Spiraling Higher is a podcast about conscious healing, manifestation and spirituality that aims to illuminate and normalize the healing journey by bringing you wisdom through intimate and meaningful conversations. Although the healing journey is a never ending upward spiral, Sam and Gina seek to provide the tools and insights to help you expand your awareness and spiral higher to elevated levels of consciousness.
84. Vanessa Lau: I Built A 7 Figure Business Then Burned It All Down...Here's Why
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 • Duration 01:56:35
Spiralers, get ready for one of the BEST conversations we've been lucky to host in our studio with THE Vanessa Lau! You might recognize her from her popular YouTube channel and social media platforms for previously sharing viral IG content creation tips to over 800k people! She was the pinnacle of a young successful entrepreneur having been a barista in 2018 before finally posting her first YouTube video, which quickly grew to almost a million followers and took her from 0 to 7 million in just a few short years.
"Vanessa Lau is an online entrepreneur, social media educator, and content marketing expert. She is one of the youngest entrepreneurs to have had such an impact on social media that millions of people know her. She teaches new entrepreneurs how to build their influence and scale their businesses using the power of social media."
Before last year, that's how Vanessa identified herself. It was the persona she showed the world and hid behind to continue building her brand her business. But in 2023, Vanessa shut down the business, went dark on social media and had no idea when or if she would ever return. Both Sam and Gina, along with her growing audience of hundreds of thousands of people, wondered with wild curiosity what had happened!? Where did she go and is she coming back?!
Spiralers, she is BACK and today she puts all of the rumors to rest and shares her story - an incredible story of healing and self trust.
Since her return, she has completely shifted her entire business model and perspectives on social media. Now, she's here to share how to feel good, live more, and earn enough.
This conversation shows a very honest, authentic Vanessa as she vulnerably shares her journey of placing her worth in work to ultimately burning out and having to heal from within. From her unexpected sabbatical, she gained life lessons that now feels called to share with her online community in a whole new way and we can't wait to hear what you think of this conversation.
Highlights:
-Why Vanessa LEFT social media and her business at her peak (and why she CAME BACK!)
-The pressures of social media fame + How it impacts sustainability and business
-How tasting "success" can lead to a disconnect between personal values & business goals
-People-pleasing can create unsustainable business practices
-Becoming aware of how ego can drive entrepreneurs to create unsustainable business models (and how to lead in business instead!)
-Soft girl era vs. Girl boss era (Hint: BOTH are flawed!)
-The transition from living for perfectionism and instead living from authenticity
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Vanessa's Journey
03:12 The Speculation and Impact of Vanessa's Break
06:02 The Nature of Social Media Relationships
09:01 Burnout and the Unsustainable Hustle
11:57 The Rise to Fame and Its Consequences
18:06 The Breakdown and Decision to Leave
27:14 The Height of Success and Its Illusions
32:45 The Ego Death and Self-Discovery
39:03 The Reality of Business Pressure
44:51 The Return To Social Media
01:07:32 Facing the Discomfort of Healing
01:10:23 Authenticity and Vulnerability in Public Life
01:12:50 The Shift from Perfectionism to Authenticity
Are you actually lazy or just really tired? What's the difference? We get this question A LOT from our coaching clients so we wanted to dedicate an entire episode to the careful discernment between rest and avoidance. As our clients are often coming off of the adrenaline-powered hustle and fear-driven pursuit of "success," they find themselves VERY tired.
Taking breaks, slowing down, and adjusting their expectations can be an awkward, even stressful, process coming from such a high-paced background that was tied to their sense of self-worth. Taking these necessary adjustments can bring up thoughts and feelings like...
"Am I being lazy?"
"Should I be working harder?"
"Am I being too easy on myself?"
"What is going to happen to me if I slow down?"
"What if I become a couch potato??!"
These fears are the ego's work - an attempt to keep you in fear and scarcity. However, we do see people who use rest as an excuse far past the point of revival and rejuvenation. How do you know you're one of them? In this episode, we share our honest opinions and hope it helps you discern the difference between rest and avoidance!
77. Kate Speer: There Is No Shame In Mental Illness
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 • Duration 01:15:25
Mental Health activist, writer, and speaker Kate Speer authentically shares her mental health journey from feeling different as a child to being diagnosed with ADHD and later a misdiagnosed bipolar disorder. Feeling unsupported from such a young age by the education system due to limiting criteria for diagnosis as well as the stigmas surrounding mental illness, Kate experienced a myriad of symptoms.
*Trigger Warning* : This episode discusses suicide and psychosis. These mentions are authentic to the storyteller.
After experiencing 15 years of disabling mental illness, chronic psychotic breaks, enumerable psychiatric hospitalizations, and a suicide attempt, Kate was told by doctors that the only way she would survive was to live in a long-term, locked psychiatric ward. Kate, stubborn to her core and no stranger to defying the expectations of her care team, told them to go to hell.
She refused to give up. She met with doctor after doctor, and even after being told that she needed residential care by all of them, she kept searching. In one last-ditch effort to not end up in a ward, she met with a trauma therapist known for his intense behavioral methodologies who told her that she was about to work the hardest she ever had in her life to overcome her patterns. Kate didn’t think twice about it. She committed to the work and began the recovery of a lifetime. She worked relentlessly using disciplined exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to tackle her OCD, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD. Day after day, Kate leaned into the discomfort of her fear and though terrified, she continued to do exactly what the doctor prescribed anyway.
Despite everything Kate has faced, she is one of the strongest, kind, accepting humans we have ever known. Her journey with mental illness has helped her emphasize the importance of self-acceptance and contributes to her desire in creating a world where people can hold space for both pain and joy. One of our favorite parts of this conversation is how openly and radically she encourages embracing the messiness of life and rejecting the pressure to present a polished image, giving us an opportunity to share our collective thoughts on the negativity of social media.
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76. The MOST COMMON Limiting Beliefs We Hear + How To Work Through Them
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 • Duration 59:17
As mindset coaches, we hear A LOT of limiting beliefs and narratives that have been picked up throughout one's life as a result of conditioning and past life experiences. Having coached hundreds of people between the two of us, we thought it would be helpful to share the MOST common limiting beliefs we help our clients work through.
Together, we explore the belief that success requires hustle and sacrifice, the idea of being ready before taking action, and the tendency to blame oneself for past actions. We also chat about the ignorance of the present moment (and why that happens), valuing one's own experiences and perspectives, and accepting what has happened in order to move forward.
If you are a human being living in a capitalist country, it would be almost impossible for you to have not picked up at least one of the mentioned beliefs! The good news is that these thoughts were learned, and therefore, can be superseded by new thoughts that are more supportive and aligned with the life you desire to live.
If you've been feeling like you are hitting a wall on your journey, listening to this episode will help you identify the belief(s) that's standing in the way.
Highlights:
- How the belief that one has to work hard & suffer to have a good life and scarcity are linked
- How the belief that one has to show up a certain way to make an impact or be accepted actually hinders your desire for connection and acceptance
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75. James McCrae: Cultivating Your Creative Self
Thursday, July 11, 2024 • Duration 01:07:11
Your all-time favourite spiritual memes on social media were highly likely to have been created by our incredibly artistic guest JAMES MCCRAE aka @wordsarevibrations!
James is not only your most shared meme artist but also a published author, poet, and creative strategist helping people tap into their own creative channels to use art to communicate important stories and messages.
In this conversation, James tells us about his own creative process and what has helped him tap into his well of intuition. He emphasizes the importance of creativity for all humans, whether one decides to share their work or not and explains the balance between the yin and yang aspects of creativity. Creativity requires not only doing, but tons of BEING (resting, contemplating, reflecting). Gina also got to ask about the role of the EGO / INNER CRITIC on our creative journeys, which so many of us suffer from and James’s answer did not disappoint!
The common thread throughout this conversation was that creativity exists naturally within all of us, although we can become disconnected from this effortless ability due to social pressures and expectations. So we encourage you, creative human, to tune into this conversation to remember your own unique creativity - and to learn how to harness it in the name of service.
Timestamps:
06:10 The Yin and Yang of Creativity
09:03 Tapping into Your Natural Creativity
13:10 Finding Your Creative Voice
29:39 The Role of Purpose and Service in Creativity
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74. Perfectionism: Where It Starts + How To Heal It
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 • Duration 59:25
Perfectionism isn’t what most people think it is!!! It is not believing you are perfect or even trying to be perfect. It is the unconscious and fearful need to be perceived as someone who never gets anything wrong, never messes up, and always knows what they are doing. If you suffer from perfectionism, you are likely riddled with self doubt and believe that the doubt or unworthiness will dissolve when you become more skilled, more knowledgeable, more experienced…more SOMETHING! Perfectionism never allows yourself to be accepted in the now; it perpetually asks that you have to be something or do something before you can. Perfectionism is the antithesis of what we aim to foster on this podcast, which is SELF LOVE & ACCEPTANCE.
So in this conversation, we break down the illusion of perfectionism by connecting back to its originating wound in addition to exploring its twin sister - PROCRASTINATION. Both perfectionism and its counterpart procrastination are driven by a fear of not meeting expectations…but who is setting the bar?
Tune into this conversation if you’re seeking to understand why you feel like you can never relax and always need to do more.
Highlights:
Perfectionism and the Self-Punishment paradigm
How perfectionism hinders your personal and spiritual growth
The ILLUSION of perfection (and it’s negative impact on creativity)
The relationship between social media and perfectionism
Timestamps:
00:00 Exploring Perfectionism
05:10 Healing Perfectionism
08:17 The Insidious Nature of Self-Punishment
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73. Kristen Such: From Rock Bottom to Highest Timeline
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 • Duration 01:16:55
There is a reason why we love to hear about how people fell to a rock bottom in their life and turned it all around. When we hear these stories, we see our own selves - our potential, our inner strength and limitless capacity to turn obstacles into opportunities. That's why today's conversation with Kristen Such, spiritual mentor & confidence coach, is going to be madly inspiring for you.
If there is one phrase to perfectly describe Kristen's past year, it is...QUANTUM LEAP. When Sam met Kristen one year ago, she had just faced a dramatic break-up and fell to her absolute lowest. She had just left her corporate job the previous year and now felt like she had nothing to show for it. In her own words, she went from "miserable corporate girly, to broke (and heart-broken) entrepreneur, to now multiple six-figure coach!"
In just one year, her energy and her life have completely transformed...what changed? Kristen owes it all to the inner work that her 'rock bottom' pushed her to do.
What this conversation illuminated was that it wasn't despite these challenges that she learned how to heal and thrive again...it was BECAUSE of them. This heart-led discussion will move you to appreciate your own biggest challenges as the hidden gifts they really are - the portals to your ascension. Like us, Kristen wholeheartedly believes that you are always just one thought away from a completely different reality - and her life is the proof.
If you are at a perceived rock bottom right now or feeling like you might be in your flop era, this episode is going to change the way you look at your reality for the better. This is also perfect for you if you have been wanting to better understand how to change your core beliefs and heal your inner child.
Highlights:
- What the SOUL wants vs. what the EGO wants
- How to find security within yourself (the only security there is!)
- How to actually heal your inner child
- The Fear of Being Seen + What to do about it
- Core beliefs + How they shape your reality (and how to change them!)
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72. Ann Swanson: Meditation For The Real World
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 • Duration 50:18
If meditation isn't your thing yet you still feel burnt out, behind, anxious and overworked...this conversation just might change your mind! When most of us think of meditation, we think we have to do it "right" by sitting cross legged, eyes closed, with a straight back and zen music in the background. But meditation is not experienced in this one limited way and is not a 'One Size Fits All' experience! Instead of writing off meditation all together, guest Ann Swanson suggests different meditations for varying situations, even beginning with just ONE minute.
Ann Swanson is the author of the internationally bestselling book SCIENCE OF YOGA and Meditation for the Real World, which illuminates the fascinating science behind meditation with step-by-step practices to help you find peace in everyday life. Although she's now written books on yoga and meditation, Ann wasn’t a naturally “chill person,” and meditation did not come easy to her. But her journey of overcoming chronic pain and anxiety led her to India to study yoga, to China to explore tai chi, and eventually to earn a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy. Now, Ann blends cutting-edge research with ancient wisdom to bring you realistic techniques that you will feel inspired to practice whether it's for reducing anxiety or manifesting your dreams!
Ann even explains how meditation quite literally changes your neural pathways, making it more likely to manifest your desires...which is exactly how she manifested her very first book deal with absolutely NO following or connections to the publishing world!
Highlights:
-How even one-minute meditations can make a difference
-Breaking down the Harvard research explaining constant mind wandering + how our happiness may depend on the ability to pay attention to the present moment
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71. Ariel Niu: Mastering Conversations + The Dynamics of Sharp vs. Soft
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 • Duration 01:27:34
Have you ever wondered why some conversations feel nice and easy while others feel awkward or difficult? Maybe you tend to people please and speak softly in social situations OR have been told that you're too intense. If you struggle to socialize or feel nervous when talking to others, this is an episode you'll want to listen to!
Join us as we dive deep into the art of communication, exploring practical tips and personal stories that will help you express yourself with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. To learn more about the dynamics between sharp and soft speech AND how to balance our energy to prime us for the most powerful and successful conversations...we invited the beloved Ariel Niu into the studio!
Ariel Niu is a creator, speaker, and coach on self and social dynamics. She shares views and guidance on human interactions through understanding our emotions, expressions, energy, and the interconnectedness between everything and everyone. People absolutely love the way she simply and effectively demonstrates how fear shows up in our conversational habits and millions have learned through her content how to show up with more confidence in their workplaces, social circles, and romantic relationships.
In this episode, we discuss the impact of emotional experiences on self-perception and the importance of accepting and honing one's natural expressions. By listening, you'll have a deeper insight into the nuances of social dynamics, how superiority & inferiority show up, and how to balance your expressions with authenticity, nonchalance, detachment.
Timestamps:
00:00 Ariel's Journey of Self-Discovery and Spirituality
03:50 Navigating the Balance Between Sharpness and Softness
08:22 Accepting and Honing Natural Expressions in Communication
15:21 Understanding the Nuances of Different Archetypes in Communication
31:40 Alert Nonchalance: Balancing Conscious Awareness and Neutrality
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70. How To Create Conscious Friendships + Do "The Work!"
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 • Duration 01:08:46
Spiralers, we're giving you a bird's eye view into our conscious friendship today and sharing the key ingredients we've identified for creating a truly harmonious relationship. After years of doing joint shadow work, looking at our own wounds, and validating each other probably a million times…we have become crystal clear on what helps us maintain loving awareness and consciousness in the face of our shadows or more reactive parts.
It is our shared belief that any person can develop these skills and improve their relationships but for long-term happiness and longevity, both parties will have to face their own internal dynamics in order to prevent continuous projecting or blaming of their friend or partner.
If you are someone who is looking to call in a more conscious friendship (or partner!), this conversation is for you.
This conversation is ALSO for you if you are in a friendship right now that is suffering from defensiveness, people pleasing, emotional non-safety, and attachment. We share how we believe these types of dynamics and patterns have a chance at reformation.
At the end of the day, a conscious relationship requires a conscious YOU. This episode will help you identify how to relate to others (and yourself) with more curiosity, awareness and love.
Highlights:
-The recipe for a conscious friendship
-How to validate someone’s needs and emotions WITHOUT agreeing with them
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Now, nine years later, she is happy (ish!), married, and has transitioned into public mental health work after her five-year tenure as the CEO of The Dogist, where she scaled the company’s audience to five million subscribers. She is currently working with Harvard to scale public health campaigns that help today’s youth while finalizing her very first memoir. Her hope for the future is to use social media for good instead of the bottom line and scale academic-creator collaborations that reach young people online where they get their information. This is just the beginning of that work and though she is unsure of where exactly it will take her, one thing’s for sure – even though her doctors were convinced that she would only survive in a locked ward, she proved them spectacularly wrong.
If you have ever struggled with mental health, this conversation contains the most madly inspiring, radically humbling, and honest message for you at this time: Healing is absolutely possible, but it won't be perfect and it will happen little by little. You got this.
Timestamps:
03:11 Self-Acceptance and Dark Nights of the Soul
09:44 Stigma and Mental Illness
14:20 Acknowledging The Problem and Being the Solution
23:06 Embracing the Messiness of Life
23:33 Changing Our Relationship with Anxiety
26:18 Embracing the Messy Process of Growth
28:38 Befriending Our Bodies
31:06 Finding Joy in the Little Things
34:51 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
38:27 The Power of Focusing on the Process
43:34 The Power of Small Steps and Celebrating Victories
53:16 Separating Identity from Diagnosis
54:23 The Danger of Over-Pathologizing Human Emotions
59:49 Healing Through Storytelling and Finding One's People
02:48 The Scarcity of the 'Good Life' and the Need to Work Hard
11:18 Authenticity and Acceptance: Breaking the Cycle of Self-Rejection
29:27 Rest: Embracing the Importance of You (the source!)
35:00 Redefining Success: Creating Your Own Definition
37:24 Taking Action Without Being 'Ready'
45:11 Accepting What Has Happened
56:54 Moving from Punishment to Acceptance
–
Doors are open for METAMORPHOSIS - Gina's 12 Week Group Coaching Mastermind for Asian Creative Entrepreneurs! Click here to learn more and apply - we start at the end of July 2024: https://ginabourne.lpages.co/metamorphosis/
Join our FREE community: (We host free calls every month!)
35:14 Approaching the Editing Process with Growth Mindset
40:07 The Role of Editing and the Inner Critic
48:08 The Responsibility of Writers to Communicate Effectively
57:46 The Importance of Trust in the Creative Process
01:02:04 The Future of Art and the Role of AI
–
Doors are open for METAMORPHOSIS - Gina's 12 Week Group Coaching Mastermind for Asian Creative Entrepreneurs! Click here to learn more and apply - we start at the end of July 2024: https://ginabourne.lpages.co/metamorphosis/
Join our FREE community: (We host free calls every month!)
Doors are open for METAMORPHOSIS - Gina's 12 Week Group Coaching Mastermind for Asian Creative Entrepreneurs! Click here to learn more and apply - we start in July 2024: https://ginabourne.lpages.co/metamorphosis/
Join our FREE community: (We host free calls every month!)
-How to do the work around JEALOUSY, SHAME, or INSECURITY in friendships
-How CONFLICT actually can lead to connection
FINALLY! Doors are open again for our life-changing 6 month mastermind, The Unlayered Self. We begin May 28, 2024. Click below to learn more and apply (Limited spots!):
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