When I was 5 years old my father woke up paralyzed from the waist down and was subsequently diagnosed with terminal lupus. In the 13 years that followed until his death my family struggled and endured my mother’s daily feat to provide for our basic needs. It was stressful, traumatic, and very painful. We lived in poverty and I was ashamed and fearful as this young girl experiencing adversity that was never ending. But, I remained strong and unwavering in my quest for a life of my own. My saving graces were my thirst for knowledge and intrinsic belief there is something far more powerful in this universe than the miracle of our mere human existence.

I went on to be the first in my entire family to go to college. For me there was just no question, even if I had to single-handedly figure out all the details. After graduation I moved to New York City where I immediately entered the corporate world. I spent the next 17+ years of my career with three global corporations in technology, finance and commercial real estate. Throughout my career there were promotions, more money, new opportunities, long stints in Asia, and a relocation to Chicago. Yet, my time in corporate America was defined by striving for recognition, seeking validation of my worth, and being more of what others expected of me.

It wasn’t until my awakening I could see clearly. I had disconnected from my own spark and spirit. The pressure to conform, to do as others had always done, to keep quiet when I yearned to speak up, manifested physiologically, but more importantly, mentally and emotionally. My light had dimmed and because of it I learned to play small. My self-esteem was impacted by my perception of what others thought of me. I became a more insecure person that compared, complained, and reacted to my surroundings. I was no longer connected with my authentic self.

Who knew that asking aloud one simple question would profoundly change my life?!

The changes within me were profound. I unraveled years of conditioning and gained clarity on the self-limiting beliefs I’d adopted as a perfectionist. I faced my shadows, transcended parts of my ego, and began to lead myself from my heart rather than my head. There was a lot of pain as I peeled away and healed the layers, yet on the other side of that pain was always more love, compassion and wisdom. 

My external reality has changed so much for the better. Relationships that I outgrew faded away, others strengthened, deeper new ones were developed. My corporate success was booming, and I was BEAMING. I began to channel my immense mental, emotional and spiritual growth into writing, and it was then purpose took shape. What started as blog posts began to resonate with readers and shortly after, led to corporate speaking opportunities. Every time I hit “publish” or spoke publicly, a steady surge of energy would pulse through me. I knew it was my soul’s assurance that I had found my life purpose.