Enduring Adversity And Repurposing Pain

It is not a process that happens overnight. Sometimes one has to go through multiple layers of discovery and soul-searching before they can find the treasures in what the experience was. It is different for everyone.

Grief, disappointment, illness, job loss, and everything in between all push us to our limits emotionally and spiritually. When we are in the thick of it, it can be hard to see anything possible beyond it all. Some people power through with no problem and seem to have tremendous resilience. That was not always me. I teach and model empowerment and freedom, but for much of my life, those were not states in which I could live. Repurposing pain is not something I thought about when I was still in the heartache of those situations. I only thought about surviving it. It took years for me to realize that my experiences gave me credibility and authority in helping people navigate the fall out of crisis.

I can boldly tell you this: You were meant for living a life that is fulfilling and to  make an impact as only you can in this world! You were created for a specific purpose and you have gifts that no one else does, in quite the way you can express.

It is never too late to dream bigger, take action or discover new possibility! Brainstorming, creating, and planning something bigger and better than what you have in your life right now, can be one of the most enjoyable parts of working together.

I am a Soul Coach, published writer, podcaster Certified Herbalist. I know what setbacks, heartaches and disempowerment feel like.

I’ve always loved a challenge, but this one nearly killed me.

I worked hard in the corporate world for 15 years and my life came to a screeching halt at the age of 30. “You have cancer” is a phrase no one ever wants to hear and I was 30 when I heard it.

After enduring aggressive treatments, I knew my life would never be the same. My paradigm about many things in life (health, faith, work), changed forever. Even after being declared “stable” and having no dis-ease, my life never went back to what it was.

While reinventing myself, I also began doing deep dives into my emotional health. I saw mentors and coaches of many kinds and began to ask myself deep difficult questions for the first time.

The truth is for much of my life I felt disempowered. I saw myself as a victim.

I also realized I had a long history of second-guessing myself, letting other peoples’ expectations or opinions influence my decisions. I had to learn to use my voice, create and adhere to healthy boundaries – and do that even when (especially when!) people around me didn’t approve of or appreciate them. These are just a few of the things I had to do in my own deep inner work over the years.

My healing journey (both physically and emotionally) was long and painful, but I never gave up or shied away from the challenge. I pressed harder, even when I seriously thought about giving it all up.

Sickness, weakness, disempowerment do not define me. When I talk about my cancer journey, it almost feels like I’m talking about someone else. That is how far removed I am from that way of thinking. Do I remember it vividly? Sure do. Do I feel compassion for people who are chronically ill? Absolutely. But I’m also here to tell you that no matter what you have going on, there is always hope and possibility. Often it takes someone else to help you see through a different lens.

Joy lives independently of one’s zip code and external circumstances. Everyday I’m keenly aware that I literally would not be breathing if it wasn’t for my amazing Creator. I shouldn’t be alive. Cancer was nearly the end of me, and by all accounts, should have been. “We didn’t think you’d make it through treatment,” my doctors said, months after I did. You do not have to have a brush with death before you wake up and realize you are not living…

So many people confuse “feeling alive” with feeling happiness and pleasure…

They are not the same. I believe and it’s my experience, that the things that make me feel most alive are also things that keep me on the edge. They cause me to bump up against my comfort zone and challenge me to step out of safety. Much of what I do these days is not easy or comfortable. It’s complicated and uncomfortable- but some of it also makes me feel alive. Not everything is about pleasure and happiness. A lot of it is about repurposing pain in a way that elevates people in our world.

I believe that our light gets snuffed out by fear, societal expectations, the need to perform and please others, as well as unrecognized trauma.

Here’s what I have to say about you and any pressure you may feel to perform or prove your intrinsic value:

It’s time to level up, and expand your horizons!

With an encouraging guide that dares ask thought provoking questions to help you dig deep into your soul, you can absolutely step into more power and sense of purpose than you ever have!

As long as you have  breath, there is opportunity to change course or delve deeper into your soul for renewed energy.

I changed the name for confidentiality, but the story is 100% true.