Meet Mia Laren

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

Mia, 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.
Many of us walk this planet in our beings, not truly knowing who that being is. We can define it physically, but can we grasp it emotionally, mentally, or spiritually? I think we get caught up in what we want to see, rather than what we’re actually seeing. We believe we know ourselves until we really don’t. That moment, although, doesn’t typically occur until we reach a low point. But why must a low point be necessary for reaching a high? Why are we constantly climbing ladders? Why is it so crucial to know who we are if we’re merely existing? If our time on this earth is but a blip? Is our identity our purpose? If everyone were good, then we wouldn’t need police. If everyone were bad, then we wouldn’t require democracy. And that is why, when we gaze into the mirror, we must acknowledge all facets, the good and the bad. We must accept ourselves, then decide whether we want to rectify our flaws or perpetuate them. If we choose to pass on our issues, we deny others the autonomy to navigate their own paths of self-discovery; instead, we burden them with our joys and sorrows. Imagine a world where everyone carries others’ pain and happiness rather than uncovering their own. Imagine staring in the mirror and not only seeing your pain and happiness but also others’. Imagine how confusing it would be, how difficult to differentiate between the two. Through all my experiences, I remained the same person because I held onto others’ pain and happiness, rather than uncovering my own… rather than seeing my own. Don’t allow someone else to have that much power. Reclaim your power. See yourself for who you are and choose to improve. That will ultimately become a facet of your purpose, just as I found mine in music.

As I delved into music, it became my mirror, reflecting my true self through melodies and lyrics. With each chord and verse, I found clarity, purpose, and the courage to confront my inner struggles. Music became more than a passion—it became a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment, illuminating the path towards healing and growth.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I want to share a pivotal moment in my life when I woke up with a resolute determination to pursue music, regardless of my prior experience. Growing up with a father who was a musician, his weekly performances left an indelible mark on me, inspiring my own aspirations. In middle school, I wholeheartedly believed I would become a singer, even landing the lead role in “Bye Bye Birdie.” However, as high school arrived, I faced bullying and even instances of sexual assault, which shattered my confidence and dimmed my dreams.

Despite my passion, discouraging words from others, including my best friend and drama teacher, led me to doubt my abilities. I found myself withdrawing from opportunities to showcase my talent, harboring insecurities. College brought yet another traumatic experience of assault, pushing me further into the shadows.

However, at 27, a compelling force surged within me, compelling me to create music. With no prior experience, I mustered the courage to open my laptop, utilizing GarageBand to craft beats. Though I hesitated to sing, haunted by past traumas, I was astounded by my emerging talent. Over time, I gradually overcame my fear, though not fully realizing my potential.

Despite encountering skepticism and discouragement, I remained steadfast in my resolve, making a pact with myself to persist and effect positive change. For me, music serves as a profound spiritual connection, enabling me to reach and influence others in a meaningful way. With each song and video I create, I find solace and self-expression, using my music as a therapeutic outlet to share my stories.

Now armed with a master’s degree in public health, I aim to merge my passions by addressing pressing social issues such as mental health and sex trafficking through music. I trust my instincts, firmly believing that this path is my true calling.

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?
My advice is not to let others influence your journey. It’s easy to listen to the outside world—whether it’s friends or the current trends. Forge your own path, set your own trends. Only the greatest minds who have been quoted followed their own path and blocked out the real world. But don’t lose yourself in the pressure.

My weakness is that I am a perfectionist. I strive to be better than the last song, video, etc., but sometimes, we can put so much pressure on ourselves that we forget to enjoy the present moment and the little beautiful moments.

I started later in life. I wish I had started earlier, but in essence, it doesn’t matter. Who makes the rules anyway? Just keep believing in yourself. We all have our own story and struggles; that is the beauty of it. Keep going, keep being consistent. If you stop, did you really want it in the first place?

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I started reading ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear on a plane going to Hawaii, one of my favorite places in the world because of its spiritual presence. But I fell in love with this particular section of the book that talks about quality versus quantity. A study performed by an art instructor tested her students by dividing the class into two. One section of the class had to complete an assignment that consisted of taking as many pictures as possible and being graded on the quantity. The other half of the class had to take one best picture and work on it the entire time, being graded on quality. The students who were graded on quantity had higher grades than the ones graded on quality. Through this, she learned that the students who took many photos were able to learn and challenge themselves each time they snapped a photo, achieving growth.

This changed the game for me. I actually remember talking to a guy on the plane and having a whole conversation about this. I told him that I was going to quit my job and move to Hawaii to do my art full-time. I actually ended up moving to San Diego, California, which is close enough but almost there. I quit my job, and yes, now I’m doing my art full-time. I knew that in order to achieve the growth I wanted, I had to put my 100 percent into it, meaning that I had to spend as much time on the quantity as the quality. This changed my craft drastically because I was able to practice and learn to the point where people began noticing my music more, seeing the improvements.

The moral of the story: don’t think, just do. Push your content out there. If you think of an idea, don’t talk about it, just do it. Keep making mistakes, learning, growing, achieving, making it happen for yourself. Only you are in charge of that. I wanted to make more music videos, so I researched the best cinema cameras for my budget, got a credit card, and made it happen. Use the resources around you and figure it out later. If you believe in yourself enough, everything will fall into place. Ask yourself, if you would live your life any differently, would you, and how would you? If you said yes, then it’s time to make things happen for yourself.

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
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Mental Health
Mental Health: Inspiring Stories of Perseverance and Resilience

As the prevalence of mental health issues increases and affects an ever larger number of

Leadership Development
Developing Discipline: Stories & Insights

Many of the most impressive entrepreneurs and creatives in our community exhibit a high degree