. And, of course, I spend my free time with my child. This is another new stage of development when you realise that there are things you cannot control, and therefore you can and must accept everything as it happens. In short, to trust The universe.
– From the point of view of a functional medicine professional, where does the path to health begin?
– The path to health begins with choosing yourself, loving yourself, and understanding and realising that “everything around you is the Self”. That is, if you understand that such a resource as your health – physical and mental – depends only on you, then everything you create will be equal to this resource. In simple words, your entire life depends on your health. If you don’t have any resources, neither mental nor physical, you can’t create anything, even with a great desire, because you don’t know how to support yourself, how to restore yourself and how to live your life. We spend too much energy on the opinions of others: what will people say? How will they treat me? Meanwhile, priceless minutes of our own life and youth are passing us by. It is important to realise this. Therefore, the path to health begins with the person himself, with self-love, with faith in himself, with his adequate self-esteem and self-worth.
– What character traits have helped you to improve and grow?
– Perhaps the lack of another option. You know, like “Who else but me?”. I’ve always had slogans like “Do it, think later”. I also really like Fidel Castro’s saying that we will always have time to give up, we just have to do our best first. I have adopted it and it really helps me in my life. I know very well that in order to achieve something, you have to make an effort. Probably my main virtue and the character trait that creates me is strength. The strength to be yourself, the power of stubbornness, the power to go where you want to go, and the power to ignore everyone else.
– What, in your opinion, is the main secret (formula) of success? Your ways of solving problems, dealing with routine and troubles.
– To be honest, I don’t have any secrets or “success formulas from Dr Tolstikova”. I just do what I want to do. When I feel bad, I live it, and I don’t pretend that everything is fine. No – I feel bad, so leave me alone. But I don’t last long in this state. I don’t like to live in negativity, in victimhood, and to shift the responsibility for my life to someone else. As soon as you love yourself, you will love the rest of your life and not waste time thinking about any problems or troubles. After all, everything passes, and it’s up to us to decide what is worthy of attention in our lives and what is not worth thinking about. A problem can cease to be a problem if you change your attitude to it.
– Do you consider yourself a person who has achieved success?
– Let’s just say that I am not one of those people who talk about their success to the whole world. I am one of those people who believe that if you are in love with what you do, you will always succeed. Those who give the world a better version of themselves and rethink their lives and thoughts. And those who make a choice in favour of their health.
– What are you reading? What three books have changed your outlook on life?
– Unfortunately, I have been reading very little fiction lately. Mostly medical fiction, and I simply don’t have time for anything else. A long time ago, about twelve years ago, my worldview was greatly influenced by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s unfinished work The Citadel. Perhaps that’s why I always mention it in my books. And also The Power of the Now by Eckhart Tolle. These are very cool two books that I recommend to everyone to read. Of course, now there are many interesting novelties in the world of fiction, from which you can take something useful for yourself. But for better or worse, nothing teaches us better than our own life and experience.
