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I don’t know about you, but as I’ve grown my business, I’ve caught myself thinking the only reason some people have it so good is because their life was easier than mine. Sometimes that’s true in part, but often I’ve been wrong in writing off why (and how) they created such freedom.
All my adult life, I’ve had people assume I can travel or live freely because I was born with privilege or because my husband floats our lifestyle. Nope. I grew up poor and worked my ass off for this life — AND I also get why people ask. I’ve asked the same questions of others, too. But here’s what I’ve learned: there is always someone out there who had it harder and still created their dream.
This isn’t about a “my life was harder” competition. It’s a fight song. A reminder that we can all do hard things.
I share pieces of my story — from growing up in a violent neighborhood with immigrant parents who survived war and mental illness, to living out of my car as a climbing guide, to facing divorce, cancer, and heartbreak. Through it all, I made choices — sometimes scrappy, sometimes messy — that added up to freedom.
Today, the life I live isn’t because someone else made it possible. It’s because I did. Because I built a business, set boundaries, and kept choosing courage over excuses.
If YOU are going to build the life you want, it will be the same for you – the choices YOU make. Don’t let anyone else take that from you.
The stories of hardship here are not a “poor me” story. They are part of a f*ck yeah story. A story about choosing differently, again and again, and discovering what’s possible when you do.
Because yes, luck exists. Privilege exists. But choices? They’re what truly shape our lives.
So when you create your dreams — and you will — don’t let anyone think you didn’t create it. Even if you had help, you chose to show up and do something with it. But especially if you dug deep and CHOSE to bring it to the arena – I see you.
Let people be wrong about you. You are invincible. You have what it takes. Don’t give up.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why assumptions about women “being supported” dismiss the reality of our power
- How comparison (harder/easier) can keep us stuck and distracted from what we need to do next
- The role of resilience and scrappy choices in creating freedom
- Why your accomplishments matter — whether or not you had help along the way
Resources:
// Episode 21: Define Your Freedom
// Episode 93: Wake the F*ck Up!
// Episode 174: Decolonize Your Mind – A Story of My Mother and Me
// Episode 235: What’s Possible When We Let Go of Our Story
// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.
// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there!
// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I’d love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here or on Spotify by clicking here.