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Having Faith When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

Having Faith When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

by | Jan 18, 2026 | Beliefs, Mindset, Personal Growth

Until the last few years, my faith wasn’t something I talked about much, even with my closest friends. 

It was deeply personal. Private. Something that developed over time, especially during challenging seasons when I was learning to trust God in ways I hadn’t before.

I was born and raised Catholic, and church was a big part of my life growing up. But as I moved into adulthood, I began to feel less aligned with the church’s views and grew more disconnected from religion itself.

For years, I felt like I was searching for a sense of belonging in my faith. A place where my values felt supported. Where everyone was welcome. Where faith was rooted in love, not fear or judgment.

If you’ve ever felt caught between what you were taught to believe and what your heart knows to be true, you’re not alone.

A Shift That Changed Everything

During my coach training program, my faith unexpectedly began to grow stronger than it ever had before.

Each month, we were encouraged to read books that expanded how we thought about different areas of life. During our spirituality month, one of the books was Conversations with God.

I read it in a day and a half. It addressed so many of the challenges I had struggled with around religion, and I couldn’t put it down.

For the first time, I was introduced to the idea that God isn’t separate from us—He is a part of us.

More than anything, it shifted how I saw my life. I began to understand that life isn’t happening to me, but for me and that every experience holds an opportunity for growth, learning, and expansion.

I realized that when I was trying to force an outcome or control how something unfolded, it meant it wasn’t meant for me.

My mind was blown.

Instead of living my life from a place of fear, I began practicing surrender. Trust. Believing that God was guiding me, even when I couldn’t see the full picture.

Letting Go of Labels

I stopped trying to define my faith with a label.

I no longer felt the need to decide whether I was Catholic, Christian, or anything else. What mattered most was trusting that God was guiding and supporting me, and believing He truly had my back.

That faith became my foundation.

Over time, it continued to deepen. Today, while I connect with Christianity, more than anything, my faith is in God. I trust that I’m supported. I believe that even when things feel uncertain, they are unfolding exactly as they are meant to.

Trust Over Certainty

Today, faith is one of the most important foundations in my life.

Not faith in the sense of rules or fitting into a specific box, but a strong belief that God is guiding me.

Trusting that life is happening for me, even when I can’t see how or why.

That belief has carried me through some of the hardest seasons of my life, especially those times when things didn’t make sense. Moments when I worked hard and still watched things fall apart or unfold in ways I never wanted.

In those moments, my faith isn’t about certainty.

It’s about trust.

Trust that God is working in my favor, even when I don’t understand what’s happening or where it’s leading.

When Faith Was Put to the Test

There’s one season in particular that comes to mind when I think about having faith—not just when life doesn’t go as planned, but when it completely falls apart.

Almost two years ago, my business hit a breaking point.

For different reasons, all of my clients completed their contracts within a short period of time. Some were clients I had worked with for over six years. Suddenly, the business I had spent years building looked very different than it had just a month earlier.

I had only been in Georgia for a few years and didn’t yet have the deep relationships and business connections I had built over nearly three decades in Naperville. I didn’t have the same referral base, support system, or sense of community I was used to leaning on. And being so far away made it harder to maintain those relationships in the same way.

If I’m being honest, that season shook me. I came close to giving up. 

And at the same time, I always knew in my heart that this is the work I’m meant to do in the world.

At my weakest point, I believe God showed up for me through my mom.

When I talked about getting a salaried job, she told me I couldn’t give up on my dreams.

That painful season asked me to practice what I believe.

To trust that God was guiding me, even when the plan didn’t make sense to me. To surrender control when every part of me wanted answers.

To believe that what was falling away was creating space for something better.

Looking back now, I can see that season didn’t break me.

It refined me and my business.

Finding Peace in a Noisy World

Another place my faith supports me is how I navigate what’s happening in the world—politically, socially, and globally.

There are so many things I don’t agree with. Things I don’t understand. Things that genuinely hurt my heart.

But I trust that God is working in ways I can’t always see. That there’s a bigger plan unfolding, even when the world feels heavy, divided, or devastating.

My faith doesn’t mean I’m ignoring reality or pretending everything is fine.

It keeps me from living in constant fear or anger. It allows me to stay compassionate without being consumed by it. It helps me move through uncertainty without letting it run my life.

In a world that often feels loud and overwhelming, that faith has been a lifeline for my wellbeing.

It gives me peace.

Living From a Different Mindset

Because of that trust, I live differently now.

That mindset shift has been life-changing.

When things don’t go as planned, I no longer ask, “Why is this happening to me?”

I ask, “What am I meant to learn?”

This is also how I coach my clients—shifting the question from why something is happening to what it might be teaching them.

I trust that God is guiding me where I need to be, even when I don’t understand it yet. And sometimes, when I’m not paying attention, that guidance shows up as a pretty clear kick in the butt.

Listening When Something Is Out of Alignment

Looking back, I believe that’s exactly what happened a couple of years ago with my business. I was trained in the deeper subconscious work, but I hadn’t fully integrated it into my coaching practice because I was worried what people might think.

I wasn’t showing up in my power or aligned with what I know creates real transformation because of fear.

I realized, when I’m not living in alignment with my beliefs or values, something will shift…and it might not be pretty.

Faith as an Anchor

My faith keeps me grounded in the unknown. It helps me stay hopeful when things feel heavy. It allows me to keep moving forward during seasons that could easily make me give up.

There have been challenges, plenty of them. But over the last dozen years, my faith has been my strength.

Even when I can’t see the path clearly, I trust that everything is unfolding for the best.

And if you’re in a season where life feels challenging right now, this is your reminder that trust doesn’t require certainty—it’s rooted in faith.

If this resonated, take a moment to reflect on where you might be holding on too tightly right now, and what it could look like to trust instead.

And as always, if you need support, please reach out. I’m here.

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Who Do You Want to Be in the World?

Who Do You Want to Be in the World?

by | Jan 13, 2026 | Mindset, Personal Growth

What Betty White Reflects About Living a Meaningful Life

Do you have a role model?

Maybe not someone you want to be exactly, or whose career or life you want to replicate, but someone who reflects how you want to show up in the world. How you want to be experienced by others, and how you want to live your life.

For me, that person is Betty White.

Not because I want to be an actress or famous.

Not because she lived a full, healthy, vibrant life until almost 100 years old.

And it’s not because she made a lot of money (although… that wouldn’t hurt).

It’s because of who she was as a human.

What It Means to Love Life

What stands out to me most is how she lived — how she showed up in the world.

Everything about her made it clear that she was genuinely in love with life and people. 

She was playful and laughed easily. She didn’t take herself or life too seriously, but she was serious about the important things.

People who knew her often said the same things.

She made people feel seen.
She was witty and funny, but never mean. She laughed with people, never at them.
She treated everyone with the same warmth, kindness and respect, no matter who they were.

She experienced pain and disappointment like every other human and still chose optimism, humor, and gratitude. She didn’t let life harden her. And she didn’t let success or money change her heart.

If anything, it seemed to strengthen it.

There are very few people who make my heart smile the moment I see their face, but Betty White is one of them. When I see a picture of her or stumble on an old clip, I instantly smile. She was magnetic. 

And it makes me reflect, not on what I want to have in my life, but on how I want to live it.

Who You Choose to Be

Because at the end of the day, that’s what really matters.

Not the titles.
Not the bank account.
Not the résumé.

But how we loved.
How we treated people.
How fully we lived.

She was a class act.
Classy.

I imagine, when Betty reflected on her life, she was thinking, “That was one hell of a ride!” And that’s what I want for myself, and for the people I care about…and for you.

Not just to make it through life.
But to truly enjoy it.

To laugh.
To love people unconditionally.
To lead with kindness and optimism instead of fear.
To be serious about the things that matter and let the rest be lighter.

Think about it…
Who do you want to be in the world?

What would it look like if you were in love with life? 

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Do Vision Boards Actually Work? Here’s What’s Missing

Do Vision Boards Actually Work? Here’s What’s Missing

by | Jan 6, 2026 | Leadership

This time of year, vision boards are everywhere.

People are flipping through magazines, scrolling Pinterest, cutting out pictures of beautiful homes, dream cars, flawless bodies, amazing vacations…perfect lives.

And listen, I love vision boards.

They can be a powerful tool.

But here’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough:
Vision boards don’t work unless you do the foundational work.

And that’s why so many people end up frustrated, wondering why nothing seems to change year after year.

The Problem Isn’t Vision Boards — It’s Where You Begin

Our brains actually think better in visuals than in words. That’s science. So using images to represent what you want makes a lot of sense.

The issue is that most people jump straight to the images without ever getting clear on the bigger vision for their life.

They pick pictures of things they want, but there’s no emotional connection. No deeper why. No clarity around what they actually want their life to look like.

So the board gets made…and nothing really happens.

Not because the vision board failed, but because the real “vision” was missing.

What Actually Makes a Vision Board Powerful

Vision boards don’t become powerful because you have the perfect images, they become powerful when the foundational pieces are in place.

Clarity on Your Vision Comes First

First, there has to be real clarity on your vision.

Not surface-level wants, but a clear vision for your life. 

How you want to live. 

How you want your days to feel. 

How you want to grow and show up in the world. 

Without that clarity, the images are just dreams — and dreams alone aren’t strong enough to guide your decisions.

Align Your Beliefs 

Second, and this is the piece almost no one talks about, your beliefs have to be aligned with what’s on your vision board.

If part of you doesn’t believe you can actually have that life, it doesn’t matter how perfect the pictures are or how many affirmations you repeat. What you believe will win every time! 

This is where so many people get stuck.

They say they want more success, fit bodies, and deep, connected relationships, but underneath is a belief that it’s unrealistic, selfish, or meant for someone else.

No vision board can overcome that.

A Written Plan and Intentional Action

The third piece is a written plan that supports intentional action.

A vision isn’t meant to stay in your head. And it’s not enough to simply want to live differently.

Writing things down creates commitment. It gives your vision something to come back to when decisions get hard, when old habits show up, or when life pulls you back into living in autopilot.

A written plan isn’t about rigid rules or hustle. It’s about clarity. It’s about knowing what choices support the life you say you want and being willing to live that way. Without something written, your vision stays a dream.
With it, your vision will start to shape how you live.

Dreams vs. Vision: The Difference That Changes Everything

We all have dreams.

But dreams live in our imagination.

A vision is what happens when a dream becomes personal — when it’s connected to how you want to live, how you want to feel, and who you want to become.

When you’re connected to a vision, your choices start to change.

You’re more willing to say no.
More willing to create boundaries.
More willing to get uncomfortable.
More willing to take action, even when it’s hard.

That’s the difference.

When I got clear on the life I wanted to live, quitting smoking after 20 years became easy. Smoking didn’t fit the vision of the life I wanted to create or who I wanted to be.

Don’t get me wrong, I still went through the chemical withdrawal. But once I made the decision and committed to that vision, I never wanted to smoke again.

It was like I erased being a smoker from my life.

That’s the power of vision.

Vision Makes Hard Things Easier to Navigate

Here’s the thing about manifesting…it still requires action.

Are you willing to create boundaries that support the life you say you want?
Are you willing to take aligned action, even when it’s inconvenient or scary?

Your dream life doesn’t show up while you’re sitting on the couch eating bonbons. 

Whether it’s relationships, business, or health — your vision gets you to show up differently.

When you’re clear on where you’re going, willpower becomes less significant because your vision is guiding you.

The Missing Piece of Vision Boards

Vision boards don’t fail because of bad luck.

They fail because the inner work gets overlooked.

Vision clarity.

Belief alignment.

A written plan that supports intentional action.

When those pieces are in place, a vision board becomes a powerful tool, not a wish list.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated with goals that don’t seem to stick, maybe the question isn’t, “Why isn’t this working?”

Maybe it’s: Have I taken the time to get clear on my vision for my life, and am I willing to do what it takes to create it?

That’s where real change begins.

If this resonated, take a few minutes to reflect — not on what you want in the next year, but on the life you actually want to be living. That clarity changes everything.

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The Hard Truth Every Woman in Business Needs to Hear

The Hard Truth Every Woman in Business Needs to Hear

The Hard Truth Every Woman in Business Needs to Hear

by | Dec 4, 2025 | Confidence, Goals, Mindset, Personal Growth

So many ambitious women burn out without realizing it — here’s why it happens and what you can do to take your power back.

As women — especially ambitious women building businesses — there’s something almost all of us struggle with… and many don’t even realize it until we burn out.

We’re amazing at giving, serving, showing up, and getting things done. But we’re not always great at making ourselves a priority.

A couple of conversations over the last few weeks reminded me just how common this is — and how much it impacts the women I coach, the women in my community, and honestly… the woman I used to be.

The Hidden Struggle So Many Women in Business Face

Almost every ambitious woman I know has struggled with:

  • setting boundaries
  • saying no
  • prioritizing themselves
  • letting their business run their life

We jump the second a client needs something — even when it costs us the time we intentionally set aside for our health, our relationships, or simply enjoying life.

We become the last thing on our own priority list… when we actually need to be the very first.

You’ve probably heard it before…
“You can’t fill from an empty cup.”
Well… it’s true.

Why This Happens (and No One Talks About It)

Most ambitious women were raised to believe that success comes from sacrificing themselves — putting others first, staying available, being reliable, being strong.

That conditioning runs deep.

And it’s what leads us to over-work, over-give, and ignore the warning signs our body is sending us.

The “Giver” Personality (and Why It Can Be Dangerous)

I was talking with a client recently who gives, and gives, and gives — and hardly receives. She pours into everyone and everything around her.

Eventually, the well runs dry.

And for many women, this happens slowly… until they can’t ignore it anymore.

Unfortunately, this isn’t rare.
It’s normal.

Back in my mortgage days, my work took priority over my entire life.

My business always came first. Always.

I once had a client call me in the middle of the night — she woke me out of a sound sleep, and I freaking answered.

I was constantly worried about the next paycheck, and I let that dictate everything about how I lived, how I worked, and even how I felt.

Fast-forward…
I burned out my adrenals.
(But that’s a story for another time.)

The Truth No One Talks About Enough

When our businesses (or anything outside of us) start running our lives, we give up our power.
We lose control of the life we actually want to be living.

The truth is, you deserve to prioritize taking care of yourself.

Not someday.
Not when “things slow down.”
Not when you hit a career milestone.
Not after everyone else’s needs are met.

Right now.

Your health and well-being are the foundation of everything you do… and everything you don’t do.

And if you’ve been putting yourself last, please know:

You’re not failing.
There is nothing wrong with you.
You’re human.

It’s just time for something to shift…

The good news is… you have the power to change, if you choose.

Let me ask you something:

Where in your life are you giving more than you’re receiving?

Even noticing your answer is a powerful first step.

If This Hit Home for You…

If something in this post made you pause or think, “that’s me,” you deserve to put yourself on the priority list.

And if you’re ready for things to be different — and want support as you create a more aligned, balanced life — I’m here.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

I’d love to help you create a life and business that supports you and the future you want to create.

Click here to schedule a free 20-minute connection call!


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The Hidden Strength Most High Achievers Overlook

The Hidden Strength Most High Achievers Overlook

by | Oct 15, 2025 | Confidence, Relationships

Do You Have a Hard Time Asking for Help?

So many strong, capable people struggle with one simple thing — asking for help.
Whether it’s at work, in relationships, or in life, we often believe strength means doing it all on our own.
But what if true strength comes from letting others in?

I sure did.
And to be honest, it’s still not always easy for me.

For so many high achievers, asking for help can feel… well, uncomfortable.
There’s often a fear of being seen as weak, needy, or not capable.

But the truth is — we aren’t meant to do life or business alone.

Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It’s a strength.
It means you’re human.

We are meant to do life together.
And the trust it takes to ask for help is what allows you to feel true connection.

Even the Strongest People Need Help Sometimes

Do you know the song “With a Little Help from My Friends”?

I pretty much grew up listening to The Beatles — thanks to my brother!

This song is about letting the people who care about you support you.
How friends lift us up when life feels heavy — and make the good times even better.
It’s about the importance of human connection.

And sometimes, that little help makes all the difference.

Think about it…

Where have you been carrying too much alone?

If you’re ready for some support — or even just curious what coaching could look like — I’d love to connect.
You can book a complimentary connection call with me.