Welcome to Overcoming Anything, the podcast where we dive deep into stories of resilience, transformation, and growth. I'm your host, Anne Reese, and today I'm sharing my story of Overcoming Life one year, 52 episodes and the beginning of a movement. There have been so many moments in my life when I wondered how I was going to keep going. Moments when life took some difficult twists and turns, doors were closed, people turned against me, and yes, even a moment of not wanting to be here anymore, and yet. Every one of those experiences brought me closer to the work that I do today. Today marks one year and 52 episodes of Overcoming Anything. I'm so excited. But before I tell you where we are going next, I wanna tell you why this podcast had to exist. Overcoming anything was created from a calling. I had. I remember a time in my life that was so hard and I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I was at work in the bathroom and I dropped in my knees crying, begging God to save me, and when I finally stopped crying, God spoke to me and said, I can't save you, but I can help you save yourself. And my journey began in that exact moment. I knew I would figure everything out and in return, I would help others through the darkness where I felt alone without anyone to help or guide me, or to help me find my way through this process. So as a result, my mission became crystal clear to create a Google of Hope. A place where listeners could hear real stories and experiences of overcoming along with ideas, frameworks, and proven strategies, so they could know with certainty that if another person overcame what they were going through, that they could overcome it too. And my intention has always been that if an episode helps at least one person, of course I wanted to help more than that, then the episode is a success. Because I know what it's like to be scared, struggling, rebuilding, having nothing work out in your life, feeling uncertain about the future, feeling like a failure, and so very, very alone because nobody understood what I was going through and nobody. Knew how to support me, and so I wanted to create the place that I needed during some of the most difficult times of my life. A place where people could hear real stories and realize I am not the only one. And maybe this is not the end of my story because. I want you to know whatever you're facing, you are not alone. There is always a path forward, and no matter how hard it gets, no matter what you're facing, you have the power to overcome it. You can do it, my friends and I know this podcast has a purpose because the only friend who knew of my vision to create this podcast energetically delayed my initial podcast release by six months. And this is the only episode in the past year that I've released after 7:00 AM on a Tuesday because it mysteriously disappeared and I had to redo this episode, and this podcast would not have been possible without all of my incredible guests. So I just wanna take a moment and thank them, especially the ones early on who believed in me and my vision without a proof of concept and who shared their hearts and their powerful stories of overcoming. And thank you, thank you, thank you to all of my listeners who have joined me on this journey. For those of you who are going through a tough season, for those of you who feel alone. For those of you that don't have anyone who understands what you're going through, or for those of you who need to hear a story of hope and overcoming this podcast is for you. So let's dive in. I always love to ask my guest, what's one quote or mantra that keeps you going in tough times? And for me, it's never, ever give up by Winston Churchill. And these words have definitely helped me persevere in tough times. So I'm gonna ask the questions and interview myself. So question one is, let's start at the beginning. What is the most difficult thing you've ever had to overcome? For me, there have been so many difficult things that I've had to overcome in my life that I'm not sure that I have one major one in mind, but I know that I agreed to all of these life lessons before I came into this lifetime. And this higher perspective really has helped reassure me that no matter how hard life gets, life won't give me more. Then I can handle, because I agreed to this before I came here. And of course I didn't always have this perspective of higher consciousness until I started doing the inner work. But as I've begun, my healing process, it has transformed and made a big difference and really helps shift my perspective because I think healing is like an onion. You have to keep. Peeling back the layers even when it stinks, because sometimes you can think all the layers are removed and then you realize, oh, there's more to tear off. What made this particular experience challenging for you? What has made my life challenging for me is that. God, the universe has stripped me of my ego, my attachment to people and things, my limiting beliefs, and put me in isolation so I could just be stripped down to my bare essence to see what beliefs were mine and what was actually imprinted on me from other people. It just. Ripped me down to a place of like nothingness, and it was a very lonely place and I didn't have anyone to explain this process to me to help me understand what I was going through or why, even why I was going through it. I thought maybe there was something wrong with me and I was afraid to try and explain this to anyone else because I thought they might call me crazy and make me feel even worse. Of course, now I understand it's part of the ascension process, but without a guide or a book or any insights, it was a very lonely place and I felt like I was left for my heart to just bleed out alone. But looking back this time really helped me figure out who I was at my core and who I want to be and how I wanna show up moving forward. So was there a specific moment when everything felt impossible and how did that feel? Oh, yes. I can't really pinpoint a specific moment when everything felt impossible because the last six years have felt impossible and like nothing was working out to me. I have been through multiple dark nights of the soul, the last one of which is just burning my life down so I can rise back as the woman I was always meant to be. But the turning point I would say is when God blocked every. Room that I tried to enter every door I tried to open, turned people against me, put me through emotional pain, physical pain. I was rear-ended in three different car accidents. I had a broken wrist and I'm right-handed, so it was hard to write two fractured ankles, three broken toes, and at points I was unable to drive or walk or even exercise to work out all of my emotions. And on top of that, I had excruciating back pain that was actually caused. By severe nerve damage from a lumbar injection, and I also experienced psychic attacks, curses entity attachments, dust spells, poverty spells, voodoo and demonic attacks. And I'm not sharing all of this so you'll feel sorry for me or to victimize myself. I'm sharing it as a testimonial of the power of God that you really can overcome. Almost everything except for death. But we have had some guests that have transitions and come back. But God is really the one who helped me through everything and really helped me see this through. And these moments were very painful and most times there was no one around to support me. I really felt completely alone, and that's when I knew that I had to create a place so that no one else would ever have to feel the pain of what I felt of feeling so alone. What was the turning point when you realized things could change? I realized that things could change because God would not let me give up. God is the reason that I made it through everything that I did. When I felt like giving up, he would send someone into my life to cheer me up, a neighbor to smile at me as I was walking down the sidewalk, my dog, to give me the unconditional love right when I needed it, or a friend to invite me to go out when I was feeling lonely. All of that was not a synchronicity, it was the hand of God. What steps did you take to overcome this challenge and were there specific strategies, mindset shifts, or people who helped? I overcame all of these challenges by knowing that I am here for a reason. And after surviving all that I've been through, I know that my life has a purpose for my pain. My passion to heal others will eventually lead me to exactly where I'm meant to be. So my job now is just be the best version of me and trust that I will be guided where I need to be because I'm on God's payroll now. So looking back, was there a single decision or action that made the biggest difference? Looking back, the single decision that made the biggest difference was never giving up no matter how hard life got for me. I realized that rock bottom has a basement, and that's where you earn your stripes because if you learn to swim through your fear, your doubt, your scarcity, and your limitations, once you master these things in the basement below rock bottom. This is where you learn the purpose of your pain and you no longer attach yourself to the circumstances that caused it. You can transcend it when you understand why you went through what you went through. So what life lessons did this experience teach you? I would say there was four life lessons that I learned through this experience. The first one would be that everything happens for a reason. Rejection is redirection. Hear me out. I know it sounds so cliche, but when you're going through a tough time in your life, and life is just kicking you down and you're at rock bottom, or you might be in the basement below rock bottom, this is the last thing that you wanna hear. Everything happens for a reason, especially from someone else, right? But once you stabilize and you get through the shock and the grief of a particular situation. It can be a good reflective question to ask yourself. In fact, in Kabbalah they say to bless all situations by saying, what a gift. So once you experience something, if it's a result or an experience that you don't want, they say to say, what a gift. And by blessing the situation, you remove the resistance and it helps you see that everything is unfolding for your highest and greatest good. Even if it's challenging in this moment, just say what a gift. The second lesson I learned was that pain is a portal. Pain is not a destination. It can be. A very short hallway, like a few steps and you pass through, or it can be a long, dark hallway, but the point is that you are meant to move through it. It's not a place to get stuck or stand still. You have to keep moving, even if it's a baby step or even if you have to crawl your way through. You must keep moving. And I realized that the pain. Of my circumstances were meant to serve me, and once I no longer identified or attached myself to the circumstances, it was much easier to see that I was just passing through the pain portal. Number three is your energy is your ATM. So whether you are working for someone else or you're self-employed, your energy is your greatest currency. We've all worked with that toxic coworker that has a bad attitude and always has something negative to say. So is that the person that they're looking to hire? Is that the person they're looking to promote? Give a bonus. Let that person lead the team. No, not at all. And the same as if you're self-employed and you own your own business. If you wanna attract more clients into your business, if you wanna charge more, if you really wanna grow and expand your business, you can't do it with a bad attitude. You have to have the right energy. You have to be positive. You have to call in what you want and be an energetic match to it. Number four, the power of a regulated nervous system. I can't stress this enough. Your nervous system can be like a wild, untamed horse that can buck you off your path if you're dysregulated and unable to focus. For example, if you hit your upper limit. Financially, and your income goes up way more than you've ever been accustomed to. You can turn around and sabotage yourself by breaking down, burning out, your car, breaks down. You find yourself in a lawsuit because your nervous system doesn't feel safe, so you don't have to necessarily make more money. You just need to feel safe with the money that you make. How has your life changed for the better? Because of this challenge? I would say my life has changed for the better because I no longer hand my power or my happiness away to anyone else. If someone, if you give someone the power to build you up, then you also give them the power to destroy you, and you must have discernment about who you let into your life because you have to be aware of the energy they bring and the mindset that drives them. I personally am a recovering people pleaser, a recovering savior of other people, a recovering, I need to take care of everyone else and not be there for myself, and I am not that person anymore. I do not need anyone to validate me, approve of me or anything else. I don't doubt myself because I know myself. I've been stripped down to nothing. I know what I value, and I can stand in my power. Because I know who I am. I've done the work and it's very empowering. If someone listening is going through a similar situation right now, what advice would you give them? If someone listening is going through a similar situation right now, the advice I would give 'em is one, do the inner work. No one ever says, oh, I regret working on myself. Oh, I regret. Becoming a better person. No one has ever said that. Do the inner work. The trauma, the wounding may not be your fault, but it's going to hold you back from the things that you want in your life unless you heal it to do your shadow work. This is the most unrecognized part of personal growth. Once you do your shadow work, no one can really hold anything against you because. You've exposed you to you and you've healed it. And number three, guard your mind. Sometimes the greatest battle that you have is within you. It's you against you. You may have talents, goals, dreams, et cetera, and you're working your tail off to get all the things you want. But if deep down you do not feel like you deserve them. If you're worthy of them, then you sabotage yourself by spending all your money saying something inappropriate at work, getting kicked outta your friend group, cheating on a girlfriend or boyfriend because you don't feel worthy. So force yourself to do the inner work. Once again, it's not your fault that you have wounding from your childhood, but it is your responsibility to heal it so you can manifest everything that you want and create the life you desire. Looking back, what is the one thing that I learned about myself having gone through this experience? Looking back, the one thing I learned about is just how strong I am. I was having a conversation with my dad a few weeks ago and he said he didn't see something in me because I was always the strong one. I told him that being strong didn't mean I didn't need anyone. I had to become strong because no one showed up for me and I was forced to figure things out on my own. So if you have some strong people in your life who are always there for everyone, reach out and check on them because they're probably struggling with something that you would never know anything about. And one thing that I would also encourage you to do is to have compassion and kindness towards other people because you really have no idea what they're going through. And I believe that 98% of people are doing the best that they can with the resources, the mindset, and the consciousness. That they have, and you have to remember that your consciousness and understanding may not be the same as other people, and you can't expect them to act or respond in the way that you would or to hold them to a higher level than what they've been exposed to. Is there a book that helped me on my journey, that you can recommend to our listeners? The book that I would recommend is The Mountain Is You by Brianna West. People underestimate the power of the shadow work. It's the little thing that can make the biggest difference in your growth. And one thing I wanted to let you know, if you met me, you would never know what I've been through because I didn't harden my heart and in spite of having gone through all these experiences, I'm a very happy and positive person because I will not allow these situations and experiences to define me. They shaped me into the person I am and gave me the strength, clarity, and resilience for me to become the person that I am today. But I will not allow these situations to define me And here's what I'd like to share with you that I learned from my incredible guests while reflecting back on this past year and all the podcast episodes. And the first thing is that everyone is fighting a battle and overcoming something. Some people are an open book and openly share their pain and their struggles. Other people hold it inside and pretend like they're not hurting. And what they may not understand is that the emotions they're suppressing can get stuck in their bodies. And this is what creates disease. So whatever you're going through right now, move your body, release your stress, punch a pillows, scream, throw an ax, and work through your emotions. Do not let it reside in your body. Number two, asking for help is not a weakness. Ask for the help and create a support system if you don't have one. It could be a friend, a counselor, a coach, a therapist, or even a mental health hotline. Just someone to help you work through any challenges you might be facing. People need practical, support. As much as they need inspiration. Number three, overcoming does not mean the problem disappears. It means that you're no longer emotionally defined by the situation. You accept what happened, and you're still choosing to move forward from the past. Because healing isn't always linear. You can still become emotionally triggered from past pain. But when you do, you'll see it from a new perspective. So always do the what I call mental maintenance when things come up so you can soften and diminish your response and work through it. Number four, don't underestimate how our hard experiences can become a source of service to others. The right story can reach someone at the exact moment that they need to hear it. And as I always like to say, once you reach the top, send the elevator back down to bring others up to the top. To be with you. And that's how I see healing. We all have to do our part in healing, and if there's advice a framework or something that you can share with another person that's going through what you've been through, share it. Let's all do the inner work and let go of the past and so we can enjoy life and really have fun. But on the other hand, one thing I'd like to clarify too is that overcoming does not mean pretending something didn't hurt. It doesn't always mean fixing everything or returning to who you were before the experience. Sometimes overcoming means accepting what changed, finding your voice, choosing yourself, rebuilding your life, or taking the next step before you feel ready. Because overcoming anything is where our setbacks become comebacks. It's not where we deny that it never happened. It's where we overcome and we move forward and we move forward to a greater place because we've taken and extracted the wisdom and the knowledge that we gained from that experience. Because not every story becomes perfect, but a setback does not have to define who you are. And I personally feel that a lot of what we see online on TV and social media is the pressure to be perfect. So much pressure to be rich, beautiful, skinny, traveling the world, lots of friends, family, and that life is stress free, pain-free, and everything in life is just perfect. I want to normalize authenticity, relatability. Life is tough. Sometimes it's unfair and bad things can happen to good people, but it doesn't have to define who we are as a person. We all go through tough times. But how great would it be to know that someone who has walked your path, who has overcome this situation that you are facing right now in your life and that has wisdom that they can share with you, and that person could be standing at the. Finish line of your problem cheering you on through your toughest moments. Some people already have these cheerleaders built in their life, but not everyone does and it's okay. And so this leads me to creating my vision of the Overcoming Anything movement. It is a global platform of support, starting off with a brand new community where people can gather to support one another. I am doing this by launching a free Overcoming Anything Movement. It's a school group, so we can, one, continue the conversations that begin on the podcast. Two, be a place to connect, share, navigating what you're going through, accessing resources, and helping me choose future podcast topics and creating a positive and supportive place so you don't have to face and overcome everything alone. And everyone who joins this free community and completes the anniversary, welcome post will be considered a founding member and will be entered to win Overcoming Anything March. So to enter the giveaway, I will put the link in the show notes. Join the free Overcoming Anything Movement. Two, introduce yourself in the anniversary post. And three, tell us what you're overcoming or what you have overcome. And I can't wait to see you on the inside. If you found this episode helpful, please share it with anyone who might be facing a similar challenge and needs to hear this message of hope. And if overcoming anything Podcast has encouraged you or helped you in any way, shape, or form. Over this past year, I would be deeply grateful if you've left an honest rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your words help make more people discover these stories. Thank you so much for listening. I look forward to the year ahead and see you next time on overcoming Anything.