The Journey of Awakening & Embodying My Healing Gifts

Before I could ever hold space for someone else’s transformation, I had to walk through my own. Almost seven years ago, my life looked fine on the outside—thriving massage therapy practice, wonderful husband, healthy kids, great friends. But something inside me was stirring. I had this deep, nagging sense that I wasn’t living to my fullest potential.

Looking back, my body had been trying to get my attention for a long time. My gut health was a wreck—leaky gut, constant discomfort. I now understand that our lower chakras, which are located in the belly area, act like emotional filing cabinets. And I’d been stuffing mine full for years. As a deeply sensitive person, I carried so much unprocessed emotion that eventually, my body just couldn’t hold it anymore.

Traditional doctors offered tests and surface-level fixes, but it didn’t sit right with me. So I followed my intuition and found a holistic nurse who introduced me to energy work through muscle testing. It was the first time I’d experienced healing that went beyond the physical. She identified sensitivities and imbalances, and with her guidance, I began to heal. Within a few months, I felt like a completely different person—lighter, clearer, more connected.

Right around that time, I was driving and listening to Oprah Radio. She posed a simple question: “What’s your dream?” And it stopped me in my tracks. I realized... I didn’t have one. Life was good, but I wasn’t striving for anything. Every dream I thought of, I immediately dismissed as impossible. I was stuck in victimhood—overworked, underpaid, blaming others, and believing my dreams were out of reach.

That moment cracked something open in me. I realized I wasn’t thriving—I was just maintaining. And that wasn’t enough.

So I started searching. I became obsessed with personal and spiritual growth—devouring books, podcasts, anything I could get my hands on. I stumbled across a podcast featuring a spiritual business mentor whose energy I loved. She was hosting a retreat in Sedona, and even though it was a big investment and way outside my comfort zone, I said yes.

That decision changed everything.

In Sedona, surrounded by women who were also seeking transformation, I stepped into something I didn’t fully understand yet—but my soul recognized it. On the second or third day, we participated in a breathwork session. I remember this radiant woman walking into the room and thinking, Who is she? Then she guided us through one of the most powerful experiences of my life.

As I lay there, breathing deeply, I felt the Holy Spirit moving through my body. My hands began to tingle and move on their own. I felt like I was levitating. And then I heard it—over and over: You are a healer. You are a healer. I sobbed, overwhelmed by the truth of it. I felt it in my bones. I didn’t fully understand what it meant yet, but I knew it was real.

After the retreat, I returned home changed—but unsure how to move forward. That’s the tricky thing about these deep containers: they awaken you, then drop you back into your everyday life. I went back to my massage therapy practice, but I was no longer the same. I kept showing up for myself—meditating, exploring my intuition, creating stronger boundaries, and listening deeply.

I began experimenting with energy work during sessions, gently asking clients if I could try something new. My hands were vibrating, sensing pain and energy in new ways. I didn’t have a roadmap, but I trusted the process. And here’s the beautiful part: my work evolved. Now, I combine physical and emotional healing. I tune into the emotional root of physical pain, and it’s become the most sacred, fulfilling work of my life.

This journey wasn’t linear, and it certainly wasn’t easy. But it was divinely orchestrated. From gut issues to Oprah’s question, to a retreat in Sedona and a single breathwork session—I was being guided. And when I finally said yes, the path revealed itself.

If you’re feeling stuck, if you know you’re meant for more but don’t know what that looks like yet—trust that inner nudge. Your soul already knows the way. All you have to do is listen.