New Regular Feature ~ Monthly Mentor Series Kicks Off February 4th!
Last year I interviewed five women for the “Women Who Inspire” series; this included Christy Turlington Burns, Gabrielle Bernstein, Tara Sophia Mohr, along with others — and it was a hit. I had an amazing time putting it together and it was clear that you all loved it as well. We felt inspired and many of you discovered new mentors.
Recently, I contemplated firing up the series again, but decided to take it a step further. Today I am excited to share details about a new regular feature, the Monthly Mentor Series, a spin-off of the Women Who Inspire series.
The Monthly Mentor Series will feature Q&A’s with both men and women from a variety of different backgrounds. I will feature authors, business coaches, psychologists, spiritual gurus, and more. There are so many individuals out there that have amazing and world-changing work they are doing, and I want to help them spread that message and make it easier for you to receive it.
I’ll be kicking off the series in February with Tara Sophia Mohr.
Stay tuned for am amazing Q&A on Monday, February 4th!
Women Who Inspire Series Recap
With the first week of January behind us, I wanted to write a few words about the Women Who Inspire series we posted last week – and share my gratitude to both the women who I interviewed, and to you, our readers.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the idea for the series came to me fairly close to the date of publication, just before the holidays. I was unsure if anyone would be able to find time to share their thoughts, and am happy that the five lovely ladies whom I interviewed were excited to participate.
The goal for the week was to provide a boost of inspiration right at the beginning of the year, because many of us feel a sense of change and progress in the air. The women interviewed all lived vastly different lives from the ones they are currently living. They made a change, took the leap, and are now living their dreams – and we wanted to send that great energy your way.
From the responses and feedback we received, the message came across loud and clear. We thank YOU for reading and sharing, and hope that you take advantage of some of the great resources we provided. With the first week of January behind us, it is time to push full-steam ahead towards our goals and dreams, and to keep in mind that the universe is working with us, not against us.
(Contests are still open for Gabby & Goddess Leonie, and there are still a few days to make a donation to Every Mother Counts’ Crowdrise challenge here).
Women Who Inspire Series, Day 5 ~ An Exclusive Q&A with Goddess Leonie Dawson (& a Giveaway!)
“I believed (and still believe) that every woman in the world needs a circle. That this world would be changed if we remembered to circle again together as women.” – Leonie Dawson
Editor’s Note: Goddess Leonie is my go-to goddess when I need a dose of positivity, a helping hand with creativity, and of course, for business advice. I hope you enjoy learning about her, and take advantage of her amazing Goddess Circle and courses, you won’t regret it!
Australian native Leonie Dawson, who describes herself as “passionate and spirited,” has brought the term goddess to a new audience. At the age of 27 Leonie launched the Goddess Circle, a women’s community for creatives, which has turned into a thriving space where women across the world congregate together to share their passions, learn from each other, and grow together.
Leonie began her career as a visual artist, and published her first book by the age of 22. She has now managed to successfully combine her passion for art with business and spirituality on her website Goddess Guide Book. Leonie has released several e-courses including Become a Business Goddess, meditation kits and workbooks. The topics range from organizing your home to detoxing your body – each include meditations, videos, posters, and more. They are visually pleasing and easy to follow!
Leonie’s “strategic musings and practical wisdom” have been featured on Tiny Buddha and Problogger, as well as spiritual-themed magazines, and three of SARK’s top selling books.
In addition to her regular courses, since welcoming her daughter she has also shared inspirational ideas on creating art with children and often discusses parenting-related topics. Her approach to parenting is laid-back and fun, perfectly in line with all of her other creations.
To learn more about Goddess Leonie Dawson visit her website or follow her on twitter @GoddessLeonie. Below is our Q&A with Goddess Leonie.
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TCP – You are undoubtedly living your passion. Would you share with us what ignited the spark within you that has led you to your work today?
LD – The moment I stepped into a sacred women’s circle.
I was 21.
And I knew I was home. Instantly.
I knew I would be doing this work for the rest of my life.
I knew women’s circles were the thing I had been waiting for.
TCP - How do you remain authentic and true to yourself in your work when everyday obstacles arise?
LD – I sit outside beneath the sky.
I listen to the wind.
I get centred.
I ask Great Spirit what I need to know.
And I think of what my mentors would do.
And only then do I move.
I don’t want to react.
I want to move from my centre, my spirit, my source.
To walk my talk, and be a living expression of Great Spirit.
That’s my intention. That’s my vision.
Somedays I might suck at it, but I always return to the vision, to growing to where I want to be.
TCP – What advice do you have for those seeking to find their “purpose” or live their passion, but perhaps they are finding themselves at a roadblock or feel that they are on the wrong path?
LD – Play. Explore. Adventure.
When I didn’t know, I tried out everything.
Kept playing + moodling. Studied everything I adored under the sun.
Tried making lots of different kinds of art. Went to gatherings.
Until I found my home.
TCP – Would you like to share any projects that you are currently working on with our readers?
LD – Ooooooh! Sending the 2012 Creating your Goddess Year workbook +
planner out into the world… renovating my Creative Caravan… and
planning a brainstorming retreat with my assistant who is flying
around the world to be here!
Life is always full + awesome.
TCP – Finally, you’re work is undoubtedly rewarding on many levels. What is the most rewarding aspect in sharing your truth with others?
LD – I just adore those moments of seeing a woman light up. Of her hearing the words she needs to hear… seeing what she needs to see… for her to remember she is a Goddess.
GIVEAWAY
Today we are giving away TWO copies of Goddess Leonie’s 2012 Creating Your Goddess Year Workbook! (Download/Print)
To Enter:
1. Leave a comment below sharing your top creative/business/health goal or intention for 2012!
2. Follow The Conscious Perspective on Facebook HERE.
CONTEST IS CLOSED!
Congratulations to Kim Corrigan-Oliver and Desiree Fawn!
Women Who Inspire Series, Day 4 ~ An Exclusive Q&A with Christy Turlington Burns
Editor’s Note: Today we will be focusing on two inspirational women – Christy Turlington Burns & CNN Hero of the Year, Robin Lim.
Christy Turlington Burns has been an inspiration to me for some time. When I first began brainstorming The Conscious Perspective, it was my hope to feature her advocacy and mobilization organization Every Mother Counts. Perhaps one day, I thought to myself, I would even have the opportunity to interview her about the work she was doing.
This past September I tuned in to the Mashable Social Good Summit where I learned even more about what EMC truly represents. In the interview Christy revealed the inspiration behind her advocacy for global maternal health - a potentially life-threatening complication upon delivering her daughter eight years ago. She began working with CARE and (RED) which led her to her directorial debut, No Woman, No Cry – a film that shares the stories of four women in different areas of the globe, bringing forth a deeper sense of compassion for the cause.
I am sure you can see why it was a clear choice for me to ask Christy to participate in this series, and I am thrilled she accepted – you will love reading her responses below!
Though my interview with Christy would have been amazing on it’s own – I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to talk about Christy’s hero – Ibu Robin Lim. Fans of the CNN Heroes program may recognize the name – she recently took the top honor of CNN Hero of the Year for 2011 for her work in Bali, Indonesia.
Robin is a hero in the true sense of the word. After a series of tragic events including the death of her sister during childbirth, she and her family packed up from their home in the US where she practiced as a midwife, and headed to Bali. In 1995 she founded Bumi Sehat, a non-profit organization which runs clinics that provide free prenatal care, birth services and more to the local communities. She has also traveled to other countries to help after earthquakes, including Haiti after the major earthquake nearly two years ago. You can learn more about Robin’s work here, and watch her CNN Hero special here.
“Every mother counts and healthcare is a human right.” ~ Ibu Robin Lim
We recently shared that Mozilla has partnered up with Crowdrise in a challenge for celebrities. Christy’s organization EMC is taking part in this challenge in order to raise funds for a new clinic in Bali, so that Robin can continue her work helping those who need it.
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Below is our exclusive interview with Christy Turlington Burns where she shares her thoughts on being authentic and living your purpose.
TCP – You are undoubtedly living your passion. Would you share with us what ignited the “spark” within you that has led you to your work today?
CTB – “I consciously explored many interests through my life which has led me to many career endeavors and a very full life! Its the culmination of all these experiences that has put me on my current path and not any one moment over any other. There has been a continuity that stemmed from an intention that began as a little girl living in a California suburb. The intention to live a life of purpose. Intention is a powerful thing and should not be underestimated. If one seeks, one will find -in time…”
TCP – How do you remain authentic and true to yourself in your work when everyday obstacles arise?
CTB – “Authenticity has always been important to me. It’s something I continue to strive for but admittedly it’s pretty difficult to be truly authentic in every moment. I can be quite critical of myself in those moments when I am not. Self realization is a life goal for me. Until then, I’m just practicing…”
TCP- What advice do you have for those seeking to find their “purpose” or live their passion, but perhaps they are finding themselves at a roadblock or feel that they are on the wrong path?
CTB – “I think developing a spiritual practice like yoga is an excellent way to get closer to one’s purpose. It was through yoga and meditation that I began to realize my potential.”
TCP – Would you like to share any projects that you are currently working on with our readers?
CTB – “Last year I founded an organization after completing my first documentary film called No Woman, No Cry I founded an organization called Every Mother Counts. EMC is essentially an advocacy and mobilization designed to increase education of and support for maternal and child health. Our aim is to continue to engage new audiences to join a movement to fight for the right to health for girls and women who seek maternity care.”
TCP – Finally, you’re work is undoubtedly rewarding on many levels. What is the most rewarding aspect in sharing your truth with others?
CTB – “Being a part of a collective reaching to attain the highest possible standard of living. Motherhood is a sisterhood with arms so powerful and healing that it holds the future of the world we all share.”
Source: Every Mother Counts, CNN Heroe’s & Bumi Sehat
Women Who Inspire, Day 3 ~ An Exclusive Q&A with ‘Spirit Junkie’ Gabrielle Bernstein (& a Giveaway!)
Every now and again you come across someone who beams with positivity and love – this is exactly how I felt when I first watched Gabrielle Bernstein on one of her signature Vlog’s. Way back in August of last year I shared a link to Gabby’s ‘Relationships Are Assignments” post on Intent.com, and immediately I was hooked on her A Course In Miracles-inspired take on the people and events that come our way.
For those who have yet to hear of Gabby, her journey began many years ago after trading in her partying ways for immersion into the popular metaphysical text, A Course in Miracles. I recently tuned in to her TEDx talk where she describes how she was literally pulled toward the text while at the bookstore. It is an inspiring watch!
Her time spent learning ACIM led to a new career teaching meditation to large groups, and coaching others towards finding fulfillment in their lives. Her first book Add More Ing to Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness
In addition to her books, speaking engagements, coaching and writing for blogs around the web, Gabby has also launched an community called Her Future. The community provides a space for women to connect to talk about health and nutrition, share their blogs, connect for business purposes, and more. It is a wonderful community filled with supportive women that are there to help one another.
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You can read our exclusive Q&A with Gabby Bernstein below, and read all the way to the bottom to WIN a copy of Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles!!
TCP – You are undoubtedly living your passion. Would you share with us what ignited the spark within you that has led you to your work today?
GB – “Through my own personal journey of transforming my fearful projections I was guided to teach others to do the same. As a student of metaphysics I’ve come to live in a much more serene, centered, abundant state. How dare I not teach others how I got here.”
GB – “Though I’m perceived as a teacher I am always a student first. As a student I practice the principles I teach in all of my affairs. Each moment of my life offers me spiritual assignments to strengthen my authenticity. Because I’m committed to showing up for these assignments I remain centered in my truth regardless of the given circumstances.”
GB – “I believe our true purpose is to heal our mind. When we restore our mind back to love then we have clear direction on what to do in the world. When our mind is blocked by fear we’re blocking our purposeful direction.”
GB – “I’m about to launch my new meditation album called MediDating – Meditations for Fearless Romance. I’m also in the midst of writing my third book entitled, The Lovetarian Way – A Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Miraculous Change.”
GB – “It is an honor to do what I do. The most rewarding moments are when I receive tweets, emails and facebook messages from people who have been transformed by the work. My response is always, “I didn’t change your life. You did…”
‘Spirit Junkie’ GIVEAWAY!
TO ENTER:
1. Leave a comment below sharing your favorite inspirational quote!
2. Follow The Conscious Perspective on Facebook
Contest is now closed
CONGRATS TO VICTORIA! Please contact theconsciousperspective@gmail.com within 48 hours to provide your shipping info.
Thank you! (I am having some problems displaying the Random.org image but I will post as soon as I can get it working!)
Women Who Inspire Series, Day 2 – Featuring Author & Personal Growth Teacher Tara Sophia Mohr
Editor’s Note: Today is Day 2 of our Women Who Inspire series. Click here to follow along with the complete series.
I am unable to recall exactly how I first stumbled on Tara Sophia Mohr‘s website Wise Living, but I am certain it had something to do with one of her amazing and inspiring posts about living your truth. I then signed up for her newsletter and ended up participating in the Girl Effect campaign, in which she organized hundreds of bloggers together to shine the spotlight on a major world issue.
Tara has revealed that she grew up with parents who taught her to respect fellow human beings, and live from a space of compassion. Her words through both her writing on her blog and in her book of poetry convey this warmth and provide inspiration to those reading.
On her website you can find incredible writing which focuses on helping women to make their “unique contribution” to the world, including “10 Rules for Brilliant Women,” and “How to Recognize Your Calling“. One of the most incredible offerings from Tara however, is the six month course called Playing Big that I believe is an amazing opportunity to help those who are looking to hone their “Big” ideas and goals. Tara shares more about this below.
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We hope you enjoy our exclusive Q&A with Tara Sophia Mohr of Wise Living. She had some amazing wisdom to pass on!
TCP - You are undoubtedly living your passion. Would you share with us what ignited the spark within you that has led you to your work today?
TSM – “I like your way of putting it: “What ignited the spark?” because I believe that for all of us, the spark is there. We don’t have to create it. We just have to get it blazing again.
For me, there was no one magic thing that reignited the spark. It was many things, braided together. It was the pain of not living my dreams, and my desire to get out of that pain. It was missing my creative life more and more intensely over time, until it f became worth it to me to write creatively, even though that felt like risking finding out (or thinking myself) that my writing was terrible. It was having some quiet, mellow years to recover from competitive, left-brain dominant, patriarchal educational environments –where I got somewhat lost from my own voice. And it was most certainly all the love and support from dear people in my life.
All of that played a role in giving me the willingness to step back over on to my own side, to be on the side of my dreams. That meant changing my career significantly – but not right away. At first it just meant listening inwardly to my own dreams, starting to write again, and getting trained as a coach.”
TCP – How do you remain authentic and true to yourself in your work when everyday obstacles arise?
TSM – “Sometimes, I don’t. I think the work for all of us – when it comes to anything in our lives, is about awareness and course-correction, not perfection. So I’d say I don’t remain authentic all the time. But I do try to notice it quickly when I’ve gone off course and come back more quickly – I see that as the goal.”
TCP – What advice do you have for those seeking to find their “purpose” or live their passion, but perhaps they are finding themselves at a roadblock or feel that they are on the wrong path?
1. Give up the idea that you have one purpose. That idea hurts us more than it helps us, I think, because we end up waiting around for the one right mega-answer. It’s been liberating and inspiring to see my fundamental purpose as bringing light and love into the world. Then I can be open and flexible about the different ways I get to do that at any given time into my life.
2. Second, if you know you are on the wrong path, trust that that too, is part of your path. The most painful, alienating experiences I had in school and in my former career allowed me to write some of my most popular pieces of writing and inform the work I do now. You don’t have to stay stuck there, but recognize that this time on the “wrong” path can play a critical role in the contribution you make to the world.
TCP – Would you like to share any projects that you are currently working on with our readers?
“Why yes, I would!
The 2012 session of my global women’s leadership program, Playing Big, is starting up this month. In this program, I share the tools, ideas and practices that have most helped me in my journey to Playing Bigger, and that have most helped the women I work with. If you know you are playing small with your work, with sharing you voice, and you want to change that, check out more about the program here.
Second, last month my book, Your Other Names, came out, and was a #2 bestselling new poetry book on Amazon. The book is a collection of inspirational meditations, blessings and poems and it’s on Amazon here.”
TCP – Finally, you’re work is undoubtedly rewarding on many levels. What’s is most rewarding aspect in sharing your truth with others?
“A while ago I wrote an article called, “Why I Love My Typos.” It was about how triumphant I feel whenever I see a mistake in a blog post that I’ve already sent to thousands of people. I feel triumphant because I don’t worry about it anymore. I now know what matters is not being perfect at the work, but doing the work. I’m no longer held hostage by my inner perfectionist. Instead, the playful voice in me that wants to share, write, reflect and be in conversation with others is leading. That is rewarding – ever day.”
One more thing, for the new year, I’d love to share this blessing with your readers, from Your Other Names. Whoever is reading, this is addressed specifically and directly to you.
This is Your Time
Your time to say what you have kept silent.
Your time to ask your big questions without apology.
Your time to shine like a blazing comet,
whether they like it or not.
Your time to believe what your heart tells you:
that this world could be very different.
Your time to live by your rhythms,
and teach them to the world.
Your time nurture your village back to health.
Your time to show the world what it has been missing.
Your time to show the world the other side of itself. ”
You can visit Tara’s website Wise Living here, and follow her on Twitter over @TaraSophia.
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