Meet Larry Smith | Life and Spiritual Coach

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

Hi Larry, how did you come up with the idea for your business?

This is an interesting story. I have always been the person everyone comes to for advice. I don’t really know why, but I believe that it is because I tend to be non-judgmental, direct, but logical. One day I was speaking to a group of people, and one of them suggested that I should give Life Coaching a try. However, I immediately ignored the suggestion, because my own insecurities told me that I was not good enough to be a life coach. Over the next few months, I heard something about Life Coaching all the time. I took this as a form of divine messaging, so I enrolled in 2 courses, a life coaching course and a spiritual coaching course. I found the materials to be very interesting, and in line with much of what I already believed.

Being the overachiever/perfectionist I am, I then begin reading books by several well know coaches, Byron Katie, Iyanla Vanzant, Les Brown, Eckhart Tolle, etc. Reading their personal stories and some of their works, I decided to give it a go, I realized that I did not have to be perfect to be of service to someone else, but I did not have a name for the company, or even a plan at that point.

One day I was on the Highway, stuck in our wonderful traffic listening to a gospel music playlist on Spotify, and I heard a song by gospel musician CeCe Winans called “Live For You,” and for some reason, it made me cry. This is unusual for me, so once again, I knew it was divine messaging. I decided to name my company Live4U Coaching. It means Living for a Higher Power/Purpose, Living For Others, and Living For Yourself. This is ultimately the essence of what living a PRESENT life is all about.

So, I give credit to my Higher Power, and my awareness of that for the inspiration to create the business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

The focus of Live4U Coaching is to give tools for Present Living. As a coach, I work with trauma. My goal for every client is to help them overcome permenantly,  any trauma that they feel is inhibiting their present lives. For some, there are more than one, but I am committed to them to deal with each and every one of them. One by one.

I think what sets Live4U Coaching apart is that the coaching is personalized. None of my clients will have the same experience. The tools are modified and customized to the individual. While people may share similar traumas, their experience of these traumas is always unique to them. It’s not one size fits all in healing. Most coaches treat healing this way, but I feel in order for healing to be sustained it has to be customized.

I am most proud of the programs that I have created and the book “The Freedom RX: Medicine For Reclaiming You PRESENT Life After Trauma.” These things were truly a labor of love, created with the intent to help at least one person find their freedom. I devoted so much time to creating something that is accessible but powerful.

Creating this business was challenging. My first obstacle was overcoming my own insecurities. I did not feel like I was good enough to be a Life and Spirit Coach. I am still a work in progress myself, but I learned from my clients, this is what makes me a good coach. I am not a guru, I am like a brother, father, or friend sharing as I learn. My second obstacle is learning about how to create a business. I come from a lower income upbringing. There were not any business owners in my family. No one studied marketing, entrepreneurship, etc. I am the first to venture into this world. However, knowing this, I am determined to succeed. I want to pass down this legacy, so that the next generation doesn’t doubt that anything is possible. I have no choice but to win.

My biggest lesson is to enjoy and trust the process. It is not always easy but it has purpose and the amount of work I put into it by Universal law I will see a return on my investment. So, I love the work because I trust spirit is leading me to my victory.

Live4U Coaching is about Living For Your Higher Power/Purpose, Living For Others, and Living For Yourself. No matter what you are doing, do it for those reasons, in that order, and it will be blessed for success. I believe, or at least I strive to be, the embodiment of this principal. It’s in all that I do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

If anyone knows me, the best spot in the city is: My House. The same selfless energy and love I put into my work and business, I put into creating an experience for those I love. I am a really great cook. I am from Louisiana and Atlanta is my second home, so in my kitchen you will enjoy creole cuisine and traditional African American soul food. If you know anything about Creole culture, we love people and we love to party! And I am a typical Creole Boy. Good food has always come with my advice. Anyone who knows me, will overwhelmingly agree to this. It is all about feeding and nourishing the soul.

I have several spots in the city, but I am simple. I love Piedmont Park, the nightlife, Atlantic Station, the host of restaurants like the Beautiful on Cascade, Old Lady Gang and Frost’s Bistro in the Castleberry Hill Area, Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen and Bar in College Park, there are so many great restaurants in Atlanta and the surrounding areas.

Atlanta is a city with so much. Whether you want to party, see nature, or do something culturally motivated like going to the High Museum of Art or the True Colors Theater, there is so much to do.

Then we would end our itinerary Sunday at church of course, my home church which is Unity North Atlanta in Marietta, or one of my favorite churches in the city like the Vision Church in Grant Park or Hillside International Truth Center.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My first shoutout would be the strong women I have had on my journey. First, would be my mother Ruby Briscoe, who passed in 2019, she always told me that there are no limits to my ability and to her love, and knowing that I feel empowered to try, and give my best, but most importantly try. With that type of encouragement and powerful love, the possibilities are endless. I work to make my momma proud even to this day.

I would also like to shout out my best female friend Barbara Sanford, I refer to her as my Sista Momma. I made this title for her because of our relationship and age difference. She is nearly 40 years my senior, but we talk like brother and sister, and her motherly wisdom and presence resonates within my soul. I have always felt connected to older generations for their honesty, grace, and wisdom. She embodies that and so much more. She’s my Sister and my Momma.

My spirituality also guides me in everything that I am and all that I do. I have studied the world religions academically and have practiced many faiths and I have noticed the desire to be the same for all of them, to connect to something higher than ourselves. I feel that this is super important to me. I could not exist without my faith. It guides me. It loves me. It understands me. I trust it. I view everyone and everything through a spiritual lens, and it’s loving, accepting, etc.  I do not know how to exist apart from it. IT truly motivates me.

One of my favorite books, that I use yearly to remind me to presently live is the “Power if Now” by Eckhart Tolle. I read this book literally twice a year, as a reminder of what is important: NOW. It reminds me to remember to live in the moment and enjoy it.

I have many inspirations in people and things. Life is very inspiring for me.

Website: www.live4ucoaching.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlarrysmith/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lawrence-smith-phd-982a0a169/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrUy5hhwo3SfcwN0JUuc9pg

Other: Amazon Link To Book https://www.amazon.com/Freed-OM-Rx-Medicine-Reclaiming/dp/B0928FYV1F/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1638656860&sr=8-1