We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica King MA LPCC and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Monica, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I grew up in south of here along the Rocky Mountains in Santa Fe. Around there you are kind of taught a more rural way of life that has an intrinsic high risk tolerance built into the lifestyle. We are taught to live with a sense of self and sense of grit that turns into resilience later in life. Survival of the fittest baby! This high risk tolerance has been the most valuable aspect of building my career. The ability to move with agility, shape-shifting, and dancing through life is so critical these days. Our economy is sometimes unpredictable, and the way we navigate making money on a personal level requires bodacious skills of pivoting what we offer on a regular basis.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It has been a long loco path. I started out in fashion and thought I was super cool and potent, only to find out that I was not cut out for that industry. I was in California in my early 20’s at that time and had a near death experience that put me on the path to a more healthy lifestyle and my studies in natural medicine. During my studies in naturopathic medicine I was invited to Peru to apprentice with an Ayauascero, which opened up my path completely. From there I worked as a researcher while I finished a bachelors degree in Herbal Science. Then I got married and had a child, while studying yoga and had the opportunity to take groups to Africa to study with traditional healers, and India for further meditation training. Then I was offered work in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and helped open two amazing holistic retreat centers in Tulum. All those years I was consulting. Now I am working with clients one on one, teaching retreats and adjunct faculty at Naropa University. I love my work and am grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hiking (obviously), and to some hot springs for sure. I would do my best to orient to her level of fitness and not push her in to my way of being. I must admit that I really dig the Thursday night bike crawl in Boulder. Everyone lights up their bike and there are some great DJ’s and we cruise around till at least midnight. Then we land somewhere around town and the dance music comes out and someone usually makes pancakes or some other yummy food to keep us going.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This is dedicated to the elders, teachers, and traditional healers I have had the honor to study with in India, Africa, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada & US. Some of these wise ones have passed on and I hold their teachings and ways of being in the world dear to my heart. In some ways they speak through me. They remind me to slow down and move through life with a smile and a grateful heart, trusting the sacred hoop of life and how it all comes together.
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Image Credits
second image in sepia is Angie Barnes Photography