The Power of Love with Laura Wright

Music: 0:00

I will not be afraid of the shadows in the dark. They will lead the way to the hidden pathways of the heart and that secret place that is where I find my start.

Elizabeth Winkler: 0:17

Welcome to the Shadow and the Light podcast with internationally renowned meditation teacher davidji.

davidji: 0:23

And heart healer and psychotherapist Elizabeth Winkler, as we guide you through our unique fusion of ancient wisdom and modern psychology.

Elizabeth Winkler: 0:33

Get ready to awaken your true essence.

Elizabeth Winkler: 0:36

Heal your wounds and transform your shadow into in tune Hi, davidji.

davidji: 1:06

Oh, hello there, Elizabeth. Guess what? We have a guest in studio today. I see that, yeah, and she’s someone that both you and I love.

Laura Wright: 1:16

Oh, my goodness.

davidji: 1:18

No, no, really, really. We both genuinely love you and we’ve spent time with you and we have meditated with you, and we have our own distinct time with you and we have meditated with you and we have our own distinct relationships with you. And we can’t really say that about anyone else and we don’t know where this is going to go or how it will go. But I don’t think she is. But you know, I watch at least four hours of tv a day and often that is GH yeah so that’s been going on for a long time.

davidji: 1:43

We have so many places to explore, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Winkler: 1:48

I know I’m very excited to be here with Laura Wright.

davidji: 1:54

Laura Wright, the amazing Laura Wright. We actually tractor beamed her down from Port Charles Carly, port Charles Carly, to wherever we are. I’ve got at least a trillion questions for you, Laura, and I know, Elizabeth, you have so many as well. Laura is, of course, a certified Masters of Wisdom and Meditation teacher. She is a meditator. She and I have been on meditation retreats together. She’s also a dear friend of Elizabeth’s. They spend a lot of time up in the LA area, or at least north of here. We’re 40 miles north of Mexico.

Laura Wright: 2:35

And we got our certificates together.

Elizabeth Winkler: 2:36

Yeah, so we met actually in teacher training, yep, and that’s when we met the last week in the sweet spot, that’s right. And it was one of those instant connections yes, right, and has flowered into a beautiful relationship, friendship, yeah.

Laura Wright: 2:54

I think we need another retreat.

davidji: 2:56

Yeah Well, you know it’s so funny because Laura will reach out to me I don’t know every six to nine months and go got anything in the works.

Laura Wright: 3:03

Or when are we going back to Mexico?

davidji: 3:04

When are we going back to Mexico?

davidji: 3:06

Something along those lines.

davidji: 3:08

Of course, we have our own reasons for being wild about Laura, but for those of you who may have heard the name or you may have seen the face, Laura quit school to work in a gas station. That’s like the fractal of her life. What were you studying that you’ve learned? Oh?

Laura Wright: 3:24

well, I was. Were you studying? I started working at my dad’s gas station at 15. Gosh, I don’t even know. I was in a community college and I was just like. I’d rather work and make money. This is not my path. I managed a tanning salon at nighttime and worked at my dad’s gas station in the morning. Then I sold pretzels at RFK Stadium for the Washington football team outside of Washington DC.

Elizabeth Winkler: 3:47

Wow.

Laura Wright: 3:48

Yeah, I loved life.

davidji: 3:50

Really yeah.

Laura Wright: 3:51

I loved it. I had a great time, I had like three jobs and loved it.

davidji: 3:54

And then something happened. You went on some kind of audition and got the gig to be Ali Rescott in Loving.

Laura Wright: 4:02

Yeah.

davidji: 4:03

And you did that for.

Laura Wright: 4:04

It was in 91 to 97.

davidji: 4:06

Mm-hmm. Yeah, wow, part of that was in the City though.

Laura Wright: 4:09

Yes, the show the City Loving became the City from 95 to 97.

davidji: 4:14

Right. So suddenly she goes from gas station to seven years being a professional actor.

Laura Wright: 4:20

In New York City, which I had never, ever stepped foot in.

davidji: 4:23

Right, and that would be probably the first time you inhabited a character for an extended period of time yes yeah.

davidji: 4:29

So then you sort of like became this, and Elizabeth and I talk about this concept all the time, about the costumes that we all wear in life and the roles that we all play and ours are. They’re multi-dimensional, but they’re uni-dimensional because it’s like, well, I’m playing davidji and Elizabeth’s playing Elizabeth Winkler and maybe there are all these different facets of that. But someone like you wakes up. I’m Laura Wright and then I’m also this other being Left there to play Cassie Lane on Guiding Light. That was a big, that was like an eight year thing.

davidji: 5:05

Yeah, eight years, the bigger aspect of you and so those of you listening, you’re like wait a second. I think I know who. This is For the CBS people Right, right and for all you ABCers out there, like me, at least when it comes to daytime, daytime, daytime and then it’s unbelievable, but you have spent the last 20 years 20 october, 20 this month, oh my god we’re three days away yeah, from 20 years as carly corinthos spencer yes, all right I remember the last week of sept I had 10 days to move myself and my kids at the time cross-country to start to leave one show and go to another, which was Right, because you were a big deal on Guiding Light and then suddenly you were like got this other opportunity.

davidji: 5:58

So isn’t it great to have options.

Laura Wright: 6:00

Yes, that one was really hard for me. I really was devastated and felt it was a huge shift in me personally to leave that show and go to another show that aired at the same time. Right, I felt like, you know, I was leaving my family.

davidji: 6:17

So how did you make that change?

Laura Wright: 6:21

I sat totally.

davidji: 6:22

Did you feel that way? Yes, ooh, I’m a betrayer.

Laura Wright: 6:25

Oh, 100%. I sat on the floor underneath my kitchen table on a phone with a therapist going oh my God, I don’t know how to do this. And she goes well, are you doubting your ability? And I was hell. No, I can’t wait to go crush it as Carly. It has nothing to do with that. And you were the fourth, carly. Fourth as Carly, it has nothing to do with that. And you were the fourth, carly Fourth. And she’s like what is it? I go. I feel like I’m leaving my family. And she’s like that’s okay.

Laura Wright: 6:52

And the entire cast of Guiding Light were so happy for me, like it was such an incredible. The producer hugged me when I had to call her and told her I was leaving the show. She kind of hung up on me abruptly because she’s like we have to find a recast immediately. And then two hours later she called me back. She’s like now can I tell you I love you and I’m so excited. I mean it was so beautiful and hard and it was the best decision I think I’ve ever made, one of the best I’ve made.

davidji: 7:16

Yeah, so here we are 20 years later After that you know, there’s only three things that they say are guaranteed in life, death taxes and general hospital. Well, let’s, yes, yes, just celebrate. This would be its 61st year. I remember seeing you on tv at the 60th year, yeah, and you were so smiley and dancing, and all these, everybody who had ever except Elizabeth Taylor, everyone who had ever been on GH, you know little moment like oh, by the way, James Franco was part of that whole thing. John Stamos Amber. Tamblyn was part of that.

Laura Wright: 7:52

Demi Moore Demi.

Laura Wright: 7:53

Demi Moore started on there. Oh my gosh.

Laura Wright: 7:56

Donna Mills was there Sean Cassidy years ago. There were so many people that started on General Hospital.

davidji: 8:01

Yeah, yeah, it’s the longest running daytime drama in history. Yeah, and like it’s only beat out by like, meet the press and well, I’ll go even further.

Laura Wright: 8:10

It’s the longest scripted drama in tv history on. It’s not just daytime television history.

davidji: 8:16

Because television history? Because some people would say well guiding light was at first.

Laura Wright: 8:19

Well guiding on radio show yes, and guiding light was on longer, but it’s not on the. Yes and Guiding Light was on longer, but it’s not on the air anymore.

davidji: 8:24

Right, but as a radio show.

Laura Wright: 8:26

Yeah, it was on for 15 years prior.

davidji: 8:27

Right, right.

Laura Wright: 8:28

Yes, and it was only on for 15 minutes when it first started, which is crazy that it transitioned at some point into an hour.

davidji: 8:35

And then they had to do all the sound effects like in the room. Oh yeah, and now I’m, yeah, yeah yeah, well, and yes, totally.

Laura Wright: 8:43

And then when it first came on TV it was live, and then live to tape and then straight to tape, so it’s just been fascinating, yeah.

davidji: 8:50

So I’m such a fan of Laura Wright. The person, the meditation teacher, the actor, and Elizabeth is like how do you know all this stuff? I am a devotee. I was watching Anthony Geary back in the day Me too. I was watching Anthony Geary back in the day Me too. I was there for the Luke and Laura’s wedding Me too. Me and 30 million other people were watching that.

Laura Wright: 9:12

I think it’s still my thing I tell you, my first experience of like the Friday cliffhanger which Daytime created, basically, was when Scotty caught the bouquet and it ended and Luke was like I don’t know I think, called him a son of a bitch and ended in the next Monday and I remember being like, oh my gosh, like Monday couldn’t come soon enough that I had to watch, and that was the first experience I ever had with the rollercoaster, emotional ride of soap operas.

davidji: 9:41

Yeah, yeah, I mean, I was watching early in the day when, like, what Soap operas? Yeah, yeah, I mean I was watching early in the day when, like what was Anna Devane and Scorpio and. Robert.

Laura Wright: 9:49

Scorpio, yeah Right.

davidji: 9:50

Yeah, when she had that scar, the fake scar, Sometimes it was there, sometimes it wasn’t.

Laura Wright: 9:53

I’m pretty sure she hated it.

Laura Wright: 9:56

If she were here sitting next to me right now, she’d be like oh, that bloody scar, oh my God, oh my oh, my God, oh my God, Rick Springfield also one of the early players on that show.

davidji: 10:06

And Meghan Markle played a nurse in two episodes. I did not see them live, but I went back into the archives to watch that.

davidji: 10:14

So, yeah, there’s a lot of people have. You know it’s royalty. So, Elizabeth and I talk about just this concept of the things that are bigger than us, because we can get so into our ego. And how do we move from that that’s my definition of spirituality how do we move from the personal version of us to the more universal? And it helps to have a tribe. You’re both members of the teacher tribe community. There’s a thousand certified teachers in our tribe at this point. Elizabeth’s part of the therapist and transformer community. We’re both part of the insight timer meditation teacher community and you’re part of this thing that’s been going for so long.

Laura Wright: 10:56

And there’s the daytime community, as well as the soap opera. I mean, the soap opera I’m on right, like the show I’m on Right. So there’s daytime people that you just know that you feel like you’re in a family with them, even though they’re on a different show. You see them all the time. You’ve worked with them and then they’ve gone on to other shows, and then there’s the tribe of this show that I’m on as well.

davidji: 11:14

Yeah, so Laura has directly and indirectly impact and influenced tens of millions of people around the world. Think about how many viewers, how many people are recording, dvring, how many people are then watching, how many people pay attention to, like the YouTube, little clips and snippets. I was watching Maurice Bernard on Tamron Hall yes, and I don’t know if you saw that episode where suddenly his daughter yes, first time you’d ever seen her in uniform military Hall yes, and I don’t know if you saw that episode where suddenly his daughter yes, first time you’d ever seen her in uniform, military uniform yes, and like he was done.

Laura Wright: 11:50

Yes.

Elizabeth Winkler: 11:51

I know he was done.

davidji: 11:52

I was like, ooh, she should have brought her out like with a second to go.

Laura Wright: 11:56

Yeah, yeah, yeah, because he was worthless after that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

davidji: 12:05

He wasn. I mean not he was upset, but he was like, oh my God, I was a mess. So I do want to talk about this, because I remember I was a devout Game of Thrones devotee, Watched every single episode week by week, live as it happened, and often replayed them after they happened, Recorded them on my HBO DVR and then watched them again.

Laura Wright: 12:21

Why.

davidji: 12:24

Because that’s what I do. I’m a professional viewer.

Laura Wright: 12:26

No, I just wondered why you watched it again. I was fascinated, right.

davidji: 12:29

I mean, I did the same thing with Homeland. There’s certain shows that I watch like the nuances and the interactions and the embedding of the characters.

Laura Wright: 12:38

I want to start Game of Thrones from the beginning, so that’s why I was wondering.

davidji: 12:41

I think it’ll blow your mind again. Even knowing who died. Suddenly you’ll go like oh my God.

Laura Wright: 12:46

I wasn’t even remembering that one Right, right, right, right, right, yeah, because it’s been a while, but I do remember this.

davidji: 12:51

I remember at the end of Game of Thrones we all know, we’re all fans of Kit Harington who played Jon Snow Every woman, jon Snow, everyone who is attracted, was attracted to him, whatever your attraction was. And after Game of Thrones ended, that was only eight years. You know he had a very, very challenging time, went into recovery. You know, when you’re Jon Snow for eight years, every moment, and then suddenly you’re not. So here you are. It’s 20 years. You’ve had this. What are you? Married to Sonny four times and divorced four times, five times.

Laura Wright: 13:30

I can’t even keep up with that. And always having relationships with bad boys which is your way, because I have to fix them Right or control them or not, which is your way.

davidji: 13:40

I mean, this is so shadow and light Because, like Elizabeth and I, talk about this all the time and you know, you portray this every single day. You portray this Monday through Friday to the world all the different situations You’ve been kidnapped, you’ve been in explosions, you’ve been forcibly sexually assaulted, right yeah yeah, I had to think about that.

Elizabeth Winkler: 14:05

Sorry, I paid a little too much.

Laura Wright: 14:06

Three characters in 32 years. So I’m like yeah, oh, my god, I have. Yeah, right, yeah, you have miscarried because of explosions oh yeah, you have been. My son was killed in an explosion. Your son was killed in an explosion.

davidji: 14:17

I mean, you have been betrayed. You have been betrayed and you have been a betrayer. And here was something you told me we were hanging out in LA. Was that Light Watkins the Shine? Yes, it was Right. So you and I were having a conversation, you know, I said what’s your superpower? And you said I’m really good at memorizing lines. It’s all the other stuff. That’s like the easy component For some people. That’s the really hard part For you. I got that done and then suddenly it’s all this other stuff.

Laura Wright: 14:47

I think real life is hard for me. Carly’s world I got yeah.

davidji: 14:52

So what’s your process? Sometimes you’ll do four or five episodes in a day.

Laura Wright: 14:57

It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.

davidji: 14:59

So are you in character during lunch.

Laura Wright: 15:01

No.

davidji: 15:02

You’re like the second they go scene.

Laura Wright: 15:04

I can turn it on like amazing and I love to look at. I get a script and I see it from all sides. I see I’m like what is, what are the fans like? Because I’m a fan of television, I watch a lot of tv as well and then I think, okay, I really can see it from a producer’s eye. What are the constraints? What are they going to want? Then you know who you’re working with.

Laura Wright: 15:22

Are there challenges in that area? Meaning, like with characters, do the characters have challenges together? And I just see it from all aspects. And then I’m like, well, what’s the fun choice here? Right, like, what’s the audience going to enjoy? Like there’s a thousand ways to play a scene which one wins.

Laura Wright: 15:38

And then what is actually the point of the scene? And is there a justification? Is she having to lie? And I love coming up with justifying this character and I don’t ever judge her. I feel that there’s justification in every single thing she does and it comes from a place of fierce love, fierce protection, whether it be of her own heart or her kids. I understand her so well and even when something comes up where I’m like whoa, I’m doing that, and even when my first instinct is as an actor or as a human, not the actor, but the person to go. Oh my God, she would never. I’m like no, no, no, no. People are capable of anything given the situation. What’s the situation? And rarely will I in 30 years, but specifically with Carly have I gone up and said I can’t do this. I will go up and say can you help me do this? You know, explain to me what I’m doing or why, so I can sell it, so I can get my head in there and really sell it.

davidji: 16:37

You know, this is one of Elizabeth’s teachings. This is Elizabeth’s six and nine teaching. So if I wrote a six on a piece of paper and placed it between us and you’re on the other side of the table and so I’m seeing a six, you’re seeing a nine all day long, you could say no, it’s a nine, and I could say no, it’s a six. We can argue forever, whereas Elizabeth loves to introduce. Help me see your six.

Elizabeth Winkler: 16:58

Help me understand. Help me understand. That’s how you, which is exactly what you did, and this and that’s what I.

Laura Wright: 17:04

that’s how you interact with your writers, producers, showrunners and it’s a challenge, an exciting challenge, to take what you give me and make it amazing. As far as I’m concerned, when they I get a script, I’m like the crazier the better. I can’t say I never have shied away from it. I just think, okay, what’s the best way to tell this? Like you know, I work with steve and marie, since Steve is always like you will do anything to make it all work, cause I I love the challenge in it and but sometimes it just doesn’t. Sometimes, if I’m on set and it’s a six show day or four show day that’s kind of normal and a line’s not working, I’m like can we please fix this? It’s, it’s just not going to come out of my mouth today and everyone wants to get home. So, but it’s not over a fear of story, it’s probably just something that needs to be reworded differently, just for my brain that day or something.

Elizabeth Winkler: 17:55

So it’s like when you’re delivering it, it doesn’t feel authentic. Yes or I?

Laura Wright: 17:59

can say I’m thinking too much. Can we trim the speech? It’s overly written of an explanation and I can act it for you. I don’t need to speak. All my emotions, I got him loaded how much are you ad-libbing versus just?

davidji: 18:11

I do not add, you’re just reading the script I read the script because I don’t want to.

Laura Wright: 18:15

The second I get off in that I’m like I’m gonna say something. That’s not proper english and then I’m gonna say, was that? And I’ll mess up like I mean I might ad-lib things like come on on man. Or before I start a scene, I’ll have a speech, I want to have a hook to get into it where I’m like are you kidding me right now? And then go into the speech. Because sometimes that energy is flowing in the scene and when I work with Steve or Maurice, making it natural and saying it like that and coming up with the hooks before and at the end are very natural for the three of us. So I can’t say that ad-libbing happens with them, but not coming up with our own story, our own dialogue. It’s just maybe the massaging around the main line. And it’s okay with Steve and Maurice because we have been together working in a very intimate way for 20 years. So we know each other, trust each other. We’ve got each other’s back a hundred percent.

Laura Wright: 19:11

You work with other people that you might not work with all the time. That’s not fair to do to them. They might not work that way. They might not be comfortable with that. They might learn some their lines a certain way or, you know, they’re also not used to working with you so they’re like might be nervous and not know what’s coming. So you know your space, you know your environment. But I really love thinking about Carly and what and why she’s doing what she’s doing and I know 100% why it’s happening.

Elizabeth Winkler: 19:41

You know when I’m there and does she surprise you?

Laura Wright: 19:45

I surprise me in a scene like I can have the lines down and we all rehearse. But when we start flowing emotionally, we, steve and I, and a lot of times when I work with Fanola because I’ve been working with Anna, you know she plays Anna Devane, fanola Hughes but a lot of times now we’ll walk off set and I love walking off set, going wow, I didn’t know that was going to happen.

Laura Wright: 20:06

Exactly Because that’s when you’re free, like I got the lines down and I know the intention, but then you just let because I also don’t know what the other person’s going to bring. So I might show up with all what I think is going to happen. But then when I see it go a certain way or the emotion that comes up when I actually stop and listen, cause when you rehearse you don’t really get a lot of rehearsal time, so when we run lines we usually run it just for pace and to get the lines kind of down, but then we let it go up on set and that’s when you’re like that is so freeing, the trust of just letting it land and trusting yourself and not. You know, I remember back when I was on guiding light or loving especially, I was always afraid of those feelings. I was.

Elizabeth Winkler: 20:48

You were afraid of what feelings? The freedom, or like, like what was coming up in the moment.

Laura Wright: 20:52

Like if I would. You know, when I worked with this guy who played my boyfriend and husband on Loving, I had never had training, so I only went with instinct and I thought, oh my God, we must be in love Because felt that in the scene and he told me I was beautiful and amazing all the time, even though it was scripted. But I had no idea how to separate. No idea how to separate. And if something came up it was like, oh, I would look down a lot and when the magic is that eye connection and feeling what you’re feeling and emoting it. So the camera’s on you, you give that gift to the audience. But Laura, the actor in you know my first show and almost, almost into a good more than half of Guiding Light, I still really didn’t know or understand the separation of character to actor.

Elizabeth Winkler: 21:46

And so what do you know now?

Laura Wright: 21:48

Now I let it flow and afterwards high five minds you know the co-star that I mean, I might have butterflies looking at these men and being lost in their eyes and I go with it. And then afterwards I high five and I’m like hell yeah, baby, we just rocked the scene. Then I go home to my man Like there’s no, it’s freedom in the moment of the scene and there’s such a disconnect for me after, like there’s such a respect to the process, to the space that we hold together and then the letting that go immediately so that freedom and safety continues to be there.

Elizabeth Winkler: 22:20

Totally. I mean everything you’re saying. I’m actually writing things down because you’re talking about, like, the secrets of living in the present moment You’re talking about. You said trust, trust, trust, I trust them, I trust them, I trust them. And then you said and you let it all go. I mean this is what I mean. I really just think that, ultimately, the answer is let go. And how do you do that? Trust, trust or choices are to be in fear or trust. And you said at the beginning, you said, I think that my challenge is real life. However, I had to take some notes here. What’s the fun choice? You said what’s the fun choice? You can ask yourself that in any moment, right?

Laura Wright: 23:04

Totally.

Elizabeth Winkler: 23:05

We always have a choice.

Laura Wright: 23:06

I saw you writing down over there. I was like she’s got to get some good stuff for me after this.

Elizabeth Winkler: 23:10

When I am working with my clients, I always have paper and a pen, because I always want to be able to say back the exact thing that the person said. So you said, fun choice. I don’t ever judge her, so these are wonderful things to bring into our own lives right so how can I make this the fun choice in any situation?

Elizabeth Winkler: 23:30

Let’s say, you have a family event in your future. How can I make this fun? How can I? You said, I don’t ever judge her, I take it and make it amazing. Yeah, so I can do it there. You can do it one place, you can do it any place.

Laura Wright: 23:47

They say how you do. One thing is how you do. That’s exactly what.

davidji: 23:49

I would say it’s not like you can.

Laura Wright: 23:51

If you’re doing it there, it’s because that’s how you do it, and I really feel that way, like, because that’s not always the case, right, sometimes you’ll show up to work and and I’ve been this co-star and other people you know a coworker, and there’s been other people who’ve been this coworker where you’re like this is just awful and I hate it, right, like there’s been days like that and and I’m I’m always like whatever, this is going to be the best scene in the show, like I always feel that way, like I’m not saying that it that you might say that, but we’re going to go up there and crush this scene with the intention that it’s going to be the best scene in the entire episode.

Laura Wright: 24:24

And I have no doubt that I do that, like at least with that energy. Again, I don’t know how you take it, but I’m just saying because that makes it fun to me and that makes it exciting and it’s a team player and we’re all one and we’re I know I’m saying all those big spiritual words- but it’s like this is the secret to living an abundant life.

Elizabeth Winkler: 24:43

When I think of Laura living an abundant life, when I think of Laura and I know Laura as a dear friend the first thing I think of you is your depth of gratitude for life and that you really have that attitude. I mean, you’re always looking at that silver lining in my experience of things and we all have challenges. But how do I make this amazing? You know we have a choice, and so that’s something you’re doing at work, but it’s something that I’m sure I see you’re exhibiting that in your life, in your personal life. Do you doubt that?

Laura Wright: 25:19

um, I don’t doubt it. I don’t even want to say I don’t see it. It’s’s hard for me. I think I struggle with any pat on the back outside of doing right. Like you know, I look at work is doing. So when people say you do, I have no doubt that. I kick ass at work because I know I’m committed to and I’m committed to do it for you, for everyone. I show up for the team. Even if we lose an award, which might be like the Superbowl for someone, I still go. I don’t care. We all showed up and we did like it’s just.

Laura Wright: 25:47

But for my own life, I get afraid. I have fears. I have true fears. You know the loss or something happening, because in real life, real things can happen. Right, there’s I guess it’s such a thing to say, but it’s true. But when I sit and think about my life, I think about the most incredible life that I. Every part of my journey has been spectacular. Even the hard parts have turned me in and helped me become the person I want to be and who I love. The depth that I have now as a human I love, and the gratitude, the empathy that I have. That just wasn’t even existence for me a long time ago.

Elizabeth Winkler: 26:26

And that was created through those, those very challenging times. Yeah, absolutely.

Laura Wright: 26:30

No for sure, A hundred percent. Yeah, I mean, there’s sometimes when, like, life takes my breath away. Well, I allow it to take my breath away. Like you know, I’m always like like the unknown. I know what’s going to happen in the script, so it’s a little different.

Elizabeth Winkler: 26:44

You do, but you don’t. You said I know the lines. Yeah, I know the lines, but I don’t know how it’s going to play out.

Laura Wright: 26:49

I have no idea how it’s going to play out with everybody else.

Elizabeth Winkler: 26:51

Yeah, exactly, and that’s when you get surprised, as you said. Yeah, and it’s exciting and you didn’t expect that to happen, and oh. So we think we’re afraid of the uncertainty, but you’re doing it all the time. You’re pretty damn good at it.

Laura Wright: 27:08

Yeah, and the trust thing you were talking about, like the trust is really and it’s interesting because I’ve really been thinking about this a lot lately where doubting or not trusting is crazy. When I look at my life and I’ve been held and carried and just completely taken care of in every situation, but I am human in the doubts and the times of not trusting pop up. Yeah, it’s really interesting seeing the difference of like or seeing the similarities of Carly’s world versus Laura’s world.

davidji: 27:39

Do you often find yourself tapping into whether intuitively or consciously tapping into present moment techniques? I’ll give a few examples where you might be put off, because I see your role as like a quarterback. Quarterback sort of like gets the play from the coach on the sidelines, the great quarterbacks make it theirs. It’s still that play, but they do it their way, their style, and almost take the play then to the next level up. But let’s say, suddenly you’re in, not that this ever happens, but let’s say you’re in a conversation and the person that you’re in the scene with isn’t bringing their 100% for whatever reason, or isn’t really?

davidji: 28:23

you thought they were going to show up like this so you could act off of them and truly engage. They’re not bringing that energy, or something’s happened in your life Suddenly, you know you got a text during lunch from a family member and suddenly it distracts you or whatever. What’s your tool to get fully present emotionally and transcend those moments?

Laura Wright: 28:47

Mostly what happens. Isn’t that someone? It’s that I might have an expectation of how the scene goes and they come with a different game plan. Right, and how I handle that is you handle what’s given to you. You play the scene that’s given.

Elizabeth Winkler: 29:03

I mean, I’m putting my hands up. I can’t even deal with this, like you only can see Elizabeth.

Laura Wright: 29:12

Acceptance and leaning in leaning into it. Hello, Because I will always go. Well, maybe this is not. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, given what’s going on in my personal life right now, and it’s a good thing, it’s a good thing, it’s all good, um, but I’m just like, well, I really needed this.

Elizabeth Winkler: 29:32

You have all the wisdom within you, yes, you’re doing it all the time.

Laura Wright: 29:36

But truly like if I’m in a scene with someone and it is definitely not going the way I thought, I mean honestly I’ll say, okay, maybe it’s not the way you thought it was going to be, maybe it’s going to be a thousand times better and I lean into what’s given to me. Honestly, I I do like who am I to say that I know better? Maybe you know I love this thing, and then whenever you’re getting ready to probably put your hands up again whenever I fight it. It’s a problem, exactly.

Elizabeth Winkler: 30:05

Okay. So people come to me with a lot of anxiety. It’s a huge thing that walks into my office and the mind loves to go into what if? What if this happens? What if that happens? You know all the negative places, the worries of our lives, and so I often say you know, let’s shift what if to what is no, what ifs. You know, let’s shift what if to what is no, what ifs. However, recently I was like what you just said, what if? It’s amazing, what if? You know what I never thought could happen would happen? And guess what? You have a choice. You are a participant rather than a victim of this not going the way that you thought it was going to go. So what happens is, when we get into fear and resistance, we’re locked in the idea of where we thought this was going and what we wanted, and it’s not going. There’s no acceptance, and so you can’t be a participant because now you’re a victim of the mind.

davidji: 31:03

And there’s so many ways to rationalize that Like well, I’m a more experienced actor in this type of setting, so clearly I know how it’s supposed to be done and how it’s going to unfold.

Laura Wright: 31:13

It’s actually the opposite, though it’s usually the person that’s not that experienced, but it’s still caught up in the they know better, and I’ve been there. That was like guiding light days, you know, yeah, it’s yeah, and, and so I’m like I also understand that when that person’s arguing on set or debating, you sit back and you’re like trying to figure out how you get in, because at the end of the day, you want to give them what they need to accomplish. The scene I don’t care to debate, you know, because acting is subjective, it’s very different, and so it’s a fascinating place to be.

davidji: 31:42

It’s great that you use the word fascinating, but you know it’s enough to make someone who’s not as dedicated to a meditation practice dedicated to a certain perspective of seeing how life flows. Someone who has not been immersed in the teachings would not necessarily come out of that situation as magnanimously as you do. So you’re a generous actor. I’m sure you hear that from your other actors who are in scenes with you, because you are always elevating. It’s like oh, they’re going to take it here. Let me see if I can dance on top of that and let’s see what that becomes. As opposed to cut, they’re not doing what it’s supposed to be. We’ve all been behind the camera to see stuff like that. Like what, wait, who called timeout?

Laura Wright: 32:35

We’re also very close, I will say. And so when there is situations and stuff going on and you can see people dealing with real life that come on set and you see things happening, you know there’s also a lot of empathy right, like that you can understand why certain things happen in a scene or why someone might show up, or the days. You know, when I was going through my divorce, I was still showing up and no one knew and I was probably not so nice and friendly because I wasn’t sharing or open and I was had a lot of shame at that point and so there was a lot of anger. So that came out a lot and people gave me a lot of grace at the time.

davidji: 33:11

You know you walk a certain tightrope. I’m in awe of it, Laura. You’re every day. You’re every day for 20 years, so you know that you are part of this thing that’s so much bigger than you. You have such grace in your scenes, even when you are just stabbing that guy with the letter opener.

Laura Wright: 33:32

Well, some people deserve it. Some people deserve it. Well, you know, I’m so fortunate when I see, you know actors come on for a guest spot, or you know an under five, or you know the young woman who’s plays and where Carly owns the diner, bobby’s and the woman who works there and she’s so excited. You know, I mean, it’s like so and some days you fail, like some days you have a big day and you forget to have said hello to every single person on the set that’s showing up that day, just because you’re overwhelmed. But for the most part, I see how fortunate I am to get to do something like this every single day and I love every single moment of being on set.

Laura Wright: 34:16

I love helping the other actors or younger actors on the show that will bring scripts to me and say, can you help me figure out this?

Laura Wright: 34:22

And it’s one of my most favorite things to do ever is work with the younger cast, because I had a lot of time and a lot of wonderful people that helped me and took care of me on my first show and we would do scenes over, sometimes 10 times to get it right.

Laura Wright: 34:37

And we don’t have that opportunity and there isn’t that time to work with the younger people who are new and to get their sea legs, you know, on a soap that moves so fast. So it’s such an honor to work with them and have the tricks right, because we move super fast and they might be showing me a script they have to shoot the next day or even that afternoon. And it’s like how do you talk to these people in the moment who are going to need something that’s going to get them, like almost instantaneously, to be able to shoot the scene, and what do they need in this moment to get that and for it to click for them and for them to trust themselves, to go up there and feel it and feel something and then go for it. And that’s really challenging and fun to do for me.

davidji: 35:28

What about with scenes where you’ve done it before, Like how many times have you walked in on your current lover having sex with somebody else and you have to keep acting like is it the same response? Well, we do tell the same scene over and over again.

Laura Wright: 35:40

That’s a funny thing that actors who are new to daytime will go oh my God, we’ve had this scene a hundred times and I’m like and you’re going to have it a hundred more. Oh my God, we’ve had this scene a hundred times and I’m like and you’re going to have it a hundred more. And guess what your challenge is? And your job is to make every single time different.

Laura Wright: 35:53

And that’s for you to figure it out. There’s got to be a hook somewhere in this scene. There’s a hook somewhere in here that why is this one different? And in real life we see the same thing over and over again. I’m a Virgo creature of habit. I habit, I know. I eat the same thing almost every day. I do everything the same.

davidji: 36:09

My mom was a Virgo.

Laura Wright: 36:10

Yeah, we’re amazing. Yes, you are, but it’s your job. Why is this scene? What makes it different today than yesterday? You got to make it brand new and fresh, and I have had this like with Maurice and I. The amount of times Maurice and I have had the exact same. We either fight this, but what makes it different today?

Elizabeth Winkler: 36:38

But that’s so relatable to humanity because we have patterns in our lives. Every single person listening has something that you’re going through that feels familiar, you know, and so how can we be fresh and new with it is a beautiful thing. That’s like having a beginner’s mind, you know, because the fact of the matter is you’re not going through the same thing over and over again.

Elizabeth Winkler: 36:57

You’re going through a different thing over and over again in a different way, because life is a river, we’re all rivers and you can’t step in the same river twice, right? So you’re always changing, carly’s always changing, the moment’s always changing. Is there wisdom that is being brought through that experience, or am I just going into my mind? I mean, I’m bringing this into real life, right For sure. Am I going into my mind and just projecting the past onto the present, which, in your acting world, you’re not necessarily knowing how it’s going to go? You’re staying open to how this may be different.

Laura Wright: 37:33

Well, and I think I’ve discovered recently that I take a lot of pauses. I’m sure you love this. I take a lot of pauses, Elizabeth, and you know Carly’s a very reactive character right, spicy, intense, feisty. Very reactive character right, spicy, intense, feisty. She’s hit a lot of cars and things with fire, pokers and crowbars and at this point she still works with you know the people I’m talking about. At this point she still works around these people. Like I still work with these people and I have to make it interesting and this time I try to. I make it more like I’m going to take a moment before I attack this person because I play like I can’t believe we’re still doing this, but here we go. So I do like even now, when I have the same scenes, they’re different because she’s different and the entire situation then has a whole different journey.

Elizabeth Winkler: 38:23

So what does that feel like for being Carly who pauses More of?

Laura Wright: 38:29

a meditative Carly Right. It feels more in control, more sure of herself. I can respond instead of react.

davidji: 38:37

But she’s clearly off camera. Carly’s going to Insight Timer at night and listening to one of my or your meditations.

Laura Wright: 38:44

Yes, carly, carly goes to Insight. Timer. She certainly needs to.

Laura Wright: 38:49

It’s more in control of her situation, I would say, and not in the controlling way, but she’s not flying off the handle. It’s more like no. I’m going to tell you how it’s going to go down.

Elizabeth Winkler: 38:59

Exactly. This is again the fun. I love when you said what’s the fun choice? The fun choice. So we always have a choice and we talk about control a lot in life, right, and we know that we have no control over what’s going to happen in our day. However, we do have complete control of what we choose to do with it, and so I love what you’re saying because it’s expressing that like she feels more in control. Well, yes, because she’s back in her body, she’s paused, she can maybe feel her feet. I always say anchor to your body. And then what’s the fun choice here? What’s the fun choice? Yeah, I love that.

Laura Wright: 39:42

And people will say, well, sometimes I work with actors and they’ll go, I don’t know if I should do this or this, and I’m like well, what’s more interesting? What’s the more interesting choice, especially for the audience? What do you think they want to see you do? The right choice or the fun choice? You know, like just you know you have to realize what you’re selling, so do you bring this into your life.

Elizabeth Winkler: 40:05

Because I mean no, I am now though. I mean this is amazing.

Elizabeth Winkler: 40:07

I mean I’m going to. This is a new mantra what’s the fun choice? What’s the fun choice? It works, it’s for what’s the fun choice?

davidji: 40:14

Yay, I’m doing it on my fingers. Elizabeth was tapping on her fingers, I have to say that you know.

Laura Wright: 40:18

Pickleball is something I do like three or four days a week.

davidji: 40:21

Oh my God, you became such a pickleball, I know. You have to take me.

Laura Wright: 40:27

I’ve never done that, Okay 100% Next weekend or this week, whatever. But I had this group of women that I played pickleball with and I would have never met these ladies had it not be for pickleball. I love them so much. If they were sitting here and hearing me, I don’t think we see ourselves in our life like other people, at least I don’t. And the what’s the fun choice? I think they would say she absolutely lives like that. You know, like I was playing pickleball the other day and Julianne stopped and she goes. I have to say I’m getting ready to serve to you and every time you’re just over there smiling at me and I was like because I’m so excited about like what’s coming I’ve she’s a great server and I have no idea if I’m even going to be able to get it and and like we’re playing pickleball outside on a beautiful sunny day what’s not to smile about? But it’s interesting that I would think that people on the outside looking in I guess I do live like what’s a good time.

davidji: 41:17

I have a question for you how far in advance do you get a script? One week, one week. So you’re living, certainly in your professional life, you’re living a week in advance.

Laura Wright: 41:28

Yes, I read my script as soon as I get it and then I don’t look at it again till the night before or the day of, depending on how complicated I know it’s going to be, and a lot of times, like next week, that’s my methodology also honestly, whenever I’m going to present or do a webinar, I don’t want to be living it living it.

davidji: 41:45

I remember when, like the presidential candidates, like we’re gonna take a week off to study for the debate, I’m like, oh, that would drive me insane. I need to just like, let me drink it in, right, let a week go by. And then, the night before, the day before, let me immerse.

Laura Wright: 41:58

Right, like next week, I work Monday, tuesday, wednesday and in those three days I have five episodes. So I’ve already read Monday and Tuesdays but I haven’t really looked at it yet because I haven’t got to Monday and Tuesday. Now that doesn’t always serve me in this day and age of how we shoot, because we’re out of order so much, and so sometimes I’m like, oh, I’m shooting like before, but I’m not shooting it till next week. Anybody want to tell me what happened? So I know, and sometimes I’m getting that- information.

davidji: 42:25

I’m marrying him Right and next week I stab him.

Laura Wright: 42:30

Grateful to somebody like Steve. I had to be grateful to Jason. I’m like, why am I so grateful to him? And they’re like because you begged him to help you. I’m like, oh, when do I shoot that? They’re like next week, and that was right before we went to tape it. That would be the only bummer about shooting out of order. But we also, when I get my script, I don’t get the whole script, I only get my stuff Right, I mean my scenes, so, and people. A lot of times people don’t like that and I’m like why In real life we don’t know what someone else is going to say or do? Why do I need to have everybody else’s stuff? I don’t need to know anybody else’s stuff. That doesn’t bother me because, I don’t see any other scene in the show. I’m like why do I need to know what someone else is doing, Right I?

davidji: 43:10

don’t care. Well, you get read into ultimately everything with Jason, with Brennan with. Sonny, whatever is going on.

Laura Wright: 43:19

And that’s a really good example. Right now, I’m now working with this new gentleman, charles, who plays Brennan, and that’s a whole new experience for me. He’s a very different dynamic.

davidji: 43:29

Everyone knows it’s so hot between you.

Laura Wright: 43:31

Yes, yes, Everyone they’re big fans out there of Carly and Jack, but for Laura, like that was a very new experience. He’s a very big personality with an incredible resume, lots of history and lots of work that he’s done, and he comes extremely well prepared when you’re working with someone new and what potentially a very romantic situation, so that’s like really interesting to me and so I have no idea, honestly, really what’s coming. So I just got to be like open for it and ready to go what brings you the most joy in every aspect of your life?

davidji: 44:11

Is there something that, just when you’re experiencing it, other than sitting here with me and Elizabeth?

Laura Wright: 44:17

Right, well, I love pickleball. It’s social, I’m active, I run, I play, I’m also competitive. So I like to win, but I’m totally okay if I don’t, because it’s pickleball and I love being in nature. Love, love, love. Being like hiking. When I was in Aspen visiting my son, being up in the mountains was just incredible. And hanging out with my friends and my man, wes Ramsey, like a belly, laughing with him.

davidji: 44:43

Your handsome fella.

Laura Wright: 44:44

Yes, my handsome fella, we belly laugh all the time together. I mean, that’s been an incredible gift in my life, laughing with him.

davidji: 44:53

And Wes brilliant actor, brilliant poet and Laura’s handsome fella. Yes, also at one point was villain on GH.

Laura Wright: 45:02

Yes, heinrich.

davidji: 45:06

And he was killed off. But we know that many people come back from the dead on GH, so you never know.

Laura Wright: 45:11

Even people that are beheaded can come back Right. So funny. But I love it and I love my job. I sometimes sit when I go up on set early and I’m watching the director’s work and the boom operators are there and the cameraman and I’m like I can’t believe I get to do this for a living.

davidji: 45:27

There was a period of time where you’re traveling a lot and I think you’re doing like a special event at Graceland.

Laura Wright: 45:32

The cast General Hospital.

davidji: 45:34

So that was something that you shared with me a bunch of years ago, where you were like we’re on tour sometime and you and your posse appear. You said that one of the things that moves you and touches you the most is that suddenly there’s these fans that you could never have ever had any contact with. And there they are. Then you like signing photos and doing whatever, and there’s just something really beautiful and sweet about those moments.

Laura Wright: 46:00

Well it was incredible is that we don’t have a live audience, and so you don’t really know. Now we have Twitter and all the social media accounts, but it’s still not the same. When you go to the fan events and depending on your storyline especially when we did the Alzheimer’s story and then the bipolar stories the amount of people that come up and you’re telling their story and they’re so grateful and so happy just to see you and hug you. I mean they’re just no words, just no words.

Laura Wright: 46:31

And so I also now started doing my own events, called a sacred space, where that’s important to me, because I just want to have it like we’re hanging out in each other’s living room, because a lot of more women in the world that have come to me very much so just want to be seen and heard and be able to hang out like a girlfriend and have someone listen to them and understand them or somewhat say what book did you read that got you through something? Or they feel like you know they, they don’t have a sacred, safe space and their own world, and so that’s something that I’m starting I’m throwing together now of a traveling sacred space going to different towns. I don’t know what it looks like I have no idea. I’m trying to come up with spaces that we can throw some being bad chairs in and some little pillows on the floor and just be together and share so needed.

Elizabeth Winkler: 47:19

Yeah, I love that.

Laura Wright: 47:20

And so that’s something that I’m looking at doing. Well, that started one time at the Chopra Center, where I probably saw you for the first time, and then ended up at the sweet spot with teacher training of just how that kind of community is just so important and it holds you in different places in your life. There’s not one final spot, it’s just always there, through every trial, but also every great time, like it’s not just the trials that we go through or the difficult times, it’s also when things are great and you can go share it. It’s just important to have community.

Elizabeth Winkler: 47:57

What would you say? The energy is that is holding that space.

Laura Wright: 48:01

Love, it’s just love and trust. There’s that T word again. Yeah, yeah.

davidji: 48:09

Well, we have a component of season two. You we were talking that you’re a listener to season one of the shadow and the light, but we have a component, a new special additive in season two, which is what we refer to as today’s takeaway, and then I typically say living the light. So let’s put you on the spot and ask you what’s today’s takeaway for all of our listeners, our thousands of listeners around the world who tapped into and connected to Laura Wright today. What’s today’s takeaway, Laura?

Laura Wright: 48:42

Well, I think Elizabeth and I could say this together what’s the fun choice?

davidji: 48:47

Oh my God, so brilliant.

Elizabeth Winkler: 48:49

It’s wisdom, Laura Wright, wisdom, yeah, I’m going to be practicing this, this is my new practice. What’s the fun choice? Every moment, lean in. I had the one. I have a choice, but I like. What’s the fun choice? I think that’s incredible. I love it. Who?

davidji: 49:08

knew Well. Thank you for showing up to our totally fully unscripted festival with Laura Wright. My name is davidji, I’m here with the transformational goddess of alchemical love and fun, Elizabeth Winkler, and we are here with the magnificent Laura Wright, the multi-dimensional from pickle baller to brilliant actor, to daily staple in all of our lives, to meditation teacher, to amazing mom. I can just keep going listing all of your special and amazing accomplishments. We know there’s more to come. We know here’s to another 20 of something who knows what that is? And we celebrate you. And, as you said in some preview that I recently saw I think it was on YouTube, what is it you’re not telling me?

Laura Wright: 50:03

That’s right. I don’t know what that was. It was just for like a second and a half, but that was your little. What are you not telling me? What are you not telling me?

davidji: 50:12

Which is always the spice of Laura and what you bring to the world. So keep us guessing. Keep inspiring so many people, especially girls and women, and people who are looking to take their lives to the next level. Any closing words? Elizabeth?

Elizabeth Winkler: 50:29

I’m just so happy right now. I feel so inspired. You’re so inspiring and what you express through your work you are exhibiting everywhere, you know. You said you didn’t know if you really saw that and I hope that you can see that because you’re such a light. You are such a light and I don’t know if you have any final thoughts of anything that you would say to someone like maybe the younger version of yourself. What would you wanted her to know or or experience?

Elizabeth Winkler: 51:08

or I don’t know, maybe someone out there needs to hear that.

Laura Wright: 51:13

I would say the younger version of myself. It’s okay to be with yourself. It’s really okay to just be with yourself and really get to know her. I’m really getting to know myself at this point in my life and what I love and then what I don’t care to do, and boundaries and yeses and nos and how the nos make the yeses so great and I don’t honestly know if I would have listened to me. I had to go through the stuff I went through to wind up right where I sit and it’s been amazing. So I would tell that to any young woman that don’t miss the opportunity to be with you and to watch a sunset and a sunrise and to listen to the birds, because that’s real. Everything else just. You know we can get caught up in the mind. You know we can get caught up in the mind is just stories or fears, but nature and being with yourself is really beautiful and that’s what you were saying when you say you pause more, pause more when you’re working.

Elizabeth Winkler: 52:21

Yeah, there’s a confidence. I call it your authority. You’re standing in your authority, your inner authority, which is your life experience. Your authority is just your life experience, and there’s a lot of that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, beautiful. Thank you guys, thank you.

Music: 52:39

They will lead the way to the hidden pathways of the heart and that secret place. That is where I find my start. The light is here to remove all my fears and to bring new sight, the light, the light. If you come, I will go to the deep to take me to you the light, the shadow and the light. There’s hope out in rock bottom. You hold it as you’re holding me, but don’t rush past this moment. The darkness can become a friend. Love will come by your side and you’ll shine brighter than a million suns A million suns. You went through hell, but now you’re in the light. It is here to remove all your fears and to bring new sight, the light, the light is a valuable gold in the deep to take you to new heights.

Music: 53:59

The shadow and the light has come because it loves us. The light has come because it loves us. The light has come to set us free. The light has come to set us free. The shadow comes because it loves us. The shadow comes to set us free. The light is here to remove all our fears and to bring new life the light. Thank you.