Ep 5: In conversation with Cristina López.

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Welcome to the All Is Wellness Podcast with me, Emma Naylor. Join us in open and honest conversations with wellness professionals and industry experts.

Welcome back to the All Is Wellness Podcast. This week's guest is Christina Lopez, or as I know her, Chrissy. Chrissy is a neuro performance coach and estate special specialist. Chrissy uses brain based methods and studies the neuroscience of leadership and self healing. With a background in vc, her main focus at present is to coach entrepreneurs who want to make a positive difference in the way the world works and help her clients achieve balance.

Hello everybody and thank you, Emma, so much for having me today. I'm really excited to be on All Is Wellness.

I'm so excited to have you here and hear so much about your journey. So Chrissy and I have known each other pretty much since birth, so our parents have been friends for over 30 years. We've grown up together. We, you know, my sister and Chrissy went to school together, we've been on holidays together. And it's been so amazing to see her navigating and grow into herself and now into her amazing business. Chrissy, it would be great to hear about how you moved from VC to being a performance coach.

Yeah, no, absolutely. So my career has definitely been a very interesting journey. I technically, being a psychology graduate, started in the creative industry. So I was working in advertising before I got into vc. And when I was in venture capital, I was working with these investors beforehand who basically wanted my digital expertise. And what was amazing is we were living a time when all the tech companies were being born. So. So it was like this boom of, you know, when Deliveroo and Netflix and everything was just kind of reinventing itself. We were being introduced to a whole new world of simplicity with technology. That was incredible. And I then got the opportunity to start a fund with an ex colleague of mine who basically asked me to be her business partner for a project that she was wanting to launch herself. And it was incredible because we spent four years learning a lot about tech and meeting incredible founders who had these insane ideas to basically improve the way the world works, but also they were disrupting what already exists. So it kind of opened my mindset and mentality too around how you can create in this digital age and also made me understand a lot about the different profiles that come with the people who want to break down what already exists and also what drives them personally to become founders and also, you know, start businesses. Because there's always a very personal connection when it comes to, you know, wanting to start something new. And when you just Know that you almost feel born to have solved this problem. And like the most successful founders are those who have that, you know, connection to like, no matter what, I'm committed to solving this problem and that was really powerful. And for me to witness and observe and be surrounded by that energy all the time that I then started realizing that I wanted to play a more active role in how I could help them. And as a VC and investor, although I was able to support them when it came to financing and fundraising, I really wanted to have a more like, hands on approach and being able to serve them on a more personal level. So that's when I made that shift and decided to go into performance and leadership coaching. I evolved a lot of my own practice in the process as well. Well as I started building on the methods that I wanted to teach the leaders of our generation.

Wow. I mean, just hearing you talk about that as well, going from VC to performance coach, it seems like it would be such a two different worlds, but actually they, they collided so well. And you mentioned kind of speaking to the people who are creating these amazing tech platforms for our future. What sort of blocks did you see when. When people are trying to start a business like that, as you said, they feel like their purpose is to solve this problem that's out there. What kind of blocks did you see? You know, not, not financial blocks, but what kind of emotional and mental blocks did you see when people were trying to start their own businesses?

It kind of depended on the type of founder and the profile as well, because there were all, you know, it depends on whether it's your first business. So for people who were launching their first business, there was a lot of fear and insecurity, but that's also part of what they need to experience in order to build that resilience. So fear was a block that I felt all the time, you know, because there's so much uncertainty and there's also a lot of like, there's a very humble approach in their mindset when it comes to, okay, what do I need to learn, what do I need to do, what am I good at, what am I not good at, what resources do I need? So they're kind of building resilience as they go. But I would say in every founder that I met, I did feel this like, element of commitment, but there was a lot of underlying things around that too where it's like, okay, there's a personal journey that's going with all the professional challenges they have to face. And that's when you know, fear was kind of the main factor. Because really, no matter how experienced you are, whether it's your second or third business, you know, the serial entrepreneurs tend to always focus on fixing a problem. And however way they do that, there's always going to be uncertainty. So they're constantly having to face, you know, this war zone on a daily basis. And I think that's something that teaches them. And also what makes the entrepreneur life so amazing and addictive and exhilarating for so many people, because eventually it no longer becomes a block, but you have to go through it at the beginning. You know.

Would you say that every, you know, whether someone's starting a small business or, you know, they already have this successful business and they're looking to grow. Do you think that fear is at the forefront of a lot of people's minds? Because I think that people want to start businesses and. Absolutely. You see people starting businesses on social media, you know, talking about it with friendship groups. And the number one thing, as you said, is fear. Do you feel that that happens regardless of where you are at in your journey as an entrepreneur or as a first time business owner?

Yes, absolutely. I think it's just part of the human process when you're having to do something and not really understanding the full capability of what it could become. So I think regardless of how resilient you are, the fear factor is always there because it's like a survival mechanism. But then in those situations too, it's like how we channel it. So how we channel it basically determines the best way we're able to perform and create our success. Because it's always going to be present. We just redefine it in different ways. You know, in a way it becomes our motivating, motivating factor. And in another way, it also can be like, what cripples you the most in situations of, okay, now what, what do I do in this situation? But it's necessary regardless, we learn how to work with a fear to become the best leaders?

No, yeah, no, I, absolutely. And I think that during this pandemic, obviously everyone has had a lot more time. And I feel that, I'm not sure if you feel the same, that people have become more creative and have allowed themselves to tap into those business ideas that maybe they didn't prioritize when we weren't in a pandemic or that they just sort of prioritized other things. And I've seen a lot of people, especially when I'm looking on Instagram or I'm on Clubhouse or any sort of social platform that people still have their kind of 9 to 5 job. But I've noticed that a lot of people are kind of starting these side businesses and venturing more into that. Do you think this pandemic has affected people's views towards their job and their purpose in life?

Absolutely, like a hundred percent. Because I think what's happening now in our society, which is really interesting, is that we have been forced to start asking questions and we're now questioning what we're doing with our time. Because the world has never stopped before, not in our generation and not for our parents generation either. So I think when we put that into perspective, it's giving us the. The space to redefine what we came here to do. And the reality is nobody came here to work. You know, like, we didn't come here to have these contracts and work for these corporations. Like, there's a much deeper purpose to what we are here to do that also is beyond what we're actually doing when it comes to action. You know, I think, like, it's really about understanding, like, on a personal level, where we can serve from. From who we really are, which also comes from kind of breaking down the identity, you know, And I think, like, that's what's changing in a lot of people's lives because we're starting to detach from this whole focus on, you know, I am what I do. And that's the most powerful thing, thing that we should honor too, during this cycle, because it's like, I think people are embracing like, all their potential as, like, as an unlimited being, what you're able to achieve through all the things that bring you joy and for all the things that, you know, you're passionate about. That's the power of what this pandemic is giving us.

Yeah, and I think that you exactly hit the nail on the head. And I think we had a phone conversation about this a few weeks ago where when we meet someone, the first thing we ask them is, what do you do? If someone starts dating someone, what do they do? And it's a natural response to respond with, my job is this. And I think that it's definitely become more and more apparent now that people don't want to be defined by their 9 to 5 job anymore. They want to be defined about what their purpose is and the things that they bring to the world. And I think that exactly as you said, I think this pandemic has really, really highlighted that people don't want to just be an employee of a corporate company. They want to do that for a purpose. That purpose is for X. But they have all these other things that they're great at and those also serve different purposes in their life.

Absolutely, yes.

I think the thing that is really, really interesting about you and I think that your journey from starting in like an agency to being a performance coach, how would you advise people to find their purpose and really lean into that intuition of what they feel that they're here to do?

Very good question. I think the best way I can answer that is stop looking. Because ultimately how I define purpose, and this is very personal because I can never define it for anybody else, but it is essentially to live my highest vibration of truth. So it's never about what I do or how I do it, but it's about me being centered in myself and just knowing that I'm serving from that place of being in my highest vibration, you know, and that's something that when, if society could honor that fully, we'd get rid of a lot of the complexities around purpose because it's something that we have all like, come here with. You know, we, we were born with this ability to be connected and we've lost it in many ways because it's been passed down through generations and we've been fixated on and we've been taught in many ways too that are a little bit misleading to think that, you know, everything is external and purpose really is the most inward experience that we take on in our lives. It's ever evolving as well. And I think on a day by day basis, especially now when we're not, we're going into a society now that's not about planning or escapism or even, you know, trying to distract ourselves with anything. It's just about being, you know, present in who we are and tuning into that and honoring, you know, that process of beingness beyond doing. And that's where I think the focus is. Like, your purpose is to literally be your highest vibration in everything that you do. And if you're not feeling it, you're probably creating the wrong story around what you're doing because within you there is that spark. It's like the movie soul. Has anyone watched me? Have you watched the movie soul with this? Exactly. Like, that's a perfect example of, you know, you are here to live your best life. And that basically represents that, you know, that is what I'm talking about. Like, that's a perfect case study. You know, you are living your highest vibration beyond what you're doing. That's what it is. And Disney Nailed it on the head with that one.

Yeah. And I think that, exactly as you said, I think that people, you know, live this story, pave this life for themselves, themselves that they think they should be living. You know, when we are, when we are like, you know, younger, we go to school, we go through the education system, we then go to university, we then get a 9 to 5 job, we then get married and get a mortgage and do all of these things in order. And I think that, as you said, there's so many people that are trying to disrupt that and go, well, actually, why do we have to do things in a certain way? And look, no, it's not for everyone. There are a lot of people who are very, very happy going, I'm happy with a 9 to 5 job earning X amount of money, and this is my life because I have all these great things that fulfill me, and that's absolutely fine. But there's definitely, you know, the conversations I've had with people during this pandemic have been really eye opening that there are so many people out there who are doing, you know, jobs or activities in their life that aren't actually fulfilling them. They're doing it to meet a need of society. And a very good friend of mine made a good point that said, there's lots of people sat at home doing a job they realize they don't like, but they didn't realize they didn't like it until now because they were in a swanky office. They got to go to corporate lunches, they got to go to corporate drinks, they got to be with their, you know, their, their. Their colleagues in the office and all of these great and fun and exciting things sort of bubble wrapped the fact that, that they didn't really like that job that much. And now that we've had this pandemic and people are working from home, we've essentially stripped all of that back and laid everything bare on the table to say, this is what you do in life and these are the things that you're doing. And I think a lot of people have come to that realization to go, actually, if you take away all the fluff and you take away, you know, all the glitter and all the glam of all the extra benefits I get for doing whatever it is that I do, the core of what I do does not actually align with my values. And I think that's probably why we've seen a lot, a lot of people, you know, wanting to change jobs, a lot of people leaving jobs, but a lot of people, as I said leaning into that creative side and actually realizing there is so much more to life than what I. Than what I was doing pre pandemic.

No, absolutely, like, very well said, because it is true, like, there's. There's a lack of connection now that we're all experiencing, I think, also so we can reconnect with ourselves. You know, a lot of people are. It's very interesting too, about how people are fueling this change as well, because I've. I've seen a lot of people go deeper with the inward journey. And out of the people I've been working with and the clients I've been serving, there's over, like, achievers where I see, like, they're just trying to create and, and keep creating, and they're kind of over asserting themselves because they feel like they. This is their time now to do something else and to refocus. And it's kind of becoming a little bit of a burnout energy because there's this, like, restlessness around. This is what I need to do and I have the time now to do it. But they're kind of missing the opportunity also for the inward journey, which is when you can create from a much deeper place. So I've seen there's like this contrast right now as well for those of us who are confined and how we're defining that confinement and in ways it is making us wake up on many levels. But I think there's a lot of people still who are missing the opportunity to really go deep with what this opportunity, what it's giving them. You know, what this space, what this time, apart from all the people that played a role in your life and how you can redefine your being beyond everything that you used to do before. Because beyond it being just a work thing, it's a lifestyle as well. It's a whole lifestyle that we're now having to reinvent. And we don't really know when we can go back because we're not going to, you know. Yeah, we're. But we're all wondering, like, what's it going to be? What's it going to be like when things kind of go back to normal? Which is why the whole new normal concept is being born, because it's the unknown.

Yeah. And I think that exactly as you just said then, what is normal? What is the new. The new normal going to be? And I think that, you know, even seeing massive, massive companies, for example, Twitter, have said none of our employees ever need to come back to the office. You can do full remote Working. And that's obviously opened up such a big opportunity because there were lots of people living in, you know, Silicon Valley so that they could commute to the Twitter office. I've seen so many, you know, stories on Twitter, you know, on the, on the, on the web about people going. We've actually been able to move across the other side of the country to, to be in a bigger home and in a better school district for our children because we no longer have to commute to an office. And I think the opportunities of this new normal, we are going to be the ones that are going to be defining what the new normal is. And I think that, you know, creators and inventors and entrepreneurs have a responsibility to start creating that new normal from now. Not for when we go back and things start opening again, but from this moment in time. You know, people that are starting new companies, do they need an office? Do we allow flexible working, do we allow flexible working hours? You know, we're not just going to hire people who live within a 45 minute commute to the office. We're going to hire the person that lives 10,000 miles away because they are the best person for that job.

No.

So I think that it will be very, very interesting, as you said, to see what is the new normal and how is that going to compare to what we've been used to for so many years of our lives?

Yeah, no, absolutely. It's evolution. And that's something that's very exciting. It's something we need to embrace also for what it can give us. And you did say something there that, that struck because it's like, this is our time now to create for then, you know, and that's the thing when the alignment really, because you were like, for when this moment comes. And that's still something that we're in the process of creating. So I think if I were to give and kind of elaborate a little bit more on like that one piece of advice to give our listeners today, it would be to trust that you are exactly where you need to be right now as well, and to move forward. That is part of the growth process. So for those who are feeling stuck in their creation and in the way that they're creating it, really, I think something that we need to honor right now as well is that everything that's coming up that's also creating this tension within us is for us to be able to heal. So there's a lot of people going through this purging process right now too, where there's like a lot of suppression on the emotional side, on the professional side. So I think if you are feeling stuck, don't resist it. There's nothing to fight. There's not to want to wish that anything was different. Which is why I wanted to reinforce what I just said, you know, to answer that question, because a lot of people fight when they're feeling inner turmoil. And when we're stuck, we're actually being given the opportunity to redirect our focus. So all of that is necessary to experience so we can move forward. And if we just see that, as, you know, okay, we're given the signal you're feeling stuck because you're being given a signal that you are not in alignment. That's how you move forward. So observe it, welcome it, welcome the pain, welcome whatever's coming up for you in that moment that's causing the struggle. And then you will learn how to move forward and be the leader in your healing process so you can create from exactly where. Where you need to be creating from. But like I said, and it kind of ties together everything about the fear and the resilience, like all the cycles that we go through, positive and negative, are essential. So that is something that we need to. To pay more attention to instead of fighting it.

Chrissy, thank you so much, honestly, for everything. I just, I love speaking to you. I honestly feel so happy when I get off the phone to you and especially, especially doing this podcast, like, just hearing all the amazing things that you have to offer. Thank you so much for being.

So much for hosting this beautiful conversation. I really enjoyed it.

You can head over to Chrissy's Instagram, which is at Christina Lopez, to get all her tips and tricks and to see how you can work with her. Chrissy, again, thank you so much for being our guest on.

Thank you, Emma.

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