People see me now, and often compliment my appearance–especially my skin–and marvel at the fact that I run two successful skincare businesses from home, all while being a homeschooling ballet mom to two teenage girls.

They tell me how important my work is, how it’s inspired them personally, and praise me for having the confidence to put myself out there. I’ve received the warmest of hugs, the firmest of handshakes, and been applauded for having the courage to write books, go on camera or onstage, and speak my truth by people who have attended my classes, talks, and book signings. I am very grateful–and to be honest, still a little amazed.

Here’s something I want you to know about me. It wasn’t always this way at all. And I’ve been through some dark stuff.

For the majority of my life I allowed acne and low self-confidence dictate my reality. I also experienced serious weight gain and weight loss and all the emotional junk that comes with that. The kind of junk that says “you’re not good enough, you’re not smart enough, and you don’t have enough help, so you should just go get a job.” I let it get in the way of finding true health, happiness, and purpose in life.

Until the day I decided that I was done.

That it wasn’t the life I wanted. So I made a few changes–changes that ultimately cleared my skin and melted off the extra weight (physical and emotional). I made changes that skyrocketed my self-confidence and self-worth, and propelled my dreams of happiness and living my life purpose into action.