We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Paez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.
Hi Lauren , so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
Self-care is so incredibly important, especially in this day in age when it is so easy to be overwhelmed or feel ungrounded. I think the rise of social media and technology affects us, EMFs are a real thing. I notice that when I adhere to the hustle culture and go long periods without rest my brain and body start to rebel. If I don’t make time for myself I have the worst creative blocks, anxiety, stress, and I just start feeling run down. It’s been proven that stress creates a lot of chaos for our mind, body, and spirit. One of the most important lessons I have learned on this journey is that self-care is not selfish, it is necessary. When you run a business you juggle a lot such as personal life, family life, the business, and often many more important components. For me to give the best effort and energy to these areas in my life, I have to make sure I am recharged and ready. For me, self-care looks like making time and space to do the things I love like yoga, reading, hiking, and dancing. It also means making time for my spiritual and mental health. This looks like meditation, grounding, and visiting my favorite prayer garden. Sometimes self-care can look like something as simple as taking a bubble bath, doing my nails, or hanging out with my dog. I get so focused on the business, social media, and other aspects of my life that sometimes it is hard to make time for self-care. The best advice I can give to those who have or are currently experiencing similar things is to schedule time for yourself and commit to it. I started by scheduling things once a month, which turned into once a week and now I have a decently balanced schedule between work, personal, and family time. If there is a moment when I am feeling more stressed than usual I love to pick out a crystal (usually a grounding or calming one) and meditate or carry it with me throughout the day. Often this helps calm my thoughts. I love working with crystals and energy, they have helped me a lot and have inspired many of our crystal creations at Lala Lotus Co. such as the Grounding and Protection Bracelet and the Calming Bracelet. Many of our spiritual practices tie into self-care. My family and I like to do yoga in the park, sound healing, crafts, and group meditations. When I make space for self-care I notice significant changes. Such as clarity in thoughts, and more creative ideas. I produce better work, and generally, my stress levels are easier to manage. I feel more grounded, and my intuition is heightened. Self-care allows me to better help others, which is so important as an Energy Healing Practitioner. Generally, I feel I have the energy to continue to pursue my dreams and grow as a person. All in all, healthy self-care practices help me be more effective and a better version of myself.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I created Lala Lotus Co. when I was in treatment for Chronic Lyme Disease. I was sixteen and have always been “an old soul”. Through discovering new talents, learning about crystals, and all things spiritual I was able to combine my knowledge and passions into my first business. I became trained in Reiki and Energy Healing. I became certified by Cannabis Training University and learned about hemp. Recently, I graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on entrepreneurship. We started on Etsy with a small shop where I featured my mom’s artwork and my crystal jewelry. Now we have our own website, socials, YouTube, and Etsy shop. We carry everything from crystals to jewelry, to paintings and garden stones all handmade by local artisans. Recently we have added a book nook to our website. The book nook features products from other small businesses such as mindful journals from Moonlight at Midnight Holistics and stickers from Meaggie Moos as well as some of our favorite books, handmade bookmarks, and more. We have grown a lot within the last year thanks to new partnerships and jewelry lines. Additionally, we offer a variety of services both online and in person such as Reiki, distance Reiki, and personalized readings. There are many new and exciting things on the horizon that I can’t wait to share with you. We are best known for our handmade creations and quality crystals. Each item added to our shop has been mindfully selected by a certified Energy Healing and Reiki master to aid in your spiritual journey. We specialize in custom creations that are designed uniquely for you. One of my favorite things about running Lala Lotus Co. is connecting and working with folks from all walks of life. I love to hear their stories and work with them to create something completely unique. I also love working with both people and animals in terms of Reiki and Energy Healing. As we go through life we may experience energy imbalances, which can cause energetic blocks, stress, anxiety, and many other things. Each healing is unique due to each of us having our own unique experiences. Basically, it is my job to help you rebalance energy, release and process trauma, and be emotional support. When you enter a healing session it is a judgment-free zone. It is my job to create an energetically mindful safe space whether that’s during a healing session or you purchased a Reiki-infused crystal. I always make sure to cleanse and set the intention of the space and say a prayer. I also cleanse and charge all crystals and metaphysical tools before they are used or shipped. You might be wondering what is Reiki? Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative medicine called energy healing. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a “universal energy” is said to be transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing. This practice also works with crystals, gemstones, pets, and distance healing. Reiki is energy and thus is not limited by time and distance. For more information please visit our Reiki and Energy Healing page on www.Lalalotusco.com
We have collaborated with Rebekah The Ghost Guide to bring you The Ghost Fam Jewelry Collection. It has been so much fun to work with Rebekah and create a new collection based on her content but also with intention. For example, we have the Jimothy Adventuring Keychains that helps protect and guide those adventurous souls out there. We also made the Rupert Protection Bracelet which quickly became one of our best sellers and it’s wonderful for daily grounding and protection. There are many more marvelous pieces in this collection and we have some new things in the works. To learn more about this fantastic collection visit: https://www.lalalotusco.com/ghost-fam-collection Additionally, we have been invited to participate in Forever Loved Pet Sanctuary’s open house! We will be 1 of 5 vendors at this mini-market. This is one of our favorite local nonprofits to work with. We are planning on donating all tips to Forever Loved Pet Sanctuary and will be raising money for them throughout February. Our booth will have handmade jewelry, art, garden stones, journals, and more! We will also be featuring our high-quality crystal collection. The open house is on Saturday, February 18th from 10 am to 1 pm at 11414 N. 67th Street Scottsdale AZ, 85254. Stop by and say hi, we are looking forward to connecting with everyone and helping senior dogs find their forever homes.
Furthermore, you can also now book us for parties or special events: https://forms.gle/eBbWFxpF3QCM39Xt8
Finally, we will be attending our first night market at The Desert Night Market! This unique market will be held at The Copper House in Downtown Chandler 158 W. Boston St. Chandler, AZ. We will be there from 4 to 8 pm on April 22nd. This is going to be our first time showcasing our UV reactive crystals, as well as some new inventory that hasn’t even hit the shelves yet. For more sneak peeks and information about this incredible event, make sure to keep up with us on social media @Lalalotusco
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?
Looking back at my journey, the three things that have had the biggest impact are: setting boundaries is essential, networking and marketing are necessary, and staying organized is a must. What helps me a lot in all these aspects is staying organized. I have a planner, which helps me plan out my weeks, map out long and short-term goals, and schedule time for myself. This also holds me accountable for making time for myself. Something I learned in college was to set SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based goals. This works for both long and short-term goals, which is an essential element for running and maintaining a business. Additionally, staying organized helps immensely with efficiency and stress management. I am the kind of person that has to write things down, I’m a post-it note girl. That’s just what works for me, it’s important to find what works for you. Something that falls under the umbrella of self-care is setting boundaries. If you plan on starting a business you have to get comfortable with setting boundaries. It is ok to say no and often, it can be vital to your business as well as your stress. Whether you’re just starting or have been running a business for a while I can’t stress how essential it is to network and market. Get the word out about who you are and what you do, get people excited, and reach out to people who you think would be a great fit. Some of the best experiences I’ve had has been through networking at markets and small business groups. I have met some incredible folks that are passionate about what they do and help so many. They are genuinely supportive which is incredibly inspiring to me. Everyone is unique and that’s what makes us special, together we are stronger. There have been so many in my network who have taught me new things from the way they think to creative ideas and more. Sometimes it’s just nice to connect with genuine like-minded people.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We absolutely love collaborating with folks, businesses, and nonprofits! One of my favorite things at Lala Lotus Co. is being able to connect with amazing people and learn more about them. We love to support other small businesses and creators. We would love to collaborate with like-minded folks who love healing, crystals, art, and all things spiritual and metaphysical. Collaborating with us can look like setting up a time to create the custom jewelry of your dreams. It can also look like working with influencers or other businesses to create something new together for the collective. Whether that is a giveaway, a jewelry line, or something totally unique we would love to hear your ideas. Furthermore, we love making a positive impact and working with non-profit organizations. I always believe that we should give back to those that support us as well as our community. We have worked regularly with Lyme Warrior and Forever Loved Pet Sanctuary throughout the years. We also love working with The Be Kind People Project and Global Lyme Alliance. There are a lot of great ways to connect with us. The fastest way to reach us is through email: Lalalotusco@gmail.com and our office phone number 480-454-9124. We are also pretty active across social media such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and more! We are looking forward to hearing your stories and connecting with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lalalotusco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lalalotusco/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lalalotusco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lalalotusco.
- Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/lala_lotus_co https://linktr.ee/Lalalotusco
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lalalotusco
