The Power of Your Personal Story | Mindy Aisling
I have always identified with being a strong, powerful woman. That being said, I have lost my way, gone through hell, found myself, searched deeper, jumped over impossible obstacles, and climbed up mountains (both literal and figurative).
These cycles of growth and bloom are unceasing. We are all on this journey that has no arrival point, and no clear destination. We are humans having the human experience - and it is terrifying, beautiful, awe-inspiring, and completely confusing. It is the gift that is given to all of us: Life.
These cycles of growth and bloom are unceasing. We are all on this journey that has no arrival point, and no clear destination. We are humans having the human experience - and it is terrifying, beautiful, awe-inspiring, and completely confusing. It is the gift that is given to all of us: Life.
Overcoming Poverty | Mindy Aisling
My life started off without the privileges that I enjoy today. I didn’t have the privilege of being able to eat whenever I was hungry. I didn’t have the privilege of a stable home, available parents, cultural experiences, or education. Living in poverty means that moved around a lot, we were evicted from apartments, and from time to time we lived in our car. We made ends meet, which meant things like occasionally living without electricity or getting food from the food bank.
My parents were successful small business owners, and I learned a great deal from them (you can read my entrepreneurial journey here). However, my mother suffered from mental illness at a time when it wasn't culturally acceptable, or easy, to get help. She was also a single mom and my dad was 5,000 miles away. My parents were teenagers when they had my sister and me. Given the circumstances and the tools they had, they did the best they could. Like every single one of us, our parent's level of personal growth and healing shaped our lives. I would argue that every single human impacts the world around them based on their level of healing, and it is probably why I'm so passionate about wellness and 'doing the work' to be the healthiest, most healed version of myself.
During the times when my mom couldn’t take care of me, I was passed around to various relatives or stayed with friends. Eventually, when I was 15, I was completely re-homed, and I lost the only community that I had ever known. The grief of this experience transported me to the edge of my sanity, and I wondered if I’d survive. It was at this time that I discovered, as many of us do at some point in our lives, that there is more in us than we know. I pulled from a deep inner reservoir and stepped into my resiliency.
My parents were successful small business owners, and I learned a great deal from them (you can read my entrepreneurial journey here). However, my mother suffered from mental illness at a time when it wasn't culturally acceptable, or easy, to get help. She was also a single mom and my dad was 5,000 miles away. My parents were teenagers when they had my sister and me. Given the circumstances and the tools they had, they did the best they could. Like every single one of us, our parent's level of personal growth and healing shaped our lives. I would argue that every single human impacts the world around them based on their level of healing, and it is probably why I'm so passionate about wellness and 'doing the work' to be the healthiest, most healed version of myself.
During the times when my mom couldn’t take care of me, I was passed around to various relatives or stayed with friends. Eventually, when I was 15, I was completely re-homed, and I lost the only community that I had ever known. The grief of this experience transported me to the edge of my sanity, and I wondered if I’d survive. It was at this time that I discovered, as many of us do at some point in our lives, that there is more in us than we know. I pulled from a deep inner reservoir and stepped into my resiliency.
Escaping Domestic Violence | Mindy Aisling
I have been blessed with a vastly intelligent mind and wild curiosity about the world. One of the gifts of my strange, disjointed childhood was to graduate high school at start college at the age of 16. It was here that I cultured a deep love for learning and I began to understand how knowledge of the world around me colored all of my experiences. I saw that I could add depth and meaning to my world by learning new things. I voraciously pursued this endeavor.
At 17 I found myself on my own in a studio apartment, working full-time, and going to college. The unhealed wounds from my childhood led me to the next step in my journey. One that would provide me with what I needed to reveal the next truest and most beautiful version of myself. It was at this point in my life when I met the father of my son. I had experienced so much loss and abandonment in my childhood, that having a controlling, obsessive partner felt really good. It felt like love.
We got married, bought a home, started a business, and my son was born. On the outside, my life looked like a picture of success. I was 24 and I had the "white picket fence" dream. What most people didn't know is that it was a carefully constructed image designed to hide a dark reality. Then one day, a week before Thanksgiving, as I put my infant son to bed, my (then) husband came into the nursery in a rage, calling me names, throwing things, and punching holes in the walls. I was consumed by fear, but something shifted in me and once again I reached into my reserve of resiliency. The next morning, I quietly packed and left with my son. I never set foot in that house again.
At 17 I found myself on my own in a studio apartment, working full-time, and going to college. The unhealed wounds from my childhood led me to the next step in my journey. One that would provide me with what I needed to reveal the next truest and most beautiful version of myself. It was at this point in my life when I met the father of my son. I had experienced so much loss and abandonment in my childhood, that having a controlling, obsessive partner felt really good. It felt like love.
We got married, bought a home, started a business, and my son was born. On the outside, my life looked like a picture of success. I was 24 and I had the "white picket fence" dream. What most people didn't know is that it was a carefully constructed image designed to hide a dark reality. Then one day, a week before Thanksgiving, as I put my infant son to bed, my (then) husband came into the nursery in a rage, calling me names, throwing things, and punching holes in the walls. I was consumed by fear, but something shifted in me and once again I reached into my reserve of resiliency. The next morning, I quietly packed and left with my son. I never set foot in that house again.
Personal Growth & Development | Mindy Aisling
It was at this point in my life that I began to explore the question, "What is it about me that is creating my experience of life?" I remember sitting in the basement of the domestic violence center, drinking bad coffee, and thinking, "How is it possible that I got here? I am attractive, intelligent, and kind.... what happened?"
This moment in my life launched me into my next level of growth and development as a human. This was the moment I began to prioritize my own healing and self-discovery. Since this time, I have never stopped exploring questions like: How is who I am creating the world as I experience it? How do my belief systems impact my relationships? How do my thoughts limit and/or support my success? Where are my unhealed wounds driving my life subconsciously? What in my life is out of alignment with my true self?
This moment in my life launched me into my next level of growth and development as a human. This was the moment I began to prioritize my own healing and self-discovery. Since this time, I have never stopped exploring questions like: How is who I am creating the world as I experience it? How do my belief systems impact my relationships? How do my thoughts limit and/or support my success? Where are my unhealed wounds driving my life subconsciously? What in my life is out of alignment with my true self?
This exploration has led me to various spiritual investigations, academic education, travel, a deep study of religion, philosophy, psychology, a trip to India to stay in an ashram, and several certifications in a variety of health and wellness practices. This is how I discovered Life Coaching, and I adore this work. When I am being of service to others, I feel the most alive. My favorite thing is talking with people about this human experience. I was able to attend one of the best coaching schools in the world, graduating in 2010 with educational credits and client hours that far exceeded the requirements set forth by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
While I was busy exploring myself and the spiritual world, I was also exploring my intelligence, logic, and natural skills as a leader & entrepreneur. This led me to successfully run 3 small businesses in different fields. I found that I have a natural brilliance for ideas and creating things in the physical reality and business world. I am a third-generation entrepreneur, and I have repeatably drawn on the practical wisdom that has been passed down to me. Combining this wisdom with further education in business, I’ve been extremely effective as a manager, executive director, and business owner. Now, I have the privilege of coaching other business leaders and new entrepreneurs ready to bring into the world a business as unique as they are.
While I was busy exploring myself and the spiritual world, I was also exploring my intelligence, logic, and natural skills as a leader & entrepreneur. This led me to successfully run 3 small businesses in different fields. I found that I have a natural brilliance for ideas and creating things in the physical reality and business world. I am a third-generation entrepreneur, and I have repeatably drawn on the practical wisdom that has been passed down to me. Combining this wisdom with further education in business, I’ve been extremely effective as a manager, executive director, and business owner. Now, I have the privilege of coaching other business leaders and new entrepreneurs ready to bring into the world a business as unique as they are.
Near Death Experience | Mindy Aisling
In my 30’s I experienced an auto accident where an intoxicated driver crossed into my lane and hit my family head-on. I was trapped in the car for hours, losing over 2 liters of blood because the seat belt had ripped up my core (I now boast a badass 12" scar on my torso), but thanks to the emergency response and helivac crews, I made it to the trauma center in time for them to save my life. Amazingly, my son and husband also lived. I was in a hospital bed for three months, graduating then to a wheelchair, then a walker, then a cane, … and then finally, my own two legs again. For years, I have continued to experience complications, and undergo additional surgeries. This physical accident shook up my inner world (thoughts, belief systems, emotions) as much as it did my physical world. I felt as though my inner self was broken open as much as my outer body was. Healing from this accident, both physically and spiritually, has been one of the most vibrant threads in the tapestry of my life. It has shaped my story in so many incredible ways. Almost dying is a strange experience, with both its trauma and its gifts – many of which I am still unpacking.
Healing From Burnout | Mindy Aisling
In my 40’s, I experienced extreme burnout. After working 60+ hour weeks in a high-stress environment for years, I learned that it doesn't matter how much you love your work - you can't do it all the time. No matter how much passion and effort you put in, you can't solve a lack of resources, and you can't do alone what requires a team. I had heard about burnout before but had never experienced how an unbalanced life can lead to loss of self and mental, emotional and physical health. Going through this provided me with a new level of understanding of the human experience, and what we need to BE our best selves. During this experience, I gained a profound understanding of what it means to be a master at building and maintaining healthy boundaries. By embracing being misunderstood or misrepresented, I deepened my capacity for self-acceptance. I gained a solid understanding of how (and why) self-care is critical for success. Finally, I learned how important it is to accurately assess a situation or a person, and how crucial it is to respond to how it actually is - not how you wish it was.
Living authentically means bringing ourselves fully to every moment in our lives and being courageous enough to stand with our shoulders back and our heads held high to whatever life brings us. In order to do this, we must become masters of self-care. The experts of balance. We must be scrupulous AF about what we allow into our lives.
Living authentically means bringing ourselves fully to every moment in our lives and being courageous enough to stand with our shoulders back and our heads held high to whatever life brings us. In order to do this, we must become masters of self-care. The experts of balance. We must be scrupulous AF about what we allow into our lives.
Neurodivergence | Mindy Aisling
My 40's also presented me with a deeper look at my genetic and chemical frameworks, and how those impacted my authenticity and my relationship with the world around me. I met with a neuropsychologist and was officially diagnosed with ADHD and high-functioning Autism. This diagnosis felt like a huge weight had been lifted, and it allowed some of the fog to clear so that I could, once again, deepen further into my authentic self. This diagnosis offered me a new depth of gratitude and celebration, as many of my favorite things about myself are linked to these traits. It also provided me with a deeper look at masking vs. capability and opened a whole new treasure chest of powerful questions with which to journey further inward.
The Gift of Motherhood | Mindy Aisling
As a mother, I have navigated the road of divorce, being a single parent, and raising a kid with ADHD and SPD into a high-functioning young man. We’ve been blessed with a family that spans a wide range on the neurodivergence spectrum. I have learned how to tread the path of having a child with a bio-dad in and out of prison and addicted to drugs. Life has provided me with the beautifully challenging path of finding love as a single mom, and then creating a successful blended family.
Now, I find myself embarking on the adventure of letting go of this beautiful creature that I have loved and cherished these 21 years. I find myself filled with equal parts grief and excitement. Being a mom is, by far, the most powerful experience of my lifetime. My body cannot contain the gratitude I have for being the mother of my son. He is one of my favorite humans on this planet. I adore him.
Now, I find myself embarking on the adventure of letting go of this beautiful creature that I have loved and cherished these 21 years. I find myself filled with equal parts grief and excitement. Being a mom is, by far, the most powerful experience of my lifetime. My body cannot contain the gratitude I have for being the mother of my son. He is one of my favorite humans on this planet. I adore him.
Healthy Love | Mindy Aisling
In 2010 I was remarried, and I have been delighted to discover that my marriage is a partnership of rich play, fierce acceptance, and massive celebration. It is a wild adventure, a rush to achieve the things that each of us wants to experience in this lifetime - even the most unrealistic or spectacularly odd dreams and desires are welcomed. To me, love means helping another human experience all of their needs and desires. We each are given one short lifetime, and I'm grateful every single day that my husband shares my definition of love, and is committed to supporting me in experiencing whatever I need to experience to feel fully alive. My marriage is a haven of trust and support. My love for my husband is something I’ve sworn to aid and abet as it runs wildly free through me.
Cultivating Resilience | Mindy Aisling
I have been through many different traumas and I have overcome each one. Because trauma does not define me (and it doesn’t define you, either). I've learned how to be comfortable being uncomfortable, how to integrate failure as part of the path to success, and how to find and create joy in the strangest of places. I have learned how to stand at the center of life and not shrink back.
My Best Life | Mindy Aisling
Life is my gift. I am thankful for every tiny piece of it, the good and the bad. I relish the delight of living. I savor the joy of learning, being, thinking, and feeling.
I am a success. I am a failure. I am a badass. I am a tiny frightened child. I am a wise sage. I am fearless. I need. I want. I have. I give. I am you. I am me.
I am Mindy Amita Aisling
At the end of my journey, I will be able to say that I had the courage to reveal myself to the world again & again - and that made all the difference.
I am a success. I am a failure. I am a badass. I am a tiny frightened child. I am a wise sage. I am fearless. I need. I want. I have. I give. I am you. I am me.
I am Mindy Amita Aisling
At the end of my journey, I will be able to say that I had the courage to reveal myself to the world again & again - and that made all the difference.