We recently connected with Misha Granado, MPH, MS and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Misha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
As a Behavioral Health scientist who studies human behavior I am intrigued by relationships. Life is about relationships and the relationship you have with self, determines and influences all of the relationships in your life. Therefore, to improve the quality of our relationships, we must cultivate and nurture a healthy loving relationship with self.
Often when people speak about romantic relationships, they use the terminology, that they ‘fell in love.’ Let’s think about that for a moment. Usually when we fall, it was unexpected, sometimes scary and definitely not enjoyable. Sometimes we sustain injuries when we fall. We were not looking forward to our hoping to fall. We do not dream of falling (unless it is a skydive *smile*).
Therefore, when we begin to analyze the quality of some relationships, it becomes quite apparent that the union was not intentional. The individuals did not take the time to cultivate and nurture a friendship. They did not take the time to identify the areas where they are aligned and the spaces where they can grow. Additionally, the individuals lack self awareness and have not taken the time to learn from their prior life and relationship experiences. The type of awareness that informs one to know the qualities and characteristics that both expand and constrict their wellness, heart and mind. As a result, the individuals unknowingly exacerbate each other’s unhealed emotional wounds or inflict new ones resulting in heartache, heartbreak and disappointment.
Whereas, when individuals are intentional and take the time to cultivate and nurture relationships (beginning with the relationship they have with self), they begin to approach life and their relationships in the same manner as a gardener. They become aware of the importance of the ‘soil’ (emotional heart and mind) and the ‘seeds’ (relationships) they ‘plant’ (allow into their lives). They become ‘relationship horticulturalists’ and grow love. When we grow something, we are very intentional and our desire to grow something begins as a thought and the thought gently and intentionally guides us to the next steps.
Love Grows: The Relationship Consultants bloomed into existence as a result of my intention to help other grow love within. At Love Grows we take many queues from nature. There is a natural rhythm to the ecosystem, and as humans we are a part of this delicate balance. We also experience seasons and an ebb and flow to our personal rhythm. To grow something requires consistency, dedication and the intention to cultivate and nurture something beautiful. Life is about relationships and it is when we become intentional with our time and energy, this is when we begin to grow love.
Misha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
As long as I can remember, I have always been intrigued by human behavior and the variables that contribute to our decision making. This interest led to pursuing academic and professional training in Psychology (Community Psychology) and Behavioral Health. During my graduate school training, I had the opportunity to become an Adjunct Professor at a university where I taught Introduction to Psychology at the undergraduate level. My class consisted of freshman to seniors and as a way to ground us into the same place, I implemented a ‘freestyle session’ where students were given space to share current events, poetry, music, etc. This freestyle space quickly turned into a space where students began to share deeper and more significant occurrences in their life. It became quite evident, that my students needed a safe space to share and be vulnerable. Word spread quickly and before I knew it, my class swelled to over 100 students with many attending the class although they were not registered (because we were at capacity). Due to capacity, some students opted to sit on the floor because they wanted to be in the room, they wanted/needed to share. In this class of over 100 students, we co-cultivated and co-nurtured a safe place to breathe, to share, to listen and support. As a result of their experience in my class, some students changed majors to psychology stating the class was a paradigm shift for them and they wanted to learn more and join the field.
After the semester, I was preparing to relocate to New York to complete a public health internship at Mount Sinai. Upon learning of my upcoming departure, many of my students suggested I write a book or create something for all of the people who would be unable to take my class and share in the experience. Unbeknownst to me at the time, their suggestion became a seed that would later blossom into Love Grows many years later. After my internship in New York, I moved to Barbados as a Fulbright scholar and facilitated research that investigated breast cancer screening barriers (beliefs and behaviors) among Barbadian women. The focus group discussions I had with women ranging in age from 40-79 was another ‘seed’ that would later become Love Grows because during these focus groups, the women also shared how their relationships impacted and influenced their health and wellness choices.
When I returned to the US while applying to various public health positions, Love Grows: The Relationship Consultants came into fruition. Currently, I wear two different hats that are complimentary and maximize my expertise and interests. I am the Owner and Principal consultant for Love Grows: The Relationship Consultants, a boutique firm that teaches and coaches individuals on how to heal, cultivate and nurture relationships, beginning with the relationship they have with self. This is accomplished via therapy sessions, interactive workshops, panels, discussions and editorials. Additionally, I am a Program Manager, for research in a clinical department at a university, where I utilize my public health research skills and expertise to develop logistics and manage a diverse research portfolio. Via this role, I have published in scientific journals in the areas of breast cancer, public health, sexual health and emergency medicine.
What sets Love Grows apart is our perspective on relationships and the importance and the necessity of cultivating an nurturing them. Although technology continues to advance, unfortunately, social skills are decreasing which is evident by lack of tolerance, understanding, compassion, empathy and other heart centered emotions. We are in a ‘swipe left culture’ where instead of having conversations, asking questions for clarity, developing self-awareness, being accountable, kind, patient and taking ownership of our behaviors/words; people are discarding each other. Our devices and technology have many great benefits, but they will never replace human interaction. At Love Grows, we take relationships back to the basics and place them in the same category as food, water and clean air. We evolve and grow through our relationships and this is not only applicable to romantic relationships. We provide our clients with a different perspective and lens in which to view their life, behaviors and relationships.
There are many accomplishments that bring a sense of pride and a few include when we were voted Best in Premarital Counseling by Texas Brides, which is a great honor. It is a privilege for couples to invite us on their journey to the alter via our premarital sessions. Also we are always thrilled when others invite us for our expertise. A few non-scientific journals where we have been featured: Ask Beauty Magazine, Cosmopolitian and Rewire.
Regardless of your chronological age, academic achievements, tax bracket, social affiliations, marital status, etc. life is on the job training, where we are all learning in real time. No one has life figured out completely, because it is constantly evolving. Additionally, there are some life experiences you may encounter where your current tools and expertise are not sufficient to help you navigate the space because you have never experienced something similar (i.e. death of a loved one, pandemic, miscarriage, infidelity, infertility, etc.). The same way you do not try to DIY a root canal, when it comes to your emotional healing and wellness; you do not have to figure it out on your own. A therapist is a great addition to your wellness team. Although there a myriad of therapists, be sure to select someone who:
(1) has expertise in the area of concern
(2) you feel comfortable and trust to be vulnerable with – yes, interview your potential therapists
(3) is non-judgmental and does not operate with any isms (i.e. classism, racism, sexism, etc)
(4) has healthy boundaries
Be gentle with yourself as you experience life. Extend grace as you learn and unlearn. We would be honored to accompany you on your wellness journey. To learn more about Love Grows, please visit https://linktr.ee/lovegrows_misha. I Grow. You Grow. Love Grows!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
One of the statements I hear frequently whenever I meet people IRL, is how my online energy and persona matches what they experience in person. In this day where people can manufacture any public persona they want, integrity is still foundational to me which is also intertwined into all aspects of Love Grows as well. My respect for person, regardless of where one is on their personal life journey, also contributes to my reputation within the market. I move through the world with gentleness and grace, something I extend to myself on a daily basis and others who I encounter. To quote Dr. Angelou, “…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Relationships are sacred to me, including the honor I have to accompany others on their wellness journey. I do not take this honor and privilege for granted. This is what people feel and experience when they encounter me and Love Grows. Love Grows is not just a business, it is a way of life and mindset.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
My personal Leadership Creed – I believe great leaders are those who make their emotional wellness a priority and know that the relationship you have with self determines and influences your ability to cultivate healthy relationships with others; including your team. I believe when a leader is emotionally mature they are empathic, proficient in the art of listening, self-aware and respect others. This leader serves their team by creating opportunities for members to grow. This type of leader understands that organizations are simply a group of individuals and by creating a culture that is truly inclusive, equitable, empowering and respectful; individuals feel seen, heard, safe to use their voice and valued. I believe it is from this place, a great leader serves as a catalyst to transform a group of individuals into a dynamic team which results in a healthy high performing organization.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lovegrows_misha
- Instagram: @lovegrows_misha
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovegrows.us
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lovegrows_misha
Image Credits
The image of me in the white dress with blue background – photo credit: Keda Sharber of Images by Papillon.