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What happens when traumatic experiences shape your early life? Can you truly heal and help others find their path to wholeness? Master life coach Sue Bowles answers these questions with raw honesty and hard-won wisdom in this powerful conversation.

Sue courageously shares her journey as a childhood rape survivor who kept her trauma secret for 15 years, leading to struggles with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and an eating disorder. Yet her story doesn't end with survival—it transforms into a mission to help others rewrite their narratives.

"Who I am is a child of God who has hung on to the coattails of faith," Sue explains, drawing a crucial distinction between identity and experience that forms the foundation of her approach to healing. This perspective has carried her through unimaginable challenges, including the loss of both parents within a short timeframe.

As an ACC-certified master life and mental health coach, Sue clarifies the difference between counseling (addressing past issues affecting your present) and coaching (focusing on your present to shape your future). She works with clients on boundaries, communication, relationships, and managing anxiety before it becomes clinically significant—always putting their needs first, even referring them to therapists when appropriate.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Sue discusses her mission to break mental health stigma, particularly among Christians. Drawing from biblical examples including Jesus's own anxiety in Gethsemane, she makes a compelling case that addressing mental health struggles is deeply compatible with faith.

At the heart of Sue's work is her "Dare to Believe Movement," centered on a fundamental question: "Do I believe that I matter?" As she powerfully states, "Until you can say in a solid bedrock foundation way that yes, I believe in me, permanent life change cannot and will not happen."

Whether you're struggling with your own trauma, supporting someone through theirs, or simply interested in the intersection of mental health and faith, Sue's insights offer practical wisdom and genuine hope. Visit SueBowles.com to connect with Sue, sign up for her weekly "Hump Day Help" texts, or explore her books and coaching services.

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Shell Sawyer transformed her own devastating divorce experience into a mission to guide others through the financial maze of marriage dissolution. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, divorce coach, and mediator with over 20 years in the financial services industry, Shell brings compassionate expertise to a process that leaves most people feeling overwhelmed and alone.

"Even though my background was in finance, I had a hard time making decisions during my divorce," Shell reveals, capturing the emotional paralysis that affects even financially savvy individuals. This vulnerability makes her approach uniquely powerful—she understands both the technical requirements and the emotional landscape of divorce recovery.

What separates Shell's methodology from typical financial advice is her holistic vision of post-divorce life. Beyond just splitting assets, she helps clients envision their next chapter, ensuring settlements are not just legally sound but financially sustainable. "Understanding the short and long-term implications of divorce decisions is crucial," she explains, noting how tax consequences can make seemingly fair divisions deeply imbalanced.

Shell's book, "You Are Not Alone: Your Guide for When Divorce is on Your Doorstep," offers practical templates, checklists, and compassionate guidance for those navigating divorce. Her approach combines financial recovery coaching with emotional support, helping clients develop sustainable budgets and emergency funds while acknowledging the grief process that accompanies the end of a marriage.

The path to recovery involves rediscovering yourself through self-care, rebuilding support networks, and finding new purpose. As Shell beautifully articulates, "I look at my last divorce, even though it was hard, as a gift to me. I never would have been able to do some of the things I do now." Ready to transform your divorce experience from purely painful to an opportunity for financial empowerment and personal growth? Shell offers 30-minute complimentary consultations to start your journey toward a brighter future.

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Sarah Rose Heeley joins the Keep Hope Alive podcast to reveal the transformative power of understanding your menstrual cycle. This conversation uncovers why cycle awareness isn't just about periods—it's about reclaiming an ancient wisdom that has been systematically suppressed for centuries.

"As women, we are not meant to be the same all the time," Sarah explains, challenging the linear productivity model we've all been conditioned to follow. While society functions on a rigid 24-hour cycle, women naturally operate on a 28-29 day rhythm. This fundamental mismatch creates unnecessary suffering as women judge themselves for natural fluctuations in energy, mood, and capabilities.

The discussion takes a fascinating turn as Sarah reveals how menstrual cycles were once revered as a source of wisdom and intuition. Women in their "moon time" were considered to be at the height of their spiritual connection. This perspective stands in stark contrast to modern attitudes that have medicalized and pathologized natural menstrual symptoms. As Sarah points out, PMS isn't a syndrome—it's your body signaling what needs attention in your life.

Perhaps most compelling is how cycle awareness transforms relationships. By honoring her need for rest before her period, Sarah found herself becoming more present and patient with her family. "Practicing menstrual cycle awareness makes me a better mother," she shares, highlighting how self-care directly enhances our capacity to care for others.

The conversation also explores perimenopause, offering valuable insights about symptoms beyond hot flashes—including brain fog, anxiety, and unpredictable cycles. Sarah emphasizes that in perimenopause, the primary directive is rest, challenging women to practice discernment about where they direct their shifting energy.

Whether you're currently cycling, approaching perimenopause, or beyond menopause, this episode offers profound wisdom about reconnecting with your body's natural rhythms. By understanding the seasons of your cycle and honoring your changing needs, you can move through life with greater self-acceptance, energy, and joy.

Ready to transform your relationship with your cycle? Connect with Sarah on Instagram @sarahroseheeley to learn about her workshops and one-on-one coaching programs designed to help women embrace their natural rhythms for radical self-care.

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Love & Light - Keep Hope Alive