We were lucky to catch up with Laurel Cannon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Laurel, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve always been a low-risk person with a plan: become a doctor. It was the “safe” dream. But along the way, my love for psychology, true crime, and Dr. Phil, sparked a deeper curiosity about people. How we break, how we heal, and what peace really looks like. This pushed me to start a PhD program in health psychology; I’m wrapping up my dissertation so in this aspect of my life, playing it “safe” has paid off.

The biggest risk I’ve taken was walking away from the traditional path of clinical psychology to create Shanti Living: a wellness space where people can feel seen, supported, and at peace, even if just for a few hours. It was my faith that pushed me past the fear. I was worried about starting a business in the first place, plus I didn’t have a blueprint as do what this would look like exactly. Just a calling or I guess “pull” to do it. Also…the way I feel after doing this work is honestly energized. As a core introvert that doesn’t happen a lot, so I knew I was doing the right thing for me.

Now, I get to help others reconnect with themselves and that risk has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Laurel Cannon, founder of Shanti Living, a mental health and wellness practice dedicated to creating accessible, engaging, and educational experiences around emotional well-being. My background is in psychology, and over the years, I’ve developed a deep commitment to helping people understand their minds and care for themselves in sustainable, meaningful ways.

Shanti Living is rooted in mental health education. I partner with a wide range of organizations from co-working communities to corporate teams, to lead interactive webinars, trainings, and workshops that make mental health tools practical and approachable.

A signature part of my work is creative wellness workshops. These aren’t your typical self-care events, they’re thoughtfully designed sessions where participants learn the “why” behind mental wellness while engaging in hands-on activities like making body butters, aromatherapy sprays, or salt soaks. I pair this with education on stress, regulation, and mindfulness so that people leave not only with something beautiful, but also with tools that support their everyday lives.

I’ve led sessions for both women-centered communities and diverse organizations, including co-ed and corporate audiences. For workplace settings, the goal often centers around team engagement, employee retention, and well-being using mental health practices as the mechanism for connection and sustainability.

What sets Shanti Living apart is the blend of education, creativity, and heart. It’s not just about feeling better for a moment, it’s about helping people understand their own capacity to create peace, clarity, and resilience in their lives.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

A billion times yes; without hesitation. The proof is in the pudding, and that pudding is my life. I genuinely wake up each day feeling happy and optimistic. That doesn’t mean life is perfect or challenges don’t come up, but I’ve reached a place where I can process and move through things in a healthy way. And that’s been life-changing. I wouldn’t change a thing, because if I hadn’t chosen this path, if I hadn’t taken the time to learn, understand, and grow through this profession, I honestly don’t think I’d be able to say that. This work has given me the tools to live well, and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being genuine, professional, and consistent. Those three values have been at the core of how I’ve built my reputation thus far and I know that’s working in my favor. From the very beginning, I committed to showing up fully prepared, for example I always arrive with customized proposal(s) tailored specifically to the business or organization I was hoping to work with.

I believe what’s made the biggest difference is treating every client the way I’d want to be treated: coming ready with solutions, answering questions thoughtfully, being accessible, and ensuring communication is secure and clear. Whether it’s a large corporate partner or a smaller community group, I make sure the client experience is intentional, respectful, and personal every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shantiliving.clientsecure.me/
• Instagram: Shantiliving_

Image Credits

Bob Mackey Photography