My Journey with Mindfulness + ArtI grew up in picturesque South Lake Tahoe, CA, where my childhood was shaped by endless hours in nature, imaginative games with friends, and a profound curiosity about the world. My early years were blessed by my mother's boundless creativity and her infectious energy in bringing imaginative visions to life. Together, we would weave magic into everyday moments, turning birthdays and celebrations into enchanting experiences. Her unwavering support nurtured my creative and mindful perspective and taught me to see the world through an observant and imaginative lens. My father also played a significant role in my creative journey by fostering my intellectual skills, sharing a love for reading, imparting computer skills, and encouraging my writing. Their combined influence helped me develop my boundless curiosity, love for learning, passion for life, reverence for nature, and confidence in expressing myself creatively from a young age.
During my adolescence, my family faced significant challenges that deeply affected me, leading to difficult feelings of suffering and isolation. In response, I turned to creative outlets such as writing, drawing, photography, as well as expressive forms like fashion, makeup, and dance. Through these mediums, I channeled my emotions into art and found a sanctuary for my hurt and angsty thoughts. This period of artistic exploration was pivotal in shaping my creative, open-minded, and resilient outlook today. As I matured, I expanded my artistic horizons, experimenting with new mediums like painting, performance art, and mixed media art. However, unresolved trauma hindered my ability to fully connect with my creativity, encouraging me to prioritize healing. My journey with mindfulness began in 2015, and from my first experience sitting in meditation, I fell in love with the practice. Driven by a desire to heal from trauma, challenging relationships, and chronic stress, I immersed myself in mindfulness and studies of wellbeing for many years. The culmination of this healing journey led me to establish my first venture, The Mindful Companion, LLC, a business and community outreach project where I integrate mindfulness practices with holistic wellbeing. With my mindfulness work, I offer a variety of services, focusing on collaborating with my clients and community to cultivate mindfulness, health, and inspired wellbeing. I work one-on-one with my clients, host in-person and online mindfulness events and workshops, facilitate group meditations, craft engaging digital content on mindfulness and healthy living, and have organized community spaces where individuals could come together to share ideas and experiences related to mindfulness. This work is deeply meaningful to me and provides incredible inspiration to me by creating deep connections, exposing me to new ideas, enriching my life with unique experiences, and allowing me to share my values professionally. |
The positive energy I cultivate through my my mindfulness work and my personal mindfulness practice empowers me in countless ways, including boosting my creativity! My creativity is expressive, thoughtful, and deep, and I love to use my art to express concepts and ideas that I find meaningful or inspiring. My art is an extension of my mindfulness practice, philosophical views, and passion for having fun and discovering the magic in each moment. Today, I’m integrating my passions of art and mindfulness in fresh and innovative ways. In addition to using art and mindfulness to explore what I feel most alive about in each moment, I also enjoy using my creative and intellectual skills in collaboration with my clients, other artists, and my local community. I love working with others to discover new ways to have fun and express playfulness, connect to each moment and each other more deeply, provoke new ideas, expand our perspective, and rediscover our incredible capacity for healing and happiness. Each day brings new exciting challenges and boundless inspiration, and through art and mindfulness, I’m committed to embracing every moment with curiosity, passion, and full-hearted presence. Lots of love, L. 
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Mindfulness Work CV
Experience
[Professional]
Local Mindfulness Work (2019-2023)
In-Person Retreats
Skills
Mindfulness and Emotional Wellbeing
Certifications
Publications/Presentations
Professional Memberships
References
Available upon request
[Professional]
Local Mindfulness Work (2019-2023)
- Led reoccurring mindfulness sessions with clients, families, and small groups of individuals
- Developed customized mindfulness programs for private clients
- Conducted one-on-one mindfulness coaching sessions
- Led weekly mindfulness sessions for small private groups on zoom
- Developed customized mindfulness programs for private clients
- Conducted one-on-one mindfulness coaching sessions
- Managed a paid subscription mindfulness community, including creating mindfulness content, hosting live-streamed events, and working directly with members
- Hosted live-stream events focused on mindfulness and meditation for large audiences
In-Person Retreats
- Fall Retreat 2022, Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community
- Fall Retreat 2019, Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community
- Fall Retreat 2018, Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community
- Fall Retreat 2017, Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community
- Fall Retreat 2016, Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community
- Letting Go of Control, presented by Cory Muscara
- Inner Stillness, presented by Cory Muscara
- Mastering Stress and Anxiety, presented by Cory Muscara
- Opening the Heart, presented by Cory Muscara
- Meeting Your Purpose, presented by Cory Muscara
- Intuitive Guidance, presented by Cory Muscara
- Deep Rest, presented by Cory Muscara
- Self-Compassion, presented by Cory Muscara
- Assisted in mindfulness retreats, specifically guiding discussion around the subjects of mindful eating and community outreach (2022)
- Bell Master during sangha and retreat (2019-2022)
- Ongoing Independent Study: Engaged in self-guided study influenced by mindfulness thought leaders such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, Jon Kabat Zinn, Jack Cornfield, Tara Brach, Sam Harris, Ram Dass, Osho, Alan Watts, and other related prominent voices, with a commitment to continuous learning through extensive reading and exploration (2015-2024)
- Working with Thoughts (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Working with Urges, Cravings, and Addiction (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Finding Stillness (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Acceptance (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Life makeover (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Self Love (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Stress and Anxiety (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Relaxed Productivity (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Feeling Lost (Masterclass), taught by Cory Muscara (2024)
- Wise Caregiving Foundations (10-Week Workshop), taught by Jonathan Prescott and Karla Johnston (2023)
- HeartMath Clinical Certification for Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Regulation, HeartMath Institute (2020)
Skills
Mindfulness and Emotional Wellbeing
- Mindfulness and Meditation Instruction: Beginner to advanced mindfulness skills (9+ years of experience)
- Stress and Emotional Regulation: Certified HeartMath Practitioner trained in managing stress, anxiety, and emotional regulation
- Breathing Techniques: Guided practices for relaxation and focus
- Emotional and Psychophysiological Science: Understanding the impact of emotions on physical health and wellbeing
- Philosophical Studies: Knowledge in Zen, Taoism, Buddhism, Stoicism, and related philosophies
- Anxiety Reduction and Fear Management: Techniques for quieting worries and overcoming fears
- Managing Intense Emotions: Calming anger, managing extreme emotions, and addressing self-destructive urges
- Depression Support: Techniques for reducing depression and increasing happiness
- OCD Management and Support: Providing strategies for managing obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviors through mindfulness and cognitive techniques
- Trust, Hope, and Resilience Building: Healing mistrust and cultivating hope
- Trauma Coping Strategies: Supporting those affected by personal, sexual, or domestic trauma
- PTSD Healing: Offering trauma-informed mindfulness practices and coping strategies for individuals with PTSD or cPTSD, fostering safety, resilience, and emotional healing through gradual reconnection with the present
- Addiction Recovery Support: Helping release from addictive behaviors
- Cognitive and Behavioral Skills: Recognizing and reshaping unhelpful thinking (DBT and brain-training techniques)
- Confidence Building: Supporting shyness reduction, assertiveness, and confidence
- Self-Respect and Self-Acceptance: Increasing sense of self-acceptance, self-trust, and self-worth, supporting a positive self-image and nurturing a respectful, loving relationship with oneself
- Motivation and Values: Developing energizing values and beliefs
- Overcoming Procrastination and Perfectionism: Tools for productivity and self-acceptance
- Spiritual Awareness and Growth: Cultivating spiritual routines, connection , and expression, as well as integrating philosophies such as Zen, Taoism, Buddhism, and Indigenous perspectives into mindfulness practice
- Positive Body Image: Encouraging self-acceptance, compassion, and gratitude for one’s body
- Fitness Enjoyment: Promoting an active lifestyle through fun, sustainable fitness practices for physical health and mental clarity
- Healthy Consumption (Food): Encouraging balanced, plant-based nutrition and mindful eating for mental well-being, physical health, and environmental sustainability
- Healthy Consumption (Media): Promoting healthy, intentional engagement with media to foster positive feelings, reduce stress, and maintain focus and well-being
- Mindful Social Media / Technology Engagement: Promoting healthy digital habits
- Mindful Communication: Improving communication with active listening, honest expression, assertive boundaries, and clear, compassionate, nonjudgmental, and nonviolent language.
- Relationship Skills: Improving relationships through mindful communication, connection, boundaries, and respect
- Community Building: Ideas on finding healthy and supportive communities
- Social Contribution: Encouraging meaningful societal contributions
- Group Facilitation: Leading group mindfulness sessions and discussions
- Live-Streaming: Engaging audiences with live-streamed mindfulness and wellness content
- Creative Guidance: Offering insights and tips for creative expression, artistic growth, and creative satisfaction
Certifications
- HeartMath Certified Practitioner (successfully met the standards established in the HeartMath Clinical Certification for Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Regulation)
Publications/Presentations
- Published themindfulcompanion.com website, a free resources to support mindfulness and wellbeing (2021-2024)
- Published subscription mindfulness content to Patreon for paid subscribers (2016-2024)
Professional Memberships
- Member of Florida Community of Mindfulness (2024)
- Member of Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community (2016-2024)
- Member of Practicing Human Online Community (2023-2024)
References
Available upon request
ART + CREATIVE WORK
In addition to my interest in mindfulness, I'm passionate about all things creative! I'm a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys traditional and digital art, photography, poetry, writing, web design, crafting, dancing, singing, modeling, and performance art. My creativity is expressive, thoughtful, and deep, and I love to use my art to express concepts and ideas that I find meaningful or inspiring. My art is an extension of my mindfulness practice, philosophical views, and passion for having fun and discovering the magic in each moment.
Fine ArtPerformance Art + Modeling |
PhotographyAnd Much More! |
Support My Art
I sell original pieces, prints, handmade crafts, and products featuring my art through this site, my art website, Etsy store, and directly through email or social media. I can sometimes sell my available art for a discounted price when selling directly with buyers because I can avoid the transaction fees on my websites and other online platforms.
I also have a Patreon account for my supporters who are interested in offering me ongoing financial support. I offer special perks for my Patrons, you can check out the details on Patreon.
I also have a Patreon account for my supporters who are interested in offering me ongoing financial support. I offer special perks for my Patrons, you can check out the details on Patreon.