Krista Anderson shares that, “As a 55 year old female, I find that my soul becomes lighter and more freshly free with each intentionally lived year. I follow a deeply held core value of “there is no place more sacred or holy than where an ancient hurt has healed”, which means I am committed to understanding and healing the nuances of disconnection that prevent us from experiencing the quality of life we desire.
Being a caregiver personally (I care for my elderly mother) and professionally (I am a marriage and family therapist) warrants that I am aware of how my presence and energy influences the lives of others. Learning to put myself first has been one of my biggest life challenges, along with asking for help when in need. Learning these lessons allows me to feel confident enough in my own emotional competence to navigate my way out of sticky situations. Leaning in to love, not people, is my most important discipline as love will never let us down, but people always will.”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I was a very engaging child. As an early talker and walker, my parents seemed to find pleasure in my toddler self and the performances I would create. My father was a minister/singer and my mother was the church pianist, so music was a big part of my life. Being a quick learner, a good athlete, a good musician and someone who found it easy to make friends, I also most often felt alone. My brother was 14 when I was born, so I grew up basically as an only child. Even with the performing nature of my churchy family, I witnessed much physical and verbal abuse. Life did not feel safe to me as a child, and that carried into my adulthood. I watched my brilliant mother lose herself to trauma and grief after my father left, but she did her best to get me to college. She succeeded. She also instilled in me the mantra of “always have a dream“. I took that one step further and manifested my dream of Emozen.
Tell us something about your initiative/business. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
Emozen is short for emotional zen, and it came to me after a particularly cathartic sweat lodge experience. That experience allowed me to immerse myself into the depth of my personal and intergenerational emotional wounds in a way that allowed me to emerge from that sacred experience with a feeling of emotional zen. It has become the way in which I teach my clients to alchemize their own pain. It is helpful for others as it depathologizes what they are feeling, and unlocking a confidence in their own emotional competence to love themselves in such a way that others learn how to treat them just by watching.
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
My experience with the pandemic reinforced that I can successfully support myself working from home. I had done so before the pandemic, but not virtually. The virtual piece turned into an asset during the pandemic. It was during the pandemic that I was first approached about telling Emozen’s story, and that connection blessed me with the honor of being listed in Who’s Who of America for 2021-2022.
What has been the response of the users/consumers towards your venture?
The most powerful connection people feel with Emozen is when we share immersive meditations. Human connection is what heals us, as we are blessed with at least one compassionate witness as we tell our story. During emozen immersive meditations, people are able to embody themselves in actionable ways. The practice is cumulative. I have been honored with Who’s Who of America for 2021-2022. Prior to this award as Emozen was percolating, I was also chosen to be a field trial researcher for the current DSM V. People report that through Emozen, they actually learn and embody skills of self love and growth in ways that traditional therapy has not been able to provide.
How has your life changed because of your initiative/venture?
It has given me confidence in my own emotional competence to stay present for the difficulties that life inevitably presents without dissociating consciously or unconsciously. My relationships have improved. My health has improved. My creativity has been rekindled. I feel safe in this world.
Do you have anyone who is the biggest support system in your life? Please let us know.
Harriet Tubman. I gave an oral book report about this amazing woman when I was in fourth grade, and it changed me. Reading about her escape from slavery, and her many returns to free other slaves had a profound effect on how I viewed a woman’s strength. I watched my mom endure unspeakable abuses, and in my childlike dream of being able to save her, Harrieet Tubman gave me hope that someday I might be able to do the same for my mom. Other support was from my mother, in that she made sure I was at all of my events, my homework was done, I had a home, and I was fed. She was in such a state of survival herself, that this is what I most felt – the importance of surviving. Slowing down to love and be present is something I didn’t learn until after my children were born. They are my next biggest supporters in that they refer to me as their “safe place“. KNowing that they feel this way with me validates that I am doing something right as I am able to provide for them something that I never felt – safety. My third biggest support is my friend Margaret for when I quite literally crashed and was near death, the people I thought were friends disappeared and she was there like an actual angel reminding me I need to get it together because I am very loved.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity? OR Share a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
Believe in yourself and manifest your dreams. The world needs your message, your story, your light. Fall in love with yourself and find a way to stay there.
Connect With Her:
emozen.life; IG – emozenflow ; FB – emozen – an alternative and holistic mental health service
