21d ā¢ Recovery Coaching
Who I Am Now: The Wild, Beautiful Mess of Chasing Dreams and Breaking Free šŖļøāØ
If youāve been following me, you know I left my clinical job on January 20th. That dayāfuck, that dayāit was a goddamn storm. š§ļø Not just a storm, but a hurricane of grief, anger, and heartbreak. Walking away wasnāt just quitting a job; it felt like ripping off a bandage that had been stuck on way too long and finally peeling it back to raw, bleeding skin. The disrespect, the ethical fights, the endless battles with a system that seemed hell-bent on breaking meāit all came crashing down, and I was left staring at the wreckage, feeling every ounce of it in my bones. š
I cried more than I thought I had in me. š¢ I screamed inside, asking myself, Why the hell does it have to be this way? How can a system designed to help feel so cold, so broken, so utterly soul-crushing? āļøš
The Leap: From Loss to New Life š
And then, I fucking leapt. āš„
Iām starting my own recovery coaching businessāProgress is Progressāright here in Wisconsin. šŗšø Itās a dream I barely dared to whisper, something I thought was too big, too scary, too goddamn far out of reach. But now? Itās real. Maybe too real.
I feel like Iām living in the same disbelief that hit me when I bought my house. š” Months of Is this really happening? and Who the hell is letting this happen? Iād catch myself staring at the keys, half-expecting someone to show up and say, āOops, wrong address.ā The imposter syndrome? Itās a beast that snarls in my ear every damn day. š It whispers, Youāre not ready. You donāt belong here.
But every day, I show up anyway. šŖ
Grinding Harder Than Ever š¼š„
Since leaving that job, Iāve been working harder than I ever did punching a clock for 40 hours a week. Iām buried in building client forms, setting up business accounts, doing market research, and connecting with Economic Development Corps, nonprofits, small business associations, and mentoring programs. I even have a marketing intern from the local technical college helping me keep up. šš¤
The support Iāve been given? It blows my mind. š¤Æ People believe in me, in this mission, in the messy, beautiful work that Progress is Progress is doing. And yet, the fear doesnāt go the fuck away. The fear that Iām not enough. The fear that Iāll fail spectacularly. š°
What Progress is Progress Means š
Progress is Progress isnāt just a business. Itās a lifeline. A promise to myself and anyone affected by addiction that every damn step forwardāeven the tiniest oneāis worth celebrating. š
Iām building a holistic recovery coaching service that blends personalized coaching, practical education, and a real online community. Weāre here to break stigma, offer tools that work, and create a safe space for honest, messy progress without the bullshit. āØš ļø
This work is deeply personal. Itās rooted in my own historyābeing born to young biological parents, adopted by my grandparents, carrying trauma, surviving domestic abuse, addiction, and all the chaos that comes with that story. And now, with my masterās degree in Clinical Mental Health on the horizon, Iām chasing dreams that once felt impossible. šš
The Road Ahead: From Coaching to Clinical Practice š¤ļø
Progress is Progress isnāt stopping at coaching. The plan is to expand into a full clinical practice. Iām starting with substance abuse recovery coaching, but with my masterās degree in sight, mental health services will follow soon behind. š§ šŖ
This means offering more comprehensive supportānot just peer coaching, but clinical care that integrates the hard clinical truths with the empathy and authenticity I bring. Itās about meeting people where they are, without judgment or stigma, and helping them build lives worth living. ā¤ļøāš©¹
Balancing Fear, Hope, and Self-Care āšæ
This journey isnāt just about work. Itās about balanceāfinding ways to take care of myself, keep my home life intact, and still enjoy the moments that make life life. Self-care isnāt optional; itās survival. Whether itās a quiet cup of coffee in the morning, a long walk to clear my head, or a damn good laugh with friends, these little rituals keep me sane amidst the chaos. āš¶āāļøš
The First Client and the First Dollar šµāØ
I got my first paying client. At first, I didnāt want to take their moneyāthey insisted. That dollar means everything. Itās proof that Iām creating something with my own hands, my own heart. ā¤ļø
More client meet-and-greets are scheduled. More plans are in motion. Progress is Progress is growing, and so am I. š±
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship š¢
If you think starting a business is glamorous, think again. Itās scary as hell, exhausting as fuck, thrilling, and overwhelming all at once. The unknowns are endless. The fear tries to paralyze me some days. But then the determination kicks ināthe same fierce fire that got me here. š„šŖ
Why This Matters: A Mission Rooted in Realness š
At Progress is Progress, the mission is simple but powerful: empower individuals and families affected by substance use challenges through coaching, education, and community. We meet people where they areāno judgment, no perfection, just real, raw support for real people. š¤
My vision is to break down stigma, foster resilience, and nurture transformation. To create a world where anyone impacted by addiction can find the tools and community they need to thrive. šš
An Invitation š¤
If youāre out there fighting your own battleāwhether itās addiction, fear, or chasing a dream that feels impossibleāknow this: you are not alone. You donāt have to be perfect. You just have to keep moving forward. š£āØ
Final Thoughts š
This story is still unfolding. Iām scared, excited, overwhelmed, and hopeful all at once. But every day Iām choosing to show up, to lean into the fear, and to celebrate every messy, beautiful step forward. šā¤ļø
Because no matter what, we move forward. One scared, hopeful step at a time. šš£
Keywords naturally included: recovery coaching Wisconsin, addiction recovery, overcoming imposter syndrome, substance use support, holistic recovery coaching, addiction stigma, small business recovery coaching, personal growth in recovery, mental health and addiction coaching.
4
2 comments
Who I Am Now: The Wild, Beautiful Mess of Chasing Dreams and Breaking Free šŖļøāØ
powered by
skool.com/progress-is-progress-coaching-3648
Addiction, Recovery, Mental Health, Support, & Truth. Messy, Real Progress for Anyone who wants betterāNO judgment, just gritty community.
Suggested communities
Powered by