425: Is This My Life Now? How I Found My Way Back After Breast Cancer

I remember the moment it hit me. I had finished treatment, the doctors said I was "done," and yet—I felt anything but done. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure of what came next.

I had survived, but I didn’t feel like I was really living.

For months, I kept thinking: Is this my life now? I wanted to feel like myself again, but even with my decades of education and experience in health and wellness, I didn’t know where to start.

It felt like I had to rebuild everything—my energy, my confidence, my sense of who I was. And I was doing it alone, because everyone around me assumed I was "fine" now that treatment was over.

The truth? I wasn’t fine. And if you’re reading this, I have a feeling you might understand exactly what I mean.

“I had survived, but I didn’t feel like I was really living.”

The Weight of the Journey

Before cancer, I had already been through my share of challenges—losing my mom, nearly losing my brother, and watching my husband recover from a severe motorcycle accident. Each of these moments shook me, forcing me to find strength I didn’t know I had.

But nothing prepared me for the emotional weight of surviving cancer. Unlike those other moments of crisis, where survival instinct kicked in, this felt different. There was no clear 'after.'

No roadmap for what came next.

There were days when I would wake up feeling like a stranger in my own body. I looked in the mirror and saw someone I didn’t recognize—someone changed by cancer, by fear, by uncertainty. I remember standing in the shower, hands pressed against the cold tile, letting the water run over me, trying to hold back tears. How did I get here? Why does it feel like no one understands?

Then there were the nights. The nights where my mind would spiral with thoughts of recurrence. What if it comes back? What if I didn’t do enough? What if I’m always this tired? The fear would wrap itself around me like a suffocating blanket, making it impossible to sleep, impossible to rest.

I was trying so hard to “get back to normal,” but deep down, I knew there was no going back. I had to figure out how to move forward—how to live a life that wasn’t just about survival, but about thriving.

Why Surviving Isn’t the Same as Thriving

At first, I did what most of us do—I tried to push through. I told myself I should just be grateful. I tried to get back to “normal,” even though normal didn’t feel right anymore. I searched for advice, but everything felt overwhelming.

It all seemed to boil down to try harder, eat better, exercise more, stress less. But how? I knew how to do those things before cancer...but now, with this bone-aching fatigue, brain fog that stopped me thinking straight...THIS...I didn't know how to do.

I needed a roadmap—not another impossible to-do list. That’s when I realized I wasn’t failing at healing. I simply needed a system that worked for me.

“There was no roadmap for what came next.”

The Moment Everything Changed

I had faced hardship before, but I had always been able to push through. This time, though, pushing wasn’t working. I kept thinking back to how I had handled previous traumas—how I had found my way through grief, fear, and uncertainty.

The difference was that this time, my body and mind weren’t bouncing back in the same way. I needed a new approach, one that honored where I was now instead of expecting myself to be the person I was before cancer.

I remember the moment I stopped blaming myself for not “bouncing back” fast enough. It wasn’t some grand epiphany—it was a quiet realization during one of my lowest points. I had spent months berating myself, feeling like I wasn’t strong enough, motivated enough, or disciplined enough to “fix” myself.

 

As I sat at my kitchen table, staring at a meal I didn’t even have the energy to eat.

It reminded me of those moments when a kid pushes their plate away—arms crossed, refusing broccoli with every fiber of their being. Not because they’re bad or lazy... but because it’s just too much in that moment.

That was me.
My adult version of refusing broccoli.

Not because I didn’t want to feel better. But because I couldn’t take one more bite of the pressure to “do it right.” I needed to stop forcing myself to swallow what I wasn’t ready for—and instead, find a gentler way to start.

I started to ask myself: What if I stopped trying to do it all at once? What if I take the pressure off myself and let small, simple shifts be enough?

That was the first moment I let go of the idea that I had to figure everything out immediately.

Instead, I focused on just one thing—one habit, one change, one act of self-care that felt doable.

...And that’s when everything started to shift.

Enter...K.A.R.I.N.S. Formula for Thriving

Over time, I discovered what actually made a difference—not just in my recovery, but in feeling like myself again.

I turned my trial-and-error journey, combining my extensive education as a Health Coach AND all of my personal life experiences overcoming grief, trauma, illness and the roller coaster of life...into a simple, step-by-step system that I now teach inside Thrivership School. (My 6-month group coaching program with no homework, grades, detention or mean girls!)

 

"Because I knew that if I was struggling with "the after", I wasn't alone."

Here’s what changed everything:

K = Know Who You Are 

Your identity is shifting, but that doesn’t mean you’re lost. Reconnecting with who you are now is the first step to feeling grounded again.

🌟 Energy returns as clarity grows. You stop spending energy on things that don’t matter and start living in alignment with what fuels you.

A = Ask What’s Working (and What’s Not) 

Instead of getting stuck in frustration, you learn to assess what's truly supporting your energy—and what's draining it.

🌟 Energy increases through clarity and small wins. You focus on what actually helps, let go of what drains you, and feel momentum again.

R = Respect Your Needs & Wants 

Learning to prioritize yourself (without guilt) and understand what you want and need in this phase of your life is a game-changer. (Especially when you might be used to dropping everything to help everyone else)

🌟 Energy feels steadier and safer. You feel grounded, no longer fighting your body, and finally start to refill your teapot instead of pouring from an empty one.

I = Identify the Thoughts Inside 

The fear of recurrence, the doubts, the "I should be able to do this alone" beliefs—you get to learn to rewrite these stories.

🌟 Energy rises as your mind becomes kinder. You feel lighter, less burdened, and more hopeful. You trust yourself again.

N = No Becomes an Easy Word 

Saying no to things that don't serve you, means saying yes to your well-being and MORE ENERGY (physically and emotionally).

🌟 Energy is protected and preserved. You stop overextending and start honoring your capacity—without the guilt.

S = Self-Care is Non-Negotiable 

Not the Instagram version of self-care, but the real kind—building routines that made energy and joy feel effortless.

🌟 Energy feels sustainable. You finally have rituals that restore you—body, mind, and spirit. You no longer run on fumes.

Love a good fridge-worthy reminder? Grab your own copy of the K.A.R.I.N.S. Formula

👉 Download it here - Stick it on the fridge where your broccoli lives. 🥦💛

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

I created Thrivership School because I never want another woman to feel like the rug has been pulled out from under her with no idea where to turn. Faking a smile on the outside, but really struggling on the inside.

I see you. I know what it’s like to wonder if you’ll ever feel like yourself again, to question whether you have the energy to do the work of healing and recovering fully.

 

But I also know that you don’t have to figure it out alone. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to take the next small step.

This is more than a program—it’s a sacred space where you can rebuild your energy, confidence, and identity alongside women who get it. Where you'll start to feel safe and at home in both your body and mind again.

Inside, I’ll guide you step by step, helping you put this formula into action in a way that works for you, in your life, with your body and your responsibilities.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to chat. I open up a few spots each week for these no-pressure conversations—➡️ grab one HERE when you’re ready. ⬅️

For now, just know this: You’re not alone. And thriving is absolutely possible for you. 💛

If you're curious,➡️ let’s chat ⬅️ no pressure (that's not how I roll!), just support. When you feel ready, I’m here to talk through whether Thrivership School is the right fit for you.