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

Hi Katy, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I find that I need to reframe the idea of balance and use the word “harmony” instead. Balance is a word that can bring up my perfectionists qualities and that made balance elude me. Once I understood that harmony was more supportive of me, I started to find it. Harmony allows room for flow and change. At the earlier stages of my business, I was single and not a mother. I could plow full steam ahead with whatever I wanted project was calling to me. Once I became a mother, got married, divorced, dealt with death in the family, and all things life, I recognized that some days, or weeks, I needed to spend more energy in one place than another. Each day could be different in terms of what/who needed my attention. In working with the idea of harmony, it gave me the freedom and flexibility to be aware of what would fuel my life and business the most at any given time. When I was working with the idea of balance, I became more dogmatic and less flexible. It was a huge shift for me that has carried me through many years of business and life. I find that I almost always have the time and energy I need for what is most important to me.

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets me apart from others, and what makes me feel proud, is that the body of work that I have developed over the last 15 years is different than anything else that has been available. It’s a body of work that I call, “Energy Architecture” where I am able to help others map out where the patterns of stuck energy are within their mind/body/energy body. Because I am sensitive in terms of my ability to see energy, I help people get to the root of their issues quickly and help them move forward. The Energy Architecture work is based on my work with thousands of people so it is practical, grounded, and based in patterns I have seen time and time again. This sets me apart from others because my work isn’t what I have read and studied from others. It’s something that has developed through me. I have been able to help countless people free themselves from challenging patterns they have carried around for years in a very short period of time. A side note, my work was called, “Your 8th Chakra Life” when I taught this for The Shift Network.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course, we would have to go to the beaches. We would start at La Jolla shores, hang out by the water, and then see the seals. We would most likely go kayaking to see the kelp forests and the caves. We would have to hike in Torrey Pines before the day was through. We would spend days in Encinitas checking out Soulscapes, which is not only one of my favorite stores, but it carries my books, “Live with the Lights On ….. 90 Day’s to Multi-Dimensional Living”. Then we would head over the Meditation Gardens and the SRF giftshop. Definitely we would head to The Soul of Yoga for a Kundalini Yoga class. We would visit Little Italy and grab some vegan Italian food for dinner at Civico 1845 and then head over to the Salt n Straw for dessert. That would be after spending the day of ferry rides to and from Coronado Island. Without question, we would start one morning at Cosmic Flow for a Kundalini Yoga class and then make our way over to Old Town where we would spend the day and grab lunch at the Old Town Mexican Cafe. There are so many fun things to do and see in San Diego. I guess these are the things that hit the top of my list. I know there is so much more.

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?
A whole lot of people deserve the dedication, it’s almost hard to narrow it down. I would say though that my mother, Martha Welsh, and my husband/business partner, Zeb Severson are my biggest supporters. Without question, if I didn’t have their love, support, brains, and gifts, I can’t imagine that I would be where I am today. My mother has always been my number 1 fan. Supporting me through years of ups and downs. She truly believes in me and my work. My husband is always the first person to draw out the best in me and, not only is he a powerful leadership coach, he is the backbone of my business.

Website: www.LivewiththeLightsOn.com
Instagram: @katybrayofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyBray808
Youtube: https://bit.ly/2ZFtGc8