My Story

How I Got Here:

In 2000, while I was a freshman on the Boston College Women’s Volleyball Team, I met George Mumford, Mindfulness Teacher and Performance Expert. George introduced our team to mindfulness and visualization. He also spent time mentoring us through our challenges in learning to communicate with our coach. George’s calm presence, humble demeanor, and his ability to listen immediately struck me. I had never met someone with the ability to be so present. George consistently and intelligently responds in the present moment. He is the embodiment of qualities and values that are often overlooked and rare. George assisted me through some difficult times in college. He gave me his time. He asked me the hard questions to challenge my thinking. He often shared a personal story to provide insight. Most importantly—he never told me what to do. He empowered me and fed my intelligence; he never robbed me of my own direct experience. He was a true teacher. It wasn’t long after meeting George that I decided, when I grow up, I want to be like George. I knew, through my own experience, that what George taught was priceless.

It wasn’t until 2006 and 2007 that I started to pursue my path of “being like George.”  I had enough sense to know that before I bothered him with more questions, I should study on my own.  I had already been studying systems, teams, and leaders—that was one of my first hobbies.  Naturally my work evolved, and I eventually moved on to what I decided was the root of success—self-awareness.  Everything comes down to self-awareness.  I wanted to teach, but I knew that in order to teach I would have to know the subject matter like the back of my hand.  I picked up anything and everything on awareness, mindfulness, meditation, and consciousness; if it was connected even the littlest bit, I studied it.  My work became increasingly expansive—in the best possible way.  I would have to say that the most important part was my self-study.  I spent hours in contemplation and hands-on daily application.  I moved around thoughts and ideas—entertaining and contemplating new ways of thinking.  I challenged belief systems and conditioning with a growth mindset.  Building and expanding upon everything George had first introduced me to—knowing one day I will teach, and most importantly, share what I was learning.

I worked on ways to better communicate everything that I was learning.  My intention is to teach individuals how to penetrate the present moment, how to live more mindfully, and how to increase their level of self-awareness.  As I went deeper into my work, it became clear that there are common factors that can either promote or inhibit growth in individuals.

Proper nutrition, movement and exercise, along with a growth mindset are pivotal.  Proper nutrition allows the body to perform at an optimal level, to heal at an optimal level, and to grow at an optimal level.  Exercise and movement create a space for physical and mental energy to be centered.  It allows the body to be valued and appreciated for all of its functions.  It keeps unnecessary pain away.  A clear and healthy mindset allows individuals the ability to remove the obstacles in their lives that keep them from being present, excelling, and growing.  The more self-aware you are, the easier it is to penetrate the present moment—and by being able to penetrate the present moment we are able to live a more satisfying and joyful life.  Greater self-awareness results in more fulfillment, happiness, excellence, understanding, growth, and depth.  In my opinion, there is nothing greater in existence than that which we are able to directly experience in the present moment—all of life’s beauty, wonders, teachings, and love—always available to us.