What is YOUR story? Who are YOU? What is YOUR life journey all about?
While I can’t claim to know exactly what my whole life journey is about, I do know that at least part of it is about getting outside of my comfort zone and pushing my clients to do the same. I have always been a traveler and a seeker – since I first boarded an airplane solo at the age of 11 to fly across the country and visit my beloved Uncle. Other cultures and new things fascinate me and I always find myself connecting with new people and learning new things.
This search for knowledge and adventure has led to what I call Expanding Gutsiness. When I think of being gutsy, it makes me think not only of digestive health, which is what I work with my clients on, but also courageousness and freedom. I love combining these two meanings of the word into all of my work.
What has been YOUR biggest challenge or life obstacle that YOU feel has dimmed YOUR GLOW?
My biggest challenge happened whilst in the midst of one of these great adventures. I was teaching at a bilingual school in Cochabamba, Bolivia when it became very apparent that my wanderlust itself was causing me great pain. Basically – I had amebic parasites in my gut.
The funny and not-so-funny thing was, at the same time I was on this slightly shaky trajectory. I had graduated from college the year prior and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I felt lost – as did many of my friends. I didn’t know what to do with myself now that society and culture weren’t dictating my next steps – first school, then college, then… what?!
So I sort of floated around and went where the wind took me, sinking into deeper and deeper depression about my life. I was in a super chaotic relationship at the time and felt myself allowing everyone to walk all over me. And then this very real physical symptom hit and I could no longer ignore that I wasn’t treating myself very well. It was a huge wake-up call.
How have YOU grown as a woman in the last year? What lessons, insights or ah-ha moments have you had?
Later, those dark few months of extreme digestive pain combined with self-loathing began to take the form of something much brighter. First off, I happened upon the world’s largest nutrition school, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I enrolled immediately on a gut feeling for purely personal reasons – to stop feeling like shit!
After a few months into the course, however, I realized that I was totally meant to serve the world this way – by spreading health and happiness through the power of nutrition, adventure, and self-care. I realized that the way I can best help people is through my own experiences and teaching from the heart – and the gut.
Now, I run two different online and in-person experiences for those looking to up their gutsiness. One is called The She’s Got Guts Experience where we explore optimal nutrition, finding our intuition, courageous adventure, and ultimate freedom. The other is with Team Soul Fire, a group looking to make sustainable money by spreading health and wealth in the world. We get way uncomfortable in both experiences, and grow in health and happiness accordingly.
My journey wasn’t night and day, and it’s been a few years of struggle, failure, success, and everything in between, but now I appreciate all the curves in the road and ups and downs of my past. Each is jewel I can use to light the way for others. That is truly glowing to me, shining my light into the dark as well as light places of my past and present, so that others may find what they’re looking for, too.
What else do YOU want to share with the YOU GLOW GIRL!® Community?
My last thoughts for the Glow Girl Community are this: There is no night so dark that the sun doesn’t rise the next day. These days may take hours or months or even years to come to fruition, but they will come. And the back alley secret is that you can become the North Star in the night before daybreak is even close. You can glow from within and cast the light for others to see by.
I would love to have you join us in the free She’s Got Guts Community – just stop on by www.laurasprinkle.com! And if you want to track my adventures in health and life, follow me on Instagram. [www.instagram.com/lausprinkle]
Every woman has a story. Glow Girls are women who are consciously creating the lives their hearts and souls desire even though life has presented them some challenges and bumps along the way. Their light shines through the cracks creating GLOW. Every week we feature a new GLOW GIRL and her story. Don’t miss it! Join the YOU GLOW GIRL! Community on Facebook. Want to share your story? Email me at diane@glowleadership.com to become a Glow Girl!
Learn more about Diane and how she can help you or your organization here!