Last week I had the distinct pleasure & honor of interviewing best selling author, of “The Fire Starter Sessions,” Danielle LaPorte.

The Fire Starter Sessions is sacred text for anyone interested in setting their life, business + spirit ON FIRE.

I’ve been following Danielle’s work for a long time & consider her my own personal spiritual rock star. She’s a kick ass messenger of truth, spiritual business advisor, and trail blazer for being who you are.

Her writing always feels like my truth and her scripture always pushes me to re-think my assumptions about…well, EVERYTHING.

I couldn’t have been more amped up for the Interview.

And then I almost bailed. I mean, seriously bailed. The night before the interview at 9P I said to my husband, “what if I just told her my daughter is sick & I have to reschedule?” He said “NO.”
 

My 3 Big Excuses For Wanting to Bail

1. I had had a REALLY tough week. It was going on week 2 of my daughter having a nasty stomach virus. I’m not going to share all the gross details, but I had been dealing with 2 weeks of no sleep, diarrhea, vomit, doctor’s appts. & stool samples. Disgusting & draining.

2. I was hosting my big Rock Your Real Beauty event in NYC a few days prior to the interview and it took all the energy I could muster to get myself prepared for that.

3. I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t have the technology in place to record our interview via Skype (as we had planned) and I only had a loose outline of questions.
 
So the night before the Interview I found myself tired, drained, overwhelmed, and stressed. Totally NOT turned on.

So, it’s 9PM and all I want to do is go to bed. And of course in my mind I’m beating myself up:

“How could you want to bail on something that means so much to you?”
“People will lose respect for you if you don’t follow through on what you said you were going to do.”

And just as my husband began to help me figure out the technology piece something snapped in my head and I got my shit together. I spent the new few hours developing my interview questions and testing out software to record the interview.

This one simple move of CHANGING MY THOUGHTS : CHANGED EVERYTHING.

By telling myself I was DOING this interview my body & spirit suddenly became energized. I became focused and inspired. Now, I don’t want to ruin how this story ends because you’re going to want to watch the interview below and discover for yourself.

But I will say this; I left the interview feeling on fire and totally turned on. My first thought after the interview ended was; “I can’t believe I even considered bailing on this opportunity.”

Here’s what I learned (and these are Danielle’s pillars of truth too):
 

Make it your intention to do what you say you’re going to do.

Be impeccable with your word. Follow through.

 
Bailing on my commitment would have been a GIGANTIC act of self-sabotage. Yes, there are times when NOT following through with your word is an act of self-love and honor. The key is to know yourself well enough to know the difference between self-sabotage and deep self honor.

Aligning with honor, (honoring yourself or someone else) is a grand gesture of love and ups the quality of your life.

And now I present to you my Hot + Juicy Real Beauty Interview with Danielle LaPorte, the Queen of setting your soul + life on FIRE.

In this interview Danielle shares a contradiction about herself that would surprise us all & reveals the ONE thing she’ll never do for you!

In addition you’ll learn:

O Her personal strategies for dealing w/ pain + darkness.
O What she REALLY sees when she looks in the mirror
O Why it’s so damn important to be impeccable with your word.
O Her revolutionary concept “strength of ease” + the best advice she’s EVER received.

My biggest takeaways are the following TRUTH BOMBS:
 

Everything is Progress.

You’re Freer Than You Think You Are.

Strive to be TURNED ON.

Stop Doing What Doesn’t Feel Good.

Give Yourself Permission to Want What You Want.

Being Your Real Self is Your BEST Chance For Success.

WATCH + ENJOY

If you find this interview valuable I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Grab a Real Beauty Tweetable to make it easy!

Everything is progress. Loving this hot + juicy @RealBeautyIs interview where @DanielleLaporte reveals ALL http://ow.ly/aVqq8

In this @RealBeautyIs interview @DanielleLaporte shares the BEST advice she’s ever been given. http://ow.ly/aVqq8

Want 2 be turned on? @DanielleLaporte reveals what she REALLY sees when she looks in the mirror. @RealBeautyIs Interview. http://ow.ly/aVqq8

Ready to Declare Your Superpowers?

Click here for FREE access to Session 1 of the Fire Starter Sessions

Check out Danielle’s site & follow her @DanielleLaPorte

Today, rather than seeing your flaws SEE YOUR POTENTIAL. Yes?

A long time activist for social and political change, Seane created the yoga program at “Children of the Night,” a shelter that houses and educated adolescent prostitutes. As a strong voice for social change she joined YouthAIDS in 2005 as an Ambassador and has made it her mission to raise awareness of HIV and funds for YouthAIDS.

In 2004, Seane created “Off the Mat, Into the World” as a platform for yogis to engage their communities, educate themselves and others on the HIV/AIDS crisis, and help reduce the fear, ignorance, and discrimination often associated with HIV/AIDS. She has spent time in India, Cambodia and Africa working with impoverished prostitutes and street children, teaching yoga, providing support and aid, and education them about HIV/AIDS prevention.

Seane approaches life with a fierce commitment and willingness to learn and grow. Filled with lovingkindness and compassion; she has the courage to live deep.

We are inspired by Seane’s eternal quest for love and beauty. Thank you Seane!

Seane dishes on REAL Beauty:

I am a Real Beauty because:

“I live authentically in my truth, am not afraid of my strength, and am committed to using my voice, without apology, to help create a more peaceful and sustainable world for all.”

I am most beautiful when:

“I allow myself to be vulnerable.”

If I were not afraid I would:

“cut my hair very, very short.”

Today I celebrate my beauty by:

“doing what I love best…yoga!”

To learn more about Seane click here

For more information on “Off the Mat, Into the World” and Seane’s work in Cambodia click here

Tears stream down my face as I hang up the phone from my daughter’s daycare. She has been sick with a stomach virus for nearly a week and an hour after being dropped at school this morning they call me to come pick her up. And I just want to cry.

I have a blog post to write, a newsletter to send, an upcoming event to promote, clients to respond to, groceries to get, laundry to do, plans to get to the gym, an 8 month old baby to take care of all day and the expectation of completing everything I want to do before 4P. And now NONE of it is going to happen.

I am fighting and I am suffering. I fight against the moments that no longer feel like my own.

I fight against the moments when I feel like a prisoner to my children’s needs (which is about 95% of the time). I fight and I suffer. The formula is clear. But when plans fall apart and I am not able to take action on behalf of what I had set out to accomplish my initial reaction is to resist and fight.

All the while knowing that the ability to accept ‘what is’ and surrender to the present moment holds our most sacred & powerful lesson. So, I get up from my computer, walk once around the kitchen, take a deep breath and then I write this,

“Dear Self. It’s okay. Plans fall apart in mid-flight. You can’t accomplish what you set out to do. When everything feels out of your control remember that it is. And fighting & resisting blinds you to the sacred practice of being present NOW. Whatever is happening right now is your biggest lesson. Flow with ‘what is’ & you will expand your power. Resist it and you will suffer.”

And I flashback to a recent interview with Oprah where Deepak Chopra says this,

The most powerful person you can be is who you are RIGHT NOW. The most powerful thing you can do is what you’re doing RIGHT NOW. The most powerful moment of your life is the moment RIGHT NOW.

And then he proceeds to hold up his arm to show his wristwatch; a wristwatch that instead of telling time like a standard clock it simply says “NOW”.

There’s no little hand, no big hand. There’s no seconds ticking away. There’s no reference to exactly what time it is. There’s only NOW.

And now tears really are streaming down my face because I know that this is one of the most powerful TRUTHS.

EVERY time I fight I suffer. And showing up fully inside the present moment is my way out of suffering.

And letting myself off the hook feels like a huge relief and a magnificent offering of self-love.

Why do I hold on so hard? Why do we cling to the fight? And push and pull and kick and scream and resist? We want something different. We want something else. We want to be more. But the truth is that the most powerful moment we have to be our biggest self is right NOW.

Every time I wish and want and expect for something more I weaken my power & blind myself to the powerful gifts that lie before me right now: the gift of being with my kids; the gift of slowing down; the gift of REALLY showing up and paying attention to my life. Isn’t that the POINT of life? To feel most alive and enjoy what’s happening in your life RIGHT NOW?

My life is what it is right now and so is yours and each time we push and pull against ‘what is’ we are working against ourselves, against the rhythm of life.

I HAVE to believe that things are exactly as they need to be because fighting against the present moment holds you hostage to your own suffering and pretty much ruins EVERY THING.

So my business will have to grow slower that I had hoped because it will always be at the mercy of my children’s needs; but that’s okay because now I can see both sides of the blessing. I get to work from the kitchen table and watch my baby grow. I don’t miss a smile, a giggle or a chance to rock him to sleep.

But I miss EVERYTHING when I’m wishing I were somewhere else.

So I will take what I’ve been given on this glorious day and put it to use instead of wishing it away.

“Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?” ~ Rumi

THINK ON THIS:

O What is it you’ve been given today?
O What are you fighting against that is causing you to suffer?
O How might your life be different if you REALLY believed that the most powerful person you can be is who you are RIGHT NOW?

There is only one REAL moment in which you can be fully alive and that moment is RIGHT NOW.

May you see the REAL BEAUTY in yourself and your life right now.
xo Lori

She’s been called sassy, feisty, loud-mouthed, badass and too smart-for-her-own-good. All amazing compliments and attributes she hopes her children will inherit.

We’re honored & excited to bring you our Exclusive Real Beauty Interview with Andrea due to her killer passion for empowering women to live their most KICK ASS life. I love Andrea and after you read this interview you will too!

How do you define real beauty?

REAL beauty is 100% unconditional self love and acceptance. It’s about leaving behind the belief that you need to live up to a standard of beauty that doesn’t exist. It’s about defining your own beautiful you, and that looks different for everyone. It’s about stepping into your power, owning your story, learning from mistakes and failures. It’s about changing the conversation we have in our minds, and the conversation we have with other women when it comes to our worth.

What advice would you give to a woman struggling with her self-worth?

Work on your inner-critic voice and thoughts that are running around in your head. The voice that disempowers you, or says mean and nasty things to you. This is the voice that keeps you fearful and decides your worth. Read self-help books, surround yourself with people that love and support you and lift you up. Pull yourself away from the people that don’t. Get therapy if you need to, or work with a coach. The women that you admire that are doing amazing things, they know their worth. It takes work and practice. You’ll have setbacks because you’re human. Just get back on the horse and keep working. The world needs your full, authentic self.

How did you figure out your place in this world? How did you know when you were doing exactly what you were meant to do?

I was offered a promotion at my old job. I saw my future and knew I wouldn’t be happy there, so I left and followed my dreams. It was bumpy along the way (really bumpy!), but I knew that at the end of my life I would be proud of myself. And I listened to my gut. When I took the time to even acknowledge that it was speaking, I could hear it more clearly. I still had fear, but I did it anyway.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

A woman so, so grateful for all the pain I’ve been through. Without it, I would not have the magnificent life I have today.

When you are confronted with fear or self-doubt what helps you move through these feelings?

Supportive friends I can spill my fears onto, that will listen without judgement, and at the same time only hold me to my highest self. I also don’t pretend I don’t have fears. I often say it’s like trying to hold a beach ball under water. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s eventually going to pop up sooner or later. I’ve had to let go of caring what other people think or say, and let go of trying to control the “how” and outcome of everything. Once I do that, everything is easier!

What’s one of the MOST important things a woman can do to empower herself?

Stop relying on outside sources to make her happy. It’s not up to a man, a relationship, a job, money, new boobs or a Louie Vuitton handbag to bring you sustained happiness. It’s up to YOU. If you can’t get happy now, you’ll be chasing it from other sources forever, and blaming everyone else for your unhappiness. Take responsibility for your life and your happiness.

What do you think needs to happen in order for a woman to truly break open and blossom into who she was meant to be?

Let go of the person she thinks she needs to be or that she should be. Listen to her intuition.

Do you feel like you have arrived into a place of “knowing your worth”? What does this mean for you? How does “knowing your worth play out in your everyday life?

What’s interesting about this is that I’m finding that knowing my worth is a different animal for all the different roles I have. I went thorough all kinds of shit with my past intimate relationships and at 36 years old, have finally arrived at a place where YES! I know my worth as a partner and wife. Then I started my business as an entrepreneur and a whole new “committee of gremlins” came out. So, I set out to work on knowing my worth as a coach and business owner and it’s been quite an amazing ride. I find that the more I work on my worth in all aspects of my life, it bleeds over into other parts of my life and makes me an all-around healthier human being.

Knowing my worth means that I know I am worthy of love and belonging. I love taking personality tests like Meyers-Briggs and the DISC assessment to get a better understanding of exactly who I am and how I operate, down to what’s in my DNA. I get closer to knowing and accepting this person that I was born to be. EVERYTHING changed once I decided I was worthy of everything I needed and wanted. And yes, it was a decision.

If you could leave this world with only ONE message. What would it be?

Love yourself first.

Is there one thing you do every day or one power habit that keeps you aligned with your power and/or allows you to be most effective?

So many things! I’ll name a few. I’m committed to knowing that I choose my thoughts, which in turn determine my feelings and actions. I remember that I’m a human being and I can be emotional and messy. I reach out for help and support from trusted friends that know me for who I am and will only hold me to my highest self. And I ASK for what I want! Whether it’s from God, or my husband or my friends. If we don’t ask, the answer will always be “no”.

Learn more about Andrea
Follow Andrea on Twitter
Like ‘Your Kick Ass Life’ on facebook

“Feisty, articulate, and driven — she qualified last week for the Boston Marathon . . . a personal intensity and a fierce sense of outrage about women’s and civil rights, child welfare, and the abuse of power.” – Philadelphia Inquirer

Her New York Times bestselling book “Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World” is this year’s light bulb moment for women!” says the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

“Lisa Bloom brings her extraordinary passion, humor and intelligence to the important subject of how women and girls can fight being drowned in a sea of pop culture, and lead lives that are fuller, richer and more connected.” – Dr Phil

We’re honored & excited to bring you our Exclusive Real Beauty Interview with Lisa due to her commitment and passion for motivating women to make personal change & a world of difference.

Lisa empowers women to Stay Smart and think critically about the kind of woman you want to be in the world.

How do you define real beauty?

A woman who is confident in herself, whose thoughts, words and actions are in alignment, who has respect and compassion for others and for herself, is truly beautiful.

What advice would you give to a woman struggling with her self-worth?

One word: volunteer. Get out there and feed the hungry, hug kids at the Special Olympics, walk for breast cancer awareness — the list is endless. Your self-esteem will soar because you have earned it when you donate your time to help others who need you. You may show up tired, unmotivated, but I guarantee you will leave smiling. One of my favorite community service activities is dancing with seniors in a nursing home. They may be in wheelchairs, but they’ll shake their arms and boogie to the beat with you. What a joy.

How did you figure out your place in this world? How did you know when you were doing exactly what you were meant to do?

I have always wanted to write. I knew I was doing the right thing when mothers told me, over and over again, that they were giving my book Think to their daughters, and reading it with them. As a mother I know I would only give my own daughter something that was meaningful and true. I am so honored by this constant message from other mothers.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

I see a 50 year old women who is healthy, strong, happy and grateful.

When you are confronted with fear or self-doubt what helps you move through these feelings?

Everyone experiences these emotions. I remind myself that I have important messages, that I don’t have to be perfect, and to just keep writing. (Remember the movie Finding Nemo? “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming . . . “)

What’s one of the MOST important things a woman can do to empower herself to “Stay Smart”?

The first rule I have in my book, Think, is: create time every day for yourself to think. Not when you go on vacation, not when your kids are grown, not next week, but now. Because you need that active mind, and because your community and your world need you. (In the book I show you how you can reclaim that precious, beautiful time to expand your mind.)

What do you think needs to happen in order for a woman to truly break open and blossom into who she was meant to be?

I love this question! She needs to have confidence in herself, and she needs to define herself on her own terms. So often as women we let others define our identities. It’s wonderful to be a daughter, wife, girlfriend, or mom. But we can be these things and also artists, writers, computer gurus, CEOS: whatever our calling is. Do not let others create your identity for you. Define it yourself.

Do you feel like you have arrived into a place of “knowing your worth”? What does this mean for you? How does “knowing your worth play out in your everyday life?

Knowing my worth, for me, means time management. I am daily asked to do all kinds of projects for other people. Keeping my eye on the ball — I want to write books, I want to give the clients of my law firm excellent service — means I must decline many of these offers. We all have limited time. We all have to spend some of it on projects we don’t choose. But insist on carving out time for what you want and need to do to be a full human being.

If you could leave this world with only ONE message. What would it be?

What you say matters. What you do matters. Who you are matters. Your brain matters. Push back against the emptiness our culture feeds us.

Is there one thing you do every day or one power habit that keeps you aligned with your power and/or allows you to be most effective?

Exercise, healthy food and great books. You can’t have a strong mind without a healthy body. Honor yourself by feeding your body, mind and spirit every day.

Learn more about Lisa
Follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaBloom
“Like” Lisa on facebook & read a FREE excerpt from ‘Think’

Join Lisa LIVE: TODAY ONLY for a free book event & video chat. Ask questions and join in the provocative conversation.

Whether you’re in the midst of relationship challenges, battling your body, or searching for more purpose & passion in your life; my suggestions below will hopefully provide you with a powerful opportunity to get clear, go deep + move beyond!

MY 10 EMPHATIC SUGGESTIONS FOR ROCKING YOUR LIFE

Inspired by Danielle LaPorte’s “My 8 Empathic Suggestions For Rocking Your Business” (which I highly recommend you check out)

1. Get Over Yourself: Translation: Don’t take anything personally. This is one of the Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz & I happen to think it’s the most challenging and powerful way to turn your life around. It goes like this: stop making other people’s crap about YOU. We are each accountable for our own emotions, reactions and behavior. If someone hurts your feelings it has NOTHING to do with you. Stop drinking other people’s poison.

2. Let go of PERFECT. I hate this word. It’s ridiculous so please stop giving it any of your energy or power. Strike it from your vocab immediately. Be committed to a daily “practice” of living as your highest self.

3. Be Present. Do ONE thing at a time. Juggling 10 things at once doesn’t make you a superwoman, it makes you tired, overwhelmed and exhausted. Multi-tasking = Multi-taking. It takes takes takes from all your energy reserves. STOP IT. NOW. The Buddha said, “There is only one moment for you to be alive, and that is the present moment.” Make “being present” your daily practice.

4. Seek out reasons to celebrate. Life isn’t forever, it’s for NOW. I guarantee that if you practice living your life as a daily celebration: everything would shift.

5. Give up immediately. (this one comes straight from Danielle. It’s just TOO damn good to modify) Stop doing what’s not working. It will feel amazing. It will free up energy to leverage the stuff that has the truest, greatest potential.

6. BE YOU. The only way to harness your power and live your greatest life is by anchoring into exactly WHO you are. Who you are matters & living from this place is the foundation for creating the life you really want. It’s also your most valuable asset.

“You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world!” – Lucille Ball

7. Don’t settle. You hereby have permission to want what you want. Know why you want it and then go after it w/ wild abandon. Honor your desires. Don’t explain or apologize. Go after what you want. Don’t settle. Don’t give up.

8. Lean into the dark. Often times our greatest life lessons lie inside the darkness. Resist the temptation to fight & push against your hard times. Ask instead, “what is it I need to learn?” See your dark moments as fertile ground for great shift and growth.

9. Trust your instinct. Don’t second guess what you know for sure. Enough said.

10. Know Your Worth. Stop devaluing yourself already. You can only have what you think you deserve. I repeat. You can only have what you think you deserve.