Do you struggle with balancing life, training, and mental health?

You’re not alone. We all experience moments of feeling overwhelmed, questioning our self-worth, or losing sight of why we do what we do. Interests evolve, and so do we. Sometimes, the stress of life makes it hard to prioritize self-care, or maybe it feels like everything is falling apart. I’ve been there—I can relate.

There was a time when I felt like my life was spiraling out of control. People said I must have hit rock bottom, but it kept getting worse. I fell even further, beyond what I thought was rock bottom. Running was my only escape, but when I accidentally stepped on an axe and nearly lost a toe, even that was taken away from me. I had nothing left to give and felt completely powerless. Depression took over, and I wondered how I’d ever pull through.

Money was tight, and therapy wasn’t helping—it only seemed to categorize me, which made me feel broken. Then, one day, I came across a book by shamans who practiced the Toltec Tradition. That book changed my life. It taught me that while I couldn’t always control what happened to me, I could control how I responded to it. I didn’t have to accept the labels others placed on me. Most importantly, I realized that I had never truly loved myself. That realization hit hard.

I decided to learn how to love myself—for everything I was, and everything I wasn’t. Slowly but surely, this new mindset transformed my life. I began to project positive energy into the universe, and in return, good things started to happen. Although my past hadn’t been easy, choosing joy and self-love changed the way I saw the world—and how the world responded to me.

It took nearly a year of daily journaling and meditation, and even now, I still have moments of self-doubt. But when they come, I remind myself that I do my best every day, and that’s enough. I no longer compare myself to others’ successes or failures—I genuinely enjoy seeing others succeed. I’ve found love, forgiveness, and peace, even for those who hurt me.

As I healed emotionally and spiritually, my desire to care for myself returned. I became a smarter, better athlete, learning to appreciate whatever my body could do for me. For the first time, I was running for my own reasons—not to impress anyone else. I built my coaching business around this mindset, helping athletes find balance, peace, and joy in both their sport and their lives. My focus is not just on training but on the whole person.

Every day is an opportunity to be the best version of myself so that I can help others on their own journey. If you’re struggling to enjoy your sport or your life, reach out. One of my greatest joys is helping people find the peace and joy that I’ve discovered.