In this Business Blast Podcast episode, host Tyler Wagner interviews Ana Paula, the creator of SoulShape.me and self‑described "spiritual architect." Ana shares a pivotal personal story about leaving a ten‑year career in architecture after confronting the firm’s lead architect, illustrating the power of following one’s heart and standing in truth. She expands on how to discover and act on inner guidance, emphasizing experiential trial, self‑questioning, and courage. Ana explains that a consistent spiritual practice is the key to deep personal connection and authentic relationships, especially in a hyper‑connected world. She offers a core business insight: a business’s growth mirrors the founder’s personal growth, linking health, mindset, and entrepreneurship. The conversation moves into a discussion of oneness, describing reality as vibrating particles and a shared energetic field that connects people and the Earth. Ana recommends Marianne Williamson’s A Return to Love and shares a favorite Wayne Dyer quote about the journey and goal being the same, tying it to quantum‑field awareness. Finally, she provides her online presence—Instagram, Facebook, website, and a free online series “Spiritual Practice for High Performers.” The episode blends personal narrative, practical advice, spiritual philosophy, and actionable resources.
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Welcome to the Business Blast Podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Wagner. This episode is brought to you by Authors Unite. Authors Unite provides you with all the resources you need to become a successful author. You can learn more about Authors Unite and join the free community at authorsunite.com. Now let's jump into the episode. Alright everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Business Blast podcast. I'm your host Tyler Wagner. Today I have Ana Paula with us. She is the spiritual architect and creator of SoulShape.me, where she supports people in setting a strong foundation for their spiritual practice so they can connect deeper to themselves and others to create a huge impact in the world. So welcome to the show.
Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited.
Grateful to have you here, Ana. Well, we'll jump into the first one. The first question I have for you is, what is the best story from your life that has an underlying valuable message?
I guess that would be following your heart in the sense of, and being courageous in stretching past what's scary, right? And then building up from that. So for example, I had a career in architecture. I was in architecture for about 10 years overall, including school and everything. And I was at one of the best firms in the world. And I knew that my heart was pulling me somewhere else. And for me to feel complete with that, I went into, like, I knew that I had to speak to the main architect of the firm. And that was very scary. And, but I had done other things in the past where I had to do the same thing and just really express express my truth and be bold with my inner knowing. So I went up the stairs to his office and I expressed my truth and I told him the shifts that I was seeing in my life and how I was leaving architecture altogether. And he was actually very supportive and I was able to just in a sense come out of like something that I thought was not accepted because of the stories that I had and really face my truth and stand authentically. And that was just extremely powerful. And the more that we get to do that in our lives, the more that we are able to, to be more in conviction with what we believe. Does that make sense?
Yeah, no, it does. And I actually wanted to dive a little bit deeper there. So I think, and you actually did explain it, but I think there maybe even could be more more talked about here. So, for instance, I think it's hard for people, a lot of people to follow their heart. They're like, "Well, I don't know what I want." And, my actual response to such things because, for instance, I run 2 companies and I do this podcast and I absolutely love the podcast and I wouldn't have discovered it if I hadn't tried all these different things and actually kind of become aware of what my heart or body was feeling as I was trying out all these different professions. So that's how like I did it. So if you were to like, explain to somebody how to follow your heart, like, what would you say? Would you say experience? Or do you kind of have some other technique or something?
Yes. So in, in my case, for example, just knowing first, okay, so there's two questions in there, kind of. So one is how to follow your heart. And then the other one is more about how to step into the courage of standing in your truth. So the first question of standing in your truth is more about, so for example, growing up, there were things that I really wanted and I was scared to ask for because I don't know, I just had a story that it was like, I used to be in classical ballet and I was scared to ask for a solo. Like you were given a solo, you didn't ask for a solo. So that was something that I went up to my teacher, I asked for the solo, I asked for what I wanted. And that remained in me like as a moment where that was very scary for me because I could be given a no as an answer. And then that would mean that I failed or something. So bringing that forward, like many, many years later, you know, standing up for other things that I believed in and then going up to one of the most famous architects in the world and telling him that architecture is not my driving passion anymore when it's been his passion his whole life. And I mean, I highly respect him. It was very difficult, as you can imagine, and having dedicated like 10 years of my life in this field. So going up there and just facing that and being fully acknowledging and vulnerable with my truth just made me so much stronger to be able to do that. So now going forward, I have that kind of as an anchor point in a sense where I know that I can stand for, for whatever I believe in, and I can only get stronger from that. So that's one. And then the second one of how to know if you're following your heart. So, I mean, it takes really that deeper knowing and really connecting to your truth and asking yourself a question like, what really inspires you in your life? Like, what do you really want to create? You know, and really trusting that you're here to create an impact. You're here to make a difference for people and to connect deeper to yourself and come back to that knowing that you're complete as you are. So, does that make sense?
Yeah, definitely. I just find it interesting because I think a lot of people, potentially majority of people, struggle with it. And the way I kind of— and I think it's an ongoing figuring out because you're ever-changing. But for me, it just was literal experience. You put me at a desk all day and try to make me do accounting and I'm miserable, but you put me at a desk all day in Miami and do podcasts all day and talk to new people, I'm very happy, you know? So like, yeah, I just like tried and tested all these different things and then eventually I found a few things that I was like, whoa, this is what I love. So yeah, maybe it could have got me here sooner if I had kind of asked those questions. But for me it was just true experience and awareness of how I felt doing different things.
Yes. And to speak a little bit more into that, like, when you are doing something that's in alignment to your heart and your soul, it's really— it doesn't drain you anymore, right? So like, when I talk to my clients and after my group calls and all these things, like, I end up so excited and like just filled with like this passionate, creative energy that I know I'm doing the right thing and it's all flowing, right? So I feel like that's what you start getting when you're closer to alignment to what you're meant to be doing because you just keep fueling yourself with and loving what you do.
That's so true. It's like 16 hours of work doing what you love at the end of it, although yes, you could potentially be tired, but it's almost like you feel like— I like the word fueled. That's what it feels like. But then 16 hours of something you don't like, the whole 16 hours is tiring. Absolutely. So, yeah, I like that. So, the next one I have for you, Anna, is what is the most valuable piece of information we should know that's within your expertise or industry?
Sure. So, for the most valuable piece of information is really just connecting to your spiritual practice. You know, it's the key to living a life with deep connection. And even though— and that's such an important thing right now. Like, it's an important piece because we live in a hyperconnected world. Right? Like, we have so many ways of connect to other people, but it's not necessarily the deep connection that where we feel complete with each other, where we feel like we're actually showing up vulnerably and authentically. So that's what's really important. And in order to do that, spiritual practice allows for, for you to have that deeper connection because you start knowing closer to like you start knowing who you are at a deeper level. So you're able to share yourself at a deeper level with other people.
And what's your best piece of overall business advice? So not necessarily industry specific.
Yeah, this is something my business coach says and I love it. So she says your business growth will only match your personal growth.
Ah, yes, I agree.
It's huge. It is huge.
It definitely is. And I think especially, well, I think it's in anything, but in entrepreneurship, like I think, and I've heard this said before, like your business is like an extension of yourself.
Yes.
And when you realize that, then you can also start to realize like the connection between like health and your business. Because if you don't have good health, like you're not putting in 16 hours a day regardless if you love it or not. Maybe you could get past it. But, you know, all those things connect together is the point, in my opinion. So the next one I have is, so if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be?
It would be to follow, like, follow the nudges, you know, like follow the passion, the excitement, and remember that it gets to be playful and remember that you get to have fun in the process.
And perfectly leads into the next one. In your opinion, what is the key to happiness?
The key to happiness is deep connection with ourselves so that we truly get to experience the oneness that we are. Like, true connection with ourselves starts dissolving the illusion of separation with other people. And yeah.
And would you say, and with the, like, Earth as a whole, like, do you believe, like, oneness just as, like, everything?
What do you mean by that?
Yeah, yeah. So, well, for actually, let's dive into this real quick. Have you ever heard of Alan Watts?
No.
Okay, so after this, I'm gonna share some Alan Watts stuff with you. But basically, like, what he says— okay, so kind of backtracking a little. So Earth, the word Earth rearranged is the word heart, if that has any significance whatsoever. I don't know. But what I think is significant is like you said, a oneness as in people. So my question to you is like, do you think we are a oneness not just as all people are connected, but as we are also connected with the Earth, meaning like we we didn't come to the Earth, but we came out of the Earth. What are your views on like that spiritual, maybe religious perspectives?
Yeah, so it's the oneness in a spiritual sense for sure, but a oneness energetically, right? Like we all exist in this field of infinite potentiality. And that's where we're connected through. Like, the more that you break us down, we're just vibrating particles. Yes. And it's magical. So if everything is vibrating particles, we're like, we're all one. It's just vibrating in different densities in a sense. Right. So that's what I mean by oneness. And I feel like that's— yeah, that's definitely in a spiritual context. And it aligns with the Earth as well, because everything that we see is vibrating particles as well. So it all has a certain vibration and we're able to perceive it a certain way, but it's all kind of an illusion as well.
Yeah, totally.
And also just to have a distinction there, you said religious, but this is really not religious at all because religion has like a different component to it. You know what I mean?
Yeah, totally. And I was just curious of your perspectives and I agree with that. It's funny because it's like, I guess these particles, when you arrange them in different ways, we look different. I'm male, you're female. But, when you break it down to its most basic simplest forms of vibrating particles, it's all one. So, I think that that's an interesting thing.
Yes. And, that's where the sacred architecture comes in and the vibration of our inner architecture. So, yeah, it gets really deep really fast. It's awesome.
The next one I have for you is what is the best book that you've read and what was the number one thing you learned from it?
So one of my favorite books is A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. And I think it's brilliant because it just speaks into surrendering to love and making love a priority in any situation. And stepping into that level of responsibility that we're the creators of our reality and we get to create through love. And also that creating from love brings more love.
And what is your favorite quote and why?
My favorite quote? Well, a quote that I like a lot is, is the journey and the goal are always the same. And Wayne Dyer said that. And the reason why I like that is because it covers the whole concept of timelessness and how everything already is in the quantum field. And I love that. And that's also where we get to step into how meditation begins to shatter the illusion of separateness, which is what we just talked about.
Yes, I love it. And that is an amazing quote. So listen, thank you so much for coming on. The last question I have for you before we let you go is, where is the best place for people to find you online?
Awesome. Yeah. So the best way is on Instagram @soulshape.me or Facebook, same thing, Soul Shape. Me or my website is www.soulshape.me. And also, if interested, I have a free online series that's airing on the 20th and it's called Spiritual Practice for High Performers and it'll be amazing. And they can go to spiritualpracticeforhighperformers.com.
Perfect. Thanks again for hopping on.
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