Safe to be Me: How I Healed, Traveled and Transformed

Q: Burnout is more than just feeling tired—it’s a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can leave even the most high-achieving people feeling stuck and depleted. For many working professionals, it’s a silent struggle hidden behind a polished exterior of success. Tell me about your own experience with burnout, the signs you ignored, and the bold steps you took to rebuild her life. ​

A: Burnout is something so many of us face, but we rarely talk about it openly. For years, I felt like I had to keep it all together—to “fake it till I made it.” But inside, I was barely holding on. My hope is that by sharing my story, others will feel empowered to take a step back, reflect, and give themselves permission to start over.

Looking back, I realize I ignored so many signs that I was burning out. I pushed through the exhaustion, dismissed the stress, and told myself I just needed to work harder. But the more I tried to keep up appearances, the more disconnected I felt. I was living a life that didn’t feel like mine, and it broke me.

Q: Was there a specific moment when you realized something had to change?

A: There was. It was a cold February morning, and I remember sitting at my desk, staring at my to-do list, completely frozen. My mind was racing, my chest was tight, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t do it anymore.

It was the scariest moment of my life. I realized I had been running on empty for so long that my body and mind were finally shutting down. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I couldn’t keep going like this. So, I did something I never thought I’d do—I called a crisis hotline.

That call was a turning point for me. It gave me the space to say out loud, “I’m not okay,” and that was the first step toward healing. Over the next few months, I allowed myself to slow down and reflect. Every day, I made a conscious effort to reset my priorities, check in with myself, and take small steps toward rebuilding my life.

That period wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I had to unlearn the habits and beliefs that had led me to burnout, and I had to start listening to what I needed—not what others expected of me.

Q: What did healing look like for you? How did you give yourself permission to start over?

A: Healing, for me, started with one simple realization: I didn’t have to keep living the way I was. I gave myself permission to begin again, and that changed everything.

I developed a mantra that became my guide: CAKE. It stands for Connecting Authentically with Kindness and Evolution in mind. Those four words became the foundation of my transformation.

I realized I needed to connect authentically—with myself and with others. I had spent so much time trying to be what I thought people wanted me to be, but I wasn’t being true to myself. Kindness became my compass—kindness toward myself and giving myself grace when I stumbled. And evolution reminded me that growth is a process. I didn’t have to have it all figured out right away; I just had to keep moving forward.

One of the most transformative experiences during my healing journey was traveling to Italy with my best friend. It was the first time in years that I allowed myself to step away from the grind and just be. Being in a new environment helped me see my life from a different perspective, and it gave me the clarity I needed to start building a life that felt authentic to me.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who feels like they’re stuck in burnout?

A: The first thing I’d say is this: burnout doesn’t have to be the end of your story. It can be a turning point. It’s okay to admit that you’re not okay, and it’s okay to prioritize yourself.

Healing isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being real. It’s about giving yourself permission to stop, reflect, and begin again. And it’s about recognizing that you are worthy of a life that feels good to you—not just one that looks good on paper.

That’s the journey I share in my book, Safe to Be Me: How I Healed, Traveled and Transformed. In it, I talk about how I went from being a high-functioning corporate people-pleaser to someone who lives life with purpose and authenticity. I invite readers to join me on this mental fitness journey and to explore what it means to build a life that’s aligned with who they truly are.

If you’re ready to take that first step, you don’t have to do it alone. Pick up a copy of Safe to Be Me, and let’s walk this path together. Remember: it’s safe to be you.