We had the good fortune of connecting with Arin DeGroff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arin, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
I have always heard the advice, “Choose one thing so you can become successful.” While there may be some truth to this statement, I still have found that I disagree with this conventional way of approaching my desires and dreams. I am a firm believer that I do not have to choose one thing in order to become successful. Rather, I can choose to practice and integrate time management, discipline, and most importantly discernment with where I choose to put my energy. As an artist and creative it is my intention to work with the energy of expansion. While also honoring the deep knowing that anything I choose, whether it is one thing or five things, that I am fully capable of manifesting and bringing my passions into reality.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a multidisciplinary artist, focusing on writing, photography, painting, and energy work and it is my passion to facilitate spaces for people to tap into their mind, body, spirit, art and activism! I most recently released a co-written book called, “The Unchained Goddess”, which follows the lives of 7 other black powerhouse women through their personal journeys of becoming unchained and living life to their fullest potential. My chapter gives insight to my personal story and how I overcame blame consciousness through healing past trauma. Since the release of the book, I have continued on my journey of building my personal brand, ‘Inside Out’ and applying the many lessons I have learned into my daily practice.

Getting where I am now has not been a linear journey nor has every part has been easy. However, managing and experiencing this duality in my life has gifted me with the biggest lesson in my life thus far! I believe that by not allowing what appears to be a “problem” to deter me from my path, I allow any challenge to transmute and become a catalyst for greater internal evolution.

I want the world to know that, “Inside Out’ encourages everyone to live a life fully expressed. That each of us are born worthy and no matter what your story is, no matter what you choose to create for yourself or your life, there is alway opportunity to heal and create!

Life is a balance of giving yourself what you need and showing up for what it is that you are manifesting. My daily personal practice of self care has been my anchor and saving grace. So, I would like to leave you with some of the affirmations I work with in my day to day, especially when life feels like it’s “too much”.

The safety you are looking for is within you.
You can change the narrative you tell yourself.
These unfair moments, the hard parts, are all an opening of the heart – if you allow it.
Be willing to love and show up for yourself as much as you are willing to love and show up for another.
Two things you can’t control: Others & God.
What we can control: our reaction and how we choose to address our healing.
You don’t have to adopt anyone else’s truth of you, what do you think of you?
Set the anchor for the day with intention, release the anchor at the end of the day with gratitude.
To break through to your abundance, radical self-acceptance in every moment is key!
Knowing that who you are, is who you choose to be at any given moment, consistently.
When we put value outside of ourselves, we will be disappointed. Your value is unique, specific and determined by you!

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.
If my best friend visited the area for a week I would want to show them the side of LA that would open their hearts! We would start the week off by going to Venice Beach and attending a sound bath or meditation at ‘OPEN’, a mindfulness studio for everyone. Throughout the week I would make sure to explore the coast up to PCH and be absolutely sure to hike in the beautiful Topanga Canyon. We would eat at some of my favorite restaurants: Gracias Madre, SAGE and Au Lac LA and get drinks at Wabi On Rose. Towards the end of the week I would be sure to attend a Yoga Class with, ‘Flow For Black Lives’ to get into our bodies and be in loving community supporting people of color. Then, to top it all off, we would dance it all out on the beach with ‘Ecstatic Dance LA’ on Sunday. In my opinion, these are some of the best communities and places to experience an opening of the heart in Los Angeles.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Iris Klein. This amazing woman and her coaching drastically changed my life since 2017. Iris is an acting coach and what I consider to be a heart/life coach. One of the practices she facilities is called Effective Connection. This technique contributes to the well-being of both the transmitter and the receiver. It gives the tools needed to collaborate, communicate effectively, and active your purpose in the present tense. I have learned skills in this practice that have carried me through my personal, artistic and professional career!

Website: arinashleydegroff.com

Instagram: @arinmylungs

Linkedin: Arin Ashley DeGroff

Youtube: Arin DeGroff

Image Credits
Image of me – Nicholas Kalikow – @nicholas_kalikow Images of landscapes – Arin DeGroff – @arinmylungs

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