Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shyrah Barnett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Shyrah, thanks for joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

Vacationing is one of the most important things in the world to me! My entire purpose in life is to be well while I inspire others to practice well-being. I’ve visited close to 20 countries in my lifetime, and I will continue to travel to visit every place my heart desires.

Beyond traveling, for me, vacationing is putting capitalism on pause and taking the opportunity to be present. It’s breathing. It’s relaxing. It’s doing whatever helps us feel good without the structures of “work” being a priority in the moment. I am intentional about making my life a vacation with moments of work in between.

So, yes! I take vacations. I create vacations. I enjoy my life to the absolute fullest. My next vacation will be taking my beautiful son to his home island, Barbados, and having the time of our lives on his first international trip!

This is your sign to take a vacation! Allow your life to be fun!

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 a free spirit in the form of a Black woman from East Saint Louis, IL. At heart, I’m a Midwest girl with a country accent who enjoys my life. I grew up in a place where being underserved was the way of life. And if you know anything about these kinds of places, you know that they are the birthing place for greatness! My mother did an incredible job taking care of her children and gifting us with pure love, so the universe made has always made sure I have everything I need. For that, I am grateful.

When I was 22, my mom died after battling cancer. Losing my best friend and gaining an ancestor, I was moved to free myself in ways that I hadn’t before imagined I needed. I began sharing my journey of depression on social media. I had an urgent calling to encourage people to live life fully, as I was discovering my own wings.

Today, I bring together individuals and groups doing the work of personal growth to practice well-being through wellness sessions, retreats, and content so that we can have the necessary tools to navigate daily circumstances and to experience our most beautiful and fulfilling lives.

Each year, I host wellness retreats for Black women to have an open, freeing space to feel amazing about themselves while connecting with other beautiful souls, doing spiritually empowering activities, sipping wine, laughing, crying, healing, and most importantly, being.

I speak and facilitate at schools, organizational and corporate events, and private events. I also offer 1-on-1 sessions to people who need a space to release, get advice, or have a personal wellness workshop.

I offer downloadable wellness workshops, as well as live workshops vía social media.

I am most proud of the way my brand reaches people who are often times in the depths of fear, depression, resentment, anger, or any dark place they may be in at the time.

If you are a Black woman who is ready to prioritize your own personal growth and wellness, or someone who’s already doing that work, let’s connect! Let me help you help yourself, boo! You already have all the answers. I’m here to help you live them out loud!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I love a good spiritual, self-help book! Some of my favorites are The Alchemist, The Four Agreements, The Audacity to be Queen, and Ask and It Is Given.

Particularly, Ask and It Is Given has shifted my entire mindset around the law of attraction, and the fact that I can be, do, or have anything I want. It helped me remember that my sole purpose is to allow the universe to take care of me—that includes my business, my money, my partnerships, my events—by putting in my request and allowing the good to flow.

All of these books for me have been sweet love letters that have given me the tools I need to not only run my business, but also do the work of pouring into people on a daily basis. These books have fed my soul so that I can feed others.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

For the first several years of having my business, I felt intimidated by the wellness community. Seeing speakers and wellness gurus with hundreds of thousands of followers, writing books, and hosting retreats can be intimidating when I’m not vibrating high in my own personal life. It can be easy for me to compare myself to these people I know absolutely nothing about. I’ve always been aware of how great I am, while simultaneously being terrified of this same greatness.

Last year, after giving birth to my baby boy, Tadyn, I felt like several layers of fear and insecurities fell off of me at once. I was ready to go after everything I’d been shying away from in my business. I started creating connections, networking, planning events, and making calls that led to more and more opportunities to put the brand out there. I am still growing in this industry, but I am more ready than I have ever been to impact the lives of Black women everywhere in the most beautiful ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shyrahlauren.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/trilltalk.co?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/1285506311/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/shyrah-barnett-msimc-1057ab89
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/trilltalkco
• Other: TikTok: @trilltalkco