Today we’d like to introduce you to Effie Lavore.
Hi Effie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After dropping out of med school 18 years ago I moved to Los Angeles and had a lively career in film and TV before creating my current business as a life coach.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Not so much [laughs]. But it has been interesting. The life of any artist or entrepreneur is filled with constant challenges… I wouldn’t have it any other way. I take comfort in it, actually. Because I know that as long as I’m committed to being a creatrix and business owner, I just will never stop growing and learning about myself and the world.
But to answer the question, one of my greatest struggles along the way was learning how to work with my anxiety and depression. I also rebuilt my life after a traumatic brain injury. Both of those things required me to take responsibility for myself and my own experience , in a big way. It was a huge amount of work, and so rewarding. There are really three things that have saved me over the years: art, coaching, and community. Now I’ve created a life for myself that I truly f*cking love, more than I ever did, even at the peak of my success in entertainment. And I feel so fortunate that now I get to teach others how to do the same.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
To become a med school burnout I studied psychology and chemistry with an emphasis on neuroscience. It actually turned out to help me a lot as a writer and storyteller. And becoming a life coach has brought me full circle on that in a way that’s so fun.
My specialty is coaching the unconscious mindm, which is unbelievably creative. And effective. Because 95% of what drives our behavior, drives, habits, and feelings happens below the surface outside of our conscious awareness. So using cognitive tools is only going to scrape the very tippy top of the iceberg. From experience I can say that the skill of managing your mind and emotions is the most valuable thing you can ever learn. Unfortunately none of us are really taught this skill growing up. That’s why I do what I do. As a coach I help people grow the skills they need problem-solve on a deeper level. The unconscious mind thinks in images, emotions, fantasy, and sensations… it’s the stuff of stories. We get to use all of that to create new habits, patterns, beliefs, and experiences that empower you to get what you want.
I offer one-on-one and group coaching packages. For free resources to get started on your own, come find me on Instagram or check out my podcast Feel Better For Good with Effie Lavore.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk taker or not, it’s risky to be alive! For me, I had to learn to calm down a bit [laughs]. I’ve always been something of a daredevil. But I actually think risk aversion is a liability.
I think we’ve got things backwards when we prioritize comfort, familiarity, and stability over all else. Because discomfort is the currency of growth. Developing a healthy relationship with risk is super important. I mean, following your dreams is a risk. Especially if you’re a creative. But it’s less risky that staying stuck in a life you don’t want. Being honest about what you really think and feel is a risk, but it’s the only way to have sustainable relationships where you’re truly valued for who you are.
The risk is always worth taking because of who you become in the process. For example, in college I trained and fought as an amateur boxer. But the way I came to it was pretty surprising. At the time I was a self-identified pacifist and found the sport really disturbing. But then Million Dollar Baby came out, and… [grimaces] I just love that movie. I was like, What is this? And I realized that behind my disgust was a kind of curiosity and real fascination. Eventually I started training and, yeah, competing. I still have a pretty mean right hook [laughs]. I’d have missed out on that whole experience if I was too married to a rigid self-concept. Just a silly example, but… I know firsthand the value that comes when you move toward the thing you fear.
Contact Info:
- Website: effielavore.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/effielavore
- Facebook: facebook.com/effielavore
- Other: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/effie-lavore5
Image Credits
Chris Violette
