What Is Soul Consciousness?

My last blog post titled Awaken Your Inner Light prompted many people to write expressing curiosity about what Soul Consciousness means. I am delighted that many are asking these profound questions about our journey through life. The most common questions I receive from people are “What does Soul Consciousness mean?” and “How do you guide people as a Spiritual Life Coach?” and “What is the difference between spiritual coaching & therapy?”

Defining Soul Consciousness is akin to trying to define love or God. The concepts are abstract, vast and infinite. To understand spiritual concepts such as “soul, awaken, and light” is to first understand that these concepts do not reside in the physical world, nor the mental or emotional realm where we spend most of our time. These concepts live on the highest realm of consciousness called “soul” or “heart consciousness.” Some call this Christ Consciousness, Spirit or The Universe. Whatever you call it is your personal choice and comfort level. Whether you are religious or not, doesn’t matter. We are all souls. 

The soul is the realization of oneself, beyond body, heart, mind, and consciousness, and is present at all times. Our souls are within us, non-dual and beyond our physical form. The soul was here before we came here, and will live on when we are gone. 

When we learn how to tune into, and listen from this highest realm, we realize we have profound wisdom already inside of us. 

Soul consciousness is an experience of yourself in the highest realm, and the primary condition to experience this realm is to allow yourself to go there. In the “soul” realm lives unconditional love, compassion, trust and surrender and the highest virtues that we are seeking in this life. You can handle anything while residing in soul consciousness because there is no duality, only pure unconditional love resides here. When you are detached from the illusions of your mind, you are not worried about what is coming in the future, nor are you dwelling on the past. Rather, you remain in the moment you are in, in full acceptance, trust and unconditional loving. 

The bottom line is this….

Experiencing Soul Consciousness is an awakening to who we truly are. The more awake we are, the more conscious we are, the more clear we are, the better decisions we make, the more alive we feel.  All of which leads to more trust, compassion, empathy and love for ourselves and others. 

“How do you guide people as a Spiritual Life Coach?”

I begin by guiding my clients to get clear, and help them recognize that they are much more than their limited minds. They are far more than the goals they are trying to achieve. They are more than their minds and emotions. In other words, I assist them in Rising Up in Consciousness so that they live more from, or spend more time in, the highest realms rather than getting stuck in the lower ones. Once they are more clear, then they can make more powerful and profound decisions about their lives and take goal line actions from a higher place inside. 

Soul & heart is what differentiates my style of coaching from other coaches and therapy, hence my Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology, among numerous other modalities I’ve learned over the years. 

For those who ask, “How is coaching different from therapy?” I wrote a blog about that topic a couple of years ago called: Life Coaching vs Therapy.

I’ll close with a beautiful quote from author Joseph Campbell:

“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.”

This is why I am a Spiritual Life Coach - to support people in experiencing more aliveness, joy, self-worth, value, compassion, trust, and love from an authentic and empowering place inside of them. Witnessing transformation with myself and others has been my greatest joy and purpose in my life thus far. 

I hope this supports you on your journey. As always, feel free to reach out with questions or guidance. 

With love and light,

Laina

We often hear phrases such as “awaken to” or “rise up” or “be the light” in quotes, speeches, on social media, etc. Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem resonated with people on a deep level, and no surprise, these same phrases were interspersed throughout her beautiful poetry.  We all have had experiences of feeling more alive and energized by something or someone, but then what? Unfortunately, within a short time, most people go back to their daily lives without deeper inquiry, or keep scrolling on social media only for those moments of inspiration to fade away.

What if we were to stay in these moments longer, deepen into their meaning and allow them to integrate into our consciousness? 

Amazing things would happen. This is the beauty of doing powerful inner work, because when we become more conscious, it can be the beginning of a paradigm shift within ourselves. In other words, we begin to awaken. The phrase I use often with clients and in workshops is “Awaken Your Inner Light.”

What does it mean to “Awaken Your Inner Light?” 

This is an important question, and I will  explain it from my lens of understanding and use myself as an example.

Most people move through life using 3 levels of consciousness - physical, mental and emotional. We do physical things everyday - we go places, get things done, exercise, etc. We think thoughts and feel emotions all day long. There are other levels of consciousness too, such as unconscious and subconscious, but let’s skip those and perhaps save them for a future post. 

To understand “awakening, being the light and rising up” is to understand that these concepts don’t live in the physical world, or the mental or emotional realm where we spend most of our time. They live on the highest realm of consciousness called “soul” or “heart consciousness.” Some call this Christ Consciousness or The Universe. Whatever you choose to call it is your personal choice. The thing is, you can’t go out and get these concepts and put them inside of you physically, mentally or emotionally, because it won’t sustain or last for long. You can’t take a magic pill, hence the movie Limitless. The fundamental truth of all spiritually is that you can’t awaken from the outside because this light is already inside of you. You were born with it and have everything you need to thrive in life. The problem is the dark is in the way - negative thoughts, doubt, fear, etc. 

So, what is Soul Consciousness?

This may seem like a silly question, but perhaps it’s the most important question one can ask themselves. It’s part of the foundational work I do with coaching clients and in workshops. Are you curious about your soul? After all, it’s your soul! This is such a big concept that I decided my next blog post will be about Understanding Soul Consciousness. For now, let’s stay on track with understanding and defining both “awaken” and “light” and I will use myself as an example. 

Awaken:

The standard definition of “awaken” means to “rouse from sleep” which is also a perfect metaphor for the Spiritual definition which means: a shift in consciousness, an apperception of reality which had been previously unrealized. The culmination of such realizations is in the recognition of oneness with all of existence.

We can all relate to this. We have all “woken” up at various points in our lives, often triggered by a shocking or traumatic event - divorce, death of a loved one, a pandemic, etc. We tend to get a bit lost when we go through these experiences, especially if we try to go through them without support, because strong negative emotions are difficult and thoughts can seem overwhelming.

Yet, we feel better when we quiet the mind, rise up from our thoughts and balance our nervous system. This is why people practice meditation, yoga, do breathwork and numerous other healing modalities. This is just the beginning of awakening. But  to sustain awakening so that this becomes a consistent presence in your everyday life, requires more attention. 

Light: 

The standard definition of light is “the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible” or “an expression in someones eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood.” Again, these are also wonderful metaphors for the Spiritual definition of light which to me is “the illumination of higher intelligence, the source of goodness and ultimate reality.”

Light is constant. Our light doesn’t go out just as the sun doesn’t ever leave. Rather it is hidden from view by clouds or the earth's axis, and both are temporary. The light is always there and guides us through troubled times and challenges. I believe  in the core of my being that we are all LIGHT. Those on a spiritual path of awakening are to bring the dark to the surface in service to healing through this light that we all have inside at all times. 

Have I awakened to my Inner Light?

Yes, and I still am and always will be. Awakening Your Inner Light is not an event, or a destination to get to. It is an ever unfolding journey of becoming a higher version of you. It is a journey of remembering, that there is an inner knowing from a place deep inside that this is true. The good news is… you don’t need to live in an Ashram, or live like Buddah to learn this. It’s available to you right now, in this present moment as you read this. It only requires that you stop long enough to be with yourself in new ways, and/or seek guidance from a coach or a spiritual counselor, through courses or workshops.   

As for me, I began studying Spiritual Psychology 11 years ago when I was stuck, confused and borderline depressed about my life. Everything felt like it was lacking - my career, finances and relationships. I was doing physical things like working out, yoga, meditating, etc. I was thinking non-stop, mostly thoughts such as “it’s never enough, I should be doing more, I should be better.” Not surprisingly, I was feeling like shit and was burnt out - all. the. time. 

It wasn’t until I started practicing this higher realm of consciousness, soul consciousness, that things began to shift in miraculous ways. I began to like myself, trust myself, take pride in myself, have more fun, and eventually came to love myself from the inside out. Once I did this(and it was a practice over time) everything in my life began to improve. I began cultivating the career I have now and love. I began deepening in my relationships with loved ones, family and friends. I began making more money than I ever did in my life. Do I have moments and periods of doubt, confusion, upset, etc… absolutely. I experience these moments until I return to the light to remember the bigger picture of soul consciousness. Again, more in my next post, but for now:

Bottom line is this….

You are light

You have everything inside of you already

Dare to awaken more fully

You are far more magnificent than your mind tells you

Life is a journey. It can be magnificent if you choose and allow it to be. 

You are so worthy of exploring yourself on a deeper level. 

For more, I teach Awaken Your Inner Light at my retreats and in workshops. Feel free to write to me with questions. I would love to hear from you. 

With Love & Light,
Laina

We are 25 days into the new year and I am already feeling the need to stop, re-center myself, and start fresh. Being a Spiritual Life Coach doesn’t preclude me from upset, especially when our world feels like an intense roller coaster ride. 

Just when I was filled with hope for a new year, the insurrection happened, all while the pandemic is still raging in the US. These new virus strains are deeply concerning, and it’s looking like there may not be accountability at the highest levels of government for what happened at the capitol, or at least the country is split on it, and it makes my head spin. 

I don’t want to make this political. Rather, to share how I bring myself back into center. We can’t control what happens on the outside, we can only control our response. This isn’t easy. 

I believe we are all miraculous beings of light divinely connected to something bigger - some call it God, Spirit, the Universe, etc. Yet as humans, we are imperfect. We have a mind, which is miraculous and also limiting in part because of the “Ego.” 

The Ego’s is a function of the mind, and it’s job is to question, argue, debate, etc, all of which creates upset and confusion. Every one of us has the ability to work with our thoughts. Our darker thoughts serve a purpose and remember, they are temporary. It’s worthwhile to remember that we need our ego to some degree because it helps us to anticipate danger, rationalize and take care of ourselves. Here’s a great article which simplifies it.  

When we stay too long in the ego, we suffer. When we get lost in the trail of negative thinking, a ripple effect happens - we get depressed, have less energy, fall back into bad habits, and sometimes lash out at others. Some people ignore these feelings or suppress them, or bypass them, only for them to resurface later. 

We must remember to come back into balance over and over again. During the day of the riots, I was devastated, but from my view not surprised because this is what happens when bad behavior goes unchecked without accountability. Anyone with children understands this. When it happens at the highest levels of government, it’s very unsettling. My mind went wild and I was terrified of what this could evolve into. Has the ripple effect of what I perceive as perpetual lies and willful ignorance gone on for too long? Are these conspiracy theories out of control? No one knows for sure, but we wonder…... wonder happens in the mind. 

We must not stay in the mind for too long. 

We must find healthier ways of being with ourselves, especially our thoughts without bypassing them. For me, I did what I usually do - I went to my yoga mat to breathe, called in the light and came back into center. I felt a little better, but not for long, I needed more. So, I devoted more time, I stayed longer on my mat to remind myself over and over that:

• These feelings are real and they are mine

• Those ego thoughts were temporary and limiting 

• This too shall pass

• The world is complex and we are living in this moment right here, right now

• “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice” (MLK)

• I can’t control what I can't control 

• I can only do my best to live by example and be the light. 

• I will not bypass my feelings

• I am light and love

• I can and will continue to show up fighting for what I believe in, from a softer place. 

• I choose inner peace and balance

While I whole-heartedly have faith in the overall good in humanity, there is no doubt this will be another challenging year. Therefore, I will be triggered again and again, and only I can bring myself back into balance. For me, this means to create more space and do practices which can be fun too - taking longer walks, practicing self-care, reading uplifting material, watching inspiring movies, etc. I made a vow to myself that if I am working too much or get triggered by situations bigger than me, I will come back into balance with something soothing and relaxing. 

Whatever is triggering you, these are great practices. If you’ve lost your momentum on your New Year Intentions (diet, health goals, etc), it’s never too late to start again. Try some version of the above to bring yourself back into balance. If you need support, I am here to help,  through individual coaching or workshops. 

Remember, everything we want is an inside job. (Happiness, Success, Peace, etc)

I’ll close this blog post with a quote from the bright light that is Amanda Gorman:

“For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it.  If only we’re brave enough to be it.” 

See her entire poem “The Hill We Climb” here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz4YuEvJ3y4

I love this time of year. For me, the month of January has always been a time to slow down, refresh and reflect upon the previous year - the highs, lows and everything in between. We have endured plenty in 2020 - a devastating pandemic, social justice uprisings, and an anxiety ridden election.

It has always been my nature to find the light in times of struggle. What resonates with me the most from 2020 are the acts of compassion, inspiring stories and creative ideas put into action to enact positive change. This is how we evolve, and we are evolving. Sometimes growth is painful, yet I truly believe there is far more good in our world. This reminds me of a saying I often reflect upon:

“Compassion could not exist without suffering”

As part of my annual tradition to shift into the new year, I make it a point to find quiet time to write down all that I am grateful for from the previous year, often using my calendar to help remind me. When I do this, I am always amazed. So much happens in a year (even during a pandemic), and it’s so sweet to be reminded of my adventures and accomplishments. 

When we shift into gratitude, and allow ourselves to embrace it as a feeling, we experience grace. To me, grace is the exercise of love, kindness and mercy, cultivated from within. When we awaken into grace, everyone in our sphere of influence benefits. 

With this, my wish for you is to make your gratitude list. Before doing so, go through your calendar for the reminders. Then, take some quiet time, slow down, breathe, and close your eyes. Take just 2 minutes (everyone has 2 minutes!) to ask yourself the following questions: 

• What have I learned about myself this past year? 

• How am I evolving as a person?

• How can I better cultivate this forward into 2021?

If you took the time to do this, then in all likelihood, you feel better. Whether or not you decide to cultivate anything into 2021 is a choice only you can make -I hope you do!

I am optimistic about 2021. Sure, there are challenges ahead, and we will get through them. For the first time, my intentions for next year are not physical. I don't want anything. Rather, they are all internal experiences - greater depths of love, connection, community, collaboration, romance, laughter, success, and fun! More will be revealed as the year unfolds. For now, see below for upcoming events.

Blessings of love, health and abundance in 2021! 

Retreats are becoming increasingly popular and there’s a wide range of options for which kind of retreats one can attend - fitness retreats, yoga retreats, writing retreats, and more. Taking a typical vacation is always nice, yet taking time for a deeper experience to self-reflect and become more conscious about their life journey can be highly beneficial. The past few years have revealed enormous challenges and opportunities, including within ourselves for growth and expansion. Many people are exploring new ways to rid themselves of their old patterns, and looking for something more - a deeper experience in life - one that provides inspiration, guidance, and direction.

My retreats are similar in some ways, and unique in others depending on the location and time of year. They are designed to include a combination of exploring beautiful locations in nature, yoga and exploration of the self. Below are some reasons to make the commitment to yourself and answer the longing of your soul:

1. Get Clarity: Learn to look objectively at your life and determine a more clear path forward, one that answers the call of your heart. I promise it is worthwhile to explore whatever has been holding you back in your life.  

2. Distance: When we step away from our daily lives, slow down and create some space, it becomes easier to see how we got stuck and begin to see our way forward. Taking precious time away from the busyness of life to relax, restore and renew in mind, body, and spirit is essential.

3. Have A Breakthrough: It’s never easy to resolve conflict in the midst of clutter and distractions in our daily lives. Whether you are seeking a new business idea, a new relationship, self-love, inner peace, or anything else, often the answers you crave are right there, waiting to be discovered.. Sometimes you just need to get quiet enough inside, and be in a safe space.

4. Evolve:  I’ve dedicated my life and career to evolving from the inside out, to awaken to my purpose and potential. When we explore our lives through a more conscious, healthy lens, and learn practical ways to move forward, transformation is inevitable. 

5. Connect With Nature: The busy modern world of cell phones, social media have many of us wired-in and constantly stimulated. Taking time to unplug and walk along the beach or hiking trails makes all the difference in the world. Fresh air, negative ions, and being near plants and animals helps us to unwind and relax. There is nothing better than star-gazing in the night sky to gain some perspective on what is really important in our lives. 

6. Awaken Your Creativity: Revelation and inspiration happen in these moments, and solutions begin to appear. 

7. You Deserve It: Allow yourself to be taken care of… you deserve it! Women especially are hard-wired to be nurturers, often taking on the role of taking care of everyone else. Very often women become disconnected from their source and forget that when they nurture themselves first and learn to shine their light, everyone in their sphere of influence benefits.  

8. No planning on your end! Once you arrive for a retreat, we have already taken care of all of the details that typically cause stress while taking a trip - meals are planned, an itinerary will be ready for you with enough room for you to decide if you want more or less time for yourself. All activities are optional!

9. Excursions! Every retreat has activities planned to enjoy the location on site and off. Whether a snorkeling trip, a cooking class, hikes, visits to nearby towns and attractions, it’s included and planned with the intention to add to your experience. 

10. FUN! This is the best part! Expect laughter, meeting new, like minded people who are on their own journey of life, just like you. 

I am always amazed by the breakthroughs and transformations that occur during our spiritual healing retreats. When we come together united in the purpose of evolving, we lift each other up, and there is no limit to what we can accomplish. 

With Love, Laina

“Happiness is an inside job”

Success Is An Inside Job

If I had a nickel for every time I heard the following phrases: 

“If I had more money, then I would be happier.

OR

If this person was more X, then my life would be better.

OR 

If I had more time, then I could do X.

OR

If my body was thinner, then I would feel better.”

Is this really true?

If you say these things, then you are waiting for something to change. If you believe these statements, then you are not actively participating in your own personal transformation into happiness and success. Perhaps you are taking baby steps, but something is missing...

What is missing is….. YOU. 

Not the physical you, but rather the non-physical you which is your light, your energy, and a deeper sense of trust. In other words, who you truly are “inside.”

You’ve heard the stories and watched movies about people who made a ton of money, or did a tummy tuck, or took a pill (movie: Limitless) and had, on the surface - success. But they weren’t authentically successful or happy because they never truly made the effort to change their “inside.” Or, they tried but gave up too soon, or the method didn't work for them.

If this resonates in any area of your life, I invite you to consider that there is something lurking deep inside of you waiting to be heard and wanting to be discovered. Perhaps it’s confidence, self-worth, trust in yourself/God/Universe, etc. I can only promise that what is missing is not money, time, your partner, etc.

Again, what is missing is….. YOU. 

YOU have a physical form (a body). That is easy to see. But first and foremost, you are an energy form. Your energy vibrates and vacillates between light and dark. Where your energy goes depends on your thoughts and attitude. 

It’s very important to invest in the transformation of your thoughts, which transcend into your energy. 

For example, I could drink a glass of wine to temporarily feel better, but authentic and long lasting change doesn’t come from the outside in, it comes from the inside out. When I feel happy inside, I don’t need the wine. I could choose to have wine for fun, and always a minimal amount. My friends know I can’t handle more than one glass! Nor do I need more than one glass. 

When we invest in transforming our energy in positive ways, we make better decisions about our lives, bodies, and career. And as a result,  everyone else in our lives benefits from our inner glow. 

So why not learn how to feel better from the inside out?

Did you know you could retrain and rewire your own brain? You can. It takes practice and there are numerous modalities available for this - meditation is a common one and there are many processes I use with clients. One is NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programing) where clients learn to reprogram their wiring so that their old tendencies (negative thinking) begin to die out, and new programming gets rewired. It’s fascinating, it works and it’s the greatest gift one could give themselves. See what some of my clients are saying here. (INSERT TESTIMONIAL LINK)

Only you can choose to awaken to your inner light, and I pray more people and humanity as a whole begins to make this shift… it’s becoming more and more clear that our future success and happiness depends on it. 

With Love,

Laina

Traveling Safely During Covid 

When Covid began, I was in the midst of a travel year and then everything just stopped. For 7 months I worked from home and took advantage of the quality time I was given. But I missed traveling. Then, this summer one of my coaching clients who lives in Hawaii asked if I could do a Coaching Intensive with her. A Coaching Intensive is when a client and I meet somewhere (either a desert or beach location) and spend a full week experientially deepening into what they are learning. This devoted time helps clients anchor the learnings into their consciousness to become their way of being. Typically, we would meet somewhere away from their home to avoid any distractions, but my client lives in…. Hawaii!  

Who says no to Hawaii?

Fortunately, this client is retired and has the time and space, so our intenstive took place in Oahu, Hawaii. Once I decided to go, then fear kicked in. Fear was saying: “Is this careless? Selfish? How could this possibly work during a pandemic?” Then, Hawaii announced their Pre-Testing Program effective Oct 15th, 2020 which would allow visitors to travel to Hawaii if they test negative within 72 hours of arrival. Still, I would need to book my flight and take a risk that if I was positive, I would need to quarantine for 14 days in Hawaii. Plus, since I was traveling all the way from Hawaii, I decided to stop in Los Angeles for a week to see friends which turned into a mixed combination of excitement and…. more fear. 

Here’s the thing about fear….

Fear is not our enemy. Nor is fear something to ignore or hide from. It’s natural to feel fear and try to avoid it, but when fear keeps presenting itself, it’s time to slow down and listen to what it wants to say. 

Fear is always trying to tell us something. 

When we understand our fear, we can manage it. When fear is in the future, that is anxiety. A simple way of explaining anxiety is: fear of the unknown. So I decided to make it known and discovered I was afraid of hurting myself and others by not knowing the assurances that could make traveling feel safe. Instead of letting the fear consume me, I explored how the trip perhaps could work, plus remembering the bigger lessons of Covid.

I don’t believe COVID wants us to shut down, it wants us to Rise Up. 

I believe COVID is filled with lessons, in part to show humanity that we can’t live like we used to - with the hectic pace and unwavering demands of life. When we live this way, the energy this creates is overwhelm, exhaustion and causes all kinds of mental, emotional and physical illnesses. Now, we are learning to slow down, be more intentional, live with more awareness, and take care of ourselves and each other. For me, I take comfort in knowing that most airlines and people are being careful. And now, we are 10 months into Covid and scientists are quite confident that Covid will be with us until at least 2022, with or without a vaccine. I don’t want to stop living, I want to live differently, and right now that means being careful. 

So I used the fear to understand and decided that if I travel, I would only do so with lots of precautions and steps to keep myself and others safe. Here’s what I did:

• Wore a mask everywhere, social distancing, and disinfecting with wipes on planes, in car rentals, Airbnb, etc.

• Got tested 4 times during the trip - once before I left, twice while traveling, and one after my return home.

• Instead of hotels, I stayed in Airbnb’s to both limit anyone coming in and touch my belongings, plus to avoid having to leave for every meal. This saves money too!

• My client worked primarily outside. IF we went inside a house or car, or anywhere for that matter, then masks on. We did this for 3 days, then felt comfortable taking masks off.

• For any friends I see in Oahu, Maui and Los Angeles, I made sure we were in agreement about safety and shared any boundaries we had.

• Took extra vitamin supplements before and during travel. Best supplements for immunity are Zinc, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B complex and Turmeric.

Fortunately, I sat next to a doctor on one of my flights, he shared a few tips and points: 

• Wearing a quality mask is key. The Envo Mask is a new N95 where you can switch out the filter, and get your money’s worth OR the Jaanuu Mask is anti-microbial and more fashionable. Of course, the N95 and KN95 are also great.

• Put either Neosporin or Bacitracin around your nostril to help trap and kill any virus and to avoid inoculation. Any anti-bacterial ointment will do. 

• It’s really OK to travel as long as airlines and passengers are compliant. 

• Masks and social distancing are our best defense, plus wash hands!

Bottom line is… If we don’t face and confront our fear, it will only come back again. The longer we ignore it, the worse it gets and over time it can become debilitating - and turn into anxiety and/or depression. 

I truly believe the world can keep going, just slower and with more tender, love and care. I also realize not everyone will feel safe and we all have the right to make the best choice for ourselves. For me, I’ve accepted that this is going to be our new normal for a while so I plan to keep moving, just slower and with a lot more self care and awareness.

Again, isn’t this what 2020 has forced us to see and do? 

Mahalo

My calendar informed me that today was supposed to be the first day of my retreat in Mexico called “Relax & Renew”. After that I was supposed to fly to Italy for 7 weeks to live in Tuscany for a month, then lead a retreat in Umbria, then head south to wander around Rome for a while. This was my dream trip that I’ve been looking forward to for a long, long, time.

Was I “supposed” to go?

Apparently not - the Universe, God (or whomever you believe in) had other plans for me. It’s hard to put things into perspective when life gets challenging and overwhelming. While we can’t always control our physical experience or the things that are happening in the world, we can always control how we react to them.

Was I upset when I had to postpone these retreats and my dream trip? Yes absolutely, not only was I immensely looking forward to it, I was also losing future income. So, I allowed myself time and space to process everything until I eventually moved into acceptance. Acceptance is beautiful because in acceptance there is more clarity and with clarity comes greater perspective. With perspective, I was able to see the bigger picture and reframed my experience into what was truly happening.

The truth is these past 6 weeks I’ve had an opportunity to slow down and be in one place for a while, and connect with myself on a deeper level, and connect with family and friends on a deeper level. I allowed myself more time to do some inner work I was avoiding by traveling so much. I’ve also had an opportunity to look at my business through a new lens and make some decisions that will shift it in new directions I didn’t see before because I was moving around so much. I am exploring all of this with some trepidation and excitement.

Someday when the world starts moving again, I will be wiser and stronger for having this experience. So, in an ass backwards way, I say “Thank You, Quarantine.”

This is my silver lining.

What is your silver lining?

When I am scared and have a decision to make, I ask myself... does my choice come from love or fear?

This can be hard to do, especially when anxiety is mounting. Considering what is happening across the world with Coronavirus, it’s natural to worry. However, if we allow it, we could easily get consumed by fear. But the truth is, we have a choice when it comes to our reactions to our experiences. 

For me, I am supposed to be in Italy for seven weeks starting April 29th. I have two retreats coming up in April (Mexico) and May (Italy). Will these retreats happen? Will our flights be cancelled? Am I losing thousands of dollars? As a business owner, I want to handle this with the upmost care and consideration for my guests. Plus, I am flying to Florida tomorrow to visit my mom, who at 84 is high risk. Recently, I’ve been in two countries and two states. Do I still go and unknowingly infect her? 

While we each have our own situations, thoughts and emotions to contend with, what I know for sure is this: Fear is contagious and lethal to ourselves and society. When there is fear, we have a choice - either go with fear, and let it rule - or pause, acknowledge, then choose strength and love.

There is power is choosing love.

Choosing love takes courage and strength of heart. When I come from love, which encompasses trust, acceptance and surrender, everything seems to flow better. It is possible to feel anxiety, and then transform our emotions, because our emotions come from our thoughts. In other words, we can be with difficult feelings, then transform our thoughts to experience more ease.

I am doing my best to focus on what I want to see happen, rather than what I’m afraid of. I am choosing to be wise with my self-care practices, and to continue making the best decisions I know how.

This is the perfect opportunity to surrender what we cannot control, take care of ourselves, and make the most responsible and self-honoring choices we can make. We may not have all the answers and solutions, but we can practice and accept that we are doing the best we know how. 

In our humanity, our collective power starts with us, and our practices can turn us into a force of love and strength. To me, this mindset is far more contagious than Coronavirus.

So my friends... please stay focused on love. 

Sending healing prayers to all around the globe for optimal healing, peace and harmony. 

Love,
Laina

P.S.

As of today, my retreats are still happening. In fact, someone just signed up today for Mexico. Plus, see below as there is a date change for the January 2021 New Year Renewal Retreat in Sayulita, Mexico.

Mexico: January 10th - January 16th, 2021
NEW YEAR RENEWAL RETREAT:
Relax and restore for 6 nights at Haramara - an exclusive and intimate luxury seaside location recently named one of the Top 10 Retreat Centers in the world. Nestled above the Pacific Ocean on 12 lush acres of tropical jungle with a private beach, this retreat location is magnificent. 
Early Bird Pricing Ends May 1st, 2020

What if the meaning of life was simply to experience "aliveness" as much as possible?  

What is aliveness?  Aliveness is being fully awake and present moment by moment to our magnificence as humans, and all that is true.  

What is true?   What is true is that we are far more capable as humans than we realize.  Our minds, hearts and bodies are capable of experiencing immensely greater magic, joy and healing than we realize.  Sadly, most of us go through life barely questioning this.  Some may start on this path of inquiry, only to discontinue because it’s seems too daunting, or worse, not possible.

What if anything that negates the experience of aliveness isn’t real?  In other words, sometimes we just feel like crap... is that real?  In a sense it is, because you feel it, therefore yes.  However, any negative emotions that we temporarily feel are just a function of our mind (the ego) that tries to convince us that it’s true.  For example, let’s say something didn’t turn out the way you had hoped.  Then, your ego mind tells you “you’re a failure!”  Would you believe this thought/inner voice?  Most people do.  Let’s consider that you just believed your own negative thought then started walking though life with an underlying belief that you are a failure.  It’s only real if you believe it to be true.  When did your mind get to be in charge and dictate your life, beliefs and actions?  When you allowed it to.  When you gave it permission.  This is a choice.  You CAN choose which thought to believe and which ones not to.  A simple truth is:  “You need your mind, but you are NOT your mind.”

Well then who am I?  This is totally complex but in simple terms,  you are NOT your mind, you are not your thoughts and you don’t have to walk though life believing anything contrary to your absolute truth, which is that you are love.  

Say that again?  Yes, you are love.  You were born one day as a magnificent little baby filled with possibilities.  Then life happened and you were molded and shaped by life.  And somewhere along the way you forgot that you were love.  You forgot your magnificence.  You allowed your mind, not on purpose of course, to take charge and dictate your experiences and choices. 

Then who’s in charge?  Love is in charge.  Your heart, your spirit and your ability to attune to the immense love that exists within you.  It is your birthright.  Once you tune into this most precious truth, you will begin to be kinder to yourself and others, then make better choices.  

What if I can’t do that?  You can.  I promise.  Just try.  

xo, 

Laina 

One of the most common questions I get from those who are curious about life coaching is... "What is the difference between a 'coach' and a 'therapist'?"  It's a great question and an important distinction.  First, both are viable options for those seeking to enact change in their lives.  Furthermore, both support clients in working through unconscious beliefs in service to gaining a better understanding of themselves in order to improve the quality of their lives.  While I will do my best to clarify the distinctions between the two, there is no doubt I will be remiss in clarifying certain aspects.  After all, navigating the mind, emotions, the conscious, and the unconscious is a highly complex process.  Below I highlighted some key distinctions:

Therapists primarily delve into the past as a means to navigate the unconscious and conscious in the present moment.  Therapists are great at connecting the dots of conscious/unconscious patterns and life experiences in order to better understand the present which certainly can positively impact the future.  More self awareness = more consciousness of their choices in their every day lives.  Yet, therapists are limited within the confines of the APA (American Psychological Association) as to what they can say, cannot say, can do and cannot do.  These confines can be limiting especially in regards to focusing on the future, which requires action, and sometimes risk.  In therapy, end goals are not always clearly defined, which means one can be in therapy for a long time, and sometimes their entire lives.  There is tremendous value in having someone to talk to and work through your problems and I highly recommend having someone to talk with.  We live in a complicated world in complicated times, and just about everyone can benefit from having a professional help them unravel what they don't know about themselves.  Yet, for someone who wants to take action, make a powerful impact and swift change in their lives, life coaching may be a better option.  To enact a truly transformational shift requires much more then just talking through your issues. This is where a Life Coach can play an important role.  

Life Coaches.  Before I attempt to describe a Life Coach, please note they run the gamut in terms of their focus, capability and value.  There are incredible coaches and unfortunately terrible ones out there.  Life Coaching is an unregulated industry therefore it's critically important to do your homework before choosing one.  Ex: training, schooling, experience, testimonials and your sense of trust and personal connection.  Also, some coaches have a specific niche and focus.  Life Coaching provides a discipline designed to inspire and motivate one to achieve more than they thought was possible for them.  The 2 key differences that Life Coaching provides is that it is future driven and action oriented.

Life Coaches focus on a future end goal (something to create).  We actively work in the present over an identified period of time with this end goal in mind.  A good coaching relationship is action-oriented and a client should be ready for change.  Personally, this is how I work with clients and I can't speak specifically for other coaches.  Within my first few sessions with a client, an in-depth life summary is completed, unconscious blocks are identified, a means to resolve those blocks are understood, practiced and an objective is created.  We focus primarily in the present, yet we are future driven and delve into the past as needed.  Then we take action which is the 2nd key difference.  

Life Coaches take action:  You can't possibly enact change doing the same thing over and over.  You must be willing to challenge yourself in new ways.  Just like someone would hire a personal trainer for their body, a nutritionist for their diet, a sports coach for sports, etc., we often need a guide in our lives providing a compass to direct and redirect when making significant internal changes.  Plus, with a really good life coach, you'll have someone who truly cares about you and is committed to your success.  Personally, I work hard for my clients and care deeply about them.  I work with only 10 clients at a time to allow for a quality experience.    

For the sake of this article I am focusing more on how I personally coach clients.  From my personal perspective, I consider myself more of a "deep" coach, with a Spiritual (not religious) perspective and skill set.  My primary goal is helping those who are stuck in patterns wanting/trying to break through something new, in service to creating a new experience.  A quality Life Coach is equipped and trained to "heal" past traumas and hurts.  There is no way to make major transformational change without healing old patterns and sometimes those patterns are attached to limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves.  We all have them in a variety of ways, some deeper than others.  

Again, both Life Coaching and Therapy are great options, it just depends on the depth of the issue and the amount of change one wants to experience.  As a coach, I interview potential clients before working with them.  If I determine the potential client isn't yet ready for a coaching contract, I will suggest other options for them to consider, and sometimes that option is to seek therapy.

Bottom line, Life Coaching is more action oriented and future driven, it involves commitment and there is an end goal in mind.  We are striving for an outcome within a specified time frame.  I work with clients in either 3 or 6 month contracts, plus I offer a 1 Day Intensive.  All are great for people who are hungry for change, ready to show up for themselves in a whole new way and have the courage to look within.  It is powerful work and can be really FUN to take steps to a newer, more magnificent version of you!  

For those who want to explore a coaching partnership with me, check my website at lainaflorio.com for more information and to book an exploratory call with me.  I work with clients in the US and Internationally via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, phone or in person in Los Angeles.  

Click here for a Tony Robbin's article on Life Coaching vs. Therapy

When I was a little girl and someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my response was always some version of a "helper" - whether a nurse, a teacher, a veterinarian, etc.  Years later, I received my undergraduate bachelors degree in Psychology and while I loved the philosophy of personal work, I intuitively I knew at 23 years old, that I didn't have the "life experience" to be a therapist.

Then, life happened and I ended up in the corporate world of fashion retail management, primarily leading teams of people - motivating, inspiring, training, learning and evolving.  While it was certainly a helping profession and I enjoyed it, it wasn't quite enough.  I was craving deeper, more meaningful work serving others.  I just didn't know how, what or when.  As the years went on I kept questioning my purpose and kept asking the same questions: "Who am I?  What is my purpose? And, how can I make a meaningful contribution to the world?"  I was excited at the idea of taking a leap of faith into something new, yet feeling both scared to take a risk, and admittedly I was attached to the security of a guaranteed paycheck.  Being truly honest, I was terrified because deep down I knew in order to heal others, I needed to heal myself first.  

Like everyone else on the planet, I had to overcome really big hurdles.  Some of these challenges seemed too daunting to face head on.   I didn't truly know my value and worth as a person, or as a woman.  During most of my 20's I felt lost, without an inner compass guiding me, or an external one for that matter.  I was in a long term relationship that wasn't good for me, worked too much and ached to do more meaningful, purposeful work.  I was great at pretending everything was OK when it wasn't, when truthfully I was craving deeper connections in my relationships and experiences.  On some level, I knew this lack of connection existed in me, yet I wasn't ready to dive deep into fixing myself.   My 30's became an exploration of self, courageously taking a closer look at my life, my inner blocks and so called "demons"... the parts of me I kept hidden. Somehow I knew that in order to change my external world, I needed to transform my internal world.  

My turning point:

My career ended.  I wasn't sure what was next for me.  I didn't know where to live or how to kickstart a new career.  I worried about money and was in the midst of a major transformational shift.  I was confused and scared.  I would try new things but would inevitably end up back out with excuses (unconscious fears) as to why something wouldn't work - such as, not enough money, time, etc....and they were all excuses.  I was spinning my wheels, making the same mistakes over and over again, all in a different form.  

What did I do? 

I woke up and started doing even deeper transformational work.  I attended workshops, read books, worked with great coaches, practiced yoga, traveled to Nepal, and hiked the Himalayas for 2 weeks.  I absorbed all the tools and information available to me.  I worked hard at healing my inner blocks, unconscious beliefs and perceived limitations.  In 2014, I graduated with a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology with an emphasis in Consciousness, Health and Healing.  By this time I was coaching clients part-time and loving it.  

And now.....

I have the career I dreamed of and make more money with every year that passes.  I have deeper, more meaningful relationships with EVERYONE in my life.  I love my home in Beverly Hills and the majestic beauty of California.  I travel to amazing places, do yoga every single day and volunteer on a weekly basis.  I meditate to keep myself grounded and focused.  Is everything perfect?  Nope.  Life throws curveballs all the time but now I embrace them as an opportunity to learn something new and grow further.  I am happy from the inside out.  And the best part is... I get to help others to awaken to their own greatness and experience a more fulfilling life. As an online spiritual life coach, I can travel when I want to, and work from anywhere. It’s magical.  

Bottom line is this.....

You don't need a 2 week trip to Nepal or a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology to manifest change... but you do need an inner compass and an external guide, someone to support and nurture you with honesty, integrity and yes....love.  This is where I come in.  I am the compass and the loving guide.  I help you tune into your soul's calling, and help you clarify and commit.  I work hard for my clients and expect them to work hard as well.  Your life is worth it and you deserve the best.  For the longest time, I held the belief that major transformation is scary and daunting, until I realized it can be fun, joyful and uplifting!   It is such an honor for me to support others in manifesting their own success in their lives.

The reality is.... we are all dealt a different hand in this game of life.  It's up to each one of us to learn the game, find our path, navigate the obstacles and ultimately learn to thrive despite the obstacles that will inevitably cross our paths. 

As I look back and connect the dots, it becomes more clear I was always preparing for what I do now and wouldn't trade a day of my life, my former career and even many of the obstacles I faced along the way.  They all shaped me into the person I am.  I learned invaluable skills in business and leadership training that still serve me today.  I knew as a kid and now more so as an adult that serving others in their growth and development is my life's purpose - which is to bring greater meaning, purpose, light, happiness and joy to others.