Mina Irfan, also known as The Universe Guru, is a celebrated life coach and spiritual mentor based in Houston, Texas. With a unique blend of spiritual insight and academic knowledge, she has created a distinguished career focusing on personal and spiritual development. Mina earned her academic credentials from Northwestern University, where she studied Communications, Anthropology, and Evolutionary Psychology. This diverse educational background has equipped her with a deep understanding of human behavior, which she integrates into her coaching methods.
Mina’s journey into coaching began with a personal tragedy — the loss of her mother to cancer, which led her to start a YouTube channel in 2011 as a form of self-expression and healing. The channel quickly gained traction, encouraging Mina to establish her own company, The Universe Guru, in 2016. Through this platform, she offers a wide range of digital courses and resources aimed at empowering women around the globe.
Married for over 15 years and a mother of three, Mina’s personal life deeply enriches her professional insights, particularly in balancing family dynamics with personal ambitions. Her work emphasizes the power of feminine energy, self-reliance, and mindfulness in achieving a fulfilling and abundant life. Mina Irfan continues to inspire and guide thousands of women through their personal journeys of self-discovery and improvement, making her a pivotal figure in the field of personal development and spiritual mentoring.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day begins with a morning meditation to set the tone for clarity and peace throughout the day. I then spend time with my family, ensuring we start our day connected and supported. Most of my workday is dedicated to creating content, coaching clients, and developing new courses. To stay productive, I prioritize tasks based on their impact and urgency, using a digital planner to keep track of everything. Breaks are essential for me; I take short walks or do some light stretching to refresh my mind. Finally, I end my day with gratitude journaling, reflecting on what I accomplished and what I learned.
How do you bring ideas to life?
My entire life and business is created from heart centered flow. Ideas often come to me in the form of desires. Once a desire shows up, I immediately take aligned action to make it happen. I believe God loves speed and we should move on our desires when they are fresh and enthusiastic instead of taking time over thinking things and then losing inspiration.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The trend towards holistic wellness excites me greatly. More people are recognizing the importance of integrating their physical, mental, and spiritual health. This shift aligns perfectly with my teachings on balancing feminine energy, mindfulness, and self-care. It opens up more opportunities for people to explore and benefit from holistic practices that I advocate in my courses. Seeing this trend grow validates the work I do and inspires me to develop new content that supports this integrated approach to well-being. It’s exhilarating to see a broader acceptance of concepts that I’ve been passionate about for years.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Every day I work on creating and keeping my mental states very high so I can remain heart centered. I do this through meditation, journaling, working out, and taking walks in nature daily. When I’m at play in everyday life, ideas flow to me effortlessly and I have the creative energy to take aligned, inspired action towards them.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to trust the process and not rush through life’s phases. Every challenge and setback is an opportunity to learn and grow, not a detour from your path. I’d emphasize the importance of self-care and setting boundaries, which are crucial for long-term success and happiness. Patience is vital—great things take time, and persistence pays off. I would also encourage my younger self to embrace her unique qualities earlier, as these are the strengths that will distinguish her in a crowded field. Lastly, always act from a place of love and integrity, no matter the situation.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that true abundance comes from giving more than you receive. This concept is often met with skepticism in a world that largely values accumulation and competition over generosity. However, my experience has taught me that the more you contribute to the well-being of others, the richer your life becomes, not just materially but spiritually and emotionally. This principle guides both my personal life and business model, though it may seem counterintuitive to some. I’ve found that this approach not only fosters a strong community but also attracts more genuine opportunities for growth and success. It’s a belief that challenges conventional success metrics but has proven deeply rewarding for me.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I consistently practice gratitude. Each day, I take time to reflect on what I’m thankful for, no matter how my day went. This practice centers me and brings perspective to the highs and lows I encounter. It’s something I recommend everyone incorporate into their daily routine because it shifts your focus from lack to abundance. Focusing on gratitude increases positive emotions and resilience, enhancing overall life satisfaction. I’ve seen profound changes in both my personal and professional life from this simple practice and I believe it can help others significantly as well.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed or unfocused, I take a step back and engage in a brief meditation and journaling. This helps me reset my mind and refocus on the present moment. I also find it helpful to go for a short walk outside to clear my head and gain a new perspective. These practices are instrumental in managing stress and returning to my tasks with renewed energy and clarity.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One effective strategy that has helped me grow my business is leveraging the power of social media to share valuable content that resonates with my audience. By consistently providing insights and engaging actively with my followers, I’ve built a strong community that supports and expands my brand. This approach has not only increased my visibility but also established my credibility as a trusted coach and mentor in the personal development field.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I don’t really believe in failure as every opportunity leads to new lessons and skill sets which open new doors. The only failure is not taking inspired action when you are called to move towards your desires and intentions.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A business idea I’d love to share is creating an online platform that connects aspiring life coaches with experienced mentors in the field. This would provide newcomers with the guidance and support they need to develop their coaching skills and build successful practices, filling a gap in continuous professional development for life coaches.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Trello is a piece of software that significantly boosts my productivity. I use it to organize my projects into boards and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. This helps me keep track of my progress on various projects and ensures that nothing gets overlooked. It’s an excellent tool for both personal and team project management.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
A favorite book of mine is “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. It’s incredibly impactful in its teachings about mindfulness and living in the present moment. This book has not only enriched my personal life but also deeply influenced my coaching methods, allowing me to better guide my clients towards finding peace and fulfillment in their own lives.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I really enjoy watching Pakistani shows on YouTube. These series showcase the beautiful polarity between the masculine and feminine really well. The acting, story lines, and direction is superb and unmatched. So many beautiful life lessons can be Learned from watching these shows.
Key learnings:
- Mina Irfan combines spiritual insight and academic knowledge to empower women globally, using her background in Communications, Anthropology, and Evolutionary Psychology from Northwestern University to enhance her coaching methods.
- Starting her career through personal tragedy, Mina turned the loss of her mother into a catalyst for her YouTube channel, which evolved into her coaching platform, The Universe Guru, focusing on personal and spiritual development.
- Mina advocates for the integration of feminine energy, self-reliance, and mindfulness in both personal and professional realms, encouraging practices that lead to a fulfilling and abundant life