123: How to live a life of substance – with Maaria Mozaffar

Q: how do you live a life of substance in an artificial world? For so long, we’ve been a society that ranks celebrities over charities and pretty over profound, especially in women.   This has led us to overworking, a constant dread of “not enough-ness,” and a never-ending yearning to consume. It’s toxic, vapid, and I dare say, it’s starting to break us wide open.

My special guest today is civil rights attorney Maaria Mozaffar and she’s simplifying how to live a life of substance. One that isn’t built on Instagram filters and amassing a storage unit full of useless stuff or a mountain of debt… but instead, a life worth living. One where you feel empowered as a vital part of your local community and you’re creating change (not only for yourself but for others), built on a foundation of deep purpose. 

Yes, I want this too. Here’s how.

My special guest today is Maaria Mozaffar and she’s simplifying how to live a life of substance.

We tackle all aspects of it, including:

• Why it feels like the human race is so polarized and disconnected from one another, now more than ever before and what she believes is a better way
• Her take on George Floyd’s murder and the US government’s response to it. People are angry and hurting right now, Maaria shares her ideas on how we can collectively become part of the solution and rebuild together
• Why she started ‘The SkinLess Project,’ a hub that provides women with role models of empowerment globally and how the core tenets of this project can help us all live a life of substance and be “more than pretty”
• How it’s critically important to break through your echo chamber and start to talk to people who are nothing like yourself to create real change
• …and finally, she shares the difference between being “nice” and being “polite” – which is better for women, especially now.

I’m inspired by Maaria’s work and I know you will be too. In fact, her new digital series called ‘A Way Forward’ is definitely one to bookmark as she has one-on-one, impactful conversations with people of all walks of life, helping us navigate difficult conversations. It’s here where she leads us through this uncomfortable territory where we may feel safe but stuck. We can disagree without descending into disrespect when our focus is the humanity we share. She helps us find A Way Forward.

I hope this conversation is the gateway for you on this journey.

Listen to the past conversations with powerful women that led me to Maaria:

Carrie Contey – What is conscious parenting all about?

Bernadette Noll – How to be a ‘slow family living’ household

Elizabeth McGuire – How to be a storyteller for your business

Nancy Davis Kho – How to cultivate gratitude + happiness

Ada Calhoun – How to handle a midlife crisis

Alicia Haywood – How to transform your life + start over again

Q: Are you trying to figure out how to live a life of substance? If yes, this one is for you.

It’s time to #DoTheThing!

<What’s helping today with COVID-19>

• Wonderland Worldwide Festival – produced countless workshops last weekend, celebrating summer solstice at Stonehenge – support them through GoFundMe
• 26 movies, documentaries, & shows about race to stream right now – Refinery 29
• Americans: register to VOTE – click here
• Mary is offering 50-minute 1-1 brainstorming sessions for those looking for ideas on how to pivot their businesses

Links, books and apps mentioned:

Book: The Power of Self. A Practical Guide to knowing the Self (The Path to Self-Mastery Book 1) – Kim Michaels

Video series: A Way Forward – Maaria Mozaffar

Film: 13th – documentary to better understand racism in America – Ava DuVernay

Podcast: How to transform your life + start over again, featuring Alicia Haywood  – The Simplifiers Podcast

Podcast: How to squash your stinkin’ thinkin’ – The Simplifiers Podcast

About Maaria Mozaffar

Maaria Mozaffar – She is a civil rights lawyer, mediator, legislative drafter, the author of More Than Pretty, mother, wife and a triathlete. 

She is also the host of a new digital series called ‘A Way Forward,’ leading people through difficult conversations during difficult times… where we may feel safe but stuck.