Meet Ashlee McRae | Self-Love Coach & Manifestation Guide

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

Hi Ashlee, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
Oooo I actually have so many of these! Here’s one of my favorites though:

That you have to hustle to be successful.

I believe the hustle culture has really gone too far and the collective is craving rest, relaxation, and a sense of safety in just “being.” There is a quote, I don’t know exactly where it came from but it’s “We are human “beings” not human “doings” and I just love that so much! I believe that we are all here on Earth to experience this life through moments of being, of purely existing in the moment, however, the opportunity to just exist has been robbed from us as we have been conditioned here in the United States to work. Work to live. Work to be successful. Work to prove something to others. Work to move up in society or work just to purely get by. Instead of creating wealth and abundance, it has created a culture of lack, depression, comparison, and of constant go go go, never allowing ourselves to purely BE.

When I was in college I studied abroad in Italy and really got a taste of la dolce vita (the sweet life!). There it was so natural to live in the moment, to spend hours having dinner, and to take vacation far more than 10 days a year. I traveled to South East Asia to continue to explore this concept of savoring the moment, and there I discovered meditation and mindfulness. Without these life experiences I may have never been inspired to live in this way, but I can tell you that since making this shift, I have experienced more personal success than I ever did in the hustle.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Self-Love & Other Manifestations is a Coaching Business I created to help those new to the world of spirituality and manifestation, start with Self-Love to heal past trauma, get clear on what they really desire, accept who they are at their core, and begin actually living the life of their dreams. I believe that truly loving, accepting, and honoring one’s self, is the best and fastest way to the relationships, the abundance, and the freedom that you truly desire and that’s what I share with my 1:1 and group coaching clients.

I spent a year learning directly from one of the world’s leading Mystical Advisors, an African Zulu Shaman who works with some of the most elite entrepreneurs on the planet. The way this opportunity came about was pure manifestation and co-creation with the Universe. It’s an experience I still sometimes have to pinch myself to know that it was real. Learning from Makhosi, The Royal Shaman’s advanced energetics methodology took my spiritual practice to a whole new level and I’m so excited to take what I learned and make it accessible to those who are just starting out on their own journey.

My business is funny because sometimes it flows so easily and effortlessly I just have clients, and sometimes I feel like I am bumping up against a brick wall. It’s been decades in the making because, with every “job” that I have had in over the last 20 years, I’ve known that I would rather be free to express myself authentically and have the flexibility to live my life on my own schedule. I tried working for someone else part-time and running my business part-time, but it wasn’t until I fully bet on myself and took it full time that it really began to flourish. I had to tap into the deep inner knowing that I would be successful no matter what, that every challenge along the way was for me to learn from, and that I could trust the Universe in the process. I released the idea that hustle and grind create success, and I began to operate out of flow rather than force. It really is a complete 180 from the way society tells us how to create a business, and I am so glad I honored my own process.
I also invested a lot in myself, a lot. A coaching certification came first, then I invested in a business coach and a copywriting coach. Not to mention all the money invested in money mindset and manifestation work. I am happy with every single penny I’ve invested in myself because not only did I learn so much, but I was able to invest in someone else’s dream in the process! If you consider the universal law of oneness and that everything we do has a ripple effect and impacts the collective, I knew it would all come back around for me as well.
So for anyone who is banging their head against a wall trying to get through a certain step in their business, I promise that reaching out for help and even making an investment in yourself can go a long way! It’s amazing because many of the mindset challenges that come with being an entrepreneur are exactly what I offer support and guidance through in my Self-Love programs. So when I felt like I wasn’t “doing enough” or when I started doubting my ability to change lives, I already had the tools in my toolbox to work through my own “limiting beliefs.” For example, anytime I start doubting myself I move through an exercise of meditation, self-questioning, and curiosity, and then really get to the root of my doubt. It was usually a case of fear of the unknown, and that I can quickly transmute into excitement for what’s to come.
I learned that the best and only way to grow my brand is through Authenticity. When you are in a certain niche and especially in the social media era, you really see your competition and a lot of them. I went through a period where I was doing what everyone else did in order to get recognized, but for some reason, it wasn’t quite sticking for me. It was when I finally started just being ME that I developed an audience that was connected with me and wanted to actually pay for my services! It was a huge ah-ha moment that I am still so grateful for!
I also learned not to spread myself too thin, and to be patient with the process. I released the pressure on myself for having to make 6 figures right away and to enjoy the journey as I make my way there.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely start with my neighborhood, Ocean Beach! I’m blessed to have an apartment overlooking Sunset Cliffs and a boyfriend who loves to cook, so we always make sure our guests have sunset drinks on the balcony, followed by a fabulous home-cooked meal. Another night we would head down to Southbeach for fish tacos, a walk down Newport Avenue to Kilowatt Brewery for a trippy fun experience, and hopefully THC for a fun night of music

Balboa Park is a go-to for architecture, history, and stunning botanicals. A picnic here in the sunshine is always a must, and a stop by the MOPA to check out their latest exhibits. While in the Banker’s Hill area we’d have to take some photos on the Spruce Street Suspension bridge and then swing over to The Balboa for the best burger in town (sorry Hodad’s!).

As far as beaches go, Swami’s is my absolute favorite, so we’d have to take a trip to North County, and maybe try out surfing if we’re feeling brave. While in Encinitas I always take a walk through the Meditation Gardens and spend some time in awe of the beauty of California.

I’m a huge supporter and contributor to the House & Techno scene here in San Diego, so I’m sure we’d head to a show at Spin, Revel Revel, or 1835 to dance the night away.

I moved to San Diego about 8 years ago, and I still find things about this city that surprise and excite me. At this point, I’d say I’m a local, right!?

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?
Wow, this was really tough because I have such an incredible support system of family, friends, but there is a woman named Kathrin Zenkina who started a podcast called Manifestation Babe that completely changed my life. Her workshops on Money Mindset, Goal Setting, and the Universal Laws blew me away and she’s become a huge thought leader in the personal development space. It was through her I really honed in my manifestation techniques and have been able to manifest my business, my loving partner, my home and so much more.

Website: www.selflovewithashlee.com

Instagram: ashlee_with_love

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

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