Authentic Reflections & The 100 Lake Quest | VRGetaway

100 LAKES • MINDFULNESS • VR 360

Authentic Reflections

The Story of 100 Lakes and Finding Clarity

⚡ The Quick Scoop

The Vibe: A calming, meditative journey across glassy waters, exploring the deep connection between stillness in nature and authenticity in our souls.

Must See: The mind-blowing reflections of the snow-capped mountains, the hidden cliff waterfalls, and the unique roots framing Loch Lake.

The Inspiration: Erasing the gap between who you firmly believe you are on the inside and what you reveal to the outside world.

Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds!)

A few years ago, my husband Todd picked up fishing with an incredibly ambitious goal: he wanted to catch a fish at 100 different lakes! It was a brilliant way to get us out exploring. For me, with my 360 camera always strapped and ready, it became my own personal quest to capture the beauty of these quiet moments on the water.

In the midst of all this exploring, I was reading a book called The Light After Death. The very first step it outlined for living a more joyful life was Authenticity. (You can read my full post on all 10 steps here!)

The parallel struck me as so profound. Think about it like building a house or painting a masterpiece. If you try to build spiritual growth, joy, or connection on top of a "mask" or a fake persona, you are building on a shifting illusion. If you aren't being your true self, then any joy or love you receive isn't actually being given to you—it’s being given to the avatar you created. You cannot truly heal or connect if you are hiding behind a wall of pretend. Authenticity is the absolute ground floor of the soul.

Just like the lakes we were visiting: if the water is constantly churning and chaotic, it can never reflect the truth of the sky above it. Stillness and truth must come first. A true, clear reflection on the water is a moment of pure authenticity—undistorted and real.

Chapter I

Dropping the Camera Mask

I will be the first to admit that I often struggle with my own authenticity on camera. When I started my YouTube channel, my confidence in feeling photogenic had been absolutely destroyed. I knew I wasn't the stereotypical "skinny or pretty" influencer. In fact, I started out doing Google Earth trails where the camera was always way above my head specifically so I wouldn't have to be in the shot!

There have been trips where I got stung by mosquitoes, my severe allergic reaction kicked in, my eye swelled shut, and I felt like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Even if we were in a gorgeous place, if I felt ugly, the shoot was over for me.

Once, in the Canyonlands Needles, I got up in the pitch dark to start a 14-hour hike. I carefully applied my mascara in the dark, feeling quite proud of myself. When I got back to the car 14 hours later and looked in the mirror? I had thick black streaks smeared entirely across my face! I was devastated, thinking, "How can I use these shots?!" It is why, even today, I still film so many shots from behind or far away.

⚓ Todd, My Grounding Force

This is where Todd is my ultimate grounding force. He is a true "what you see is what you get" kind of guy. I am honestly jealous of him—he can literally dump a bottle of water on his head, throw on a hat, and look great in five minutes! As a professional creator himself, he makes brilliant creative calls, but more importantly, he pulls me back to reality. He constantly reminds me that being present with him is way more important than the rat race of YouTube perfection.

Chapter II

The Unglamorous Reality

Sometimes, nature forces you to be real. Most trips to Boulder Mountain completely terrify me—I always wonder if we are actually going to make it out of those crazy backroads alive!

On one trip, I literally fell into Baker Lake. My hair was a tangled, windblown mess, it started to rain, and my attempts to hide it all under a hat were completely failing. I thought the lake was ugly, and my face clearly showed how unhappy I was with the messy reality of the situation.

🌈 The Burnt Lake's Lesson

Later on that same trip, we arrived at another lake that had been recently burned by a wildfire. It looked so pathetic and lame. I left Todd to fish and went off to film, grumbling about what a terrible spot it was.

Suddenly, the most vibrant, beautiful double rainbow appeared right over the charred, burnt trees. It stopped me in my tracks. It was a profound, authentic lesson for me: no matter how "ugly," messy, or broken a place—or a person—might seem on the outside, they are still so deeply, deeply loved from above.

Chapter III

The Science of VR Nature

Some people think Virtual Reality is a "fake" medium, an escape from authenticity. To me, it is the exact opposite.

I read a fascinating medical study about how VR actually tricks the brain into believing it is truly experiencing an environment. I read this right around the time I was devouring The Nature Fix, a book detailing scientific studies on how simply being in nature releases chemicals in the brain tied to deep happiness and stress relief.

That combination became my entire mantra for VRGetaway: I wanted to transport people who physically couldn't get to these places and give them that positive, chemical boost of joy. It’s why I stubbornly resist moving to 180-degree cameras even though the resolution is technically "better"—in 180, the illusion of truly being there is broken. 360 VR is as authentic to the real environment as digital media can possibly get.

Chapter IV

The Mirror of the Soul

I would encourage you to ask yourself: Are my outside actions reflecting my internal beliefs? That, my friend, is the first step to living a life filled with joy.

"Being authentic is bringing the physical and spiritual aspects of yourself together, accepting them as they are, and not being ashamed for the world to know the real you."

— The Light After Death

"Authenticity is everything. You have to wake up every day and look in the mirror, and you want to be proud of the person who is looking back at you. You can only do that if you're being honest with yourself."

— Aaron Rodgers

"The core of authenticity is love. When you truly love yourself, even with your imperfections, then you can truly open yourself up to real growth and progress."

— The Light After Death

Chapter V

The 100 Lake Archive

This compilation features some of the most breathtaking water we have ever seen across the American West. From the rugged peaks of Colorado to the misty coasts of the Pacific Northwest, here are the masterpieces featured in this gallery:

🌟 Curator's Choice: Maroon Lake, Colorado

Don't Miss This: While many of the best reflections are found on quiet, secret lakes, the iconic view of the Maroon Bells reflected in this lake is world-famous for a reason. Go at sunrise for the calmest water and the most breathtaking, authentic reflection you will ever see in your life.

📁 The Reflection Exhibition Roster

Colorado: Maroon Lake, Trout Lake, Haviland Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Kushmann Lake, Alta Lakes, Beaver Lake.

Utah: Pine Lake, Red Pine Lake, Utah Lake, Lake Powell, Cedar Breaks, BYU Arboretum, Lake Mary, The Uintas, Flaming Gorge, Kings Pass Reservoir, Canyonlands Needles, Red Fleet Reservoir, Strawberry Reservoir, Amethyst Lake, Lake Blanche, Cecret Lake, Silver Lake Flat.

The Greater West: Grand Tetons (Wyoming), Bandon (Oregon), Kauai (Hawaii), Echo Park Dinosaur National Monument, Great Basin National Park, La Push Beach (Washington), North Cascades National Park (Washington), Lake Shannon (Washington), Hug Point (Oregon), Lees Ferry (Arizona).

The Portal is Open

Find Your Reflection (360° VR)

This is my most stunning collection of scenic reflections in nature, designed to relax your mind and fill your soul. Put on your VR headset and let the glassy water calm your thoughts!

🔎 The VR Scavenger Hunt 🌟

While you're relaxing, see if you can spot these details:

The Snowball Fight: At Pass Lake, it was so beautiful and snowy that I couldn't resist packing a snowball and playfully threatening to throw it right at the camera!
The Catch: There is nothing better than the excitement of finally getting a bite. You'll see the exact moment when Todd finally got a fish on the line!
The Snow Mirror: It is incredibly unique to see a crisp reflection of pure white snow in the water! Keep an eye out for it.
Loch Lake Roots: Look at the amazing textures of the tree roots and cool rock formations lining the shore of Loch Lake.

Interactive Magic

✨ Ask the Reflection Guide

Need a tip on finding the calmest lakes? Want a deeper explanation of authenticity? Ask our AI Guide!

Embrace Your True Self

This collection started as a fun family challenge to fish 100 lakes, but it grew into something deeply personal. It's a testament to creative breakthroughs, and a visual journey into the meaning of authenticity. A clear reflection in nature is a gift—a fleeting moment of perfect peace and clarity. My ultimate wish is that this journey encourages you to erase the gap between what you firmly believe inside and what you reveal to the outside world.

Sending Love, Clarity, and Positive Vibes,
Shauna @ VRGetaway