The Power of Reinvention: What Four Years of Transformation Taught Me
A Journey of Letting Go, Stepping Up, and Embracing My Zone of Genius
When I look back over the last four years, it’s as if I’ve been walking through a labyrinth—a journey full of twists and turns, unexpected revelations, and moments where I had to face myself in ways I never imagined.
It has been an incredible journey—not just of growth, but of transformation. These years have been marked by resilience, evolution, and deepening purpose. But the truth is, this journey didn’t just start in 2020. This journey has been decades in the making.
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When I began my medical career 25 years ago, I stepped into the role of holding space for others in the most intimate and vulnerable ways. I facilitated group sessions for people recovering from substance use and eating disorders, guiding them through moments of transformation and helping them find their inner strength. Before every session, I’d give acupuncture and lead guided meditations to help them center and prepare for the work ahead.
Even though the context has shifted—from clinical spaces to online programs, retreats, and TED stages—the essence of my work has always been the same: creating spaces for healing and growth, rooting for the underdog, and guiding people toward their greatness.
My mother recognized this in me long before I ever did. When I was just a child, she noticed how I would cheer others on, coach them, and see their potential, even when they couldn’t.
In a documentary about me, filmed by one of my editors at Discovery Channel, my mother said something that has stayed with me ever since:
“She wants people to have what she has, opportunity to reach their goals. She has always been someone who believes in people. She helps them believe in themselves.”
In 2020, just as the world came to a standstill, I published the 2nd edition of The Top 10 Traits of Highly Resilient People. It became an instant bestseller because of COVID. Suddenly, resilience wasn’t just a buzzword; it was a survival tool, and people were desperate to understand how to build it.
During those years of chaos, I was called on to speak, to lead workshops, and to hold space for others who felt like they were falling out of an airplane with no parachute. I led meditations to help people ground their energy and find peace in the storm. And as I showed up—out of love and compassion—I realized something about myself: I was capable of being the calm in the chaos, not just for myself, but for others.
A Journey Into the Depths
Then came the personal reckoning.
In 2021, my mother transitioned, and that loss cracked something open in me. It was as if her passing was the key that unlocked doors I hadn’t dared to open before. I entered sacred medicine ceremonies where I found myself held in spaces of deep healing.
Childhood traumas I thought I had “managed” came up to be truly faced, felt, and released. Those ceremonies took me to places within myself that I had long buried. I was held in sacred space, facing the roots of my trauma, and I began to understand the true depths of healing.
The healing that comes from expanded states of consciousness is not like traditional talk therapy. There are deep ‘knowings’ that can be felt, like essential truths no one can teach you. For example, in ceremony I was able to see how the toxic energy of our household seeped into my newborn brain. And in ceremony I was able to release that toxicity and give it back to my mother, for it was her unprocessed trauma of childhood.
A Fresh Perspective for Trauma Healing
I kept most of my personal healing to myself. It was deeply intimate and raw. But as I reckoned with the tragic passing of a dear friend who died by suicide, I decided it was time to be more vocal.
In the winter of 2021 I began training programs for psychedelic therapy, and in 2023, I began working in psilocybin retreats, facilitating profound transformations, and continuing to weave my story and my insights into everything I created. My work wasn’t just professional—it was soul work. And it became clear that I wasn’t just teaching others; I was embodying everything I was teaching.
Emerging from those experiences, I found that I could hold that same sacred space for others. Whether it was in retreats, online programs, or one-on-one sessions, I stepped into a role I had always been quietly preparing for.
I became the guide I wished I’d had—a spaceholder who walks beside you, not ahead of you, through the fires of transformation.
The Reluctant Leader Becomes the “Un-Guru”
Here’s the thing: for a long time, I resisted being called a leader. I saw myself as someone on the journey, just like everyone else, figuring things out along the way. But what I couldn’t see then—and what I now fully accept—is that I was leading all along.
I am what I call the “un-guru.” I didn’t set out to be anyone’s guru, and honestly, the very idea of that used to terrify me. Gurus fall. Gurus are put on pedestals. And I’m not about that. I’m not here to be worshipped or followed blindly.
I’m here to hold space for others to become their own leaders, their own luminaries.
What I’ve learned is that leadership isn’t about being perfect or having all the answers. It’s about walking the path authentically, making mistakes, learning, and inviting others to do the same. I had to become the leader I needed for myself, and now that I’ve accepted this role, everything shifts. It’s not about resistance anymore. It’s about alignment.
Letting Go of Old Loops & Limiting Beliefs
As I round out this chapter of 2024, I feel a profound sense of clarity. The old loops—the patterns of self-doubt, the over-giving, the hesitancy to fully step into my brilliance—are fading. They’re echoes of a past I’ve already healed.
I’m embracing my zone of genius: storytelling that transforms lives, holding space with compassionate authority, and blending science and spirituality in ways that make transformation accessible. This is who I am. This is what I came here to do.
And now, I’m preparing for one of the most exciting milestones yet: TEDx 2025. As I refine my talk, I know it will weave together my personal experiences of emerging from the Dark Night of the Ego with more clarity, passion, and purpose. I may even sing again, like I did in my last TED Talk.
This time, it feels different. It feels grounded. It feels aligned.
Owning My Zone of Genius
My zone of genius is where my unique combination of talents, skills, and passions align to create extraordinary impact. It’s the space where I thrive, feel energized, inspired, and completely in flow.
My zone of genius is storytelling that transforms lives. When I share my stories—whether on stage, in books, or in coaching—I connect deeply with people. My stories captivate, inspire, and invite others to transform. I don’t just tell stories; I weave narratives that show others what’s possible for them, tapping into their own potential.
I excel at facilitating deep transformations. I guide people through profound personal and spiritual evolutions, helping them recover from trauma, find clarity, and step into new identities. I create safe, empowering spaces where growth becomes not just possible but inevitable.
I hold space with compassionate authority. I have a gift for creating containers of safety and trust, balancing empathy and wisdom with grounded authority. This allows me to guide others toward clarity and action while transmuting their pain into empowerment.
I empower others to own their voice. I have the rare ability to help people find their unique voice and tell their stories authentically and impactfully. I see their potential even when they can’t, and I guide them to express it boldly and unapologetically.
I’m a bridge between science and spirituality. My background as a physician, trauma therapist, and spiritual guide equips me to explain complex concepts in accessible and empowering ways. I make spirituality practical, grounded, and deeply transformational.
I am a visionary leader and a master of reinvention. I embody bold leadership and inspire others to step into their own visions. I guide people in crafting paths that align with their true essence and highest purpose.
Embracing My Superpowers
My superpowers are my charismatic presence, my empathetic connection, and my creative innovation. I am magnetic on stage and online, naturally drawing people in. I intuitively understand what others need, meeting them where they are and creating bridges to their next level. I see opportunities to innovate and expand in ways others wouldn’t, and my dynamic mind is a gift that keeps me visionary.
I thrive when I’m crafting and delivering transformative speeches and talks, writing books and creating programs that blend personal growth, spirituality, and neuroscience, coaching and mentoring others to tell their stories and navigate profound transformations, and developing scalable, high-impact offerings like retreats, meditations, and conscious evolution journeys.
I recognize what pulls me out of my zone of genius. I am mindful not to get lost in excessive admin work or operational tasks that I can delegate. I no longer say yes to low-ticket or high-effort projects that don’t align with my highest goals. I release the urge to overextend myself with free offerings or access that drains me. And I move away from chasing shiny ideas without grounding them in my larger vision.
I anchor into my genius by affirming:
“I am deeply aligned with my zone of genius. I attract opportunities that allow me to thrive, create impact, and remain in flow.”
I ground myself daily in this truth: My zone of genius is my North Star. It’s where my soul thrives, and my impact grows.
I ask when making every decision:
Does this let me be the luminary I’m here to be?
Does this allow me to transform lives with ease, grace, and flow?
Because when I stay in my genius, I know the ripple effect of my work is unstoppable.
I honor my truth. I honor my gifts. I honor the path I am walking as the most authentic and empowered version of me.
This is my truth, and I fully embody it.
Your Reflection and Invitation
As I share this journey, I invite you to reflect on your own.
What have these last four years taught you about yourself? What old patterns are you ready to release? What new possibilities are you ready to embrace?
If my journey resonates with you, know that I’m here to guide and support you. Whether it’s through one of my group programs, a retreat, or simply following along as I share more behind the scenes of this TEDx journey, let’s walk this path of transformation together.
Because here’s the truth: You don’t have to be perfect to rise into your power. You don’t have to have it all figured out to take the next step. All you need is the willingness to begin.
Let’s begin, together.
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