In life, we travel many roads.
A few years ago, my path led me to a place where the road seemed to come to an end. I found myself at a standstill—until a small but bold inner voice spoke up. Sitting in an ordinary staff meeting, I heard it with crystal clarity: “You need to get out of here. You are DONE.”
In that moment, I knew it was time to leave my job of nearly ten years. More importantly, it was time to find a new “vehicle”—one that didn’t run on perfectionism and toxic stress.
You might think my inner voice was a bit bossy—but to be fair, it had been trying to get my attention for a long time. I hadn’t wanted to see the signs that my road was ending. I resisted acknowledging my exhaustion, my disappointment, or the reality that this chapter was coming to a close. Listening to that quiet voice meant facing an uncomfortable truth: I would have to grieve the loss of old dreams.
And so, there I sat—at the end of my road, uncertain where to go next, and completely out of gas.
Out of gas
Like my inner voice, my body had been sending me an urgent message. Years of chronic stress—both personal and professional—had taken a toll. The work I once loved no longer served me, and burnout had left me mentally and physically drained. Each day, I was overwhelmed by exhaustion.
I had spent years trying to force my body to bounce back through lifestyle changes. I followed a clean autoimmune diet, adjusted my exercise routine, practiced stress management, reduced my work hours, and experimented with countless supplements. While these strategies helped, they weren’t enough. My body kept steering me toward the undeniable truth: “I can’t go on like this.”
I was running on empty because my usual way of overcoming challenges—perfectionism, relentless effort, and self-imposed pressure—was the very thing depleting me. At first, I did what I always did: I rolled up my sleeves, pushed myself harder, and criticized myself for not being able to power through. But no matter how much I tried, exhaustion only deepened.
The gift of exploration
I would later come to see that reaching the end of this road was an incredible gift. It forced me to stop, step back, and re-evaluate my map. This was a pivotal moment—an opportunity to consider new directions and new ways of moving through life. And as it turned out, my inner voice had been guiding me toward exactly where I needed to go.
In fact, I now realize that the end of the road was never a dead-end—it was an invitation to explore.
So, I went off-roading, searching for new ideas and possibilities. Along the way, I discovered fresh ways to apply my strengths and skills. Fueled by my deep passion for health and wellness, I enrolled in the ADAPT Functional Health Coach Training Program—and it changed my life.
Curiosity replaced fear, and what began as uncertainty turned into an exciting adventure. I fell in love with professional coaching. After graduating from ADAPT, I became a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and earned my ICF credential as a Professional Certified Coach.
Coaching is a lot like going off-roading.
I now truly enjoy exploring alongside my clients as their coach! Coaching offers a unique opportunity to embrace the unexpected twists and turns in life. It is also a powerful way to dive into our inner worlds, uncovering new insights about ourselves and our relationships. Perhaps most rewarding of all, coaching helps us shift our perspectives, where we can discover our own freedom and self-empowerment, empowering us to choose new paths and create fresh realities.
Coaching has granted me profound new perspectives on my life, my dreams, and the endless possibilities before me. And what did I discover? To my amazement, I realized that what I once saw as a dead-end was never an ending at all—it was a RUNWAY!
As I embraced ownership of that runway and prepared for takeoff, I transformed into an aviator, a creator. I discovered resilience within myself. My dreams for my life became new horizons, and I set out to create peace, purpose, fulfilling relationships, and meaningful personal growth.
My body is healing from years of stress and exhaustion, and now, I listen carefully to my inner voice each day.
I am grateful for the end of my road.
As you go through your own life transitions, are you trying to understand changes in your road or landscape?
I believe that every person, including you, has the potential to take flight. In other words, we all have the ability to become creators of our own realities, capable of shaping our well-being in whatever form that takes.
In one of my favorite poems, “Notes for the Road”, author Robert Moss writes:
To get to a place you do not know,
you must go by a way you do not know.
Burn your maps to make beacons.
— Robert Moss
Do you feel called to burn your maps and take a path you’ve never known?
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. As a coach, I serve as your traveling companion, helping you map out new possibilities, explore new landscapes, see fresh perspectives, and choose new destinations.
Through the coaching process, my clients:
- Gain new resources and skills
- Overcome limiting beliefs
- Envision the life of their dreams
- Rediscover passion and purpose
- Tap into their greatest strengths
- Choose their own paths
- Empower their greater well-being
Consider joining me on a coaching or “off-roading” adventure. No matter your preferred method of travel, I’d be honored to explore with you!
Want to learn more at no cost to you? Book a free initial consultation with me!
Note for Coaches: About Mentor Coaching with Me
I have always loved to teach, and I seem to discover teaching roles in every stage of my career.
Currently, I am an ICF/NBHWC mentor coach for health and wellness coaches. If you are an ICF—or NBHWC-trained coach who wants to deepen your coaching skills, I may have an offering for you. Check my blog for updates about current courses, and reach out to me to let me know of your interest.