Our Story

Why I Founded Shine Your Light

– Laurie  Gardner, Founder/CEO

“So many of us settle for less in our lives – but how can we live more fully?”

This was my burning question as I sat high on a desert cliff one blistering summer nine years ago, fasting alone on a vision quest. At age 37, I was in a stressful, workaholic job where I wasn’t feeling valued, anxious I would never find true love, unhappy with my body, and living in a place where I had no real friends. On the outside, I was cheerful and successful, but under the mask, I was dying inside. But it felt too scary to make the changes to have what I so desperately wanted.

As I opened my leather journal to do some reflecting, a book unexpectedly came pouring out, charting a clear, three-part roadmap of how to make the most of your life. Shortly after returning from my vision quest, a major New York publisher expressed interest in what I had written and urged me to share my personal journey through the three stages. Filled with adventure stories, life lessons, and a good dose of humor, The Road to Shine is an inspirational story and practical guide to courageously claiming your life.

Realizing how important and powerful the book’s message was, I quit my high paid position as an international school reform pioneer, broke up with Mr. Almost, moved back to the town I loved, and set off on a new path, inspiring others to find the courage to shine. For the past several years, I have been speaking, coaching, and writing on personal and leadership development topics such as “How to Be Happy Even When Life is Crappy,” “The Buck Stops Where?” and “When Your Faith Goes Postal,” helping as many as I possibly can to take an honest look at themselves and their lives and to find the courage to live a life that’s more authentic, fulfilling, and fun.

Then one evening, while doing laundry at my local laundromat, I got another huge tap on the shoulder from the Universe, telling me it was time to expand my efforts by creating a non-profit corporation. Through this vehicle, I could not only continue my individual teaching and writing, but I could also spearhead even greater social impact initiatives, such as offering free personal and leadership development coaching for those who can’t afford it, using the fees from my paid services to help individuals and groups in need, and forming the Leading Lights, a collaborative of the top personal growth and leadership teachers of our time to work together in ways that would help the world more powerfully than if we worked apart.

Several years later, another a-ha: My down-to-earth, humorous, “Jersey girl meets woo-woo” approach of  teaching people how to access their intuition is my unique WAY I help people to shine. I created a series of master classes called “We’re All Psychic,” which immediately gained momentum. The culminating level certifies students as a Shine Your Light intuitive coach and energy healer, thus creating a highly trained, trusted group of people to help expand our mission of helping people hear their deepest knowing so they can be their true selves and  lead lives they love.

It is with both great humility and tremendous excitement that I have launched Shine Your Light. If you feel called to join me in my journey to help others to shine, I would be honored and grateful to welcome your brilliant light.