For years I worked in a career that wasn’t for me—clocking in and clocking out. I had no idea there was another option because I lacked confidence and was afraid of everything, so I just did what I was told, entirely on autopilot. When I finally woke up and realized this was why I was struggling, I took control of my life by turning the focus onto my health, something I had neglected for years for a job. By doing this, it not only helped me to feel strong physically, but it taught me how to push past the limits I placed on myself. I realized that there are no limits and that I could make myself be or do anything no matter what.

I’m not saying this was an easy process or that I didn’t have setbacks, and it isn’t still hard sometimes. But, instead, what I’m saying is that it’s through the hard, not around it, that helped me the most.

Four years ago, I got hit with the most challenging part of my fitness journey yet—a low blow spine injury from a birth dysfunction in my spine. I felt like a rug had been pulled from underneath my feet. Here I had finally set up my business after two years working only part-time and had finally found the courage to ditch the 15 years in corporate (as I fell back a couple of times hence the two years only part-time) to having to rethink it all.

My business, my health, my life, and the way I approached my day-to-day exercise. I felt defeated and just wanted to quit. I had to force myself to slow down, which felt impossible for me as I had always been so active my entire life. I had to give up running, and after being an avid runner who used it as a meditative outlet, it was yet another hard pill to swallow. But, regardless of how difficult it all got, I realized I could still keep pushing.

I took some time to rest, and to study more on posture and biomechanics corrective exercise to understand better how to rehab myself after so many therapies and physios failed adequately. I realized it wasn’t the therapists but that I needed to relearn and continue relearning the connection my brain has to my body. So, I retrained my mind and became a cognitive behavior coach, and started studying mindset regularly to find out the real reasons why I felt so defeated and almost gave up everything I had worked so hard for, as in 2020, I nearly quit. It was the most challenging year of my life. But by hitting bottom, I realized that I was the solution! No one was coming to save me, and that it was my self-discipline, inner dialogue, and attitude that needed to change. So it was as it was what was causing me to doubt my ability.

I took up cycling instead of running. I essentially had to relearn to walk. Modified my daily fitness routines and experimented with new forms of exercises specific to alignment and posture. After four years, I am still not 100%, and I’m still healing, but I’m getting better through consistent small actions each day, and by making the choice to keep pushing.

I started to see that what happened was just an opportunity that made me better equipped to teach others as I’ve taught myself to find real, sustainable change through my self-discipline & inner strength.

No matter your situation or circumstances, there is always a solution, and it’s to keep pushing yourself forward.

When you look forward in this way, there is no reason to look back.