To answer this question, it’s probably best that I share with you a defining moment, and a resulting “compelling story”, that brought me to where I am today – coaching people like you on exactly what to do to focus on your needs and taking action on sustainable self-care . That defining moment in my life happened in 2016.

 

About midway through my nursing career I found myself struggling at work. I was having trouble with saying no to my employer, feeling overly responsible for my patients care, and rescuing everyone but myself. I had overextended myself which left me physically exhausted and weak at the end of each day. My diet was awful, and I was drinking more coffee than water. My adrenals were shot, and my stress response was through the roof. For a while I was in deep denial of my reality. I thought to be a good nurse I had to be compassionate and have a giving heart. However, I was giving more than I had available physically and emotionally, and there were no real results or benefits for either myself or my patients. I became forgetful after a while, and it became incredible intense. I could no longer meditate. Depression was seeping in. I had headaches, I woke up every night with panic, and felt nauseous. I developed shift anxiety, and would start to shake every time I walked into work. I was consumed by the needs of others which isolated me from getting the help I needed.

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Two months after I accepted a new position thinking that would solve my problem, I had a complete meltdown. I was on a break, on the phone with my husband in tears. I had over 100 patients and 40 staff members under my umbrella at the time, and I was in a complete panic that I couldn’t do my job anymore. While on the phone with my husband, we were talking about how much our relationships was suffering because of my job and the burnout I was experiencing. As I looked up in the sky, I saw two hummingbirds fly straight into a glass window and die. Hummingbirds have deep significance to me in a spiritual context, and I took it as a sign. I began to cry, picked up the two little birds, and dug a grave so I could bury them. I saw that I was about to end up like those birds if I did not make a major change in my life quickly. I was going to burn out and die.

 

It took me a few weeks, but I ended up putting in my notice. Although this job was a smart financial decision, and I was praised for my work, my intuition knew it was time for me to step out of management and go back to 1:1 patient care. I began to build boundaries, learned how to say no, and used my own voice more. I declined extra shifts. I dove deep into physical rejuvenation and restoration. I improved my nutrition, and let my body begin to rest. I started my yoga practice again so I could learn how to love and accept myself. I was taking clear and decisive actions to engage in my self-care and reteach myself how to make me the priority.

 

I cleaned up my past and started teaching other medical professionals how they can do the same. I watched their lives change too! I have since made a commitment to dedicate the rest of my professional life to helping other medical professionals rejuvenate their health, reclaim their time and shed years of stress.

 

Since then, I’ve become my own advocate and other medical professionals advocates: I lived my dream of moving to Maui and opening my own practice and I have created Burnout to Brilliant: Sustainable Self-Care for Caring Professionals™ , a series of  six steps that provide lasting rejuvenation.

 

 

Simple willingness and consistency from you will start now and will be required throughout the program. With willingness, we begin to focus on our bodies and embrace an active role in making certain it as healthy as it can possibly be: And with consistency we will slowly reach towards your health goals. Our 6 steps: Self-Care Plan, Resilient Body, Resilient Body, Resilient Emotions, Vibrant Spirit and Vibrant Life will lead every care professional to their innate wholeness, self-worth, desired lifestyle and vitality!