Meet Jill Lawrence

We were lucky to catch up with Jill Lawrence recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

I’ve always been inherently optimistic, but as my trust in life, the Universe, the Divine, or God has deepened, I’ve developed a stronger belief that everything has a way of working itself out. No matter what happens, I know I will find a way to navigate through it. This trust comes from recognizing that I don’t have to face challenges alone; I believe that the people, skills, and resources I need will be available to me when I need them.

Our culture often promotes a form of toxic positivity, which involves avoiding negative feelings. We tend to skim over or numb anything that might disrupt our sense of well-being. However, by acknowledging my fears, I have discovered a deeper level of optimism. I’ve realized that my fears are often much worse in my mind than they are in reality.

Now, when fear starts to creep in, I remind myself, “If that actually happens, the future version of me will know what to do.” That mindset is optimism in action! I’ve developed this skill through practicing mindfulness. By focusing on the present moment, I can evaluate whether a fear is realistic or highly unlikely. From there, I can either take action if the fear is valid or calm my nervous system by leaning into my optimism.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I started a side hustle eight years ago when my youngest started kindergarten. It quickly took off, and before I knew it, I had nine employees and a thriving marketing agency. From the outside, it looked like a dream. But on the inside, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. I knew it wasn’t sustainable, but I had no idea how to fix it. I was working crazy hours trying to meet everyone’s needs, and my family and personal life were suffering.

Shutting down the business wasn’t an option—I had to figure out how to pivot. I had tasted the freedom of entrepreneurship, and I wanted to make it work on my terms. But instead of owning my business, I had become a slave to it. The first step was scaling back so I could create the space to think and breathe.

That’s when mindfulness and meditation found me. I started practicing daily meditation, and it gave me the clarity to build a business I truly loved. I realized I had been following other people’s blueprints for success—people whose values and definitions of success didn’t even align with mine. It became clear that I needed to create a business that worked with my life, not against it.

Fast forward to today: I run a successful website design company and have launched a career as a mindfulness and meditation teacher. The best part? I have complete freedom over my time. I no longer feel trapped by my business. I say no to projects that don’t align with my values, and instead of scrambling to keep up with growth, I mindfully plan what I can handle and follow that path.

The secret is to listen to your inner knowing—and trust it with your whole heart. That’s how you create something truly unique to you.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Perseverance: There are a thousand reasons to throw in the towel, but having faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

Humbleness: Be open to learning from others, but always trust your intuition. Before fully embracing someone else’s advice, take a step back and see if it truly aligns with you.

Humility: One of the greatest strengths is self-awareness. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and surround yourself with people whose strengths complement your weaknesses.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I spend a lot of time speaking with entrepreneurs and organizations about mindfulness and how simple daily practices can transform your reality. Self-awareness is one of the greatest gifts we can offer the world, and mindfulness helps us uncover the habits and patterns that might be hindering our growth.

I’m always excited to speak to new groups about the neuroscience of meditation and how mindfulness can expand self-awareness, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall quality of life. If you know of an upcoming conference that would benefit from these topics, or an organization whose employees might enjoy this conversation, please reach out!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jillianlawrence.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindfulnesswithjill

Image Credits

Photography by Linda Mackie Creative: https://www.lindamackie.ca/