Having overcome her own battle with addiction, obesity, and eating disorders, Laura released over 100 pounds 24 years ago to begin a journey to guide other women to live more joyous, balanced lives.

I’m thrilled to bring you my Exclusive Real Beauty Interview with Laura due to her passion and commitment for helping women shift the relationship they have with their bodies and food.

How do you define real beauty?

I define REAL beauty as being in your POWER. Feeling confident, self-assured, joyful and excited about WHO YOU ARE.

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

I would suggest that she not try to make changes, alone. That she find herself a love tribe and take baby steps. Baby (Pinky) steps lead to giant results when one is committed and vigilant. And being vigilant often takes support. In isolation we wither and in community we thrive.

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?

My business is actually my life’s assignment. I didn’t choose it; it chose me…through my life experience. At age 24, I was morbidly obese, alcoholic, depressed, and suicidal and the message I got was “if you listen to me, I will lead you.” Also I was told, “I will show you how to heal and then your life purpose is to help others heal.”

At the ripe young age of 24, (being out of my mind and body), I was unsure what that all meant, however, I felt sure that I was up for it and it was really important. How many people can say the universe told them their life assignment at age 24? I knew it was really a blessing.

Today I am committed to empowering women to a new conversation that they can create for themselves about their bodies… that it be a loving conversation instead of the nasty, mean conversation that women tend to have. Love will create the change women are seeking, not fear, doubt, self-criticism and self-hatred. Love is the bridge from the heart to the head and my intention is to hold
many more women’s hands as they make that journey.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

LOVE and a HOT body for 49 years young.

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

Reaching out and asking for help. I never do anything alone. And I view that as a sign of strength, not weakness.

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

Ask for help. Find her tribe. Spend time with people that nurture her, rather than deplete her energetically. Spend time in meditation to go inward to explore what it feels like being inside of you. (Hint, it feels great! and is not scary)
Sign up for classes that support your emotional, spiritual, physical growth.
Learn how to let go of any victim, complaining, shaming, and judging mentality by doing all of the above. It works. It really works.

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?

She needs to hit her own little bottom, however that may look. I always say that when one is sick and tired of being sick and tired, they will begin looking for ways to support transformation and healing. And when the pain (our suffering) outweighs the joy, we humans, those of us who are seekers will begin to reach out and ask for help. To become willing to ask for help is a spiritual act and things will shift quickly. Most humans keep things superficial or unconscious, using drugs, alcohol and food to numb ourselves from the world. And yet beauty and self-love lies in waking up, becoming conscious to those things we could not see, were not willing to look at.

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?

I am so blessed. So yes to answer your question ABSOULUTELY. I feel inner peace more than not and I love myself.

Knowing my worth means being in a body I love and feeling my power in my body. To move, to talk, to ask, to speak out, to speak up, to ask for what I need, etc. And I really like the person I am. I am proud of who I am. So that feels like I have arrived for my purpose in this lifetime. I was given my life assignment at age 24 and now at age 49, I continue to carry that out.

I wake up with gratitude every day and go to bed with even more. I feel happy more than not. And in addition to that I have a business I love (I get to meet and play with amazing women, a partner I worship, a home I love, friends and family I love. Life is good.

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

BE KIND TO YOU is what I say to women all the time. And then I say,
Be Kind, Gentle and Firm. (Firm = Having healthy boundaries and asking for what you want).

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?

I pray and meditate daily, usually at 5:30am-6am (for 10 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on day) when I awake and on the days that I have to miss my daily ritual, for some unforeseen reason, I make sure I get quiet even for a minute to go inside and pay reverence to my soul. Namaste.

Learn more about Laura

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“What scares you the most about being who you REALLY are?”

The response was fascinating and sort of upsetting. Here’s a sampling of responses:

O Other people’s judgement
O Rejection and disapproval
O I’d come on too strong and people would take offense
O Other people’s reactions and acceptance (and judgements)
O No one would want to spend time with me
O That I STILL wouldn’t be good enough

So, what scares YOU the most about being who you REALLY are?

Can you relate to any of the responses, above?

After reading the responses I got seriously worked up. I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and scream (see pic below).

Here’s why? Because we don’t get a second chance to play this lifetime out. We don’t get to go BACK and say, dammit why did I waste SO much time being afraid? Afraid to be me, afraid to ask for what I want, afraid of how others might judge me.

You see, this is your moment right now. Not when you find your perfect life partner, not when you lose 15 pounds, not when you feel more financially secure, not when you feel more comfortable in your own skin. RIGHT NOW is the time to realize the damage you’re inflicting on yourself EVERY TIME you mask who you really are.

Here’s a major NEWSFLASH. Nobody cares who you are. Seriously. I know this might sound harsh, but it’s a mega truth. If someone is going to talk about you, they’re going to do so whether you’re the REAL you or the FAKE you, so you might as well BE YOU, right?

In a phone conversation with a business strategist yesterday I found myself saying this, “sometimes I hold myself back a little from being as intense and passionate in my Real Beauty Message as I want to be because I’m afraid it’s going to scare people.”

And as soon as those words came out of my mouth I thought, ‘Holy Crap’. What the “eff” was that statement? So your see, I do it too.

So many times in my life I have been labeled “too sensitive, too emotional, too passionate, too intense, too extreme, too caring”. And those labels became the ammunition I used to make myself feel bad about fully expressing who I really am. So I’m in practice too and I’ve come a LONG WAY BABY. Because those descriptors now light me up and fuel my lifelong desire to do exactly what I want to do in the world and to be exactly the type of woman I want to be.

And it’s a damn good thing I’m so passionate and extreme because that’s what it takes to blaze a trail and lead a movement.

So I’m begging YOU to join me on this mission of being your REAL self.

Because when any one of us plays small, dims our light, or hold ourselves back from expressing who we REALLY we reject and disapprove of ourselves, which is the very thing we are afraid others will do to us.

Not only is it exhausting pretending to be something you are not, it pretty much guarantees that you’ll never get from your life what you really want. Not being YOU creates the kind of life that Thoreau describes as QUIET DESPERATION.

He said, MOST (wo)men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.

Don’t be like MOST wo(men).

Sing your SONG NOW.
Be exactly who you MOST want to be.
Because none of us are getting out of here alive!

And the worst thing that could happen is that you get to the end of your life and realize that you NEVER gave yourself permission to REALLY live.

Want some REAL tangible action strategies for how to start being who you REALLY are? Stay Tuned. They’re coming in the next newsletter.

Want to share your own strategy for being who you really are? Awesome. Email it to me at lori (at) realbeautyis (dot) com & I’ll share it in the next newsletter.

Now go out and BE YOU (because that’s REAL BEAUTY!)
Xo Lori

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
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“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.