You have spent most of your adult life helping people deal with stress and pressure. Why?
When we were young kids, my dad discovered meditation and other practices which transformed both his life, and my family’s life. This was a family story of transformation that came from tools of connection and self-discovery. As my dad progressed in his career, both as a writer, but then just as someone who met with people going through trauma or diagnosed with a disease or relationship issues, it was really clear to me how stress manifested in illness or depression or sadness in life. I feel very lucky that I was able to see how my dad’s work did transform people’s lives.
Do you think that some stress is normal for a healthy life?
Yes, one-hundred percent. In fact, my book Just Feel, which I wrote for kids, is emphasizing that we all have a range of emotions—that fear, anger, and sadness are as much part of our experience as feeling joyful or happy or excited. Stress is one thing, but I think there are some deeper issues that as a society we’re facing, that don’t seem to be getting that much better. I think that’s why the work you are doing at the School of Public Health is so important.
Who has been an important mentor in your professional life?
My dad has been the biggest influence on my life. Watching his journey, I got to see up close the pain that many people were going through. I think that growing up seeing that made it inevitable for both my brother and I to want to do work that somehow could give back. We both have explored many ways to do that.
You are an entrepreneur. What have been some of your most rewarding and most challenging ventures?
The subtitle of my book, Living with Intent, is My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace, and Joy. I very much stress the messiness part. To be an entrepreneur you must feel comfortable with messiness and chaos, and the ups and downs of ventures. During my days as a student, Brown made me more comfortable just by the nature of the open curriculum and the kind of students that are enrolled here.
At different times in my life, given my entrepreneurial nature, I started many different projects. Each had great impact. I feel that over the last five years or so, my books and speaking opportunities have provided a platform where I can impact people in a meaningful way.
I was taught when I was young to always think about ‘How can I serve?.’ I’ve become comfortable with the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur and of having to constantly think, ‘Am I doing what I’m meant to do right now? Can I contribute right now?’ That’s why the question of ‘how can I serve’ comes back every day for me.
You are the author of several books. How did these book projects come about and what did you learn from writing them?
My books are a reflection of what I’m going through at different stages of my life. The first two books are about conscious parenting. 100 Promises to My Baby, and 100 Questions from My Child, which I wrote about 15 years ago, were about becoming a mother, about my intentions as a mom and how I can serve in that way.