There was a moment—no, there were many moments—where everything inside me unraveled. Two years of relentless burnout had left me depleted, unable to recognize the woman I once was. My business, my personal life, motherhood—everything was hanging by a thread. I found myself staring out at the edge of an invisible cliff, the weight of exhaustion pulling me deeper. It felt like everything I had spent years building was slowly slipping through my fingers.
Maybe you’ve been there too. That place where the line between holding on and letting go blurs into nothingness. It’s terrifying, isn’t it? The uncertainty, the stillness of knowing you have to start again. But here’s the truth I’ve learned, the one that might surprise you: the moment you stand there, trembling on the edge, you’ve already begun your journey back. That first shaky breath, the one where you whisper, *“This is hard, but I’m still here”*—that’s where everything shifts. That’s where your new beginning starts.
Manifesting a New Beginning
In those days, manifesting felt like a foreign concept. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in it—I did. But after two years of burnout, manifesting seemed like something that belonged to other people. My energy was gone, my business was at a standstill, and single motherhood had drained every ounce of strength I had left.
One particular morning sticks in my mind. Zoey was still asleep, and the house was wrapped in early morning quiet. I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the chipped edge of my coffee cup, feeling the weight of everything pressing in on me. I had a choice to make: I could either stay buried in the cycle of burnout or—somehow—find a way to start again.
That’s when I let myself dream. I closed my eyes and saw the life I wanted so clearly it almost felt real. I saw Zoey and I waking up in a beach house, with the sound of the ocean rolling in through our windows. I saw the architecture firm I would rebuild, the thriving non-profit I would create, and the peace that would follow. It was as if I could already touch that life. And the moment I felt it, I knew it was already mine.
Manifesting isn’t some passive act. It’s about dreaming boldly, even when you’re standing in the wreckage of what was. Once you can see it, feel it, taste it—that’s when it begins to find its way to you. The rest? That’s the work you pour in.
Compartmentalizing: A Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had
For a long time, I believed I had to give 100% of myself to every area of my life, all the time. It was the reason I burned out. But starting over taught me a different way—a way of compartmentalizing, not to shut down parts of yourself, but to organize your emotions and time.
I had to learn this lesson the hard way. As a single mother, there were days when it felt like I had to be *everything*—the business owner, the mother, the friend, the daughter. It was exhausting. But I began to understand that I could choose where my energy flowed. There’s a time to grieve, a time to work, and a time to be present.
Now, when I’m with Zoey, I give her all of me. When I’m working, I focus entirely on my business. Compartmentalizing allows me to be fully present, wherever I am. It’s a powerful tool for reclaiming your energy, and it reminds me daily that I can’t be everything to everyone—but I can be *fully* myself in each moment.
Confidence: Building from the Ashes
There’s something no one tells you about burnout: it shatters your confidence. Two years of living on empty had left me questioning every decision, every move. How could I, a woman who once envisioned running a thriving firm and a non-profit, now feel so unsure of myself?
Confidence, I learned, is not something you have or don’t have. It’s something you build, piece by piece. And sometimes, you have to start from the ashes. I began small. I started by listing the things I had already survived—things that once felt impossible but that I had conquered. Sleepless nights with Zoey, moments when it felt like the world was crashing down, yet I held it together.
Every day, I listed my small wins—whether it was simply getting Zoey ready for school or making that one phone call for my business. Over time, those small wins added up. Confidence isn’t about never feeling afraid. It’s about standing in that fear and saying, *“I will figure this out.”* And slowly, I did.
Healthy Detachment: The Art of Letting Go
There’s a certain freedom that comes from understanding one simple truth: no one is coming to save you. Not your family, not your friends, not your partner. And it’s not because they don’t care. It’s because the journey back to yourself is yours to walk.
I had to detach from the emotional safety nets I had built around me. As much as I love my family, their energy was something I could no longer carry. I began to love them from a distance, creating space between their expectations and my peace.
Detachment isn’t about pushing people away. It’s about freeing yourself from the weight of what no longer serves you. It’s about standing on your own two feet and knowing, deep down, that you are enough. And when you find that space, the people who truly uplift you will find their way to you.
Self-Soothing: A Lifeline I Discovered in the Storm
I’ll never forget my first anxiety attack. It crept up on me, unfamiliar and terrifying. My heart raced, my chest tightened, and for a moment, I thought I was having a stroke. I had no idea what was happening. I was scared and alone—and in that moment, I realized something that cut deep: no one was coming to rescue me. I had to be the one to save myself.
Here’s what I did, and what I still do whenever that storm brews inside me. I wrap my arms around myself—literally. I imagine hugging my inner child, holding that scared, uncertain part of me close. And I breathe. Deep, steady breaths until the panic ebbs away. It’s simple, but it’s powerful. It’s a reminder that I’ve got my own back.
Self-soothing isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength. It’s knowing that when everything feels out of control, you can still find peace within yourself. And every time I practice this, I remind myself that I *am* my own rescue.
Be Your Own Woman, But Never Be Alone
Here’s something else I’ve learned: as women, we often try to carry everything ourselves. But that doesn’t mean we have to go through life alone. You can be strong, independent, and still ask for help. Reach out when you’re drowning. Lean on other women who understand your journey, who are walking their own paths of rebuilding.
There’s a world full of people who will try to pull you down. But we, as women, can choose to be the ones who lift each other up. Let’s build each other, support each other, and remind each other of our strength. Together, we are unstoppable.
In the blogs to come, I’ll be sharing more of this journey—the highs and the lows, the lessons and the tools I’ve picked up along the way. This space is for you, for all of us. Let’s walk this path, not alone, but together.
Start now. Take that first breath, wrap your arms around yourself, and remember: you are not alone. You are powerful. And the life you dream of? It’s already waiting for you.
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