She started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York, the company grew into a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of thousands of students all around the world.
Kristina believes life it too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveler. Kristina helps her students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique framework – “Hacking happiness” – a unique framework of balancing your life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention the small daily choices.
Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests – “7 Days to Happiness“, “Live By Your Own Rules.” and “The Art of Being Flawesome.” Kristina talks about personal transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a path to happiness.
In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book – “Becoming Flawesome” #BecomingFlawsome. In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself.
Website: https://kristinamand.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinamand
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-mand-lakhiani-73168414
I’d like to know more about you as a person first. What do you do when you’re not writing?
So, what do I do when I'm not writing? I adore spending time with my children and engaging in various activities with them. Exploring Estonia and nearby countries and immersing myself in nature aligns with my reserved and introverted nature. Traveling holds a special place in my heart. While I appreciate global exploration, I approach it with a scientific mindset, carefully selecting destinations that offer new experiences. With my children, we study the world map and plan our journeys meticulously.
I find solace in tending to my farm and embarking on various tasks, even if they involve getting my hands dirty. I consider myself a hobby farmer, and I take pleasure in planning and beautifying my farm's landscape. I am currently renovating a historical farmhouse that has been in my family for 400 years, transforming it into a museum.
In my leisure time, I indulge in reading classical literature, particularly fiction and timeless novels. Riding bikes with my children is another enjoyable pastime. I also have a fondness for strategy games like Civilization. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential to me, and I prioritize it greatly.
As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?
I believe there are two points that hold great importance, and I'll share them in the order they occurred in my life, rather than ranking them by significance.
The first pivotal moment was when I made the decision to sit down and commit to writing a book. This choice is often delayed or postponed by writers. If you truly identify yourself as a writer, then taking that step to embark on your first book is incredibly crucial. It's tempting to keep busy with short-form writing, but it's essential to dedicate yourself to the long-form writing process.
Another significant turning point for me was the realization that I am, indeed, a writer. It wasn't a sudden revelation, but more of a gradual understanding that I never considered as a possibility before. Despite engaging in writing work and even pursuing amateur writing, I had never truly embraced the identity of a writer. The moment I acknowledged and accepted that I am a writer, it became a major turning point. It granted me a sense of identity, purpose, and transformed writing into something deeper than just composing emails or marketing campaigns.
If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?
Well, my choice may sound unexciting, but I would actually prefer to
write it at home. The process of writing a book demands time and
dedication. If we envision going to a remote island or a creative
retreat to write, it turns writing into an isolated event rather than an
integral part of everyday life. As someone who identifies as a writer,
writing a book is a part of my daily routine. It's not about needing to
go somewhere specific to write; instead, my writing accompanies me
wherever I am.
However, I understand the sentiment behind the desire to travel for writing purposes. Approximately ten years ago, when the idea of writing a book first sparked within me, I even planned a trip with my business partner to the British Virgin Islands. It was around March or April, and we reserved the entire month, envisioning a productive and creative period to work on that initial substantial project. However, I ended up engaging myself in other activities, keeping myself occupied. For me, writing a book requires a consistent commitment of two to three hours every day, following a routine for an extended period of time, whether it be a few months, half a year, or even a year. Considering this, I find that the comfort and familiarity of my home provide the ideal environment for my writing journey.
If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?
One of my absolute favorite activities is taking my kids to our farm.
There's something truly magical about being surrounded by nature, far
away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Waking up in the morning
and seeing my sheep peacefully grazing on the patio brings me joy. It's a
cherished experience that I simply adore.
Why was writing Becoming Flawesome so important to you?
The paradox of the personal transformation industry is that it
implies that if you need to be fixed, it means that you are broken. I
believe that we need more love and healing. Firstly we need to love our
true selves. To do that we need to find our true selves. The best thing
in the world is to be yourself. You don't have to do anything special to
deserve love and respect. What I want readers to take away from my book
is not just a message, but a feeling. I want them to feel a deep sense
of peace within themselves. Because when you're at peace with who you
are, amazing things can happen. It opens the doors for personal growth,
self-improvement, and making a meaningful impact. But it all starts with
finding that inner peace and accepting yourself as you are.
Tell me something about Becoming Flawesome that I may find surprising?
The introduction was the final piece of the book, written in just a
few hours. It was added right before the manuscript was set in stone and
ready for printing. It wasn't a random choice; I was actually
dissatisfied with what we had so far. I took a risk by breaking the
rules and writing exactly what I felt, even though it was at the last
minute. While the rest of the book was carefully worked on, the
introduction is a bit different. It makes sense to write it last because
how can you introduce something that isn't even there yet? So I think
it's perfect in its imperfection.
Do you have a quote from Becoming Flawesome that you'd like to share?
“Your dragons are not going to cease to exist no matter how well you build the walls of spirituality around them."
What’s next for you?
For now I am focused on my book release and all other things that
need to be done for it. But I am actually dying to start another book
project. Various ideas are swirling around in my mind, and I'm leaning
towards embarking on a new journey where I can delve into a burning
question and let my writing take me in that direction. However, due to
the demands of the publishing process, I haven't been able to dedicate
time to start writing just yet. My priority is to focus on completing
the current project first. But, my hope is that by the end of this year,
I'll finally have the opportunity to begin crafting a new book. After
all, that's the most exhilarating and fulfilling part of the entire
process for me.
About Becoming Flawesome
Perfection. We all dream of living by it, feeling it, being it.
And it is in the name of perfection that we demonize our flaws, make ourselves ‘less-than,’ and render ourselves vulnerable to the shame of not being good enough.
We live in a society that subliminally encourages us to wear metaphorical masks, slay our inner sadness, and ignore our imperfections, or as Kristina refers to them, her ‘dragons.’ Even within the world of personal development and spirituality, toxic perfectionism lurks in the shadows.
In Kristina’s upcoming book Becoming Flawesome #BecomingFlawesome, she reflects on her own story, her battle against perfectionism, and what it took for her to return to what she now deems to be her most authentic self. Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawesome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth.
Every chapter is closed with reflection points and exercises to encourage the readers to dive deep into the essence of who they truly are, what their values are, and how to navigate an oftentimes overwhelming world.
In this book, Kristina breaks the mold as she takes the reader on a journey through:
• The dark, controversial side of ‘personal growth,’ and the insecurities that thrive on it
• Self-care vs. self-love, and why you need both
• What authenticity actually is, beyond the buzz
• The ‘hermione Syndrome,’ and how to diagnose if you’re secretly suffering from it
• How to create aligned lifestyle habits that stick
• Why the more you judge others, the more you judge yourself
• Societal masks, and how to remove them from your psyche
• Imposter syndrome in the world of high-flyers
• Emotional literacy: how to cope with strong, painful emotions healthily
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/mwtzj3jx
Mind Valley Books: https://www.mindvalley.com/books/flawesome
No comments:
Post a Comment