Sharon Cleere shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Sharon, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’ve always been a bit of a wanderer, but over time, I’ve learned to bring more intention into the process. It’s not a straight path; it’s more like tracking subtle clues in the landscape. I pay attention to what lights me up, what soothes my nervous system, and what opens my heart, and I follow those threads. It’s less about pursuing a fixed destination and more about staying receptive, curious, and attuned to what feels meaningful in each moment. Over time, that presence creates a path forward one step at a time. It reminds me of a line from The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty: ‘I don’t know where we’re going, but I know exactly how to get there.’
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Sharon Cleere. I am a meditation instructor, artist, writer, and author of the children’s yoga book Namaste, Rainbow! I help busy people who feel burned out by high-pressure personal development find a calmer, more meaningful way forward.
My work isn’t about perfection or productivity; it’s about presence, curiosity, and honoring your natural evolution. Everything I create is intended to be a gentle permission slip to slow down, look closer, and reconnect with who you are beneath the noise.
You can connect with me through live or virtual meditation and yoga programs for individuals or corporations, or by collecting artwork inspired by these soft, liminal spaces.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that perfectionism and people-pleasing were just parts of my personality. I thought I was simply an agreeable, kind person and in many ways, I was and still am. But I now see that so much of that identity was shaped by a deep desire to be safe, accepted, and approved of.
It often meant prioritizing others’ needs over my own, and it made it harder to hear my own inner voice.
Over time, I’ve learned that true kindness isn’t about self-sacrifice. It’s about being honest, present, and connected to myself first, so I can show up fully for others, too.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
At the height of what looked like success, I was the most burnt out, disconnected, and depressed I had ever been. I was using productivity to mask my pain, staying busy to avoid the deeper healing I knew I needed but wasn’t ready to face.
But avoidance has an expiration date. Like an overstuffed closet, eventually it bursts, and all the suppressed emotions come tumbling out. It’s messy. It’s inconvenient. But it’s also a moment of truth.
Suffering taught me how to hold space for the entirety of my experience, the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. I do my best to let it all in. Because being fully alive means making room for every part of it. While I used to chase only the light, now I understand there is no light without the shadow. I’m not here to bypass the hard parts.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The modern wellness and self-improvement industry often promises peace but quietly reinforces the same performance-based ideals it claims to heal. Healing has become another item on the to-do list, and stillness is sold as a strategy to become more productive, not more whole.
I believe healing shouldn’t, and can’t, be a hustle. It’s not something to force, brand, or perfect. It’s a slow, nonlinear process of coming home to yourself, not to become “better,” but to remember who you already are beneath the noise.
If you’re exhausted by self-optimization, you’re not alone. Right now, the burden falls on individuals to carve out rest, regulate their nervous systems, and heal within systems that actively undermine their well-being. Wellness shouldn’t have to be a personal rebellion; it should be part of our cultural foundation.
True wellness can’t exist in isolation. It must be woven into the fabric of our collective lives, our workplaces, communities, and policies, so that people aren’t forced to fight for well-being while trying to survive within the very structures that make us unwell.
My vision for the wellness industry is not one of hyper-individualism, but of collective care. A vision rooted in our relationship to nature, to each other, and something greater than ourselves. Call me a dreamer, but I believe this is where true peace begins, not an individual’s striving for perfection, but an individual accepting themselves in the face of universal connection and compassion.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
Lately, I’ve been exploring my creativity and self-expression in a playful yet intentional way. I never used to think of myself as a creative person, but the more I reflect, the more I see how creativity has quietly been a throughline in my life all along. I have been painting, writing, and even doing floral design.
I’ve come to realize that the most meaningful connections don’t always come through instruction. They come through honesty, presence, and shared humanity. These days, I’m less interested in being seen as the expert and more drawn to sharing like a friend: human to human, soul to soul in a playful and creative way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://meditationcorporation.com
- Instagram: cleeremind_sharon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgEEOmYy5W6wUBH4w5Tb5Yw
Image Credits
John Fry Images
Stephanie Parsley
