Hi friends! I’ve been a little M.I.A. lately but I’m ecstatic to be back and to share all of the things going on in this weird and thrilling life. I took a little break from my “obligations” in this digital space we’re all in. I stepped back from the daily posting of the ‘gram because, in all honesty, I just don’t care about the algorithm, and posting just to post isn’t my jam. I’ve been going through a time of transition and pivoting. It’s been weird. It’s been uncomfortable. And it’s been a hell of a learning process. There have been tears of joy and tears of fear. I’ve had moments of feeling limitless and feelings of utter dread and terror. I’ve spent this time refocusing, rebranding, and finding meaning in these new beginnings. I wanted to break down where I am and what it means for the future of Essentially Madi. Thank you for being along for the ride and showing up, even when I haven’t always been here.

When One Door Closes

I’m a student at heart. I’ve always loved school and learning. I’ve loved the structure, routine, and constant ability to retain and learn new concepts. I enjoy challenging what I believe and furthering what I know. However, there comes a time when you have to step away from the classroom and step into the real world. Part of me has been anticipating this moment for so long and another part of me has been living with such angst and apprehension. Stepping away from grades, professor check-ins, the academic calendar, and late nights of finishing up research projects? Sure, that may sound great in theory but when it’s all you’ve known your whole life, it’s freaking scary. But this is when the real growth begins; when we contemplate, apply, unlearn, and relearn.

Closing the door on my formal education has been something that I’ve been struggling with for some time. What purpose do I have if I’m not learning and meeting deadlines? How terrifying is it to have to apply what I’ve spent so long learning? What if I fail? What if I forget something? What if I don’t meet the expectations of others? While wrapping up my time in university, I realized that we aren’t entirely prepared for the real world through formal education but that’s kind of the fun in it all. It’s scary and weird but that’s when we really begin to open up and understand the world around us.

So what if I fail or forget something? Isn’t that the point of it all? We must unlearn to relearn. We spend years in the classroom being taught the numbers and facts, but the real world doesn’t always care about the logistics. It cares about the passion, the drive, and the willingness to push forward. It’s not about “what if I fail”, it’s about “when I fail”. How will I react WHEN I fail? How will I get up and keep pushing? We are going to fail in life. We won’t always get the first job offer or be perfect in our tasks. We aren’t going to be perfect when we try something now. We will fail and that’s the glory of it all because when we fail, we have the option to try again or to just give up.

I don’t know about you, but I feel pretty damn good when I try again and succeed. Resiliency, tenacity, ambition, and heart. Some things can’t be taught, they must only be experienced. Sometimes life teaches us more than a classroom ever will and you just have to take those first steps. No matter how scary and intimidating it may be. Though this time has been the weirdest transition I have ever gone through, I feel confident that the next door that opens will be one that will bring abundance and joy. I’m thrilled that I can officially say that I have a Master of Science in Health Education and that I’m a Certified Health Education Specialist. Though the door to my time in college may be closed, I intend to leave it unlocked. Saying goodbye for now, doesn’t mean goodbye forever. No matter how scary, I’m ready to step into the real world with different types of deadlines and check-ins. When one door closes…

Another One Opens

I, like many, have gone through the motion of having all these expectations of what my life would be. Throughout college, I was set on making Essentially Madi all about health and confidence coaching. I wanted to work one-on-one with clients, create these magical programs, and make an impact in the digital health space. I got extremely caught up in all of the options I had and truthfully, got overwhelmed. I love helping others. I always have, I always will. I love health, wellness, and fitness. I have loved every second of my own personal growth journey and love helping others on theirs. Throughout my time in graduate school, I struggled with understanding how my coaching would fit into my life. Essentially Madi is my baby and something I started during freshman year of my undergrad. It’s not something I am ever willing to let go of but knew I needed and wanted to shift its focus. But I’m a fairly stubborn person. I worried what others would think. Would it look like I’m giving up on my business? Would I look like a fraud? What do I do if I’m not building a coaching business 24/7?

Some of the biggest components to my personal growth journey have been learning how to not play the comparison game, setting more realistic expectations, and learning how to say “no”. I don’t know about you, but these aren’t always the easiest things to incorporate into everyday life. Again, it’s a journey but lately, it’s been a rollercoaster. While taking some time off, I’ve realized how it literally doesn’t matter what other people think. I’m not a fraud for stepping into my higher self and doing what my heart is calling me to do. If anything, it goes to show how important it is to practice what you preach. I continuously talk about showing up authentically, being confident in who you are, and standing strong in your foundation. Who would I be if I was aimlessly showing up just to please others? Will I lose some followers? Maybe, but who the hell cares? I don’t want to be sharing and posting just because others expect that of me. I’ve also realized that coaching can come in many forms and I don’t need to meet a quota of one-on-one clients to be a coach. I would rather lead a life that is focused on helping all rather than only helping those who sign a contract and meet with me on a weekly basis.

I guess this ties back to failing. Sometimes we have to fail to learn our values and to better understand who we want to be. It’s how we get up that matters. I think of my coaching as a puzzle piece. It fits somewhere. It has a specific purpose and place. But right now, I’m not working on that puzzle. Maybe I’ll dust it off in the future but for now, that puzzle is tucked away, and another image is being worked on. It’s been difficult to pivot but the transition has been so rewarding. Doors will always open if you allow them to. If you’re willing to make something work, it will. I’m a damn good coach and I know that if I kept pushing, my coaching business would thrive and bring immense success. But, what’s the point if that’s not where my heart lies? Why struggle to fit a piece of the puzzle into the wrong picture?

Here’s to New Beginnings

Though Essentially Madi is pivoting, I am still here and will continue to show up authentically. As I begin to transition away from coaching, I want to delve even more into confident living. Throughout this transition, you can expect to see some different content on the blog and in all of my digital spaces. I will be sharing more stories about my life. I know this all started with health and wellness and it will still be just that. However, true health and wellness look different for everyone. Just as the real world doesn’t always care about facts and numbers, overall wellness is just the same. Living life confidently is a lifestyle and I intend to bring this to life within Essentially Madi. You can expect more stories about my journey and personal growth, health and wellness lifestyle tips, travel, fitness, food, products I love, and so much more. You’ll absolutely get bombarded with pictures of my bunny, Peter (because let’s be real, he’s actually the cutest thing ever), and I hope to just cultivate a space of happy vibes.

Essentially Madi will continue to be a place of growth. Though right now, I’m not accepting new clients, and one-on-one coaching is put on hold, I will continue to show up authentically and openly. I want this to be a place for others to turn to on their own journey. I want to be here to openly chat about life, health, confidence, and all things personal growth. We are all in this life together so let’s lean on each other. Let’s cultivate community and compassion every step of the way. Each day is a new beginning and though this season of life looks different for us all, I want to continue to come together as one. I want to support you just as you’ve supported me. Whether it’s on the blog, in my Facebook community, on the ‘gram, via email, or in any other weird digital form, I want to hear from you. I want to hear your questions, your struggles, your celebrations, and everything in between. So, please, I ask that you don’t hesitate to pop in and say hello! Thank you for your love, your support, and so all the good energy you bring. I couldn’t do this without you.