It is SUCH an honour to present to you today, an interview I was able to do with my friend Lori Deschene. She is the Founder of Tiny Buddha, one of the top websites today that is providing life tools and inspiration to the world. I met Lori back in L.A., when I contacted her about a writing opportunity with Tiny Buddha. She graciously accepted me as one of her contributors and our relationship has seen each other through many trials, tribulations, and BIG transitions over the years.

I will forever be deeply grateful to Lori, for sharing so openly, and for being so encouraging to those of us, who just like her, have an incredible passion to provide inspiration and tips to our fellows, based on our own personal life experiences. In fact…Lori has an AMAZING book being released, so of course I wanted to tell you ALL about it!

It’s Called Tiny Buddha’s Guide To Loving Yourself! I feel I have the right to brag that I was actually one of the contributors that she chose to be a part of this incredible heart project. I feel so lucky and so pumped about this book being available for all of you!

I was also blessed enough to be someone who got to interview Lori about her book, and boy did I feel SUPER inspired and empowered after hearing her responses. Please give yourself the gift of hearing what she has to say about following your heart, relationships, what makes her so good at what she does, and how YOU can collect her magic for yourself 🙂

My interview with Lori:

1) What inspired you to write this book?

I was originally planning to write a different book about what it means to “win” in life. Shortly after I signed my contract, I went through a series of life challenges—a major surgery, a home break-in, financial struggles, and the death of my grandmother. It was an emotionally draining time for me, and one of the most difficult I’d experienced in years. After telling my publisher I wasn’t going to be able to write the book, I started being a little hard on myself, especially since I’d already announced the project on the Tiny Buddha blog. As time went on, I began to re-evaluate what it means to take good care of myself, and I thought about a goal I’d had to write a series of “Tiny Buddha’s Guide to” books, sharing stories and insights from community members. Since I had just gone through a time when I really needed my own love and compassion—and since I’d formerly struggled with depression, bulimia, and self-loathing—I realized I wanted to start with a book focused on self-love. I think it’s something we all struggle with at times, and yet it’s so important for our happiness. Everything we do in life is a reflection of how much we love ourselves.

2) What would be your top 3 suggestions or tips for someone who is wanting to follow their heart and manifest their vision into reality?

Don’t wait. Do something—anything—no matter how small to get the ball rolling today. “Someday” only comes if you eventually decide that day is today. Don’t worry about what you don’t know. As long as you’re willing to keep taking steps forward, you will learn as you go. Instead of having faith in a specific vision, have faith in yourself. Things may or may not turn out exactly how you imagined they would, but it’s the journey that will enable you to be the person you want to be.

3) How did you come to choose the contributors in your book? 

I came up with 10 themes related to self-love, and then I went through the Tiny Buddha archives to find four related posts for each chapter. My goal was to find 40 powerful stories, each with a unique message, so the book would share 40 tips. It was hard to narrow down the posts, since there are currently more than 1,600 on the blog, but I feel there’s a nice balance of people, perspectives, and experiences in the book!

4) What characteristics do the writers seem to have in common that you select as contributors on Tiny Buddha?

In the past four years, more than 650 people have shared their stories on the blog, and it’s an eclectic mix, with contributors of all ages from all over the globe. Some things they have in common: they’re all self-aware, they’re all committed to self-growth, and they’re all generous in sharing their experiences to help others who are seeking insight and support.

5) How have you come to know social media so well and what would you suggest to those who feel intimidated by it?

I don’t really know that I have come to know social media well. I think I know blogging well, and the Tiny Buddha’s social media pages have grown in large part because readers enjoy the quotes and stories from the blog. My advice to anyone who’s intimidated by social media is to jump in and get a feel for it. Social media is a tool, and like any tool, you need to use it to understand how it can work for you.

6) What is the main message you are hoping you have shared in your book, Tiny Buddha’s Guide To Loving?

We are far more than our worst mistakes and our greatest weaknesses, if only we believe it.

7) What is one word you would use to sum up relationships?

Fascinating. At least, they are when we’re not too wrapped up in emotions to see them that way! If we’re open to it, we can learn so much about ourselves through relationships. They reveal to use our unhealed wounds, our weaknesses, and our insecurities, as well as our needs, our strengths, and our potential.

8) What is your favourite topic to write about?

I like writing about what motivates us—why we do what we do—and how we can use self-awareness to minimize our pain and increase our happiness and overall wellbeing.

9) How can people find out more about you and what you are up to?

You can learn more about me and the book at http://tinybuddha.com/guide-to-loving-yourself/. Anyone who pre-orders through book before October 8, 2013 will receive the Self-Love Bonus Pack, with 8 digital items valued at more than $150, free.

Thank you Lori!!!

Lori is so much about equality and giving her writers just as much time to shine, if not more, than herself. So she interviewed all of us as well 🙂 You can read Lori’s interview with me here.

Also, check out some of these EPIC testimonials that Lori has gotten (and these are just a few), from some of today’s most powerful thought leaders:

“Lori is one of a kind. Her amazing heart and wisdom shine through in everything she writes! I am a HUGE fan of Tiny Buddha, and I’m constantly inspired by Lori and her work.” —Mastin Kipp, founder of The Daily Love (thedailylove.com)

“I spent months retweeting posts from a mystery handle called @tinybuddha. I wasn’t the only one: Hundreds of thousands of people followed the daily messages. I was intrigued and made it a point to meet the woman behind the message. Today, Lori Deschene is a friend and fellow author who spreads truth and inspiration throughout the twittersphere, her blog, and now her new book! Lori has shifted the energy of the Internet with her loving daily posts and now she is sharing more with the world throughout her incredible book!” —Gabrielle Bernstein, author of Add More –ing to your Life and Spirit Junkie

“Reading Lori Deschene’s wonderful new book, Tiny Buddha’s Guide to Loving Yourself, is like listening to a good friend who reminds you of who you are when you need to hear it the most. Deschene and her contributors write about real-life situations with real-life solutions and they do it with the same unflinching honesty that has made TinyBuddha.com so popular. If you are ever hard on yourself—and who isn’t—you need to read this book.” —Amanda Owen, author of The Power of Receiving

Ok everyone, I thank you so much for your time, and I am certain you’ll be thanking me for pointing you in the direction of Lori, her book, and Tiny Buddha!

Love you all,

Erin

Do want to live your life to the fullest? If you are ready to walk the path of self-love, experience greater connection in relationships, and deepen your awareness of your own Inner Guru, and you are serious about investing in yourself, then perhaps you are ready to work with a Coach. If this is YOU, please send an email to [email protected]. The E.L.M. Inner Guru Mentoring Program is an exciting, heart opening, highly effective way to release your mental, physical, and emotional blocks so you can live a life you love in a body you love. It’s an investment in your health and happiness. Serious inquiries only. Namaste 🙂