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September 30, 2025 31 mins

Zayda Rivera is a Reiki Master who made her career change her own—by bringing together her teachings with her Puerto Rican heritage. 

In this episode celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Zayda shares the calling she felt to take her career in a new direction after years of covering entertainment, politics, and breaking news as a professional writer. She opens up about the self-doubt she had about launching her spiritual business, Mindful Living with Z, and how she grew her clientele by infusing Puerto Rican indigenous traditions into her Reiki practice. 

If you're second-guessing yourself about your career switch, Zayda's story can inspire you to take those first steps and believe in yourself along the way.


Episode Highlights:

• Answering a call to study Reiki

• Becoming a Reiki Master

• Finding initial clients 

• Expanding into other spiritual content

• Growing up with a mix of religious and spiritual rituals

• The link between Reiki and Puerto Rican ancestral practices

• Fear and self-doubt about starting a spiritual business

• When your partner doesn't support your career change

• How to believe in yourself 

• Growing a business without advertising

• Networking in the Reiki world

• Taking small steps that lead to big change when making a career change


Find Zayda Rivera at:

Website: https://www.mindfullivingwithz.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfullivingwithz

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mindfullivingwithz

Book: Being Bruja: A Young Mystic’s Guide

Reiki Master 8-week Certification Course: https://www.mindfullivingwithz.com/fall-classes


Zayda’s Spiritual Content:

PS Juntos: https://www.popsugar.com/author/mindfulz 

Parents Magazine: https://www.parents.com/zayda-rivera-8419597


Resources: 

Learn more about Reiki: https://www.reiki.org/

The Reiki Association: https://www.reikiassociation.net/

International Association of Reiki Professionals: https://iarp.org/



More episodes for Hispanic Heritage Month:

Ep 41: Pursuing your passion at any age

Ep 33: Leaving corporate to lead a non-profit

Ep 14: How a passion project led to a career change


More episodes for starting a business:

Ep 37: Starting a business after corporate burnout

Ep 29: The ups and downs of building a business

Ep 6: Starting a woman-owned small business


Music credit: TimMoor from Pixabay


Podcast info:
What's your career switch? What do you think about this episode and the show? Tell us at careerswitchpod.com. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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