Karen Wilson never expected that an online branding course would lead her down the ultimate path of self-discovery. Yet, through questions she’d never dared ask herself, Karen unlocked a journey that would reshape her life and create ripples of inspiration for others. Now the Founder of Creative Life in Motion, a Mindset & Movement Mentor, accomplished author, and professional storytelling speaker, Karen has redefined what it means to truly “step into” one’s identity and potential. When Karen embraced who she truly was, her life transformed. Weight loss became natural, but learning self-love through every challenge and triumph was the real accomplishment. From tackling her first marathon without prior training to creating a YouTube channel and eventually leading fitness classes, she continually pushed boundaries she never believed possible. She took her journey one step at a time, both on the page and on her daily walks. Within 90 days, she completed and self-published BE Weightless: Like Your Body, Love Yourself—a testament to the power of persistence, self-love, and living life in motion. In this Mystic Mag‘s interview, Karen shares the powerful story behind Creative Life in Motion, her philosophies on mindset and movement, and what it really takes to create a life you love.
You often speak about “titles” being less important—how has shedding labels and embracing your authentic self transformed your approach to mentoring and healing?
For quite a long time, I was chasing labels in my adult life. I felt like I needed to attach something to my identity whenever I introduced myself—like being a mom, a cosmetician, a fitness instructor, a virtual assistant, or a transformational coach. I spent so much time trying to figure out where I fit in because I am a generalist and wear many different hats. Reflecting on my story, I remember that when I was young, I was labeled as the “fat girl who was fun to be around” or the “nicest girl in class.” But, I always defaulted to the negative: “You’d be so pretty if you just lost 50 pounds and got rid of those glasses.” Everything was attached to an “if” and a label.
As I grew older, I found myself disappointed—disappointed in myself, my job, and my titles—because I didn’t feel like I was living within my purpose. Everyone has big dreams and goals, and there I was: a single mom, a second-time dropout living in the hood. I remember thinking, “I guess I’m just someone who helps out at the gas station and drives a distributor truck.” I always seemed to have more than one label.
Later in life, I became a runner. But even then, I refused to call myself a runner because I had flashbacks of struggling to run when I was 13. It wasn’t until someone told me, “If you run one step or one block, you can call yourself a runner because you’re actually doing it,” that I started to see things differently. I had always wanted to write a book, and it was the same situation—if you sit down and write a chapter or a blog, you can call yourself a writer.
With time and lots of personal development, I started to strip away the labels. If you’ve ever seen the show Suits, you might remember Donna—she can do absolutely everything. I took that concept and thought, “Okay, well, I’m just Karen.” Stripping away the labels made me realize that it’s not the label that defines me; it’s who I am in the moment. I have lots of different labels, depending on the time of day or situation, but none of them truly define me.
Many people carry negative labels, which can be the most damaging. When we say, “I’m lazy,” “I’m tired,” “I can’t,” or “I’m too old,” those labels become our identity. But that’s not who we are; it’s just a mood. Stripping away those labels allows us to truly be in the joy of who we are and live our purpose in every moment, instead of presenting ourselves in a way that aligns with society’s expectations.
When I work with someone, I listen for their labels, and I want to know who they are without them. I spent 15 years as a cosmetician, but during that time, I wasn’t just working with makeup or skincare. I was having deep conversations, listening to what people were truly seeking—usually confidence or self-assurance. Being a cosmetician was just a role; the real work was helping people transform, using cosmetics as a tool.
Now, I realize that I am living within my purpose, no matter what label I carry, as long as I’m helping others through their transformations. Stripping away labels has given me the freedom to always show up as my true self. It’s not about fitting into a specific role; it’s about being authentic, which makes it easier for others to transform as well.
It doesn’t matter if I’m leading a group as a fitness instructor or not—transformation happens when we’re all just being ourselves. Removing labels takes away the pressure of trying to be something that we’re not. The same applies to negative labels. When you label yourself as “lazy” or identify too much with a diagnosis, you’re limiting yourself. A diagnosis is fine—just don’t let it become an excuse. You work with it, but you don’t let it define you.
What was the turning point that led you to start your first job at the age of 15 and step back from continuing your education? How did that experience shape your mindset about life’s possibilities?
I quit school at 15 because I wanted the noise to stop. I had gotten a job at Dairy Queen, and I was so proud of that. They praised me all the time, and it felt good. At school, though, I faced constant teasing for being the “fat girl.” People would say, “You’d be so pretty if you lost 50 pounds,” and the ridicule never stopped. It was a daily struggle to stay confident. But at work, it was the opposite. People would say, “Oh, Karen, you’re amazing. You’re so good with the customers, and they love you.” No one teased me there; they respected me. I thought life was so much better at work, and I didn’t need school. I was working full-time, so I decided not to go back to school anymore.
My parents didn’t like my decision. They told me, “If you don’t want to live by our rules, you can’t live in this house.” So, I went to work that day and fabricated my own story, telling people my mom and dad had kicked me out, which wasn’t true at all. I craved the attention from my coworkers. My parents had given me so much love, but they were also very protective. They didn’t let me do much—I couldn’t go to parties, I wasn’t allowed out after 10:00 PM, so I often had to sneak out.
Despite their disapproval, I decided to quit school. I had my job, and a coworker offered me a room to stay in. I didn’t mind sleeping on the floor, so I moved out. Looking back, I think that was my first realization of my dad’s words: “If you don’t like your situation, you’re the only one who can change it. Don’t make everyone else miserable because you’re unhappy.” I was taking his words to heart—probably sooner than he had intended—but it turned out to be a valuable lesson. I learned what the real world was like, though my living situation didn’t last, and I eventually moved back home.
When I returned home, I tried going back to school for a second time, but I ended up leaving again. Balancing school with work as a single mom was extremely difficult. I faced a tough choice: I could either put my son in daycare, which I couldn’t afford, or take night classes, which I didn’t have the energy or motivation to do. I convinced myself that I could never be a writer because I didn’t have a bachelor’s degree in English and hadn’t finished school on time.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer an online course called the Walk It Off Program. In this course, I teach people how to follow a walking plan that they can stick to, not only to get fit but also to reconnect with themselves. I also provide one-on-one coaching and help people write their stories by guiding them through a framework. Many people don’t know where to start, so I assist them in building a structure that integrates smoothly into their lives, rather than trying to fit it into something unrealistic.
We take a holistic view of your life before introducing anything new. We assess where and why it fits, then determine the best framework that ensures consistency. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting a fitness plan, writing a book, or creating an online course—I can help you develop a system that sets you up for success.
Additionally, I am a Level 1 and 2 Reiki practitioner. Sometimes, we encounter blocks that we don’t fully understand. The beautiful thing about Reiki sessions is that you don’t have to say a word—the Reiki energy does the work. This is another service I offer through Zoom. Currently, I don’t have a space to practice from my home, so I provide distance Reiki sessions online.
Can you share a moment when your background in Reiki and energy work made a significant impact on a client’s life? How did that experience reinforce your belief in this practice?
I’ll start from the beginning of my first Reiki experience. It was November of 2021, and I was about to release my book. I felt terrified as I prepared to hit “publish” on Amazon. A friend of mine, whom I’d known for years from my time as a cosmetician, kept coming up on my Facebook feed. She offered Reiki sessions, and I thought, “Why not book a session?” I had believed in energy work for a while and had been meditating regularly, so it felt like the right time to take the next step.
During the session, she worked on my throat chakra and mentioned that there was a lot of work to be done there. After the session, it took me some time to fully process what had happened. But soon after, I released my book and then transformed it into a memoir—a one-woman stage show. It all just poured out of me, and I believe that the work she did on my throat chakra played a significant role in that.
In 2022, my friend passed away. Before she died, she gifted her Reiki practice to another friend of mine who began offering Reiki teachings. It felt like a sign for me to pursue certification, so I did in March 2023. Now, I aim to help others release what they need to release so they can fully step into their power.
When I practice Reiki on others, it often amazes me how much energy can flow through. I see myself as a vehicle for that energy. For instance, I once did a session on my husband for his shoulder pain, and he had the biggest emotional release I’d ever seen in our 20 years together. Neither of us expected that outcome. I’ve also worked with my dog, who had been experiencing seizures. Since I began, her seizures have significantly decreased—she’s only had one since then. I truly believe in the power of Reiki, and my dog has become my best patient so far.
As for myself, I continue to work on clearing my own throat chakra, which is consistently blocked. I understand that it’s often the area that requires the most attention. Looking ahead, I’m considering whether I could specialize in throat chakra healing, helping others find their voice. That’s something I would love to explore in the future.
Reflecting on your journey, what advice would you give to someone who feels trapped by societal expectations but is yearning to follow their own path?
It’s easier said than done, but you just have to wake up knowing that you are who you are. A lot of our societal expectations come from social media. So, the first thing I would recommend is to log out of all your social accounts and give yourself a couple of weeks. During that time, go for daily walks and write, and see what comes up. These are the paths to finding yourself, and it might be unrealistic to do it all at once. But if you just carve out the first 30 to 45 minutes of your day and start like that, you may be surprised at what emerges.
One of my favorite quotes that came to me is, “I didn’t know I could until I did.” I think we’re all like that.
