Meet Lydia Luna

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lydia Luna. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lydia, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I think my purpose found me early in life. Since I was 6 years old, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. All my life I’ve felt drawn to be of service and have creative expression. How that manifests in me has evolved over time, but the themes of service and visionary creativity remain consistent. I’ve come to realize that one’s life purpose is fluid and there’ll be many facets to how that’s demonstrated during our time here. Mine has been a fluid and ever-evolving process throughout my various life stages. Once I’ve satisfied a goal, my purpose goes through a realignment, and whenever I feel pulled in a new direction, I know it’s time to reevaluate what I’m doing and how I’m living. I look within for what may be out of alignment. By focusing with intentionality on what’s still working and what’s no longer working, I identify a fresh avenue to be of service and creatively express myself. To get there, I slow down, embrace stillness, pray, meditate, become introspective, examine my needs and wants, and connect to my inner voice.

I have a doctorate in clinical psychology with a fulfilling private practice and a rewarding wellness company. My purpose to serve has expanded beyond helping patients one-on-one to now sharing what I’ve learned with a larger audience via a podcast. I’m listening to my inner voice that says, “that looks interesting,” “I want to do that,” or “If they can do it, so can I.” I’m continually seeking to become the most evolved version of myself and to helping others explore their higher selves through my experiences.

People often ask me how they can find their purpose. Some methods that have helped me on my journey are practicing mindfulness in everything I do, noticing when something feels off or is no longer satisfying. When I feel particularly drawn to something, or am redirected by circumstance, I focus on my inner guidance system. When I’m intentional about exploring what I’m drawn to and I maintain a positive mindset, I can hear and feel the support of my spirit guides and ancestors. I have come to understand that an uncomfortable feeling means it’s time for a shift toward the new and unknown. I must transform, surrender and remain flexible. The more I accept and trust the process, I’m able to embrace change and walk through any fears and worries to reach my highest good. When I’m intentional in raising my vibration, I’m able to access the magnificent realm of infinite knowledge and perfect wisdom.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a first-generation Mexican American who loves to sing and dance, read, spend time with loved ones, and travel while I continuously work toward being the best version of myself. I love my work as a licensed clinical psychologist. I have a thriving private practice in California where I provide psychotherapy to individuals, children, couples and families. Four years ago, I started a wellness company called the Moon Collective Sanctuary. We curate single-day and private retreats, providing integrative care to the community through mental health and spiritual support. We employ holistic and alternative healing modalities such as breathwork, sound healing, somatic practices, and reiki. We even include some mystical and ancient practices such as coffee readings. It’s the perfect place to go when you need a healing and soulful experience. Our motto is Because Self-Care is Soul-Care.

The Moon Collective Sanctuary is a true sanctuary – a safe and inviting space where you are encouraged to be the most authentic, open, and vulnerable version of yourself. It’s the space where we take off the daily “mask” we wear for the world and even sometimes with ourselves – a safe place to let your guard down and be open to receive what you’re needing at that time. You feel a special energy that is felt when you arrive at our center. The property is surrounded by mature trees, beautiful mountains, lush foliage, and vibrant flowers. You feel completely nestled in nature. Our events bridge psychology with spirituality and our activities are curated to address the needs of each group or individual who attends. We have some exciting gatherings coming up to bring like-minded individuals together and to strengthen the sense of community that we all crave. These events will also help us attend to ourselves in an immersive and powerful way. We hold in-person gatherings and monthly workshops in Thousand Oaks, California and we offer a virtual group that meets weekly for those who aren’t local or want on-going support. We also offer scholarship programs and sliding scale fees for interested participants who are experiencing financial hardship. Our newest offerings at our center include Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and as a bonus, some of our services are covered by FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account). Additionally, I’m excited to announce that the Moon Collective Sanctuary will have a podcast! This project has been calling me for about a year and a half, so I’m really excited to launch this now as it will allow us to reach those who are unable to attend our in-person gatherings. The Moon Collective Sanctuary podcast will be empowering, inspirational, educational and entertaining. We’ll cover topics related to psychology, spirituality and all-things wellness.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I always knew I was destined for more; there was always an innate feeling deep inside. Getting there was a matter of figuring out how in a way that was authentic to me. In my early years, I didn’t always appreciate who I was though I was driven to do my best. As I matured, I realized that I had something valuable to offer. I have a curious and expansive mind, a way of thinking and seeing the world that at times feels unique. I yearn for wisdom and understanding, it’s a constant fascination and I’ve learned to appreciate my need to stretch myself beyond my comfort zone to reach my full potential. I dislike complacency and mediocrity in myself, so I continuously set new personal goals to expand. Doing so has increased my confidence because I’m a witness to my own abilities and capabilities! My advice to those early in their journey is to be intentional about learning who you are. Lean into what you like, examine what drives you and motivates you. Identify your values, what brings you joy and ignites your passion. Uncovering these special interests are nuggets that lead to your destiny! They’ll help guide you toward what you’re meant to do, and then you must be courageous on your path forward. Engage in activities that support these parts of you and trust that as long as you don’t give up, stay consistent, give your best and practice patience, you’ll be led to something else that will always lead to something more. Each step gets you closer to where you set your focus and attention. Don’t be afraid to work hard and gain skills while you discover your path. Focus on your interests so that you’re always moving forward and not living in survival mode. Being in survival mode will make it difficult to stay in a creative, expansive mindset.

I think social media is giving our youth the impression that things are immediate and easy. In most cases, success takes time, consistency, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and persistence. Stay open, be flexible. Allow yourself to be redirected by life. Despite having a clear vision, there may be times when you’re being guided down another path. If you’re attuned to yourself, you’ll recognize that some doors close for your own good and lead you toward another opportunity. When things are not working out, ask yourself, “Am I going to become a victim of my situation or am I going to use this as information to help me grow?”, “What if this is happening “for me” rather than “to me”? Consider why you’re in the situation and what are you supposed to learn from it? Another piece of advice would be to have a friend circle you trust as a sounding board. Give a voice to your thoughts, fears, worries, dreams. Ask your trusted people to offer input, feedback, and encouragement. Always know that you’re not in this pursuit alone – your trusted circle, spirit guides, ancestors and your higher power will help lead you to your life’s purpose.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

One area of growth has been to fully appreciate and embrace the present moment and appreciate the fruits of my labor. I am truly enjoying the life I’ve created so far. I’ve learned to feel comfortable with slowing down and removing the societal pressure of having to “do so much”. I’ve learned to trust that slowing down and being in the moment is crucial for good self-care. I’ve also begun to have a different mindset when obstacles arise. When a challenge comes, I don’t see it as a negative. I’m like, “this is here to help me learn and grow,” and then I can use what I learn to share with others who may be experiencing challenges as well. So mentally, I assign a different value to the situation – it’s no longer a negative but a purposeful experience. This perspective helps my nervous system stay calm and I feel gratitude for the experience. It ignites my creative side to envision a new opportunity for myself. I now have a deeper appreciation for life and for inner peace and security. I have high self-expectations and tend to be self-critical, but I’m getting better at showing myself grace. I have also begun to be even more intentional in pushing myself to follow my intuition and start new projects even if they feel out of my comfort zone. Personal growth is a daily mission and I’m excited to see what each new day brings.

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Image Credits

Sasha Sheldon
Leanne Jean

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