Meet Sarah Parlow | Podcaster, Life Coach, Writer and Actress

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

Hi Sarah, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
I am currently telling everyone I know about my new favorite book, “Outwitting the Devil.” Originally written by Napoleon Hill in 1938, the story involves a fictional conversation between the mortal Mr. Earth-Bound and the Devil. When Mr. Earth-Bound presses the Devil to reveal how he exerts his influence on mankind, his answer is simple but ingenious: he works through a person’s mind. When not used consciously, the mind will foolishly believe whatever it is told, follow the crowd and not think for itself (what the novel calls “drifting”). The ‘Devil’ can then easily take control of the individual through fear or by instilling negative, self-destructive habits in the victim’s mind.

Hill’s “Devil’ claims that a staggering 98% of the world is “drifting” rather than consciously co-creating his or her own destiny. The remaining 2% are ‘non-drifters’ and they achieve the life that they want through the power of independent thought and definiteness of purpose. And yet this philosophy of success is not taught in schools or supported in society. The book sternly criticizes schools and churches on this point, for discouraging independent thought in favor of a more “collective” mindset. This was a radical observation to make in 1938. In fact, out of concern for any social backlash over this point, Napoleon Hill’s family waited to publish “Outwitting the Devil” until 2011, decades after his death.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being a creative is a multi-media experience for me. Podcasting allows me the platform to add value to other peoples’ lives. Acting gives me the chance to emote and connect with others. Writing gives me the chance to tell brave new stories. And life coaching gives me the chance to help others close their ‘happiness gap’–that frustrating gap between where a person currently is and where they want to be in life. Central to all of these modalities is one underlying philosophy I continue to drive deep into the collective consciousness: “We are capable of so much more than the world leads us to believe.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So many great things to do in LA! My absolute favorite activity is cycling the Marvin Braude Bike Trail along the coast. This 22 mile paved trail stretches all the way from the Palisades down to Manhattan Beach. Its a great way to get that quintessential sun-soaked California experience AND the people watching is incredible, especially near Venice. Speaking of Venice, its great to stop for lunch at Cafe Gratitude or grab a juice or coffee at Moon Juice.

A trip to the West side is never complete without a hike at Temescal Canyon. While the initial ascent is a sharp, there are incredible panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean at the top. Totally worth the climb! From Temescal, it’s a short drive to my most beloved spot in LA: the SRF Lake Shrine. The Self-Realization Fellowship was founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda, a yogi from India who came to the West. The grounds of Lake Shrine are always landscaped into perfection and the space feels so cloistered and peaceful. There’s a windmill chapel meant for silent meditation there, right behind to a fairytale lake with swans that float on it. Lake Shrine is built upon a natural vortex, a healing spot where the energy of the earth converges, so the vibes are especially good there.

Lastly, you cannot say you’ve been to LA without a visit to Hollywood. Aside from the tourist traps like Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of fame, I love to just drive down Sunset Boulevard. The shops, restaurants, and the billboards are always iconic there. I recommend Everleigh for an quick evening drink, especially if you want to catch some comedy later at a spot like The Comedy Store or The Laugh Factory. And definitely take the time to visit the Griffith Observatory at night. The views of the Hollywood sign and LA at dusk are a memorable (and Instagram-worthy!) way to end your time in the city.

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?
I want to give a shoutout to author and recent presidential candidate, Marianne Williamson, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting more than once.

I first discovered Marianne in 1993 through her best-selling book “A Return to Love.” The book was based on principles from “A Course in Miracles,” a spiritual curriculum for shifting thoughts from fear to love. This framework gave me what I vitally needed at that time in my life: courage. To me, courage is the critical fulcrum point where fear transforms into possibility. And on the other side of fear is everything we ever wanted. I believe that this quote from “A Return to Love” sums it up best:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

Choose to be powerful beyond measure!

Website: https://linktr.ee/consciousquestpodcast

Instagram: @thesarahparlow

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-parlow-4b88569

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahp1022

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.parlow.7?mibextid=ibOpuV

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsvWC1244jI5Q_JOnDsOGKFcofko9Ndoy

Image Credits
Andrew Chase Langgeng Yuwono