From the Mud of Self-Doubt to Manifesting the Life of My Dreams

I realized my calling early in life is to help people live more vibrant lives. Maybe it was the codependent mother/daughter relationship or growing up in a family of addiction. Seeing firsthand the soul-sucking existence of unfulfilled dreams drove me to find answers to why people simply exist rather than live vibrant lives. Overcoming anxiety and panic attacks, I completed graduate school, created a family, and started my own business.

I have learned many lessons from my first panic attack to building a thriving private practice. And the most important – who am I becoming on the way to my dreams. My coach, Bob Proctor, opened my mind with this powerful statement: “Goals are not for getting; they are for growing. It’s not what you get, it’s all about who you become along the way.” He taught me such a valuable lesson in stepping into the person you want to become to create the life you want to live.

This was the work I knew was ahead of me, even when I didn’t consciously know it yet. My first shift into my best self came as a freshman in college. I was experiencing panic attacks, anxiety, and insomnia. I was caught in the chaos of my mind, spinning in self-doubt, “What if I’m not cut out for this? What if I can’t pass the next test? Maybe I should just quit now,” and so on. These thoughts consumed me, spinning in my mind so fast and so intense they transformed into a full-blown panic attack as I sat in the front row of my university psychology class. Once I realized what was happening, I knew this was unacceptable! I come from the mindset of possibility; there is always another way. This decision to not settle for anything other than my best led me to my first meditation on cassette. This was my opportunity to step into my best self and become the image I chose for myself. This began my journey of understanding the mind-body connection, and I began my career path as a licensed counselor, certified in complementary medicine and wellness.

This journey was not devoid of turbulence. Along with the expected entrepreneurial challenges came miscarriages, job loss, depression, and cancer. These bumps in the road pave the way to success and self-exploration. Like the lotus flower, my transformation came from the mud. When I was ready to rise, I learned to calm the chaos, open my heart, and consciously create my life.

As I was gathering the best tools to use with my clients in building a successful counseling and coaching practice, I was also using these tools to shift and transform my life. We are forever evolving and awakening to our best selves. As a fellow business owner, passion seeker, and joy creator, I want to share my simple keys to ending self-doubt and waking up to your worthiness. You have a gift inside you, your genius, that is meant to be shared with the world. There is no self-doubt or limited thinking that should stand in your way!

I created I.V.E.A., a guide to tuning into your deepest desires and amplifying your energy for more joy, abundance, and ease in your life. This is the foundation of The Image Shift Coaching Program – a 7-month transformation through the chakras.

I ~ Intuition is your loyal guide. You have an inner compass leading you to serve and live in the energy of love and abundance.

V ~ Visualize with your mind’s eye and get a clear image of your soul’s desires. Hold the image in your mind as your truth.

E ~ Emotions fuel your vision with love, joy, and enthusiasm as if it is already done. Deepak Chopra states, “Every cell in your body is eavesdropping on every thought you think.”

A ~ Action that is inspired is required! Action from a state of chaos, overwhelm, or fear only breeds more of the same. Take steps from a state that you want to create.

We are spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical beings. The body is the vehicle for the mind, and our spiritual guidance and emotional vibration fuel the mind. Vibrant living aligns with the frequencies of joy, abundance, and happiness. It is important to remember that we are also here to have fun!

The following is an excerpt from my YES! YES! Journal ~ 33 days at a time to align with your best self. I invite you to try it; in your journal, complete these daily statements:

#1 Yes! to your desires: I am so happy and grateful now that…

#2 Yes! to what inspired action I will take today…

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2024 issue of CHOICES Magazine