264: How to Lead with Love and Prosper Like a Spiritual Millionaire with Preston Smiles
Dec 11, 2024
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Preston Smiles is a spiritual teacher, abundance coach, and bestselling author known for his transformative journey from a challenging childhood in Compton. In this conversation, he shares how a heart condition at 25 prompted him to prioritize healing and self-discovery. The discussion delves into turning trauma into wisdom, the role of spiritual practices combined with intentional action, and the importance of resilience. Preston emphasizes nurturing relationships, especially with his wife, as key to unlocking abundance and purpose in life.
Preston Smiles attributes pivotal life decisions and parental guidance as critical influences on his journey from gang culture to spiritual growth.
He emphasizes the importance of assessing one's priorities and choices, especially after life-altering experiences, to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Their conversation highlights the necessity of ongoing emotional awareness and communication in relationships for personal and mutual growth.
Deep dives
Influence of Parental Guidance
The importance of parental guidance in shaping a child's decisions and values is highlighted through a personal anecdote. When faced with the temptation of smoking weed at the age of 11, the speaker's father encouraged him to reflect on the consequences of such choices by comparing his aspirations to role models like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, who abstained from drugs. This conversation planted the seeds of self-reflection and leadership in the speaker, leading to a pivotal decision at age 15 when he chose not to join friends on a night that ended tragically. The father's belief in his son's leadership potential embedded a sense of accountability that resonated through the speaker's formative years.
Transformative Experiences in Adolescence
The speaker recounts a life-altering moment at the age of 15 when he declined an invitation from friends that resulted in their fatal encounter. This experience layered additional trauma on top of existing challenges, including exposure to violence and gang culture during his youth. The profound impact of losing a close friend propelled him into a deeper exploration of his identity and purpose. The narrative emphasizes how pivotal decisions, guided by personal values and the wisdom of elders, can alter the trajectory of one’s life profoundly.
From Struggles to Self-Discovery
After moving to a new environment, the speaker became acutely aware of societal expectations and the limitations of his previous conditioning. An epiphany occurred when he recognized that peers engaged in similar reckless behaviors but with vastly different outcomes based on their backgrounds. This realization spurred a change in mindset, allowing him to see beyond his circumstances and reframe his understanding of success and personal identity. The newfound awareness ignited a journey towards self-discovery and empowerment, marking a significant shift in how he approached life.
Catalyst for Change
A heart condition at age 25 served as a critical wake-up call, prompting the speaker to reevaluate his lifestyle choices. This health scare led him to embrace a plant-based diet and adopt more mindful living practices, which subsequently opened the door to spiritual teachings. Engaging with various spiritual texts and philosophies, including significant insights from Jerry and Esther Hicks, expanded his understanding of consciousness and the law of attraction. The transformation catalyzed a ripple effect, leading him to create influential content that resonated with many seeking similar paths of healing and personal growth.
Lessons in Relationships and Growth
The speaker shares insights into his evolving relationship with his wife, emphasizing the significance of effective communication and emotional awareness in partnerships. Overcoming challenges, including a divorce followed by remarriage, reaffirmed the necessity of healthy conflict resolution and mutual respect. The emphasis on self-care and personal accountability is highlighted, with the idea that both partners must individually process their emotions to foster a nurturing environment. Ultimately, the speaker underscores that every relationship requires continuous growth, patience, and dedicated effort to thrive.
In this episode, Light Watkins sits down with Preston Smiles, a spiritual teacher, abundance coach, and bestselling author of Love Louder and Spiritual Millionaire. Preston shares his incredible story of transformation, starting with a challenging childhood in Compton, California. By age seven, he was placed in special education, and by age 11, he joined a gang. But a pivotal decision at 15 set him on a completely different path—one that would eventually lead to profound spiritual and personal growth.
Preston opens up about how a heart condition at age 25 forced him to take a hard look at his lifestyle and priorities. That moment became the turning point that sparked a journey of healing, self-discovery, and service. He went from surviving trauma to thriving as one of the first creators of viral spiritual content on YouTube, building a global movement to help others heal and live abundantly.
Light and Preston dive into practical lessons on facing life’s deepest wounds and turning them into sources of wisdom. They discuss how spiritual practices combined with intentional action can lead to true success. Along the way, Preston shares relatable stories of resilience, the influence of his family, and how a relationship with his wife helped him unlock new levels of abundance and purpose.
Whether you’re seeking personal growth, financial clarity, or inspiration to follow your path, this conversation is packed with insights and heart. Tune in to hear how Preston overcame the odds and learn how his tools and mindset can empower you to do the same.