Laura Dawn
“Host of The Psychedelic Leadership Podcast and founder of Grow Medicine Laura Dawn is a microdosing mentor and plant medicine integration guide for change-makers, thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, and creators.
How has the pandemic affected you?
Right when the pandemic hit, I got very sick and struggled with long-Covid-19 symptoms for over 3 months. This led me to discover and develop new layers of my personal and professional life, which have centered on psychedelics and mindfulness coaching for the past 20 years.
First, my belief in the benefits of microdosing (a practice of taking small, sub-perceptive doses of psychedelics) was reinforced when it helped me overcome the Covid brain fog symptoms.
Second, I started coming across this term VUCA, which stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Experts were starting to herald creative thinking as the #1 most important skill set for the 21st century.
This inspired questions like: do I think creatively? And what does that even mean? How do I develop creative thinking? I started connecting the dots between creativity research and psychedelic research and decided to pursue a Masters in Science in a program called Creativity Studies and Change Leadership.
Essentially, I’m at the forefront of exploring the intersection between psychedelics, leadership, and creative problem-solving.
How have you contributed to Covid-19 management at the personal, professional, mental, emotional, or physical level?
I’ve continued to expand my work with private clients (entrepreneurs, leaders, executives, creatives, pro athletes, etc) who are looking to tap into optimal or peak performance for leadership and creativity. A big piece of my work is also helping people leverage psychedelics to develop emotional resilience, which is more important than ever in uncertain and unprecedented times.
“In 2021, I hosted a 3-month microdosing mastermind for more than 32 entrepreneurs, creatives, and wellness professionals. It ended up being a huge opportunity for everyone to uplevel their own daily practices, clarify their values, and reorient their lives in a direction that is in deeper alignment with what truly matters to them,” adds Laura. Overall, it was really valuable for people to come together, share how they’ve been navigating times of transition and deepen their daily practice.
Message for International Women’s day
When we expand the boundaries of what we believe is possible, we sometimes need to allow things to fall apart in our lives in order for them to come back together in a new, more cohesive way that’s in support of an upleveled vision. Crisis can be the catalyst for transformation. We can use these times of radical change to stay stuck in old patterns or to uplevel and expand. I inspire others to choose the latter.
I’d also encourage women to ignore the impulse to subscribe to hustle culture. This is a time for us to deepen into our personal truth. When we have the courage to align with our own authenticity, there’s enormous power behind what we create and produce in the world – and creating it won’t burn us out or affect our health along the way. This is no longer a time of striving; this is a time of aligning.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
