Meet Michael Lemus, M.S. | Founder & CEO/Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Lemus, M.S. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success is my commitment to introspection. As I continue to progress in life, both personally and professionally I am constantly in a deep state of reflection. This has definitely not been a smooth road especially in regards to my mental health, but it has been one that has gotten better over time. I have navigated living with anxiety the majority of my adult life. As the first person in my entire family on both sides to go to college, I felt immense pressure to not only do well, but to live out a “perfectly put-together life”. I felt like there was no room for mistakes because I was “the first”. What this led to was spending the majority of my 20’s in perpetual high functioning anxiety. I “excelled” in many areas of my life. I graduated with my masters degree at 23, was in a job that people literally retire from at 25, and had applied and been admitted to a doctoral program at 27. Here’s the wild thing about all that though, beneath the surface I was not mentally well. As I presented at national conferences, won awards, and continued to climb up the career ladder, I struggled with anxiety and depression without anyone hardly knowing. I got good at hiding it and because I was so fed by external validation then, I didn’t want to come off as “weak” or “unwell”. It actually took panic attacks and literally breaking down in tears with a coffee cup in my hand for me to realize I needed help. That’s when I sought out therapy and when my spiritual awakening began. That’s also when I became entirely committed to my introspection because I knew that would end up becoming my saving grace. I ended up changing careers, coming out as bisexual, deciding not to start the doctoral program, and so much more. My perceived reality had been shaken up and broken but in a way, that needed to happen in order for me to understand what I really wanted from life. Over the past few years, I have dedicated myself to tending to my mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. My definition of success has changed and that now consists of feeling emotionally fulfilled. My priority is my peace and while fancy titles, degrees, and awards have been a huge part of my life, they do not completely define me.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the Founder & CEO of Reclaiming Your Happiness with Lemus LLC, an inclusive platform and business dedicated to helping people find their voice, reclaim their happiness, and align themselves with their life goals. The platform seeks to uplift and empower individuals to be their best selves. It also seeks to build community among its audience to build a better tomorrow. I am also the Founder of Scholars of Color, which is a platform that centers and celebrates the voices of people of color. It’s also a community that allows people to network with Scholars of Color from a variety of different industries and backgrounds.

I created Reclaiming Your Happiness with Lemus LLC in August of 2018 after reaching a point in my life where I had no other choice than to reclaim my own happiness. It is through this platform and business that I offer Life Coaching, Strategic Brand Consulting, Speaking, Talks, Masterclasses, and Dynamic Workshops. I also sell handmade Mama’s Protection Products, which are handmade spiritual products created by my mother. Reclaiming Your Happiness with Lemus LLC revolves around five pillars, which together make up ARISE: Advocacy, Reclaiming Your Power, Inclusion, Spirituality, and, Empowerment.

What sets me and my business apart from others is that I come at it from a spiritual lens. I seek to connect with myself and others through the soul and that includes empathy. I also center vulnerability and authenticity. I seek to celebrate people’s wholeness, including the various identities they hold. I am naturally an inclusive person and that feeds into everything I do. I want people to know that I care and that together, we can impact real change.

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.
Ok so if I have a best friend visiting for the week, I will want them to come along with me to a couple of fun spots. First off, I’m a big fan of coffee shops, so we’d start every morning by visiting and supporting some local coffee shops. We’d sip on some yummy mochas and spicy chais and of course eat some warm buttered croissants. While we are on the topic of food, I would also take them to some local eateries like Andre’s Italian Restaurant, Dino’s Chicken, King Taco, and Conchitas, which has some of the most amazing pupusas in Los Angeles. I’m Salvadoran so you know we got to have some pupusas while they are here. With all this food we’d be eating, I would also like for us to go on a few hikes, with at least one of them being by the beach. I’m a Scorpio and being by water is something that makes me happy. Finally, we would need to check out some spiritual shops. We could buy some crystals, get a tarot card reading or two, and buy some incense.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my ancestors, my angels, God, and the Universe. As a spiritual person who strongly believes in alignment and divine timing, I would like to acknowledge that I would not be where I am now without the guidance of my spiritual team, which also includes my great grandmother. I grew up with a strong belief in “other worldly” things because of her. She always placed great faith in the spiritual world. From the rituals she took part in, to the many “bendiciones (prayers)” she sent my way anytime I left her home, I learned from a young age that people could have faith in something they may not always be able to see. It’s because of her that I learned about magic and why I have such a strong belief in the universal blessings available to me.

Website: https://www.reclaimingyourhappinesswithlemus.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arisewithlemus/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arisewithlemus

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Arisewithlemus

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reclaimingyourhappinesswithlemus

Other: Follow my TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@arisewithlemus Scholars of Color Platform: https://www.reclaimingyourhappinesswithlemus.com/scholarsofcolor My LinkedIn Platform for First Generation Content Creators: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14122245