For much of my life, I silenced myself.
I’ve always been an overachiever, the “good girl.”
I only let people see the put-together version of who I was. When I needed help, I kept quiet because I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t handle it or that I was inadequate or incompetent in any way.
When I was wrestling with feeling excluded by my peers or trying to process the tension in my parents’ marriage, I bottled everything up inside, like so many of us do. I silenced my pain.
Even though I loved to sing and write, I didn’t share my voice publicly because I was afraid of judgment, rejection, or being embarrassed.
I didn’t know how to truly turn “off,” and my success in school and at work was what made me feel like I mattered. I silenced so much of my joy during that time for the sake of hustling to get ahead.
It’s like I was living my life on mute.
Maybe you’ve been there, too.
We silence ourselves and struggle with self-care, self-doubt and self-compassion.
We feel disconnected in our relationships at work and at home.
We sacrifice our health and wellbeing in our quest to get ahead.
We get so used to living our life based on other people’s expectations that we don’t even know what we want anymore.
Sometimes it takes one of those “here’s your sign” moments, those nudges, to wake us up and compel us to live differently.
For me, that moment came when I was 32, totally burned out, and sick and tired with an acute form of mono called Epstein-Barr Virus. A lifetime of striving, proving and achieving had caught up with me. Even with 13 years in the health and wellness industry, I knew I had more to learn.
Another unexpected blow came in May of 2020, when I was hit by a car and suffered a spinal fracture in the midst of the global pandemic that forced me to pivot my business to 100% virtual.
These difficult moments have given me perspective, time to pause, reflect and build my own resilience.
It’s through those experiences that I’ve reconnected to who I am and what I really want. I’ve learned to advocate for myself, strengthen relationships, share when I’m struggling, and become unmuted - expressing my thoughts, feelings, and voice with confidence and courage.
I even started working with a vocal coach in 2021 to more fully pursue my passion for singing instead of silencing myself out of fear. I’m letting my voice be heard and sharing the gift of song.
Becoming resilient has helped me continue to feel grounded, hopeful, connected and more fulfilled.
Every time I face adversity, I see it as a catalyst and an invitation to live life more fully and intentionally.
I’ve realized I have a deep well of inner strengths, skills and emotions like hope, creativity, curiosity and gratitude that I can draw on to carry me through the challenges.
They gave me an opportunity to use my voice to advocate for myself and tap into the network of support around me, so I felt less alone in my struggles.
I’ve found my passion for helping others feel seen, heard, and excited about their life and their work.
That’s why I work with leaders and their teams to build resilience and better relationships, so they can be more connected and collaborative and have more influence and impact at work and at home.
Through compelling storytelling, interactive experiences and immediately actionable insights, I support organizations, associations and their leaders to bring out what’s best in themselves and their people.
Imagine a future where these things are possible…
You feel connected to each other. You communicate effectively, even in a virtual environment. You respond to stress and uncertainty with confidence. You advocate for yourself and what you need. You prioritize your health and wellbeing and feel alive and energized. You respond with courage when adversity hits.
I can help you get there.
Let’s create unmuted lives and leaders together.
Learn how I can guide you and your team or association to be more resilient