July 25, 2025 • 11 mins
Enjoy an excerpt from Laura's book Shine Brighter.
Want to buy the book?
Find it here:
https://www.lauraeking.com/shine
BOOK LAURA:
Subscribe to Laura's Peak of the Week:
https://www.lauraeking.com/peak-of-the-week
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, it's Laura.
Welcome to this week's Peak ofthe Week.
We are doing something kind offun.
I'm going to read a passagefrom my book Shine Brighter to
just give you a flavor forwhat's in it, and if you are
interested in purchasing, justhead to the show notes and there
(00:24):
will be a link.
Here it goes.
I didn't set out to write a book.
I set out to get unstuck.
For years I was living a lifethat looked good on the outside.
I checked all the boxes Career,success, a full calendar, a
family I adore.
But underneath all theproductivity and performance, I
(00:47):
felt disconnected.
I wasn't unhappy, but I alsowasn't lit up.
I wasn't fully alive, and thattruth, that quiet ache, was
something I could no longerignore.
The invitation came in the formof a breakdown.
Oh, laura, I'm so sorry toshare this news with you.
The neurofeedback providerbegan his words, setting off
(01:09):
flutters in my stomach.
Not only do you have anxietyoff the charts, but your brain
waves show that you're notfinding rest during the day or
at night.
You also show brain wavepatterns of ADHD.
Wave patterns of ADHD.
The diagnosis was confirmed.
It was a triple threat anxietyoff the charts, no sleep and
(01:37):
ADHD.
At that moment, time seemed tofreeze.
A part of me wasn't surprised.
I had felt the weight of thesestruggles for years, but seeing
them confirmed in data felt likea revelation.
Of course you are anxious,laura.
Of course you're not sleeping,and is it really news to you
that you have ADHD?
As this kind man both aneurotherapy provider and a
trained therapist offered me ahug, I melted into his embrace,
(01:59):
tears streaming down my face.
I barely knew this man, but myrational brain surrendered to my
emotions.
I had buried so much for solong.
I hadn't realized just how deepthe pain ran.
Ironically, I hadn't come tothe clinic for myself.
I had come for my son, seekingtreatment for his anxiety and
(02:21):
ADHD.
But a quiet voice whisperedLaura, this is your path too.
It was an invitation to finallyconfront the unresolved
emotions and trauma I'd shovedunder the rug for years.
I started this book at theheight of my broken moment, in
spring of 2023.
Today, it's spring of 2025.
(02:43):
So much has changed.
This book has been my therapy,my reckoning, my path to purpose
and, for the first time in myadult life, I am truly at peace.
And that's what I want for youUtmost peace To see that God
uses the darkness to reveal thelight.
What feels like your worstnightmare is often an invitation
(03:05):
to something greater than youcould ever imagine.
Before we go deeper, somecontext.
My awakening began in 2018 witha hearing loss diagnosis.
It continued in 2019 with asurprise fourth pregnancy.
It deepened in 2020 during thepandemic, as I found a new level
of faith.
And 2023.
(03:27):
Oh, 2023.
The year that shook me to mycore.
It was painful and terrifyingand still seems like a total
blur because I wasn't fully here.
I was swirling and living frommy mind, not rooted at all in
the present moment.
I was not an enjoyable personto be around and I'm very
(03:48):
disappointed in how I showed upin my relationships and my work.
But there was a purpose behindall of it, a much grander
purpose than I could have everimagined.
The depth of the pain Iexperienced in 2023 is what I
feel so many are going throughright now.
Experience in 2023 is what Ifeel so many are going through
right now.
If you've picked up this book orare listening to it, odds are
(04:09):
you're going through anawakening process.
What is an awakening, you mightask?
Awakening is the realization ofwho you really are an eternal
spirit in a human body, and thework of awakening is unlearning
the patterns of the world thatkeep us small.
What kept me small for most ofmy life was the story.
(04:29):
I told myself that I wasn'tgood enough.
So, instead of being me fullyme, I became the person that
others needed me to be.
I performed.
Performance came in thecurrency of earning others'
approval, getting top grades,making my parents proud, being
valued by my bosses and seekingothers' validation.
(04:50):
I cared far too long about whatothers thought of me.
I gave my power away to others.
That part of me is dying, andit needs to, because stress
through the roof, not sleepingand always on anxiety is no way
to live.
Death is a stripping away ofall that is not you.
(05:10):
The secret of life is to diebefore you die and find there is
no death.
Eckhart Tolle.
Yes, there are parts of you,just like there were parts of me
, screaming to evolve.
Through this process, I'velearned our struggles aren't
signs of being broken.
They're invitations to a deeper, more authentic life.
(05:32):
I once lived in the dark,believing I was a victim of my
circumstances.
Now I live in the light.
In the light is where yourfreedom, joy, abundance are all
secured, and it's a choice youget to choose.
You can move from surviving tothriving.
It starts with a decision totake full responsibility for
(05:57):
your life.
My sincere hope is that overthe next several days, weeks or
however long it takes you to getthrough these pages, you walk
away knowing that your future isbright and our collective
future is bright, even if theoutside world looks quite the
opposite.
There is a light inside of you,inside all of us, waiting to be
(06:18):
unleashed.
Shine Brighter is aboutbreaking those barriers.
It's about remembering who youtruly are.
Through my 42 years on earth,I've developed intuitive ability
to sense the energy peoplebring, to see beyond titles and
accomplishments, into whatreally matters.
30,000 interviews as anexecutive recruiter, into what
(06:40):
really matters.
30,000 interviews as anexecutive recruiter, placing
thousands into new jobs andbeing the person other people
call when they need helpfiguring things out.
I have a gift in reading peopleand reading energy.
And guess what?
Your energy tells me exactlyhow much light you're letting in
.
I see it when you're holdingyourself back.
Light you're letting in.
(07:01):
I see it when you're holdingyourself back.
I see it when you lie toyourself.
I see it when you hesitate.
I know this because I did thesame thing.
I lied to myself for a verylong time, pretending to be
happy.
These are the questions I beganto ask myself that helped me on
my journey, and I advise you toask yourself right now are you
really happy?
Are you doing what lights youup?
(07:22):
Are you serving the people youreally want to serve?
Are you experiencing elevatedemotions, such as joy, vibrancy
and aliveness, on a daily basis?
These questions reveal thetruth, and to find the hero
within, we must step back andsee our lives through a new lens
, an honest lens.
(07:42):
We are all on a hero's journey,a concept Joseph Campbell
popularized, which mirrors ourown evolution.
One call to adventure You'reinvited to step into something
greater.
Two mentorship you meet guideswho help you navigate the
unknown.
Three crossing the thresholdyou leave the familiar and
(08:05):
embrace change.
Four trials and tribulationsyou face struggles that test and
refine you.
Five transformation you emergewith new wisdom and purpose.
Six return with the elixir youbring your newfound insight back
to the world.
(08:26):
Take a moment, breathe deeplyand ask yourself what journey am
I on?
For me, the journey has beenmoving from a striver always
chasing approval to loving everypart of me as I am.
Yours might be different, butwe all end up at the same place.
I just want to help you getthere a little faster.
(08:47):
I'm an activator and I'm hereto activate you.
Ready, a little more mojobefore we get into the meaty
stuff?
Each of us is born with aunique mission.
We are not here to conform, butto uncover and embrace our true
selves.
Your unique genius is your giftto the world.
(09:08):
It's not selfish to embark on ajourney of self-discovery.
It's necessary.
A common regret of the dying isthis I wish I'd had the courage
to live a life true to myself,not the life others expected of
me.
Let that sink in Way.
Too many people have confidedin me at the end of their
(09:30):
careers that they regret thelives that they built.
Many of us would not want ourchildren to follow in our
footsteps.
Yet we keep walking the samepath.
It's time to wake up.
The younger generations see ourunhappiness.
They can tell when we're justgoing through the motions.
So why can't we?
Because honesty with ourselvesis hard, because our brains
(09:54):
crave safety and familiarity,because we've been conditioned
to follow patterns that don'tserve us, because we've learned
to limit ourselves.
We've learned to be fearful.
But here's the truth.
You have free will.
You get to decide how this goes, and you can always choose
again.
(10:14):
This journey is about unlearning, as it is about remembering.
I believe in you, I believe inyour dreams.
I believe there's a life beyondyour wildest imagination
waiting for you.
You just have to surrender tothe whispers inside you, the
ones nudging you towards truthand light and joy that lead you
exactly to these words.
(10:35):
By picking up this book, you'vealready taken the first step.
You are ready.
Through sharing my story andthe lessons I've learned from
the thousands of people whoselives I've touched, my hope is
that you let go of what nolonger serves, you reconnect
with who you truly are and takeaction on what you desire most.
(10:58):
You are enough exactly as youare.
As we walk through these pagestogether, I pray that you see
just how powerful you truly are.
It's time to break free fromwhat's holding you back and let
your light shine brighter thanever before.
Hey, it's Laura.
Welcome to this week's Peak ofthe Week.
We are doing something kind offun.
I'm going to read a passagefrom my book Shine Brighter to
just give you a flavor forwhat's in it, and if you are
interested in purchasing, justhead to the show notes and there
(00:24):
will be a link.
Here it goes.
I didn't set out to write a book.
I set out to get unstuck.
For years I was living a lifethat looked good on the outside.
I checked all the boxes Career,success, a full calendar, a
family I adore.
But underneath all theproductivity and performance, I
(00:47):
felt disconnected.
I wasn't unhappy, but I alsowasn't lit up.
I wasn't fully alive, and thattruth, that quiet ache, was
something I could no longerignore.
The invitation came in the formof a breakdown.
Oh, laura, I'm so sorry toshare this news with you.
The neurofeedback providerbegan his words, setting off
(01:09):
flutters in my stomach.
Not only do you have anxietyoff the charts, but your brain
waves show that you're notfinding rest during the day or
at night.
You also show brain wavepatterns of ADHD.
Wave patterns of ADHD.
The diagnosis was confirmed.
It was a triple threat anxietyoff the charts, no sleep and
(01:37):
ADHD.
At that moment, time seemed tofreeze.
A part of me wasn't surprised.
I had felt the weight of thesestruggles for years, but seeing
them confirmed in data felt likea revelation.
Of course you are anxious,laura.
Of course you're not sleeping,and is it really news to you
that you have ADHD?
As this kind man both aneurotherapy provider and a
trained therapist offered me ahug, I melted into his embrace,
(01:59):
tears streaming down my face.
I barely knew this man, but myrational brain surrendered to my
emotions.
I had buried so much for solong.
I hadn't realized just how deepthe pain ran.
Ironically, I hadn't come tothe clinic for myself.
I had come for my son, seekingtreatment for his anxiety and
(02:21):
ADHD.
But a quiet voice whisperedLaura, this is your path too.
It was an invitation to finallyconfront the unresolved
emotions and trauma I'd shovedunder the rug for years.
I started this book at theheight of my broken moment, in
spring of 2023.
Today, it's spring of 2025.
(02:43):
So much has changed.
This book has been my therapy,my reckoning, my path to purpose
and, for the first time in myadult life, I am truly at peace.
And that's what I want for youUtmost peace To see that God
uses the darkness to reveal thelight.
What feels like your worstnightmare is often an invitation
(03:05):
to something greater than youcould ever imagine.
Before we go deeper, somecontext.
My awakening began in 2018 witha hearing loss diagnosis.
It continued in 2019 with asurprise fourth pregnancy.
It deepened in 2020 during thepandemic, as I found a new level
of faith.
And 2023.
(03:27):
Oh, 2023.
The year that shook me to mycore.
It was painful and terrifyingand still seems like a total
blur because I wasn't fully here.
I was swirling and living frommy mind, not rooted at all in
the present moment.
I was not an enjoyable personto be around and I'm very
(03:48):
disappointed in how I showed upin my relationships and my work.
But there was a purpose behindall of it, a much grander
purpose than I could have everimagined.
The depth of the pain Iexperienced in 2023 is what I
feel so many are going throughright now.
Experience in 2023 is what Ifeel so many are going through
right now.
If you've picked up this book orare listening to it, odds are
(04:09):
you're going through anawakening process.
What is an awakening, you mightask?
Awakening is the realization ofwho you really are an eternal
spirit in a human body, and thework of awakening is unlearning
the patterns of the world thatkeep us small.
What kept me small for most ofmy life was the story.
(04:29):
I told myself that I wasn'tgood enough.
So, instead of being me fullyme, I became the person that
others needed me to be.
I performed.
Performance came in thecurrency of earning others'
approval, getting top grades,making my parents proud, being
valued by my bosses and seekingothers' validation.
(04:50):
I cared far too long about whatothers thought of me.
I gave my power away to others.
That part of me is dying, andit needs to, because stress
through the roof, not sleepingand always on anxiety is no way
to live.
Death is a stripping away ofall that is not you.
(05:10):
The secret of life is to diebefore you die and find there is
no death.
Eckhart Tolle.
Yes, there are parts of you,just like there were parts of me
, screaming to evolve.
Through this process, I'velearned our struggles aren't
signs of being broken.
They're invitations to a deeper, more authentic life.
(05:32):
I once lived in the dark,believing I was a victim of my
circumstances.
Now I live in the light.
In the light is where yourfreedom, joy, abundance are all
secured, and it's a choice youget to choose.
You can move from surviving tothriving.
It starts with a decision totake full responsibility for
(05:57):
your life.
My sincere hope is that overthe next several days, weeks or
however long it takes you to getthrough these pages, you walk
away knowing that your future isbright and our collective
future is bright, even if theoutside world looks quite the
opposite.
There is a light inside of you,inside all of us, waiting to be
(06:18):
unleashed.
Shine Brighter is aboutbreaking those barriers.
It's about remembering who youtruly are.
Through my 42 years on earth,I've developed intuitive ability
to sense the energy peoplebring, to see beyond titles and
accomplishments, into whatreally matters.
30,000 interviews as anexecutive recruiter, into what
(06:40):
really matters.
30,000 interviews as anexecutive recruiter, placing
thousands into new jobs andbeing the person other people
call when they need helpfiguring things out.
I have a gift in reading peopleand reading energy.
And guess what?
Your energy tells me exactlyhow much light you're letting in
.
I see it when you're holdingyourself back.
Light you're letting in.
(07:01):
I see it when you're holdingyourself back.
I see it when you lie toyourself.
I see it when you hesitate.
I know this because I did thesame thing.
I lied to myself for a verylong time, pretending to be
happy.
These are the questions I beganto ask myself that helped me on
my journey, and I advise you toask yourself right now are you
really happy?
Are you doing what lights youup?
(07:22):
Are you serving the people youreally want to serve?
Are you experiencing elevatedemotions, such as joy, vibrancy
and aliveness, on a daily basis?
These questions reveal thetruth, and to find the hero
within, we must step back andsee our lives through a new lens
, an honest lens.
(07:42):
We are all on a hero's journey,a concept Joseph Campbell
popularized, which mirrors ourown evolution.
One call to adventure You'reinvited to step into something
greater.
Two mentorship you meet guideswho help you navigate the
unknown.
Three crossing the thresholdyou leave the familiar and
(08:05):
embrace change.
Four trials and tribulationsyou face struggles that test and
refine you.
Five transformation you emergewith new wisdom and purpose.
Six return with the elixir youbring your newfound insight back
to the world.
(08:26):
Take a moment, breathe deeplyand ask yourself what journey am
I on?
For me, the journey has beenmoving from a striver always
chasing approval to loving everypart of me as I am.
Yours might be different, butwe all end up at the same place.
I just want to help you getthere a little faster.
(08:47):
I'm an activator and I'm hereto activate you.
Ready, a little more mojobefore we get into the meaty
stuff?
Each of us is born with aunique mission.
We are not here to conform, butto uncover and embrace our true
selves.
Your unique genius is your giftto the world.
(09:08):
It's not selfish to embark on ajourney of self-discovery.
It's necessary.
A common regret of the dying isthis I wish I'd had the courage
to live a life true to myself,not the life others expected of
me.
Let that sink in Way.
Too many people have confidedin me at the end of their
(09:30):
careers that they regret thelives that they built.
Many of us would not want ourchildren to follow in our
footsteps.
Yet we keep walking the samepath.
It's time to wake up.
The younger generations see ourunhappiness.
They can tell when we're justgoing through the motions.
So why can't we?
Because honesty with ourselvesis hard, because our brains
(09:54):
crave safety and familiarity,because we've been conditioned
to follow patterns that don'tserve us, because we've learned
to limit ourselves.
We've learned to be fearful.
But here's the truth.
You have free will.
You get to decide how this goes, and you can always choose
again.
(10:14):
This journey is about unlearning, as it is about remembering.
I believe in you, I believe inyour dreams.
I believe there's a life beyondyour wildest imagination
waiting for you.
You just have to surrender tothe whispers inside you, the
ones nudging you towards truthand light and joy that lead you
exactly to these words.
(10:35):
By picking up this book, you'vealready taken the first step.
You are ready.
Through sharing my story andthe lessons I've learned from
the thousands of people whoselives I've touched, my hope is
that you let go of what nolonger serves, you reconnect
with who you truly are and takeaction on what you desire most.
(10:58):
You are enough exactly as youare.
As we walk through these pagestogether, I pray that you see
just how powerful you truly are.
It's time to break free fromwhat's holding you back and let
your light shine brighter thanever before.
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