Her Story
About Stormie
My journey into this field came from a natural occurrence of living life. Part of my background is childhood abuse and neglect, and I learned to find myself along the way, especially when seeking to find my way. My first book, The Healing Journey, Life Through the Storm, is based on my life story - it is the journey of coming into myself, being tired of being tired of being tied down by the supposed-tos of my upbringing, and realizing or believing that there's something more for me in my life, and that meant healing. So I did the work, being authentic enough to stay on course through broken periods, loss of self, and lack of love for self. I did not attend any type of counseling - it was prayer and meditation and determination that kept me on track. My second book, Life Through the Storm, The Journey of Forgiveness, is an extension of the first book. The art coincides with everything that I do - this is my life. If I can share one aspect of my life with someone else who's going through the same thing, that's what I've endeavored to do. All of my works extend from personal experience and a willingness to grow, evolve, and become. My most notable professional achievement is that I've learned to balance the art of what I do without losing myself. All of it's tied into one - the healing, the speaking, and the writing - but all of it's the same. It's a matter of expression and balancing perspectives along the way, making my rounds and holding ground to what I do, not losing myself along the way.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stormie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to prayer, meditation, and alignment with the divine force greater than my experiences. It was prayer and meditation and determination that kept me on track through my healing journey. I did not attend any type of counseling - it was my connection to something greater than myself, my willingness to stay authentic, and my determination to stay on course through broken periods, loss of self, and lack of love for self that brought me through.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to keep being me and be my authentic self. We feel that. Authenticity is something people can sense and connect with, and staying true to who I am has been the most important guidance I've received throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this field to take your time. Be a practitioner of what you give. Be authentic. Keep reflecting on your goals, namely who you are and who you are becoming. Don't rush the process - this work requires you to live what you teach and to continuously examine yourself and your own growth as you help others on their journeys.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say the biggest challenges are working with individuals from time to time who are not fully committed to their own evolution. It's a challenge keeping perspective that that has nothing to do with me and much to do with who they are. I think life coaching is an interesting venue, really. You want to give, and you want to encourage people, and it's your aspiration, and yet so many people spend money on stuff that they're not ready to bring into their personal fold of living. That part can be challenging, so keeping balance with that is essential - not taking it personal, and reflecting on my own recovery and healing. I remind myself that we heal differently, we walk differently through those gates, or through those revolving doors, or those phases where you think you're ready and you're not ready, and something comes up and you back up a little bit. So learning to keep that in perspective has been, I won't say a hard challenge, but challenging enough to recognize it to be what it actually is.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are authenticity, integrity, and balance. These three principles guide everything I do, from my healing work to my art to my interactions with clients and in my personal journey.
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