Time To Rise...

Women Singing Earth by Mary Southard

Since I was almost as young as I can remember, I took on the role of being the caretaker in my home. Growing up in a drug induced and abusive environment, there was always this inherent need to make sure my mom and my siblings were safe.

Even to my own detriment and even if there was nothing that I could do about any of it, I felt like I always needed to be present and at least witnessing what was going on in my home. I think that was the only way I could feel some sense of control.

When I turned 18 and my mom went to prison, I immediately took on the care of my brother & sister who are 16-17 years younger than me. My ex husband & I ended up raising them until they grew up and moved out. They will always will be our kids, even if not by birth.

Meanwhile we also had our own 3 kids, and for the roughly 15 years that I was married, life was ALL about being a wife and a mom. Nothing else mattered. It was never a question, that was my life's purpose and I was always fulfilled by it. I thought that’s how life would always be.

Then the divorce came. And for the first time ever the kids would go with their dad for half the time and I would be alone. For the first time in my life I had to look in the mirror and question who I was without the husband and the kids.

It’s so engrained in our society to sacrifice everything that we are and wrap our entire identities in being caregivers. Yes, it can be a wonderful honor to be able to give to our loved ones. But it’s not so wonderful to wake up one day and realize we’ve lost ourselves, our health and mental well being in the midst of it all.

While this was a very dark and lonely place for me for a long time, eventually, through a ton of personal work, it became a wonderful journey of self discovery.

Although my role as a mom will always be the most important, and one that I will hold and treasure for my entire life, my purpose and mission in the world are changing.

I am finding a new definition for who I am and what my life is for. I have learned self love and to practice what it means to take care of myself first. I am learning what it looks like to live life on my own terms now, while also continuing to be of service to my family, to women and to the world.

Now I get to branch out beyond my family and make an impact on a different scale. The vision for what I’m creating is still coming into focus, but I’m so excited (and terrified at the same time) because I know without a doubt that it’s time.

Time to come into the next level of my life, but without it being so hard and such a struggle. Without being so hard on myself, and without so much sacrifice.

What if we *can* actually be givers in this world while also being nourished ourselves. I think this is the new way for women and leadership in the world. I think this is how it has to change or else it’s just not sustainable.

This is the force that I’m ready to be part of. One where women have the opportunity to heal and be loved and nourished while also being a contribution to the world around them, however they choose.

This is why I’ve hired my coaches, The Healing Couple. Because I can’t do this alone. We can’t do this alone. We need each other, my friends. We need community to rise community. The world needs us to band together to raise the condition of the planet. For each other, for our children, for humanity.

Come along, rise with me...

xoxoxo
Mimi

Rising Woman ~ Jaylene Welch

I'm super excited to introduce Jaylene Welch to The Rising Woman Project as her story has inspired me since first seeing her back in 2012. Although I think we've only met once or twice in person, I feel like we have traveled parallel paths in many ways. Thank you for sharing your story here, Jaylene!

Rising Womxn ~ Linda Schwartz

I am deeply honored to introduce our first Rising Woman interview of 2019, my very dear friend, Linda Schwartz! Linda & I quickly became friends in 2011 while we both were diving into the transformational work of Landmark's curriculum for living. Over the years our paths have weaved in and out and it has been such a joy to watch her evolve and see the beautiful life that she's creating today. 

In this interview, Linda takes us through her journey of personal growth and self discovery from a treacherous childhood to becoming a woman who is empowered and making a difference in the world today. 

The Rising Womxn Project

This project comes very near and dear to my heart as I have committed to a life of being unstoppable in my quest of becoming the best possible version of myself. 

The Story is Being Written...

Sharing this with you is super scary for me, but I feel like I don't have a choice anymore. I need to put this out there to you, and to the Universe, to hold me to my word.

Staying Sober on the Holidays and the Hard Days

This post is for my #soberwarriors #sobercurious or just plain #sober on the holidays and the hard days...

Holidays and special occasions can be hard! There is so much normalization around drinking and partying around the holidays and special occasions.  

The Risk to Love ❤

Sometimes we take risks with our eyes wide open... 

In life... 

In love... 

Oh My, the Single Life!

Being single after roughly 20 years of being in a marriage/relationship, and really for the first time in my adult life has been a crazy learning experience and wild adventure. I have learned and am learning so freaking much about myself and what I want that I’m finally in a place where I feel like I can talk about some of it. 

She Remembered Who She Was...

There is a storm raging inside of me. It has always been there. Only now I embrace it. All in.

I am a strong woman. Fierce. Loyal. Bold. Powerful. Unshakeable.

Sometimes You Must Go~

Today would have been my 19th wedding anniversary. I hesitated on writing about it, but it's the only brilliant and true thing that is there for me to write this evening, so I will share... Brilliantly... 

The Moon is Calling

Do you feel the pull of the moon tonight...

The pull to leave everything in sight~

Even When We Don’t Want To...

I just got home from a long day, I’m tired and I don’t want to write tonight. 

I don’t have a plan and I don’t have it all figured out. Welcome to life. 

Here I am anyway. 

Feel it to Heal it

Feelings are a tricky thing. There's a lot of talk about feelings in recovery because we are learning to deal with them in new and productive ways rather than numbing them out.

Becoming a master over and a friend with our feelings is critical. Otherwise they can have mastery over you. 

Feeling the Fear~

I am learning some things about fear. Even building a relationship with it. 

Fear is not a stranger to me, however mostly my fears have been based on something that has already happened or something that I’m afraid will happen, which is usually never actually going to happen. It’s just craziness. 

Come Along With Me~

I’ve decided that I’m taking you all on a journey with me! 

of transformation and expansion… 

Rising Woman ~ Allyson Elizabeth

Our next Rising Woman has just rocked my world with her story. There are so many reasons that I'm completely honored to share Allyson's story here. I "met" Ally through her Facebook group, Badass Sober Sisters, and asked her to share her story when I recently saw her celebrating 6 years of sobriety. The further I move on along in my own sobriety, the more I realize the importance of impacting the stigma around addiction and recovery. I'm so thankful for people like Allyson who choose to support people on this journey. Her FB group has been one of the many supporting factors in my own sobriety. Thank you, Ally, for being the first Rising Woman to share on the topic of recovery, and for the incredible courage that it took you to do so. You, my friend, are a warrior and I love you!

Who are you and what do you do for a living?
I’m Ally. I’m 27 years old and I am a full time student majoring in social work.

Tell me about your family, if applicable.
I’m the oldest of 3 girls. My parents have been and are still together since they were 16 years old. My dad will have 17 years sober in August.

What is your story?
Well, I grew up in the alcoholic household. My dad drank until I was 11 years old. I also picked up my first drink at 11. When my dad got sober he passed a comment that he got sober for my little sister, so she wouldn’t have to go through what my sister and I went through. I can honestly tell you right then and there all my insecurities were born. Why was I not good enough for him to get sober long before? If I’m not good enough for my own dad how would I ever be good enough for anyone else?

By the time I was 11 years old I knew what real pain and heartache was. I worried about things no child should even know about.

My drinking wasn’t crazy, just weekend and school breaks but when I took that first drink at 11 I knew I was different. I didn’t like the taste or the feeling but what I did like is feeling numb. From that first night, I drank to blackout and not feel.

Fast forward to senior year of high school, I was an excellent student and was accepted into every college I applied to. I feel like I was pressured into going away. See, my parents didn’t know about my weekend escapades, but I was a hard kid to raise. I was disrespectful, irresponsible and mean. I thrived in chaos and negative spaces. So my parents thought it was a good idea that I not stay home for school. I kind of feel like they just didn’t want to deal with me anymore and wanted a peaceful environment to raise my sisters. Again all those insecurities were right back in full force.

I decided to go to SUNY Purchase in Westchester, New York. I was 18 and no where near ready to be on my own. I drank myself into oblivion every night. I didn’t go to class - I joke that I majored in beer pong and boys. I met a guy who I thought I was going to be with forever. I latched on. I couldn’t do anything without him, breath, sleep, live. He joined the military and left for basic training for 20 weeks. I always craved attention from guys and I found that in his recruiter. I never cheated, but I loved the flirty-ness. I also started hanging out with my cousin who introduced me to roxys and shooting. When my boyfriend came home, we moved in together and I stopped doing drugs. It was more important to me to be the perfect military girlfriend. In December of 2009 we got engaged. I was living the life I always wanted. But I’m an addict and eventually my drinking became a problem, so I picked up pills again. We moved in with his parents and I was convinced that if I got pregnant I would be cured of drug addiction and my relationship would be fixed. But to be honest I really don’t think I would have stopped using, or if i did I think I would have been resentful that I had too. I know that sounds so selfish, but I only cared about drugs. My relationship fell apart and I moved back to Long Island.

On my 21st birthday, I went to a local bar. I was dancing with my long time friend, and this other kid came up and the next thing I know their hands are down my pants. Afterward, I just chalked it up to being too drunk and I asked for it because I danced with him. I know now that that was no where near acceptable or my fault.

I soon met another boy, in 2011, who was just getting out of treatment and moving into a male halfway house, so I moved in with him. The house was run by a gang called the Latin Kings and they were running drugs in and out. I was introduced to heroin at this time. I don’t really remember the week I was there. The boy I was seeing stole money from the guys running the house and blamed me, they broke my cheekbones, my nose, and I was raped by 7 or 8 men. I then went upstairs a hysterical bloody mess and overdosed. Someone called my mom and told her I was in danger, but wouldn’t tell her where I was. She had to track my cell phone. On the way to the hospital I ended up flatlining. They had to narcan me 4 times and use paddles. They asked me if I had a problem and I said that I was 21 and just having fun. I went a little overboard. They sent me on my way, but now I’m screwed because it is now confirmed. I am deep in addiction and using heroin. My parents sent my sisters to my grandma's, took off work and I detoxed at home cold turkey for 8 days. I went to my first AA meeting after I was done detoxing, but was high as a kite before the meeting was over.

I went on to overdose another time, narcan, paddles, the works. I finally attempted sobriety and had about 75 days clean when my neighbors stepson moved in across the street. He was everything I wanted, he did drums, dealt drugs and had a girlfriend. The chaos that became my life for literally only 2 months was insane. I made Facebook after Facebook to tell this poor girl what was going on between her boyfriend and I. I spared no detail. He and I ended in Jersey with my mom's stolen credit card. I showed up at my uncle's ex wife’s door and I hadn’t seen her in 20+ years. We spent the next 4 days in oblivion. When I got home my parents had booked me a one way flight to Arizona for treatment. I stayed in Arizona for 3 months but was convinced I wasn’t an alcoholic, I was a drug addict. I couldn’t be an alcoholic. I was 21, that’s what all normal kids my age do.

I drank for a while, but alcohol stopped giving me the high or numbness I craved. In November 2011 my good friend from high school passed away from an overdose. He was 22 years old. My world sank. I couldn’t understand why a 22 year old was taken and I didn’t understand how he was here one day and gone the next. I had just talked to him about going to meetings. I was so uncomfortable and needed out. Right back to the syringe I went. I went to his funeral flying high and looked his mother in the eye and promised I was doing good. I ended up back in treatment 3 weeks later.

This time, I stayed on Long Island. I went to Seafield in West Hampton Beach, they were the best on Long Island. I ended up getting kicked out for fraternizing 12 days later. When my mom and grandma picked me up they informed me I wasn’t allowed in my house and I would be moving in with my grandma. I rebelled against everything my grandma believed in. I was furious and refusing.

I was with my grandma for 4 months and I stayed sober. I threw myself into my program, meetings, sponsor, and the 12 steps. In February 2012 my neighbors step son passed away and I found myself right back in the same place. Questioning God, my purpose. I really tried to stay clean, like honest to God I wanted it. I reached out, I went to meetings and shared, but the that uncomfortability came right back and I needed out of self.

I stole a credit card went down to Florida and did what I did best. I was extremely high staying in a hotel room when I called my mom and she actually answered. My parents had cut me off by this time. I went on and on about how I was starving and needed food. She just quietly said “you are my beloved, take a good look and ask yourself if this is who you want to be? That pain you feel is only temporary and you can fight it,” and she hung up. I cried like I never had before and I hit my knees and begged for help. I got my MacBook, the only thing I wouldn’t pawn, and googled treatment centers. I found one in Hobe Sound 4 hours from where I was, all I had to do was get myself to detox.

The night before going to detox I was raped by 2 men. They dropped me off at the hospital the next day. They didn’t even wait until I was out of the car to drive away. Even despite that, I still wanted to get clean. I was ready and willing to do anything for sobriety.

While checking into detox, they found drugs and I was arrested for possession with the intent to sell. I was taken to Tavernes County Jail. I was there for 3 days which isn’t long, but felt like an eternity. My parents bailed me out and I went to detox for 7 days, and then treatment for 45. I knew I wasn’t ready to come home, plus I was facing 7-10 years with the intent to sell charges, so I wasn’t allowed to leave Florida. I also knew I needed to listen to people who knew more than I did, so I went to a halfway house for a year.

I went in front of a judge 8 months later and my charges were dismissed because they broke confidentiality. I flew back to New York that night and called my parents from JFK. When I told them I was home, they told me that was nice because I wasn’t allowed in their house, so I had to find somewhere to live. I went to another halfway for 9 months, then moved in with my aunt in South Carolina. I wasn’t allowed home until I was almost 2 years sober.

To say it has been a roller coaster is an understatement. There has been extremely low points in my sobriety, but I pushed forward. Today, April 1st, I celebrate 6 years of complete sobriety. I was asked why I think I’m in the 1% of those who get sober and stay sober, and my answer is simple - I remain teachable, I don’t know everything and I rely on those who know more. I took every suggestion. I threw myself into program. I also believe living a life of service is a major piece of remaining sober. I am able to be there and supportive of everyone I meet.

I hit an extremely low point in my sobriety, I lost faith in myself, God, and meetings. I was going to 1-2 meetings every 2 months, if that, and I suffered terribly. I felt alone, not connected, and miserable. My attitude and behaviors were those of someone in active addiction. I forced myself to get back to meetings. I met my sponsee and we’re currently going through the steps. Taking her through the steps and being there and present for someone has healed me in places I didn’t know needed to be healed.

I remain grateful always. I fall short, but I can admit when I’m wrong and need help. Despite the hardships I’m still standing.

What have you overcome to get where you are today?
Honestly no one, including myself, thought that I would be alive today. If someone told me today that I’d be sober, have my family in my life, have amazing women in my life, I never would have believed it. I was heading down a really dark and dangerous road and I didn’t care if I lived at the end. So I guess I had to overcome not caring what happened to me, finding the willpower to overcome addiction.

What has been your greatest struggle in life?
Acceptance and control. I like things to go my way. I’m working on trying not to control everything and accept people and things the way they are. I read and reread page 417 in the big book of alcoholic anonymous.

Did you ever feel like giving up? When you felt like giving up, what did you do?
I want to say giving up isn’t an option, but just because I have 6 years doesn’t mean I don’t struggle with the same things people in early recovery do. I just have the tools today to deal with and overcome. I won’t lie though, sometimes I just don’t want to feel, but I won’t give up. When I do feel that way I reach out to my support tribe. I pray, write, make gratitude lists, eat, and read recovery books; Living Sober, The Big Book, Daily Reflections.

What are some of the tools and resources you have used to work through and overcome those struggles? (books, counselors, workshops, programs, coaches, etc.)
I see a psychologist once a week, a psychiatrist every 6 months, I have a sponsor and an amazing group of women and I am extremely active in A.A.

What are your gifts and how did you discover them?
There’s so many gifts. I am responsible today. I suit up, shut up, and show up for people today. I care so much about literally everyone and would do anything to help people. I’m nonjudgmental, I don think I have a right to judge anyone when we all have our own paths. I was blessed with these gifts when I got sober and did the steps and when I started taking other women through the steps.

Tell us about your tribe and the importance of having one.

I have an amazing tribe. We’re all different ages and in all different points in our sobriety but the love and compassion not to mention the understanding is in full force. They are always there when I need someone. Having a tribe makes me feel not alone and understood when I feel absolutely crazy.

Who in life do you rely on when you're struggling? Who keeps you uplifted and on your path?
My dad. I had a really rocky relationship with him when he first got sober and addiction swallowed me, but I couldn’t have gotten 6 years without him especially in the beginning. He is my best friend, my go-to, my rock. He showed me how to live a life of honesty, integrity, and kindness. I call him for literally everything, probably like 15 times a day. He is the best man I have ever met.

What do you want other women to know who are feeling lost, and/or experiencing their own tragedy and/or struggles?
You are so worth it. The pain you’re in now is only temporary. Fight through. You are beautiful and strong and I love each and everyone of you even if we haven’t met.

What is some advice you would give to women who are healing or rising in some way?
You can do it! Look for the rainbow after the storm, it’s always there even if you can’t see it.

Anything else you'd like to add? 
This world can be such a scary dark place at times. That’s why it’s so important to stick together. Lift each other up and strengthen each other. We need each other.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are a woman questioning your own troubles with addiction; if you're trying or wanting to get clean & sober; or if you're just looking for more support on your journey, we encourage and urge you to reach out. It can feel like a lonely road, but I PROMISE you're not alone.

You can find Ally and a whole group of amazingly supportive sober women on their journey of recovery on Facebook at: Badass Sober Sisters

Ally, thank you again for being part of The Rising Woman Project. Keep doing what you're doing, girl! 

xoxoxo

Rising Woman~ Lisa Simchison

This Rising Woman is just so inspiring to me! I have never met Lisa in person, but together we used to be part of the Sweaty Betties with Danny-J. Seems so long ago! Lisa, I have absolutely loved watching you blossom over the past few years. You are such a bright light and I am honored to share your story here... xoxo

Who are you and what do you do for a living? 
I am Lisa Simchison - I'm a 30-something mom, wife (married to my high school sweetheart!), a yoga teacher, a hypnotist, a nature lover, a seeker, a writer and so many other things! I spend my time helping women re-learn how to love themselves - exactly as they are. I use yoga, meditation, journalling and hypnosis to guide my clients back to themselves and to a place where they can finally stop living in the shadows, watching life from the sidelines and start living and LOVING their lives again!!

Tell me about your family, if applicable. 
I have the most amazing little family! I married my highschool sweetheart almost 15 years ago and we have spent that time learning and growing together. He is the most supportive partner and manages to make me laugh every single day! We have two incredible daughters - Emma is almost 13 and Maddy is almost 11 - they are the best thing that has ever happened to both myself and my husband! Emma is strong and determined and questions everything - she is the kind of badass that I hope to be one day! Maddy is kind and sweet with a compassionate heart - she is someone you just want to be around!

What is your story? 
I have battled self hatred and disordered body image for all of my adult life - I lived on the yo-yo diet roller-coaster - trying every single diet known to man. About 5 years ago I found myself over exercised, under-fed and miserable and exhausted...I couldn't do it anymore. I heard my daughter, Emma tell my husband "Mom doesn't eat ice cream" when he asked to see if I wanted to join them for an outing to the ice cream store...that was it for me. I was devastated. I knew that I was hurting myself with my disordered eating and exercising but I thought I was hiding it from my family...I wasn't. That is when I made the commitment to love and accept myself! It wasn't easy though, I struggled for years with those old habits and thought patterns. I had to remind myself daily that I was worthy of my own love - exactly as I was. During that time I found out that I had given myself adrenal fatigue from over exercising and under eating. That caused me to gain weight - the very thing I had worked so hard to avoid - and I gained a lot of weight about 45lbs in two years. That was the biggest lesson I had in self acceptance and self love - there was nothing I could to stop the weight gain - and essentially, I had caused it myself. I spent the next two years flip floping from self hate to self love - but I kept doing the work (yoga, meditation, hypnosis and journalling) and the days of self hate became fewer and farther between until more days than not, I truly loved myself. After two years of doing the work and learning and trying and growing, I started to implement these lessons in my yoga teaching and in the last two years my focus has shifted to coaching other women to self love.

What have you overcome to get where you are today? 

I have overcome a lifetime of negative beliefs that were planted in me. I have overcome negative body image and self hatred. I have overcome a deeply rooted belief that I was unlovable - and that no matter what I do I am not good enough. Overcoming those things and being where I am now - where I seriously love every single inch of my body and every aspect of myself - even the imperfect things and shadows - has been the biggest struggle and the biggest success of my entire life.

What has been your greatest struggle in life? 

My greatest struggle in my life has been self love and acceptance - it was so ingrained in me to hate myself and to want to change (how could anyone love me if I wasn't thin?). I spent two decades at war with my body and I have spent hundreds and hundreds dollars trying to "fix" my body. It has been my hero's journey for me to overcome this struggle and get to the place where I can wear a bikini on the beach and jump in the water with my kids and to help other women get to that place too!

Did you ever feel like giving up? When you felt like giving up, what did you do? 

I felt like giving up every day - it is so hard to go against everything you know. All I "knew" was that I was supposed to be thin - and it didn't matter what it took - I believed that I would never love myself unless I was thin. On the days when I felt like giving up and going back to my old ways of restrictive dieting, I would look at my girls - they were the motivation I needed to keep going. I didn't want them to see me living a half life and always worried about my weight - I knew that if they saw me doing that then they would most likely fall into that trap too. Ont he hard days when I wanted to quit and loving myself was too much work I would get on my yoga mat or go outside - those things helped me get back into my body - to really FEEL it - instead of thinking with my brain, I could feel with my heart and with my body. That always helped me stop the negative thought trains, in fact, it still does.

What are some of the tools and resources you have used to work through and overcome those struggles? (books, counselors, workshops, programs, coaches, etc.) 

I have used many tools over the course of the last few years but the ones that stand out are the following: Hypnosis, The Desire Map book by Danielle Laporte, The Handel Method, Blocked 2 Blissed with Bexlife, The Art of Attention by Elena Brower, The White Hot Truth by Danielle Laporte, Awaken your Abundance with Tani Morgan, and a huge variety of meditations and yoga classes.

What are your gifts and how did you discover them? 

I am a teacher. I have always known this, but it wasn't until I found yoga that I truly discovered my voice. As soon as I started teaching yoga I found a part of myself that I didn't know existed - I was confident, calm, and at ease in front of the class. I have spent the last 10 years teaching yoga and learning as much as I can about yoga and wellness and now I use my skills as a yoga teacher to coach women 1:1 and in small groups. I am also wildly creative - I love to sing, paint, write, take photos and crochet - I was this way as a child but somewhere along the way I lost the nerve to be creative. In the last two years I have rediscovered the love I have for all things creative and in the process I have found that I am actually pretty good at most things creative!

Who in life do you rely on when you're struggling? Who keeps you uplifted and on your path? 

I rely on my husband - he is my anchor. I am a wonderer and I spend a lot of time with my head in the clouds - and he helps keep me grounded. I also rely on a very small handful of incredible friends - the ones who will pick up the phone in the middle of the night when I call. I also rely on my faith that the universe is supporting me in every moment of my life - I believe that everything happens for a reason and that there is a bigger plan for me.

Tell us about your tribe and the importance of having one. 

I have an incredible tribe of women in my life. Some of them I have never even actually met in real life but they are so important to me! I surround myself with women who I aspire to be like - women who are strong, loving and luminous - they shine their light no matter what! Women who say how they feel and live life like they give a damn! Having these women in my life helps me be the best version of myself - I know that I can count on them to call me out on my BS but also lift me up when I am down - they offer support, guidance, love and friendship and I can't imagine my life without them!

What do you want other women to know who are feeling lost, and/or experiencing their own tragedy and/or struggles? 

I would tell them - YOU ARE LOVED. You are unconditionally and completely loved exactly as you are.

What is some advice you would give to women who are healing or rising in some way? 

Keep going and tell your story - share it with others, write it down, get it out of you and into the world where it can be released and healed and also where it can inspire other women. The more we open and share our stories the more we give other people permission to do the same.

~ You can find Lisa at: www.lisasimchison.com

~ Lisa is the creator of The Rebellious Love Project, which you can find here: http://bit.ly/2DUKhOS

Lisa, keep doing your thing, beauty! And thank you for being part of The Rising Woman Project! 

xoxoxo

And So I Rise...

*Artist unknown*

There is a storm raging inside of me. It has always been there. Only now I face it, head on.

I am a strong woman. Fierce. Loyal. Bold. Powerful. Unshakeable.

I know my commitments, my values, my stance.

I am a woman of integrity. Honest and true.

I am a woman who makes mistakes. I change my mind and my ways often.

The dualities within me rage with the seasons of life.

On one side, I am clear and confident.

On the other, I am unsure and shakeable.

I know my worth. I no longer settle. In love, in life, in work. In anything.

I am awake in heart and spirit.

I can now BE in the uncertainty. BE in the moment.

I can embrace the moments of seeking and becoming.

I am not perfect. I don't have it all figured out.

I am stepping out of the darkness and into my light.

Over and over.

I will embrace and let go all at the same time.

Mind, heart and hands wide open.

I give and receive all that life has to offer.

I am an integrated woman - all parts of my being stand before life.

Feet firm on the ground.

Heart and soul wide with the Universe.

One foot in front of the other.

One moment after another.

I am a woman of faith, trust, love, grace.

With strength.

Again, and always, I am finding my way...

xoxoxo
Mimi~

Rising Woman~ Nicole Yasmin

Who are you and what do you do for a living?
My name is Nicole and for a living, I teach women how to release weight and live the life they desire.

Tell me about your family, if applicable.
I have a Lebanese background and born in Sydney Australia. I have one brother, 27 first cousins and 14 aunties and uncles ;)

What is your story? 
It all started when I was a teenager and I was diagnosed with depression and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). At 81 kilograms and 160cm tall, I was also considered obese. I had severe acne, was completely lethargic and struggled to find any energy, wanting to stay in my bed and sleep most days away.

Do you feel this way? Wake up in the morning not wanting to face the world? 

In an attempt to resolve my health issues, my doctor prescribed me medication to relieve the symptoms, despite being told that it was incurable and that diet and exercise were the only things that may provide some relief.

At this point I thought, 'okay well, I guess that’s it then... I have to accept this is my life, and deal with it.’.

My mother has always been a strong advocate for natural health and healing remedies. She was determined to help me, and I thank her greatly for it.
She sent me to a Dietician, a Naturopath, a Herbalist and an Iridologist. All of these health professionals gave me different vitamins, supplements, herbs and diet plans. I also signed up to the gym and working with a personal trainer. I was able to release 11 kilograms but found that I was still experiencing acne, low energy, and diminished well-being.


I wanted to crawl in my bed and never wake up. I spent mornings crying and thinking ‘there must be something wrong with me. Why does life feel so hard? Why can’t it be easy? Why do I have to be suffering?’ I can only describe it as a huge struggle and a deep suffering. I would pray but I felt like I was never heard.


Years went on and I finished high school. Over that time, the weight came back. I had begun to accept that this was how life was meant to be for me, that I was not meant to be happy or a healthy body weight.


I started studying graphic design thinking it was something I truly loved, but over time I realized it wasn’t, so I took a break to truly ask myself 'what do I love doing?' My first answer was, 'I love helping people'. It was something I felt I could do so well and that rewarded me in ways I couldn’t achieve elsewhere.


I changed my course to a degree in social science majoring in counseling (and later transferred to psychology). My first step towards fulfillment. Along the way, I met someone and they asked if I believed in God and if I went to church. I thought about it and responded, ‘I only go when I have to and I don’t really know if I believe in God.’ I was born and raised as a Catholic but I mean, I would often fall asleep in church because the teachings didn’t quite resonate with me...


This question prompted a journey of self-discovery, and discovery of others. I began to show interest in other people’s beliefs, faiths, religions, and spiritual connections to bring together my own understanding of the whole ‘God’ concept. I put my studies aside to work four jobs to make a living and found it increasingly hard to study...
A family member constantly recommended that I complete a course in a meditation technique, but I wasn’t interested. It wasn’t until my life came crashing down that I was left feeling that deep suffering and painful isolation again.


I couldn’t hold the tears back. I would constantly wake up crying. I kept feeling like ‘there’s something wrong with me. Why isn’t life working out? Why is it SO easy for other people, but not me?’


Have you ever felt that way before? No matter what you do, life still isn't working out?


I was persuaded to take the course in this meditation technique called ThetaHealing. I considered it my last resort. I was desperate for change... and I’ve never looked back.


For the first time in my life I felt happy, TRULY happy. I began to gain clarity and understanding about why my life and feelings were the way they were. Most importantly, I began to understand how I could be in control of and change what was happening.


This course sent me on a journey of constant learning about the mind, body and soul connection. I realized that every health problem had a mental, emotional and spiritual connection to it. I completed many ThetaHealing courses around health, mind, body and spirit. I gained real physical, mental, emotional and spiritual results.


Only when I was able to change my thoughts and emotions did I then start to see lasting physical changes. Bear in mind, my intention to do these courses was not to change my health, but to be happy.


In these courses I discovered how much hatred and rejection I had towards myself.


Over time, I released more than 20kgs of weight, and now no longer experience depression or PCOS. I went back to the doctor who once said it was incurable and she was ecstatic to say I no longer had the PCOS. It has been more than five years since I have applied those changes and my life keeps getting better.

I have founded a business called ‘Shift Your Space’ where I lead online and face to face programs, and provide ThetaHealing consultations. The consultations are for people who feel stuck but are proactive in making a change. They come to me for a reading, guidance, healing and transformation. I also lead Certified ThetaHealing Courses and run a successful online womens program called ‘Shift Your Weight’ that encompasses a holistic approach to health.

What have you overcome to get where you are today?
To get to where I am today, I had to do what was uncomfortable. I had the ideas, dreams and desires, but the only way I was going to make them my reality was to make the discomfort, comfortable. For example, attending those meditation training courses, moving out of home (coming from a Lebanese background, the morality is: you live at home until you are married. Well I have broken away from that) and working for myself. Those 3 big decisions I made, lead me to where I am today. Everything in between were little speed bumps and smooth roads.

What has been your greatest struggle in life?
Struggle is a choice and mindset. I learned through ThetaHealing how to give up the struggle and to read the signs. If something is not flowing, its either your beliefs around it or there is a better route. ThetaHealing is a tool that has allowed me to connect and see the truth of what life presents.

Did you ever feel like giving up? When you felt like giving up, what did you do? 
Yes. I had ‘given up’ a few times. But the Universe kept pulling me back into where I needed to be. Sometimes I would sit with the feelings and allow them to come up and they would pass. Other times where I feel that feeling, my intuition will go “here is the breaking point of change, keep going” and I rise up and become a stronger person. Either way I go, I allow myself to take that course and be kind to myself in the process.

What are some of the tools and resources you have used to work through and overcome those struggles? (books, counselors, workshops, programs, coaches, etc.) 
ThetaHealing was a pivotal point of my journey of change. Through learning the meditation technique, I experienced profound healing on all levels. I shifted what was weighing me down energetically, and became who I really am today. Its a technique that I have continued to study and practice in my day to day life. Its a modality that keeps growing and thats what I love about it. There is always more to learn and apply. Well Vianna (the founder of ThetaHealing) says, “you are remembering”.
A book that introduced me to my path of personal development was ‘The Game of Life’ by Florence Scovel Shinn. Its a great book and easy read to open a persons awareness of their thoughts and the universe.

What are your gifts and how did you discover them?
My biggest gift I have is my intuition. Every person has an intuition and psychic ability. I discovered it profoundly during my first ThetaHealing Course. I was blown away at what I saw. Over the years, I have kept practicing and building my intuition so I can see vividly and clearly. The intuition is like a muscle, the more you practice, the stronger it gets. When I first started, I would only see energy. Now I can see full blown pictures.


Who in life do you rely on when you're struggling? Who keeps you uplifted and on your path?
Creator. I pray and Creator hears me and will send messages to those around me to give me a message. Sometimes we may get caught up on relying on a particular person to help us when we are in need. However, they may not be the exact person to give us the message we need. So instead, pray to Creator.I keep myself uplifted when I practice Yoga, meditate, helping other people, connecting with my loved ones. There have been times where I have gone off my path, but I have learned how to put myself back on my path instead of relying on another person - thats empowerment when you can do it for yourself.

Tell us about your tribe and the importance of having one.
I started a community within my business called ‘Shift Your Space’ where men and women who are spiritual and on their path of personal development come together. I share with them what I have learned so they can learn too. Others will share what they have applied and learned and the results they received so it can help others on their journey. Its a safe space for people to express who they are spiritually and develop their abilities.Its so important to be apart of a community where you feel connected and accepted. Without a community, you feel isolated and alone. If you are reading this, find your tribe. Every person has one, they just haven’t found it yet. My doors are open if you would like to be apart of it. You just need to believe in something that created everything (along with some other conditions ;P) <3

What do you want other women to know who are feeling lost, and/or experiencing their own tragedy and/or struggles?
If you are feeling lost, stuck or experiencing a tragedy, ask for the solution. Don’t get caught up in the problem. Some people may feel stuck because they’re so caught up in the problem. Place yourself in the question of “what is the solution to ______?” or “what can I do to get myself out of this space?” There are answers and solutions right at your door. You just need to open yourself up to see them.

What is some advice you would give to women who are healing or rising in some way?
Healing is a practice. Its not something you do for a short period and stop. Its a way of life. Healing can be smiling at the person you cross paths with, or it can be practicing meditation for 15 minutes per day. It can even be healing to cook a beautiful meal. Every person has their own rituals and methods of what they use for healing. Find your methods and apply it. Keep yourself maintained with your practice and you will keep rising!

~ You can find Nicole at: www.shiftyourspace.com

~ You can download Nicole's free eBook ’10 Reasons Why You Aren’t Releasing the Weight’ here: http://bit.ly/2uYdwLU

Nicole, you are just a delight! Thank you so much for being part of the Rising Woman Project!

xoxoxo

PS... right before I was about to post Nicole's story, I received this inspiring update from Nicole to include her recent choice to shave her hair. This is how you pave your own path, my friends. 

I shaved my hair because I wanted to. I went against my cultural and societies expectations of what I am “meant” to look like. It’s liberating, authentic and I feel completely womanly.

In a world where so many women are told to be something different, I want to see more women embrace who they are. Starting with me, I hope I can make that change. 

xoxoxo

Rising Woman~ Mimi Marie

Who are you and what do you do for a living?

If this is your first time here, welcome! My name is Mimi and this is my blog :) Thanks to the encouragement from my dear friend, Faith, who is also one of the Rising Women in this series, I decided to go ahead and participate as well. As a bonus, Faith has interviewed me on her podcast which I have included HERE. What an honor to share with each other and with you all!

...And now I know why some of these questions were so tough for some of my women! ;)

Who am I? This is a tough question and I feel like it's always changing. Currently, it has nothing to do with what I do for a living, which is an interesting and evolving discovery. More on that later. If you would have asked me this a year ago (or even a few months ago), my answer would have been so different. Today, I feel like I love who I am more than I ever have. This has been on of the gifts of being single for the first time and the longest period of my life. This has also made me a woman who knows what I want and is no longer willing to settle. I am a woman who is strong, resilient and always striving to be the best version of myself. While I certainly have my low tides in life, I am a woman you will never find down for very long. I am extremely passionate about my family, personal growth and women's empowerment. While I might put up some resistance at first, I'm always open to looking at my own shit, acknowledging my wrongs and growing from them.

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! I have a lot of experience with office management in several different fields. I also have some experience in women's health and lifestyle coaching. However this has been an evolving topic for me for many years. Just recently I made the choice to leave the job I had been at for almost 3 years to pursue something new and the entire plan fell through. Queue quote: "If plan A doesn't work, remember there are 25 more letters in the alphabet!" My big risk quickly turned into what could be perceived as an epic fail, but I chose to see it as time to create something new and fast. Within days, I had probably close to 50 people reaching out to inquire about my services. I could hardly believe I was suddenly in a position to choose who I wanted to work for and how much I wanted to charge, all while working from home and being able to tend to my family more. I now have a handful of virtual assisting projects that I'm working on while at the same time trying to figure out what's next on my path. As a single mom, finding my career path has presented a totally different challenge. I'm super committed and motivated to figure out what it's going to take to create financial freedom for myself. I'm working with my coach to create a plan and while things are really uncertain right now, I'm completely surrendered and trusting the process of my actions. Sometimes it's really scary, but it's also super exciting to be in the world of the unknown.

Tell me about your family, if applicable.

I have 5 kids! 3 of them I gave birth to who are 12, 14 & 15. The other 2 are my biological brother and sister that I raised from the time that they were 2 & 4 until they were grown. Even though I didn't give birth to them, they are my kids and I love them the same. They are now 22 & 24 and one of them now has my beautiful grand baby girl. Their spouses are also my kids who I love dearly. Another special part of my family is my ex husband and his fiancee. We have created such a special family dynamic and unique friendship. I'm so proud of how far we've all come and love that we work together as a family unit. It is for this reason that I believe anything is possible for families when you take full responsibility for your relationships and for your role as a parent. Sometimes love ends up looking different than we think it should, but our commitment to our children and our stand for families is always at the forefront.      

What is your story?

For most of the memory of my childhood, I grew up in a drug and alcohol induced, and very tumultuous environment. I was mostly raised by mother, and my father was in and out of the picture a lot, I believe because his relationship with my mom was so difficult. I witnessed a lot of abuse around me, and was sexually abused by a family "friend" for a number of years. Nearly the moment I turned 18, I moved out to be on my own. The hardest part about that was leaving my siblings who were 16-17 years younger than me. Things were only getting worse at home and I feared for what they would have to endure.

Shortly after moving out to be on my own, my now ex husband and I began raising my brother and sister. In our early 20's we got married, and in our late 30's we had our 3 children. We created the family that we wanted by the time we were 30 and while there was plenty of turbulence, I think we did an amazing job with what we had and what we knew at the time.

Into our 30's we got serious about our paths of personal growth. This ultimately led to the realization that it was time for our marriage to come to an end. This was a turn I hadn't expected much long before and meant my future was now unwritten.

Going through a divorce is never easy for anyone and I certainly had my moments of darkness and uncertainty about life. I allowed the process of grieving to play out in my life and when I was ready, I saddled up and began my own journey of self discovery and healing.

What have you overcome to get where you are today?

My first reaction to this question is, well, I'm not there yet! It's so easy for me to see all the work there is still to do. But I can also acknowledge how far I've come. My childhood is the biggest thing that I've had to overcome. I carried the weight and the shame of being sexually abused with me for a long time. I also carried a lot of sadness about the relationship that I never got to have with my parents. I always wished they had made different choices and made me and my siblings more of a priority. Now I can see that if it wasn't for all of those things then I wouldn't be who I am today. All of those things drove me to be a better, stronger woman.

The other more recent thing that I've overcome was the end of my 17 year marriage. I experienced so much shame, regret and failure around that. I could hardly look at myself in the mirror and face the woman I had been. The months following my separation were some of the darkest of my life. There were days I didn't know how I would get through and nights that I drowned it all in alcohol. The feelings of emptiness were sometimes unbearable and I looked for things to fill the void. I thought I was trying to be tough, strong and brave on the outside, but on the inside I was deeply depressed. I let myself wallow for a while until I got sick of it, and then I decided it was time to start pulling myself together again.

Before my divorce was even final, I found myself in a new relationship, smitten in new love and I dove all in with both feet. I closed my eyes to the red flags and held strong to the fantasy that love could endure all. In some ways, this new relationship showed me love in a whole new light. It taught me some beautiful things about what's possible in romance and a relationship. In a lot of ways we were a mirror and a catalyst for each other's growth. It was fun to live on cloud 9 for a time, but it wasn't realistic. We tried to fit into each other's molds and it didn't work. I dare say that this relationship was one of my greatest ventures in learning about myself. I value honesty, loyalty and integrity more than ever now. What I've had to overcome is the guilt around the choices that I made, the shame around the things that I let break me that weren't mine to own, and the ways that I let all of those things impact my relationship with my family. Even now, almost a year later, I can say that I'm still learning and discovering from that relationship and I'm thankful for the clarity it has given me since stepping away.

Currently I am embracing the single life. My relationship with myself is now at the top of my list. I am finally in a place of discovering and creating my life for me. Learning to be alone and loving myself deeper is a beautiful path that I've never truly been able to appreciate until now. Sure, sometimes I get sad and lonely. Sometimes I miss having a companion and all of the things that come with that, but I've got plenty of work to do in the meantime. For now, I'm dating myself - and my kids!

What has been your greatest struggle in life?

My greatest struggle has been learning to love myself and making choices that align with that. Don't get me wrong, there are things that I've loved about myself throughout the years, like my resiliency and my ability to love. But really loving myself outside of the love of anyone else or any external circumstances has been a different game. When you really love and value yourself, making healthy choices and creating a healthy lifestyle becomes easier. It's getting easier for me now... :)

Did you ever feel like giving up? When you felt like giving up, what did you do?

Yes! I feel like giving up quite often, actually. I think there are certain times and situations when we should give up. The thing is, I never give up for good. It's usually just a pause, or an end to something, and it means it's time for a change. Giving up can look a lot of ways. It can mean taking some time to wallow in my sadness for a little while, ending a job or a relationship. But I don't think that giving up for me is ever a permanent thing. Giving up is a time to assess a situation and see what's not working so that I can find another way.

What are some of the tools and resources you have used to work through and overcome those struggles? (books, counselors, workshops, programs, coaches, etc.)

~The most awesome and profound tool that I've ever had has been the work that I've done with Landmark. For the past 6 years I have consistently participated in their programs and I have continually made progress on my path of personal growth. It has been THE thing that has helped me to let the past go and to always have a say in who I get to be in my life.

~For the past year I have been working in depth with a coach/mentor, Char Spirtos, who I treasure beyond measure. This has given me the greatest leaps in my life in the shortest amount of time.  

~Books!

Untame Yourself by Liz Dialto

Open Your Heart by Tanya Paluso

The Universe Has Your Back by Gabby Bernstein

The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida

The Queen's Code by Alison Armstrong

The Single Woman by Mandy Hale

Motherhood's Not For Punks by Patrina Wisdom

Money, A Love Story by Kate Northrup

You Have 4 Minutes by Rebekah Borucki

This list is always growing...

What are your gifts and how did you discover them?

I think I have a lot of gifts that I haven't really delved into yet. I know that my intuition is an incredibly strong gift that I'm learning to listen and tune into more. I believe my ability to love and my compassion are also gifts. It is often all of these things that lead me in life.  

Tell us about your tribe and the importance of having one.

I think we all feel alone sometimes and the importance of identifying who your tribe is so important. It doesn't have to look a certain way and it doesn't have to be one group of people that all know each other. Your tribe can include all sorts of people that you're connected to. I have so many special people that I am so thankful to call my tribe. They include many of my family members, as well as many women that I have grown friendships with over the years. The women in my life who are on their own paths of self growth and discovery, and the ones who are committed to making a difference in the world, are the ones who always lift me up and keep me on my own path of greatness.

What do you want other women to know who are feeling lost, and/or experiencing their own tragedy and/or struggles?

It's okay to be where ever you're at. It's okay to have bad days. Don't beat yourself up for the struggle and the darkness. Know that the time will pass and it will get better. It's okay to be and feel alone sometimes, but remember that you're not alone. Be sure to reach out to the ones who remind you of your greatness. Reach out, get the help, the love and the support that you need. Take yourself to places and people that lift you up. Eventually the strength will become greater than the struggle.  

 

This project has been such a joy for me to facilitate and I'm so thankful to all of the ladies who join and share their stories. I hope that everyone who follows along finds some strength and inspiration to move forward and to rise above their own struggles and shine as the amazing women they were born to be.

To listen to my Rising Woman interview with Faith Shevlin, go HERE.

If you are interested in working with me to receive the support you need to become your own Rising Woman, please email me here: mimi@mimimarie.com

Much love and light to you all.

Always love,

Mimi

xoxo