We were lucky to catch up with Arvat McClaine recently and have shared our conversation below.

Arvat, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My mom always allowed me to choose for myself, figure things out myself, and give my opinion on adult topics. She encouraged me to use my imagination and to never follow the crowd. In a nutshell, she encouraged me to think for myself. Because of this, I have always been an “out of the box” thinker. My perspective is usually slightly different than the norm, and, it is this difference that has consistently positioned me for success. I have tons of examples of this, but they all probably seem minor. It’s just that these small things were repeated over time, and I believe made the difference for me.

Here is a defining moment for me: I was in the 3rd grade and my class was going to sing at the PTA. My teacher made it clear that we had to wear a white top, black pants or skirt, and black shoes. I didn’t own any of those items.

One of my neighbors agreed to let me borrow her clothes and shoes so I could look like everyone else. When my mom found out my plan, she said, “Oh, no. You will be wearing your own clothes. Go find something to wear.” I found an old, dingy white shirt that was too small, a blue skirt that had no hem in it, and some denim shoes that had busted from wear in the front. I was mortified because I knew my teacher was going to embarrass me and I knew the other children would make fun of me.

When I arrived at school in my broken-down outfit, my teacher smiled pleasantly at me and all of the other kids were beaming with excitement. If they noticed my outfit, no one said a word. We got on stage and sang our little hearts out. I learned that day that I am not my clothes. I learned that it’s okay to be exactly who you are. Rather than trying to fit in, I learned to be creative with whatever things I had to work with.

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?

My team’s commitment statement is: We are joyfully redefining common thinking. We are the light that welcomes and inspires people to live authentic, happy, peaceful lives by tapping into the highest version of themselves.

I am an entrepreneur, author (When Black Women Speak, the Universe Listens), a best-selling children’s book author (Through Her Own Eyes–Tavra’s Journey to Self-Love; At Least a Million Ways–Tavra Imagines Her Possibilities; Unexpected Friends–Tavra Finds Joy in Nature), podcaster (Speak, the Universe Listens) and course creator (Do, Be Have MORE and How You Think, You Are). All of my works introduces and/or expands people’s knowing that they are powerful beyond measure and shares the tweaks or shifts in our perspectives that will launch us from a life of struggle and mediocre existence into one where our biggest dreams come true.

I love helping people to remember who we really are. We often mistakenly believe that we are simply physical beings, living in a physical world, ruled by physical laws and that we are at the mercy of our environment. However, we are more than that. The larger part of us is non-physical. This non-physical part of us is tapped into the infinite flow of all that was, is, and all that ever will be. We are never separate from the Mind of the Infinite. The more consciously aware we are of our intimate connection to this omnipotent, divine power, the easier and more magical life becomes. My works helps us to awaken to this untapped/under-tapped divinity that exists within us all.

I started this work because, due to the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse I had experienced as a child, I lived a huge part of my life as a depressed person. I was a victim to my circumstances, and my daily life was a struggle for me. One day, I realized that I wasn’t sad anymore and I hadn’t been sad for a long time. I realized that rather than a struggle, that my life was joyful and that I was living out dreams that I never knew I had. Many of the experiences that I was enjoying and so many sights that my eyes saw, I wished that everyone could enjoy and see, too.

The cool thing was that I remembered how I got from Point A to Point B. So, one of my greatest joys is to share with others the changes in my thinking that have launched me into a whole new world.

I started this work because I realized that so many people are living a life of struggle. To be in a state of struggle almost seems like the norm.. Struggle is a part of our legacy. As long as we are tied to it, we will continue to create it in our lives in one form or another. I wanted to offer the possibility of another way.

Although I don’t typically mention the terms, “third, fourth, and fifth dimension” in my works, for ease of explanation of the shifts in thinking that I speak and write about, I will introduce those terms here.

In a nutshell, third dimensional thinking is what most of us have been doing for most of our lives. We see the world as a physical place and we basically have to overcome or conquer our environment through force, effort, struggle and discipline in order to get the things that we want in life. In third dimensional reality, life is hard and unfair. You have to play the hand you were dealt. Life is not for the faint of heart.

Technically, there is no such thing as fourth dimensional reality, but it is talked about as a transitional stage between third and fifth. In fourth dimensional reality, people begin to realize that they don’t have to be a victim to their circumstances and that they do have the power to make things happen. They can dream a new dream. They can visualize, meditate, do affirmations, think positive thoughts, get rid of the negative energy around them, discipline themselves to take consistent action, etc. and they can start seeing some very positive changes in their lives. This is also when people start talking about manifestation.

In fifth dimensional reality, you begin to realize that there is nothing outside of you. There is nothing you have to manifest, want, or try to get. ([If you WANT something, that is acknowledging that you don’t have it. As the creator of your reality, if you believe you don’t have it, then, you are creating the physical reality of NOT having it.) You begin to realize that you are already it NOW. Everything is already present/available to you in the non-physical realm. Recognizing (and enjoying) it in the non-physical is what makes it show up in the physical. You realize that you and everyone and everything is Divine and that nothing is wrong. There’s nothing to forgive. There is no judgement. There is nothing to fear. There is no negative energy to run from. There is only love. You don’t have to push and effort to get what you want because you simply get more of whatever you are being.

More and more people around the world are beginning to fully embrace fourth dimensional reality, which is great, but there is always more! My work is helping people to embrace fifth dimensional reality where you more fully step into who you really are and tap into your divine connection to all that is.

In all cases, it is your choice which dimension to be in. You may be in fifth dimension reality in one moment and third dimensional reality in the next. As you practice remembering who you are, you will begin spending more time in fifth dimensional reality. Life is easy and joyful in this state. And, it is always available to you in every moment.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Mission: We are joyfully redefining common thinking. We are the light that welcomes and inspires people to live authentic, happy, peaceful lives by tapping into the highest version of themselves.

I think this statement says it all From a space of love, joy and light, I am presenting the possibility for people to move from a space of struggle and mediocrity into a space where they recognize the bigness of who they really are, to a space where all of their dreams come true.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I used to believe in hard work. As a matter of fact, that was the motto of one of my businesses–“We are used to hard work and we are used to success.” It is true, we worked really hard doing that business and we were very successful. But, it came at a tremendous cost. I had no joy in my life. I had no time for family or friends or fun or my own personal development or health. In 2001, I came across a book by Deepak Chopra (Seven Spiritual Laws of Success). I remember one of the laws being the law of least effort–do less and achieve everything. That law was so foreign to me. I wanted Deepak to come live my life for a day and see how he could do less and achieve more. But, nevertheless, it intrigued me and I wanted to understand this principal. The studying and contemplating of this one idea totally turned my life around.

Before I knew it, my husband and I had become self-made multi-millionaires. In 2005, we closed our business and moved to Barbados for several years where we just relaxed, rejuvenated, and blossomed in new ways. Since that time, I really understand what Deepak meant in that sweet little book of his. I understand that we already ARE it all right now. I understand that we are usually tuned into where the thing is NOT instead of where the thing is, so we think that we have to work hard to get it, when really, we just have to take another look, but from a totally different angle.

We think things on the outside of us need to change first. But, it is us, our thinking that needs to shift, and then the entire world shifts with us. Just like I thought Deepak was crazy talking about “do less and achieve more”, I know that people may think the same about some of the things that I say. However, I also know that there are people like me, who will be intrigued enough to just take another look, and their entire world will shift in beautiful and magical ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: ArvatMcClaine.com
• Instagram: @ArvatMcClaine
• Facebook: Arvat McClaine
• Youtube: Speak, the Universe Listens, Arvat McClaine and Spiritual Shorts, Arvat McClaine

Image Credits
JBella Photography Leah Carrington