Meet Maribel Laguna

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maribel Laguna. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maribel below.

Maribel , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I remember being a young child, going to school and not knowing English. I felt lost, alone and scared. I would go to a weekly class where we would learn English with puppets. Little by little, I started learning words and translating in my head, yet I was too shy to speak. This is when I discovered my love for reading, an escape from the real world. In the real world I could not be myself nor be understood, literally. Reading gave me power because I learned about great adventures and hard things that other people did. The more I read, the more powerful I felt. I was learning new words and understanding how they flowed together. One day, I needed help with an assignment. I had been unable to figure it out on my own, so I raised my hand for the first time. As I waited to be called on, I practiced my teacher’s name over and over to make sure I pronounced it correctly. When she called on me, I delivered. I often think about that little girl and her resilience. She helps me be resilient now. I tell myself, “If at age 3 you could go to a scary, unknown place and not be able to communicate, imagine what you can do now! You just have to face the fear, work hard, practice, be inspired, and you will deliver.”

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?

As a licensed professional counselor, I am truly passionate about my work. I find great fulfillment in helping people learn about themselves, discover their strengths, and identify areas of resilience. A few years ago, I realized I had a calling to train others to do the same: so I started Cor Sacrum Counseling and Consulting. I’m proud to have formed and lead a team of like-minded professionals who share my commitment to the counseling profession and are equally dedicated to excellence while promoting mental health and well-being. Together, we are not only focused on providing exceptional care to our clients but also on transforming the mental health landscape within our communities, especially among Catholic community leaders. We aim to encourage and challenge individuals and organizations to prioritize mental health, foster well-being, and integrate supportive mental health practices into community programs. As we grow, I believe we have the power to make a lasting difference in the lives of many.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three essential qualities to starting your own business are hard work, passion and faith. Being a small business owner has many challenges, but the most difficult challenge is facing your doubts. Working hard helps you do something about these doubts. Passion helps you stay connected to the “why.” Faith helps you stay connected to the fact that what you do is more than you and more than what you could imagine. Faith helps you dream bigger and do bigger and better things because what you do should matter and should impact humanity.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Frankly, God and my husband are my power team. Whenever doubt creeps in, they remind me of the bigger picture — why what I do matters and the lasting impact it can have. Their encouragement keeps me inspired and focused on making a difference.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made