EXPERT: Teri Johnson

I'm a Lover of Life! I spent many years feeling like I had to "earn" a happy life and many more years trying to become comfortable with the idea that I already had a GREAT LIFE --and could create more without much effort.

As a child and young adult I was described as your typical “Type A” person. Always on the go, it seemed as though stress motivated me. To that end, I was very unwilling to change the ways I operated in the world, even when I was feeling unhappy or stressed. I learned through experience that even when we know life isn’t working the way we’d like for it to work, we humans are resistant to change. I also came to understand that resistance isn’t always due to stubbornness (another label I proudly wore), but because we are deeply confused and wary of the unknown.

Like so many people, I graduated from college, and set out to make something of myself--create a niche, climb a corporate ladder and most of all, prove my worth! I met a fabulous man and married him, and then realized that I was largely dissatisfied with life. I tried proving myself another way and so, became the owner of various businesses. I've done it all; from creating a business from the ground up, to owning a franchise, to selling cookware at home parties. All building blocks for where I am now, however, none of these pursuits increased my happiness quotient!

My physical body was sending alarm signals for years that my actions were detrimental to my happiness and well-being, but battles with chronic illnesses never seemed to motivate me toward change. However, a severe illness in my newborn son in 1999 prompted me to begin a conscious journey of self-discovery. My son’s illness, untreatable by western medicine, led me to a “healer.” I was skeptical, as I felt like I had tried meditation and the like before with little more than frustration as the end result, but moms will do anything for their children. For the first time, I over-rode my fears and listened to my heart. As my mind argued with the intuitive I was to meet with over cost (for something not scientifically proven $100 seemed like a lot of money), but I paid attention to the voice coming through my heart that said, "make the appointment." This is where my conscious journey truly started.

Not unlike many I meet through my practice, it took a catastrophic and humbling personal even to force my really loud, but necessary, ego our of the way. I realized I had to make some serious heartfelt decisions about who I wanted to be and how I wanted to show up in the world, and nothing outside of myself was going to make those decisions for me! In my quest to heal my son, I began my own healing. I was introduced to homeopathy, reiki and meditation, and began to feel the Truth in the Universal Laws that apply to all of us. Having been a profoundly religious person, I wasn't quite sure how all of this new material fit into my repertoire, but what I was learning was that no "one method" of spirituality has all of the answers. I established my own meditation practice and began studying with various spiritual teachers--training in different meditation styles and seeking to better understand the human connection with the cosmos. These practices resulted in me knowing that I needed to learn to share my experiences and knowledge so that others could leave disempowerment behind and find their empowered authentic selves.

My now healthy and vibrant son was my catalyst for transformation, and he helped launch my career as a Spiritual Life Coach. Since 2000, I have offered individual sessions as a Spiritual Life Coach, helping others find their authentic-self and inner power. I developed a spiritual parenting class for those moms, dads and care-givers who wished to take their parenting to a more loving and spiritual space. Perhaps the most fun I've had has been teaching meditation to small groups. In these interactive classes individuals were encouraged to find their inner voice, their passions and their connection to their heart so that they could follow their own inner-guidance instead of operating only according to the ideas offered by society or peers.

I'm a firm believer in "thoughts create," I love practical tools like vision boards and journaling and I believe strongly in using support, in the form of coaches, therapists or like minded groups, to achieve our goals.

I have a wonderful life in Southern California with the man of my dreams (who I married 14 years ago)and my two beautifully heart-centered children. Currently I am working to help people get comfortable with their sense of self in the world through individual sessions. I also write a spiritual column for Your Health Connection Magazine and am expanding my writing career.

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