Have you been recently diagnosed with a chronic illness? You’re not alone. Millions navigate these challenges daily, but feeling lost and overwhelmed is common. This interview dives into the inspiring journey of Wendy, a navigator of MS for over 30 years, who found her purpose in helping others thrive with chronic conditions. Discover the power of community, coaching, and self-care in this insightful conversation.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how did you start your career?
As a navigator of multiple sclerosis since I was a teenager, (over 30 years now), I decided about ten years ago I was done feeling awful and took charge of my health.
I went down many paths, read a lot of books, hired mentors, and invested in many programs as well. I did my own research, seeking ways to heal and transform my health. I have gone through a complete lifestyle reset.
Now that I am on the other side of it, I love empowering others to take charge of their health as well. This is why I created heartsofwellness.com, as a resource for what I was searching for when I was diagnosed many years ago.
As a kid, I witnessed my Grandmother suffer from crippling rheumatoid arthritis. She was diagnosed in the 1940’s during a time when women did not have a voice. She is my inspiration and I use my voice and platforms to share the light of HOPE: Harmony, Options, Peace & Empowerment.
As a best selling author and Nationally Syndicated Columnist, I help women see beyond whatever challenges they are navigating. Inspiring them to live in acceptance, creating massive ripple effects in the world as I teach them to build a strong foundation of Wellbeing, One Whole-istic step at a time.
I know everything happens in divine timing and I know I have been guided and led down my healing path by Angels, Guides, and Source.
How can coaching and community support help people with chronic illnesses live their best lives?
By having a support circle, people with chronic conditions are able to feel seen, heard and understood. These are core requirements for living our best lives yet many people lack and feel lost in the medical system, with their friends and families.
When we examine the 5 people we spend the most time with, they should be our cheerleaders, non – judgemental and great listeners. We don’t always want or need a solution, sometimes just talking through our problems and the feeling of being cared for is what is needed.
In my Hearts of Wellness Community, we guide each other through challenges, by keeping our focus on steps that move us forward. We dive into topics most people don’t want to address, afraid it will be too embarrassing. When we stop comparing ourselves and our symptoms to others, it helps us to stay grounded and focused.
What are some of the tools you provide in your program to help people manage their chronic illnesses?
Based on my own experiences, I have created a 30 Days to Wellness Blueprint & Journal Bundle, with daily support emails to keep clients on track to live their best life through small, daily action steps. It can be downloaded at heartsofwellness.com/you. I also have created a Done With You Member’s Portal with a monthly Collective Community call and tons of resources for support in navigating life at heartsofwellness.com/portal.
My high vibe swag shop to empower people in wearing the message of how they wish to feel is shop.heartsofwellness.com. The shop includes apparel, stickers, drinkware and coupons are available by joining the Hearts of Wellness Member’s Portal as well as when the 30 Days to Wellness Blueprint + Journal Bundle is purchased. Keeping our Mind, Body, and Soul balanced through daily practices are just a few of the steps in navigating a chronic condition.
I also provide 1:1 Mentoring programs in 4 week segments with the option to renew each month for a deeper dive and the opportunity to work closely with me. Slots are limited each month to allow for my alignment to serve my clients better. Hearts of Wellness Mentoring with Wendy
What are some success stories you have seen from people who have participated in your program?
Some of the success stories I have witnessed are realizing the path to peace and joy makes a monumental difference. By helping women see that they matter, and this work might not be easy but it can be simple.
Empowering women to become their own advocate puts their health and power back in their own hands.
People who know there are other answers out there, yet lack the time to do the research have had success with my guidance in shortening the timeline to where they would like to be on all different levels including emotionally, mentally, spiritually and even physically.
There is not a quick fix for anything, and it’s up to each of us to do the work. Also using proper language in describing or addressing the condition. Instead of using the words disease or illness, we like to use condition.
What advice would you give to someone who is newly diagnosed with a chronic illness?
Just pause. Breathe. Take time to sit outside. Breathe some more.
Do not stress, I know it’s really hard. But you want to keep your nervous system calm as much as possible. The new journey you are on might become a bumpy, twisting and turning path, but remember you are never alone.
Stay off of internet searches. Each person is different, do not accept what Google tells you will happen to you.
Believe you are here for a purpose and you will get through this. Take it from my experience, life is what we make of it!
We cannot predict the future, so worrying about it will do more harm than good. Believe you have the power to take charge of your life and your health and accept assistance from others, including mentors.
What are your thoughts on the future of chronic illness care?
Here is what I hope will happen in the future. Neurologists have a team to work with patients to balance all areas of their life, not just the pharmaceutical realm.
Asking questions about each area of their life. Mindset, cleaning up our thoughts. Physical, not just our abilities but what we are eating, drinking and everyone alway forgets about the synthetic chemicals in our personal care products. Relationships, who is in their support circle, who do they have to talk to. Environment, there are hundreds of thousands of synthetic chemicals in our everyday home, garden and office products. We literally have no idea of what they are doing to our body’s system, much less what is happening when they are combined together. I would love for my program to be included as part of the neurologists’ programs, to get the full benefits of living a toxin free lifestyle on all levels.
