Hello wondrous Souls,

Today I am talking about perception…

I always begin my presentations by sharing parts of my story to set the context of my brand. However, after a talk I gave to a large group of women on personal branding through archetypes, I was approached by someone who lingered back as the crowd thinned. They came up to me, eyes earnest, voice soft, and said:

“I’m so sorry that happened to you. I had a perfect childhood… I can’t imagine going through what you did.”

Then, without pause, they added:

“Imagine who you could have been if that hadn’t happened to you.”

Her words landed with a confused thud; they carried no malice but something subtler—more revealing. In that moment, I smiled gently, nodded graciously, and allowed her to speak her truth.

Later, in the quiet of my heart, I felt the need to sit with it—to feel it fully and sense what it might be pointing to, not just in terms of her understanding but also in how our stories are received, filtered, and sometimes misunderstood. Perhaps it was a moment shaped by her lifes lens—by unspoken wounds, cultural conditioning, or a need to make sense of my experience through her framework.

And, of course, there’s always the possibility that what was spoken was less about me and more about the quiet projections of her own subconscious beliefs—surfacing in response to something unprocessed within herself.

The woman’s comment came not from cruelty but from a lens shaped by simplicity—perhaps even pity and privilege. It struck me that suffering was a detour, an interruption to potential in her world. In mine, it was the fire that forged my authenticity. I don’t say that lightly. Pain doesn’t always make us stronger, but when we consciously work with it, it certainly makes us deeper.

There was a time when I, too, longed for a “perfect” past. One untouched by trauma. But that longing was now a ghost. My real growth began when I stopped seeing myself as broken and started seeing myself as a resilient and creative human being. Not despite my story—but because of it.

This person was indeed a gift and gave me another perceptive of how others may not see who I am due to the lens they choose to view life. Thankfully, for me the archetypes that inform my reality—The Alchemist, The Visionary, The Divine Child and The Queen—were not born out of a perfect world. They emerged gifting me all their light and shadow attributes—through my cracked-open places and the trials, challenges and initiations handed to me early in life.

If you only see the scars, you miss the magic and message in the story.

My truth is this: There is no version of me more powerful than I am now. Not the one who never experienced pain, not the one who was spared from a challenge. This version—right here, right now—results from soul-forging choices, courage in the face of fear, and a relentless devotion to turning wounds into wisdom.

And perhaps that is what we are here to do: not explain our story to be understood, but embody it so clearly, so confidently, so sacredly that others are invited not to pity us—but to look within themselves and ask, What am I not seeing about myself ?

So, to the gorgeous human being who approached me: I thank you, honour you and your spirit. I see your truth. But I know this—I am not a lesser version of who I could have been.

I am the living, breathing story of who I came here to be and I’m eternally grateful for my extraordinary story.

Heart to Heart, Elizabeth

If you are inspired by what you’ve read?

You can dive deeper into your transformation by exploring my coaching sessions, workshops, and retreats. Let’s co-create a future where you step fully into your Souls Purpose. 

~ You can visit my services and workshops to begin your journey today!