MEET YURIANA
I love this quote from Socrates:
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
I believe wholeheartedly that what our soul most longs for is to stretch and grow into our unique, fullest potential. However, our fearful ego prefers to cling to what’s comfortable and familiar (even if we’re miserable), all in the name of safety.
Over the years, through much inner work and trainings, my relationship with my ego has evolved and continues to evolve. The conversation between our expansive soul and our fearful ego is a lifelong process. And although it can be challenging, it can also be fun and creative.
The language of my soul is creativity, and I love helping others ignite and nurture their own creative fire. Creative expression is my daily spiritual practice. And my passionate mission is to help others liberate and channel their creativity to realize their unique, fullest potential.
Through my creative journey, I’ve learned three key principles that I’d like to share with you here:
YOUR NEXT PROJECT MIGHT BE RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE
I once went on a month-long camel safari in the Sahara desert. My hope was to get some inspiration for my next creative project, though I had no idea what that might look like. So I kept a journal, and I watched, listened, touched, tasted, smelled, dreamed, and reflected. My young camel’s name was Abaroug, and I became kinetically attuned to his rhythm as he carried me on his humped back, day after day for four weeks. His rhythm soon became a melody, and then a song, and then a story about a hero’s journey, and finally, a produced play with my French theatre company, which performed “Abaroug the Camel” in French (with me in the title role in a camel suit) to the delight of hundreds of children in Paris.
But you don’t need to travel far to discover something right under your nose, which brings us to the next principle:
CREATE WITH WHAT YOU’VE GOT
Back when I was pursuing acting full time, I decided it was time to create my own project rather than wait to be hired.
So I started writing a screenplay for a feature film, which I also wanted to produce and act in. But the enormity of the project overwhelmed me very quickly, and so I dropped it.
I realized that my big vision of a feature film was too much to tackle at the time. So I decided to break the project up into smaller bite-sized pieces in order to escape procrastination and overwhelm.
So I wrote a script for a short, 9-minute film. I used just one location and two actors to keep the budget and the workload manageable. I also recruited wonderful collaborators and supporters and we shot the film in one weekend. It was a thrill to see my finished film “Cat Eyes” screen at a number of film festivals, including the LA Shorts Fest, Tiburon, Newport Beach, and others.
But it’s really not only about the results. The process is what will sustain you through the ups and downs, as you:
KEEP NURTURING YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT
Since completing my Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology, I’ve learned how to keep my creative tank full. I have since re-discovered my passion for acting, just for the fun of it. I’ve come to know that it is my joyful responsibility to keep my inner flame glowing through a creative spiritual practice that helps me to be fully present, alive, and connected to others in spontaneous play in my everyday, practical life, and to help others do the same.
I face resistance to creative expression and to stretching beyond my comfort zone, like many people, but it no longer has a hold on me for long. Because I don’t need a rational reason to stretch and create, other than the fact that it uplifts me and reconnects me to my spirit, and to the Universal Creative Spirit. And when I’m connected to this universally-available source, I function so much better in all my real-life roles as a guide, coach, friend, lover, daughter, sister, dog auntie, artist, entrepreneur, actor, storyteller, workshop leader.
As for my formal education and training, I received my BA in English/Creative Writing from UCLA, and a Masters degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, with an emphasis in Consciousness, Health, and Healing. I’m a certified Soul-Centered Professional Coach (University of Santa Monica), as well as a certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach, and a certified Transformative Coach through Michael Neil’s Supercoach Academy.
A number of years ago I got burnt out from making any sort of creative effort in anything. My inner flame was almost snuffed out. But somehow through that dark period the small, faint voice of my creative spirit cried out to me, “I’m still here, I’m alive.” And my inner ears are now trained to hear that voice of the creative spirit in others and to help them to nurture it.
My desire is to guide you on your personal creative journey so you can fill your life with joy, freedom, and meaning.
Now that you know my story, I’d like to hear yours.
Let’s set up a time to talk on the phone to see if and how I can help you to bring your creative and heartfelt dreams to life. This initial call is free of charge.