Meet Sierra Sophia Mercier | Author, Impact Artist & Ambassador of Love

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sierra Sophia Mercier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sierra Sophia, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
The most difficult decision I ever had to make was more of a question I had to ask myself, “Do I want to be a mom, or not?” Being a father was a non-negotiable for my husband and seven years into our marriage I revealed that I didn’t know if I wanted kids or not. For years, every time he brought the subject up, I would get so defensive and tell him I didn’t even want to talk about it until I felt ready. I could feel my life erect a brick wall between us each time he mentioned starting a family. This reaction lead me to seek support and embark on doing some deep inner work around my aversion to starting a family. Bit by bit I broke that wall down and found myself willing to take the leap into parenthood. Just a couple weeks after giving birth, I had a tender moment with myself where I patted myself on the shoulder and said, “Good job!” I could feel my higher-self and my ancestors so proud of me for taking the leap, and I could feel my life saying, “I can’t even imagine NOT ever experiencing this great adventure!” Our daughter is two and a half now, and she truly is the greatest gift to all of us!

I was so determined to excel in my career to a certain level before I wanted to even entertain the idea of having kids. My mom was a career woman so I always envisioned myself being the same. My husband and I were married for nine years before we had our first child, partly because I was waiting for my professional life to look different. But not having “made it” first has enabled me to be available and present for our daughter, which has turned out to be the greatest blessing and benefit I never knew I wanted.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My creative world really began on the ice, or a frozen canvas you could say. From a young age I fell in love with figure skating. I began competing at age seven and by age 12 I decided to let go of all other sports and focus solely on skating. By age 16, I left home and moved to a training center to train full time with the best skaters in the world following my dreams of making it to the Olympics someday. I worked my way up to being top ten in the West Coast before my Olympic dreams were dashed by an unforgiving ankle injury when I was 20. I officially retired my competitive career at age 22 and found myself quite lost because the identity I had carved for myself was no longer viable. This is when Buddhism mystically came into my life.

Being used to having a disciplined practice on the ice, I jumped into my Buddhist practice and found myself feeling less like, “I don’t know what to do with my life” and more like, “I have so many options now!” This is when I began training Muay Thai, apprenticing as a sushi chef, modeling and taking acting classes. It was there in my late night acting class that I felt the void in my heart, left behind from skating, start to fill up again. I knew that this was my next calling.

This new found passion lead me to move to Los Angeles in late 2011, and this is where my life really blossomed in unforeseen ways. The day I arrived, my living situation fell through so I had to find a place to live immediately. The second day I was in LA I answered a Craigslist ad for a roommate, and long story short, that roommate and I fell in love, got engaged, and then won our wedding in a nationwide contest called, The Knot Dream Wedding. The two of us went on to co-produce an altruistic travel series on YouTube called, Love Set Run with the aim of inspiring people to volunteer and give back on their travels. I pursued my acting dreams in LA for ten years, booking national commercials for Toyota and Honda, performing live with LA’s longest running comedy show, “TMI Hollywood” and booking the lead in countless short films. Studying acting at The Imagined Life not only made me a better actor, but it made me a better human being.

In 2020 while the world was partially paused, I kept feeling this calling to turn our magical love story into a book. It came streaming in as a workbook, so I began the process of writing a guided workbook titled, “How To Attract Your Cosmic Love Partner.” By late 2023 it was officially published and is now available on Amazon, along with a self-narrated audiobook. This book and my experience with love and starting a family has lead me to creating a new YouTube channel called, “The Planet Love Times” dedicated to helping people tap into and become their most loving selves to attract the most loving partner, all while helping to raise the frequency of the planet to a higher more loving place. I am in the middle of my second book about conscious conception and the spiritual side to birth. I believe that conscious conception has the power to change the consciousness of future generations and I look forward to sharing more about this concept in the future.

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge my floral design background as well. My mom is a florist so I grew up in her flower shop. I have my own word of mouth business, “Buddha Blooms” where I specialize in small scale events, and custom orchid and succulent gardens, I have also had the fortune of freelancing with some of the best florists from all over the country. Floral design is something I have a deep love for and a great appreciation for inheriting this skill from my mom — thanks mom!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My first go to is always the beach! Start in Venice and rent a bike – check out the infamous Muscle Beach Gold’s Gym at the beach and head south on the bike path down to Manhattan Beach – enjoy a smoothie or a fun drink on the boardwalk before heading back. It’s a great workout and nothing beats riding along the beautiful sandy shoreline of sunny southern California! Finish your Venice tour with a walk down Abbott Kinney. Stop in “One Golden Thread” if you want to look and feel the part. And you can’t go wrong with any place to eat on that street.

Day two hit up one of the famed museums like The Getty or LACMA. If you choose the Getty and you have time, you could drive east on Sunset Blvd. past all the gorgeous houses and end up in West Hollywood where I love to stop and eat at Urth Caffe on Melrose. If you choose LACMA, you’ll be in Miracle Mile and can swing over to The Grove for excellent shopping, food and people watching.

Day three start with a walk up to the Griffith Observatory for some amazing views of the city. Walk down Hollywood Blvd. to see and feel all the Hollywood vibes. Catch a comedy show at any number of theatres, or a see a movie at the Mans Chinese Theatre. Dinner at Katsuya to complete the Hollywood experience.

Day four check out the hipsters in Los Feliz and have leisurely brunch at The Alcove.

Day five do the Beverly Hills thing and ooh and ahh at all the designer stores, exotic cars, and flashy people.

Day six take a drive up to Malibu, get a superfood smoothie at Sun Life Organics and walk around the Country Mart. If you’re feeling like a little splurgy meal, I recommend Taverna Tony Greek restaurant or save yourself for dinner at Geoffrey’s overlooking the ocean. So romantic!

Day seven decompress by spending the day in Topanga. Go for a hike in the morning at Viewridge Trailhead followed by the Sunday brunch buffet at Inn of the Seventh Ray.

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 would like to dedicate this shoutout to all the members of the Soka Gakkai International, a worldwide lay Buddhist community dedicated to spreading the life affirming philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism which upholds the sanctity of life and promotes world peace through transforming the hearts of individuals. This community is truly a microcosm of world peace, the most ethnically diverse and colorful collection of people all working towards realizing a happier more peaceful world. The amount of support, encouragement, and wisdom I have received from being a part of this group is unparalleled! “Grateful” barely scrapes the surface of how I feel.

Website: https://www.sierramercier.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplanetlovetimes

Other: “How To Attract Your Cosmic Love Partner” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/ef30rNH
Audiobook Version: https://a.co/d/ejP52nG
Love Set Run Travel Series: www.youtube.com/lovesetrun
Wise Whale Skating Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLFWUEZcF10
Butterfly Skating Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-TQhsPiCs0
Alicia Keys “Good Job” Skating Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugZ3GtYhecg&list=RDugZ3GtYhecg&start_radio=1

Image Credits
Andre Mercier
Amanda René Photography
Roey Yohai