In November 2016 I found out that I didn’t pass the California Bar Exam, and that moment, and the months leading up to it, has absolutely defined my journey because it was the wakeup call that I needed to slow down and reevaluate my path.

When you go to law school, you plan to be licensed and start your career right away. You definitely don’t plan for the possibility of a delay! For someone who had based her entire self-worth on external achievements her entire life, it’s safe to say it felt like my world was crashing down around me. I was in a space of shame, anger, and embarrassment, and months of not listening to my body, running myself ragged, and being downright mean to myself took its toll.

I decided it was time for a change, and over the next year I took time to get to know myself. I started listening and trusting my intuition more, and for the first time in my life I started to peel back the layers and understand and love who I am and who I wanted to be. By the time I sat for the California Bar Exam the second time in July 2017 (and then ultimately passed that time!) I was in a different place, mind, body and soul. Little did I know it was just the beginning.

Looking back, I had to regroup and start over and ultimately I made the choiceI to shift and change how I was speaking to myself, how I viewed myself, and I did so by embracing greater self-love, understanding my own self-care, and choosing my joy in ways I never did before.

Hindsight is always 20/20 (and after the year we just had, it feels pretty funny saying that), and it’s easier to look back at difficult times and see the lessons after you’ve experienced them. I really believe that getting knocked down, and learning how to pick myself back up, is how I got to where I am today. If I had passed the bar exam the first time, I wouldn’t have learned to slow down and be kinder, gentler, and more compassionate to myself. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have felt inspired to launch Seek The Joy Podcast either!

Through starting this platform, I’ve discovered a passion for creating connection and community around shared experiences. I’ve also uncovered a passion and a desire to produce content that inspires change and growth, both within ourselves but also as a community. I want to be an advocate through storytelling, through creating compassionate empathetic spaces for people to fully show up as who they are, and that’s what I’m doing with my platform. I’m a firm believer that we all have a story to share and a voice that’s meant to be heard, and through Seek The Joy Podcast and Stories of Inspiring Joy I hope to continue to do that.

The truth is, I wouldn’t have known all of this if it weren’t for the roadblocks or “failures” that I’ve experienced, the courage to turn them into stepping stones, and ultimately launch Seek The Joy Podcast and Stories of Inspiring Joy.

This podcast and community has completely changed the direction of my life and career, and I’m so grateful.

What drives you?

Impact is what drives me. My greatest mission is to uplift and empower others to find their authentic voice, encourage them to step into their vulnerability and courage, all to seek their joy and bring about greater healing.

I really believe we're here for love, joy, and connection. We're here to share our voices and our magic with the world. So many of us spend our lives running away from vulnerability and connection (me included), and hiding from who we are, what we love, and what really lights us up. I’ve learned that vulnerability and connection are two of our greatest assets, and it takes strength and courage to be vulnerable. Sharing conversations that explore our vulnerability, and remind us that no matter what life throws at us, we have the power and the ability to choose and chase our joy, over and over again, is the fuel that drives me.

How are you paving the way for people in your community to succeed? Or opening doors that were once closed?

Through Seek The Joy Podcast and Stories of Inspiring Joy, my hope and intention has always been to provide a space for all of us to unapologetically be who we are. A space to explore our joys, passions, inspirations, and vulnerability.

I believe that we can expand what we know and believe is possible for ourselves through open and honest conversations, and my hope is that every episode provides a moment for reflection, and an opportunity to connect, inspire, empower and grow together.

Over the last three years, I've found that it’s really comforting to connect with someone who has been there and understands what you’re going through. I can't tell you how many people reach out every week and share their stories and the impact the podcast has had on their lives. Every single message takes me by surprise, and reminds me why this platform is so important. The truth is, you never know how your bravery, courage, and joy will inspire someone else to stand in their truth and share their story.

There’s always a moment during every conversation or episode where something is said that stops me in my tracks, or where a lightbulb goes off in my head. We all have so much wisdom to share, and what’s shared is always so wonderful and tangible.

Seek The Joy Podcast and our new sister podcast, Stories of Inspiring Joy, has developed into a really wonderful community of people who are willing to step outside of their comfort zones and show up for themselves in ways they never thought possible. My hope is that someone who tunes in to both podcasts will connect to what brings them joy, leave feeling inspired, and remember that they’re never alone in what they experience.

Most meaningful project to date?

If you asked me this question a year ago, I would have said without a doubt Seek The Joy Podcast has is my most meaningful project to date because it was really born out of a desire to create deeper connections. Over the last three years it’s served as a much needed reminder that we're never alone in what we experience, and it’s given me the beautiful gift to be part of something much bigger than me.

Seek The Joy Podcast and our sister podcast, Stories of Inspiring Joy, celebrates every aspect of our journey, and the opportunity to provide a platform and now an event to share our stories of vulnerability and courage has been incredible and life-changing.

Today, the most meaningful project to date has to be Seek The Joy Summit, our first-ever virtual retreat on April 10, 2020, and I couldn’t be more excited. Seek The Joy Summit will celebrate community and bring people together from all around the world to connect, inspire, and grow.

The day will be filled with empowering conversations and sessions on mindfulness, finding our joy and choosing positivity, stepping into our authentic voice + the importance of sharing our story, opportunities to connect with our #SeekTheJoy community, and more!

Advice or a mantra you would like to pass on?

“Stay patient and trust your journey” is a mantra and affirmation that I’ve kept close for the past five years. Life is a journey and we’re constantly evolving. We have moments of struggle and then we also have moments of profound victory and joy. Life requires us to be patient and trust the path that’s unfolding in front of us. That’s not always easy, and there have certainly been (many) moments where I’ve questioned my path.

I’m a firm believer that there’s no such thing as failure, but instead moments that ask us to hit pause. These moments challenge us to look at who we are, the path we’re walking down, and ask ourselves if it aligns with who we want to be and the impact that we want to have.

I’ve learned not to fear the roadblocks or the moments of “failure,” because without them we wouldn’t have the chance to know who we are, who we want to be, and how we want to show up in the world. It’s through discomfort and uncertainty that we grow so much stronger than we would without those challenges.

Romain McLean

Romain McLean is a creative connector inspiring entrepreneurs to bring their wildest dreams to life. Bizgoprint aligns with Romain’s life purpose, bringing value to people’s lives through creative inspiration and better marketing practices.

https://www.ni-ce-tees.com

Sydney Weiss, Host + Producer

Vivian Azalia, Community Organizer + Teacher + Jeweler + Photographer

Anuella, Founder + Director