We had the good fortune of connecting with Mitra Mostofi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mitra, how are you impacting the world?
As an empath, I’ve always been socially aware of the occurrences in interpersonal relationships. However, I didn’t always know I was an empath. I’ve been writing since I was in the 3rd grade. I always knew I had a story to tell because I was born in a war and emigrated with my resilient father, sick mother, and a stubborn brother. But I knew that I didn’t want to publish a book until I had a message that was the allegory to my memoir. Fast forward, I got diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27 and wasn’t surviving anything until I took on a self-awareness path. Herein begot my first book; This Was No Coincidence. I knew I wanted my message, that self-awareness is vital to thriving, to help build kinder communities. Through workshops, events, and curriculum that cultivates understanding ourselves, my business is conscious driven social impact.

Please tell us more about your career. How did you get to where you are today professionally. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Traversing the jungle gym career path, I found no straight career ladder that brought me to my purpose. I started as pre-med in college with a goal to become a pediatrician. I started working in diagnostic research to use as a stepping stone to get to medical school. Through my experience working in clinical laboratories, I got the gratification I was looking for in helping patients get diagnosed early. Albeit, it wasn’t with children and it wasn’t face to face but it was better suited for me than what I imagined for myself. Many years later and with the transition to automation, I realized that I get energized by people and I need to be in an environment where I can work optimally as an extrovert. So I resigned from the medical field and slowly entered the field of education. It took a lot of self-discovery and growth to get to a position I am in now, and it takes a community to support us on our path. I want the world to know that We Practice Life is slated to be a global community where experienced instructors facilitate courses and consulting so that we can all continue the practice of growing together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Assuming it is a cool Houston day any time between October to May, I would take a friend to an independently owned coffee shop in Montrose then ride a public bicycle to Menil and visit the Rothko Chapel. We would ride downtown to get some specialty groceries at Phoenicia and drop off our purchases at the Marriott hotel where they will be staying one night so that we can use the Texas-shaped lazy river pool. We would float in the lazy river sipping on a frozen margarita. Afterward, we would catch a rideshare to This Is It to get some soul food for dinner. That evening I would recommend them to stay in Hotel Ylem to support charitable causes and experience the boutique hotel. The following morning we would get breakfast tacos making sure they know to go somewhere that makes the tortillas in house. Right across the street is Taco Cabana. Then we would walk or ride our bikes to the Rice Village to window shop because nothing there is affordable anymore. On the way back we would stop at Flower & Cream or Hanks for ice cream. For late lunch (linner) I would ask them if they like Persian, Afghani, Lebanese, Indian, Ethiopian, Korean, Polish, Argentinian, Brazillian, Vietnamese, or Thai food? If they aren’t craving any of those then we can find at least 10 other types of cuisines. Hopefully, there is some event being held in Houston that evening because after all, Houston is a touristic attraction for diverse foods and events.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
More to Life is a global organization, I mention vastly in my first book, that teaches self-awareness tools. It has opened the possibility of living my highest potential in getting creative versus reactive to life’s challenges. My partners in We Practice Life LLC is the tribe that gives me the optimism we need to reimagine a better world through social change.

Website: www.wepracticelife.com
Instagram: mitraship
Linkedin: Mitra Mostofi
Twitter: mitraship
Facebook: mitraship
Other: www.mitraship.com

Image Credits
Alan Nguyen Eugene Drake at Drake Studios

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