We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Melissa Carver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Melissa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
Being a stripper for fifteen years certainly made me comfortable as a public speaker and being in front of a camera as a regular TV guest but it wasn’t what helped me the most. Working in a popular, prestigious club meant being around all walks of life, including celebrities on a routine basis. I learned that regardless of age, ethnicity, career, success level or bank account everyone has their own challenges. I spent a lot of my time at the club just talking. Listening and guiding others with their decisions, emotional trauma, and programmed thinking became one of the things I was known for. Mindful, intuitive navigation is who I was. In the club I learned that others needed this in their life more than I ever could’ve imagined and it’s why I was on this planet. Having these conversations led me to the decision of returning to school.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Before finishing my degree I was asked to teach mindfulness at a local hospital looking to expand their patient and community knowledge. After my degree and completing my studies with Chopra Global I was ready to accept private clients. I love seeing clients virtually because this gives myself and those I see the freedom to be anywhere in the world and work outside of what most would consider normal hours. It’s common for me to see clients up until 10pm.
The Chopra Center asked me to be a contributing writer with their website which led to publishing my book, ‘Who the Hell Told You That?’ This title is the cliff notes to one of the biggest dilemmas individuals face. On some level everyone is programmed. This comes from various pockets of life experiences, influences of others, themselves and how they processed each interaction. I have a gift… a way of truly shining light and shifting perspectives. This is beneficial for healing, creating abundance, and the health of our relationships, just to name a few.
I approach speaking, teaching, and 1:1 interactions from an authentic, raw, vulnerable space as I want to inspire others to show up for life in the same fashion. This often creates a closeness with my private clients that other Mindset Practitioners may shy away from, And while I understand, I have to be me.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
From the first retreat that my husband and I attended in California I knew I had to create similar events in Kentucky. After years of speaking and teaching for several other companies, creating my own workshops, and gathering other experts, I was ready. The first year of our Annual Rejuvenation Retreat COVID hit. I was not prepared for anything of this calliper. I mean… who was, really? But I certainly was not. Refunds, restructuring, rescheduling (several times), losing speakers and teachers from illness, fear, and new date conflicts… it was overwhelming. To be on the other side with a few years under our belt I am grateful for all of the lessons that came along with that experience. I learned that regardless of what happens, I am ready to provide a unique and healing experience for our guests, even if that means jumping in to fill a teaching slot in an emergency situation. If their topic is outside of my knowledge, it is okay to provide new material that wasn’t on the agenda. People understand when things come up and they are grateful for the therapeutic atmosphere.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
That multitasking is not a thing. I was convinced that I was good at it. Took pride in it actually. My husband and I were at the Chopra Center listening to Deepak give a talk about multitasking. how attempting to do it is unhealthy, and that in reality it doesn’t exist. I looked over at my husband and whispered, “I usually agree with him but I am GREAT at multitasking. He thinks this because he doesn’t have to be a MOM.”
Fast Forward several months… I was driving and the epiphany hit me hard, HE WAS RIGHT! How often do people have a conversation with someone while they are cleaning or driving, get off the phone and only remember a portion of what the other person said? Thousands die each year from attempting to text and drive. All sorts of scenarios just kept coming to mind for the rest of the day. Unlearning to multitask has helped me practice mindfulness and presence.
I am grateful for this lesson and consider it a pleasure to introduce others interested in teaching to the Chopra Certified Teachers Program and my beautiful friends there.
Contact Info:
- Website: drmelissacarver.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_melissa_carver/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1111carver/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-carver-14227ba5/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/carver_dr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_uLvZ7C0y8loA5cThwuydw