From Gold to Growth

Rewriting the Meaning of Strength

I’ve been doing some reflecting lately. The kind of pause-and-breathe reflection that only happens when you give yourself space to look inward.

I grew up in the gym.

A competitive gymnast.

5 days a week.

4 hours a day.

All for one thing: gold.

Back then, everything was about winning. About being perfect. About out-performing the version of me from yesterday. And I was good at it. Disciplined. Determined. Always focused on the next skill, the next level, the next medal.

But somewhere along the way, as I transitioned from the tight leotards and judges’ scores to adult life, mental health challenges, and self-exploration, something changed.

And thank goodness it did.

Reclaiming the Gym. Reclaiming Myself.

Now, in my 30s, I still go to the gym — 3 days a week, 1 to 1.5 hours each time. But the reason is completely different.

I don’t go to shrink myself or to punish myself for what I ate.

I go because it helps me feel grounded. Strong. Empowered.

I go for me.

I’m not chasing gold anymore.

I’m chasing peace. Wholeness. A quiet kind of confidence.

I’m chasing growth.

Sitting with My Body Image Story

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with body image.

I’ve battled body dysmorphia for most of my life. Constantly comparing, criticizing, questioning why my body didn’t “fit” the mold I thought it should. It’s always looked different.

Growing up, I was teased for having a large butt — something people now celebrate, but at the time, it made me feel like I was wrong, like my body was something to fix or hide.

That teasing created mental blocks that ran deep. And I didn’t even realize how much they were holding me back until I started doing the work. Sitting with the discomfort, getting curious about the shame, and asking:

Why am I so bothered by this? Who taught me to feel this way about my own body?

That work wasn’t easy. It still isn’t.

But every time I honor my body by moving it, dressing it in clothes that actually fit instead of hide it, or speaking to myself with kindness, I heal a little more.

Your Growth Might Look Different and That’s Beautiful

We all have different starting points.

Different bodies.

Different battles.

Different "golds" we once chased.

Maybe for you, growth looks like getting out of bed and taking a walk.

Maybe it’s saying no when you used to always say yes.

Maybe it’s choosing rest over hustle.

Or unfollowing accounts that make you feel less-than.

Whatever it looks like, I want you to know that your journey is valid.

You don’t have to earn love by looking a certain way.

You don’t have to prove your worth through exhaustion.

You don’t have to “fix” yourself to be worthy of joy, peace, or freedom.

You are already enough, just as you are.

A Mindful Life, One Day at a Time

As a Mindful Anxiety Mentor, I’ve built this space to help women like you feel supported, inspired, and grounded — no matter where you are on your mental health or self-love journey.

I know how heavy it can feel to carry anxiety, self-doubt, and past shame.

But I also know the power of slowing down, tuning in, and making one aligned choice at a time.

That’s why I created the Mindful Living Starter Kit to help you reconnect with your body, regulate your mind, and build rituals of care that actually feel good.

From gold to growth. From perfection to presence. From fear to freedom.

That’s the path I’m on — and I’d love to walk it with you.

With love,

Your Mindful Anxiety Mentor