A Journey of Transformation, Resilience, and Authentic Living - From burnout and disease to a healthier, happier me.
"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides, just like hopes springing high, still I'll rise" - Maya Angelou
For years, I was trapped in a cycle of fear and self-doubt and didn’t know it. My true self and what I wanted was hidden behind a mask of perfectionism and pleasing everyone else except for me which led to chronic burnout and disease. But deep down, I knew there was something better and a fire began to burn within me—a yearning for something more and to be something more. That something more I wanted was simple at first — I wanted peace and joy that I could share with my children.
Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, I embarked on a journey of transformation, shedding the layers of fear and limitation that held me back.
This is the story of how I discovered my strength, embraced my authenticity, and finally found my wings to bring me to a healthier version of self-inside and out. It's a testament to the power within each of us to break free from the past, heal from our wounds, and create a life of purpose, joy, and unwavering self-love.
I am a woman, a mother, and a healer at heart. My life has been dedicated to helping and empowering others to reach their true potential, but every time I reached for what I wanted, it fell short in providing true happiness.
My journey began with a deep desire to help others. I decided to get my degree in teaching physical education but I quickly learned in my student teaching that this wasn't what I wanted. I wasn't having the impact I desired, and physical education teachers are often treated as if they don't matter—yet, over 60% of adults have at least one chronic disease, and 40% have two or more. These include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke, which are leading causes of death and disability. And if that doesn’t make your heart hurt, chronic diseases account for 90% of the nation's $3.8 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures. (Source: CDC) Let that sink in. We have a major issue in our country.
I digress. So, I began exploring what I loved about teaching and coaching, seeking a path that would enable me to pay off my undergraduate degree and gain more stability. Corporate training was in its early stages of becoming more digital, utilizing technology for learning. This intrigued me, so I took a leap of faith and applied to graduate school for Instructional Design & Technology with a specialization in eLearning. I loved the neuroscience and behavioral psychology involved in teaching in a digital environment and how to utilize technology alongside traditional methods for greater impact. Still do.
For nearly two decades after completing my Masters Degree I worked for large global technology organizations in the learning function. As I became a leader, my love for guiding and coaching others became clear. I was driven to create true behavior change in the team and in our learning programs — yet it is often never realized in corporate learning because like the Physical Education teacher, the training function is often treated like they don’t matter - the first place to they cut budgets, people and to be named the scapegoats for poor business results.
The pressure of "doing more with less" and misguided, ill-equipped managers and leaders chipped away at my morale and confidence and moved me away from what I enjoyed most about my role. I contributed to this because I stayed! I had this drive to prove them wrong, to find a way. And I usually did, I love solving puzzles.
BUT - the stress of leading an organization in companies that didn’t value my function or skills—who always raised the ante with no return—combined with raising a family with above-average needs where I was carrying the burden alone got to be overwhelming, and taking care of me became the item I didn't just deprioritize; I took it off the list completely.
I was living in survival mode for most of my career which led to chronic burnout and the diseases started to stack up. Diabetes, chronic migraines, infertility, and anxiety that led to autoimmune disorders. The list is long, people.
These health issues didn't all appear at once. I began tackling each one through diet, exercise, stress management, and—inevitably—a slew of prescription medications that made more problems. However, it wasn't until the pandemic that I realized these approaches alone weren't enough and didn't address the root causes. I was living a life that I didn't love and being mistreated by the people and things in my life. I poured all of me into all things except for myself and I was getting not much in return. You can heal after trauma but you can't heal in unhealthy environments. I had faced unfair and downright wrong treatment from others, but I also had a choice.
Do I stay in a life I didn’t absolutely love that is causing me pain and disease, where I am pouring all I have in fixing it or do I rise above, take control, and change it? I took accountability for the limited beliefs that was causing me to stay and changed it. I spent time diving into my fears, limited beliefs, trauma, and worked to heal them. Every day, I'm working to heal, forgive myself and others and enjoy the peace I deserve.
It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life but I chose to rise and will do so each and every time. And, I’ll do it for myself because I deserve a life I love and my children need to see what that looks like.
My mission now is to tell my story—all of the ugly, sad, and blissful moments in the non-linear journey of healing my mind, body, and soul—and to guide others on their own journeys.
“No matter what you do, your job is to tell your story.” - Gary Vanyerchuck
If that sounds like you and you'd like to chat, please reach out.
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