Finding Life Again: Reflecting on Growth and Embracing New Beginnings
Have you ever felt so scared to share your story – that you almost didn’t?
As I’ve recently celebrated my birthday and the fourth anniversary of “Chasing Perfection,” I am filled with gratitude for the journey, the growth, and the opportunity to make a difference. Here’s to continuing the journey of healing, fitness, and self-love and to helping others find their own paths to wholeness.
Reflecting on Life and Growth
These last two weeks have been the perfect reset button—slowing down, giving myself permission to take it easy, and nurturing my mind, body, and soul. Every year for my birthday, I take two weeks off—from my birth date of June 26th to July 10th, my brother’s death date. This time allows me to reflect on life’s beautiful gifts, celebrate what it has given and taught me, and consider how much I’ve given to my life. It’s a season and new chapter of who I am becoming. I am excited, but also somewhat scared—I don’t know what to expect, but I’m along for the ride with God at the wheel.
For the past 14 years, I’ve taken these two weeks off to reset, reflect, recharge, and replenish myself. Taking this time and permission to step further into the growth and expansion of my personal, professional, entrepreneurial, faith, fitness, health, and well-being journey has been invaluable. So much has changed over these past few years that it’s become unrecognizable at times. Even I’ve witnessed my own growth and chuckle at the quirky reminders of my past self. Growth, a necessary and often painful part of life, has been profound. Through tremendous loss and grief, I’ve shed the shattered pieces of a life once lived, embracing the power of transformation. Reflecting on this journey, I see the growth of my past self and laugh at the folly of it all—the pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, and burnout that once consumed me.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
Every year, since my brother’s loss 14 years ago, I found life.
[Excerpt from “Chasing Perfection: A Journey to Healing, Fitness, and Self-Love“]
“No one knew it, another secret I’d keep for myself. At that moment, I thought about my brother. He died, and this is what he left behind? A broken sister who spends her time criticizing herself and others? Through his passing, I suddenly had a glimmer of desire to do more and be more.
Overwhelmed with sadness, loss, and grief, this roller coaster of emotions continued as I attempted to pick up the broken pieces and “figure life out.” I wanted peace. In an attempt at finding the silver lining, I chose to see my brother’s loss as a huge wake-up call, proving life is too short and fragile. I no longer wanted to take mine for granted, living negatively. I wanted to make him proud. Not only did I need to be mentally and emotionally strong on the inside, but I also wanted to be physically strong on the outside, without a mask. It was hard pretending.
I didn’t have a plan. So, I turned to what physically moved me—fitness. I used the pain of the loss as a driver and motivator to push through, hoping to cope and heal. I took action and did something more for myself. I joined the same gym my friends and I attended a few weeks prior. The motivation and drive were there … the how-to’s would be learned.
I thought if I focused on what I could control, I would get closer to my goal of filling this new hole in my life—a void of love, peace, and happiness. Aware of how fragile life was, I was determined. I (re)started my health journey, and I didn’t stop.”
And seven years ago, Jesus gave me a new life and purpose. The older I get, the more I appreciate the wisdom, insights, knowledge, strength, courage, confidence, resilience, grace, mercy, and forgiveness that each new day brings.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
It just so happens that this reflection period marks the halfway point of the year. Over the past several months of healing and recovery, I’ve been revisiting pages from my own book, “Chasing Perfection,” and the lessons are as powerful as ever! If you’ve been following along in my weekly newsletter, I share everything—tips, tools, strategies—in my “Fit From Within” Power Series and the “Fit From Within: 60-Days to Finding Freedom” journal. I love it!
Change isn’t just about flipping a new page; it’s about starting a whole new chapter. It’s fueled by wisdom from our past experiences and graced with lessons learned. It’s not about leaving the past behind but moving forward with a clear purpose and resilience, using past lessons to shape a brighter future.
If you’re on the brink of a new chapter and wondering how to navigate it, check out our latest offers and newsletter series on embracing change, new beginnings, and making the most of life’s transitions. Let’s journey forward together, enriching our lives with wisdom from our past and opening our hearts and minds to the opportunities ahead.
Let’s continue this journey together, embracing growth, healing, fitness, and self-love. Thank you for being part of my story.
XO,
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Curated by Rachel Brooks for The Confident Woman