We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lela Luster. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Lela, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Good one! All of them are very important but if I had to choose one, it would be someone’s integrity. A person’s energy will definitely be more positive if they possess integrity to start. Most people would not want to be around the energy of someone that is dishonest. Intelligence is also very attractive, so it would definitely be second.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Lela Luster, an actress and model from Los Angeles, California. When I’m not doing either of those things, I’m volunteering, staying engaged politically, going to school (again, in my 30s!), and tending to my plants.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that I once believed served me, but has very much let up these day, are chronic fears of ‘what if.’ I’ve tended to really focus on the negative aspects of everything, more of a ‘what if it doesn’t work out?’ vs ‘yeah, but what if it does work out?’ I saw that way of thinking as a security blanket of sorts. As I’ve gotten older-and took charge of my mental health-my view of things has shifted more positively. Not delusionally, but more logical, more evened out. These days, I am more likely to say, “yeah, but what if it does work out?’ It’s quite a refreshing change.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I started taking charge of my mental health. I had stacked so much upon so much, that it was just…life. I wouldn’t know the difference between stability or instability overall as I delayed getting the help that I needed. Some years out of starting my mental health journey, my goodness, do I see the difference! I just didn’t realize how badly I was delaying my life! In this case, the grass is greener on the other side.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I am very much a ‘what you see is what you get’ person, no question about it. So yes, the public Lela is the real life Lela. I see it easier for both of those sides to be equal. I wouldn’t have the mental capacity to switch between ‘public Lela’ and ‘private Lela.’ That seems like a lot of trouble!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
These days, as I mentioned previously, I’ve got a stronger head on my shoulders. That being said, I’m still getting into the groove of believing in myself more. Believing in my capacity to take my career by the horns. I have always had a wonderful support system, but I realized that I had to support myself even more than that system, I had to believe in myself and my talent even more than my support system of my family does. I have finally started doing that, no longer dimming my light. I’m no longer accepting a foundation of doubt from myself. What do I have to lose by having a foundation of belief in myself instead?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lela__luster
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@LelaLuster
- Other: TikTok: lela__luster
