I discovered Karen Taylor on Janelle Anderson’s Facebook Live ‘Featuring Fearless Women’ and immediately resonated with their conversation.
Originally, Karen left her safe corporate job to become a consultant but life had a different path for her. In March of 2019, her sister died tragically in a fire. This pivotal moment changed Karen’s life for good. Karen’s sister had a life-long struggle with feelings of not ‘being enough’. Karen realized that while she was not able to help her sister make peace with her own life, she was going to make a difference in other’s lives moving forward. She found her purpose and has been pursuing her new passion tirelessly.
This week’s Share Your Story; Karen Taylor:
KUELLIFE: What are you pursuing now, at this stage of your life, that surprises you or might appear to others as if it comes out of left field?
KAREN: Embodying a true sense of compassion both for myself and others. I am allowing others to be just as they are without judgement.I am also being true to myself and my standards by removing myself from situations that are negatively focused. I don’t begrudge anyone for their behavior/actions but also don’t lower my standards to appease other people anymore.
KUELLIFE: What’s a typical day like for you?
KAREN: I have a structured morning routine that consists of meditation, breath work, exercise, and writing. These activities get both my mind and body started in the right direction. Throughout my day, I take inspired action regarding the value that I can provide clients. I have a few projects in flight where I’m collaborating with different thought partners across the globe. I am in constant learning mode throughout the day…deepening my understanding on a topic, engaging with new technologies, testing different strategies. A very important part of my day is being present and having fun with my two children.
KUELLIFE: With what do you struggle?
“I still struggle with assuming positive intent on a consistent basis.”
KAREN: I still struggle with assuming positive intent on a consistent basis. I will catch myself in certain circumstances, assuming a negative thought about a situation which then kicks off the negative feelings and actions. In general, I do pretty good with it but it’s something that I have to be aware and conscious of all the time.
KUELLIFE: How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?
KAREN: I have changed how I approach motivation over the past year. No longer do I try and use will power, or even leverage traditional goal setting to motivate me. I set a very clear vision for my future and how I want to feel and I start embodying that feeling in the present. I have a strong meditation practice and utilize that to clear my mind. This allows me to listen for, and hear, my intuitive guidance; and, nudges me to what is next and the path of least resistance to get me there.
KUELLIFE: What advice would you give fellow women about aging?
KAREN: Age is merely one of the labels we assume. And, like most labels, the minute we take them on, they instantly limit us and come with a host of expectations regarding how we should behave. My advice would be to rip off the age label and align with your true, authentic self in each moment. Because in the now moment, anything is possible!
“Seeing others struggle with similar pain and challenges that I have been through has the ability to make me vulnerable.”
KUELLIFE: What does vulnerability mean to you? What has the ability to make you vulnerable?
KAREN: To me it means feeling safe to share my struggles, to admit my mistakes and to ask for help. Seeing others struggle with similar pain and challenges that I have been through has the ability to make me vulnerable. I feel guided to share my stories, be open about my pain, and mistakes from the past and share how I was able to overcome them. We are all more the same than we are different, at our core. This compels me to show up as my most authentic self and share all of me.
KUELLIFE: What are three events that helped to shape your life?
KAREN:
- Leaving my Corporate job after 20 years to find and pursue my true calling in life.
- The tragic death of my sister on March 4, 2019.
- Finding Rapid Transformational Therapy and making the decision to become a certified practitioner.
KUELLIFE: Who influenced you the most in life and why?
KAREN: A former boss and friend of mine. She was the first person to show me that it was ok to be me. She role modeled that you don’t need to dim your own light in order to appease other people. Thankfully, she saw the true essence of who I am and helped cultivate an environment so that I could recognize it in myself.
KUELLIFE: What is the best advice you’ve been given from another woman?
KAREN: To stop exhausting myself trying to be perfect. Perfectionism is just a way to stay safe and avoid the fear of rejection. The only person who can make me feel rejected is…ME. So, playing small and not fully showing up doesn’t benefit me and it’s doing the world a disservice.
KUELLIFE: What woman inspires you and why?
KAREN: Maya Angelou. There was so much wisdom in her words. She spoke from a deep sense of knowing herself. And. she handled herself with dignity and grace. She believed in herself and had conviction that regardless of external circumstances, she would rise.
KUELLIFE: Are you grown-up?
KAREN: Not entirely. I feel more child-like than I have in years. At the same time, I feel very emotionally mature. I allow the various parts of me to play their intended role but l don’t allow any one to take over. However, I do allow fear to protect me from real danger and threats and I allow my inner child to explore, be adventurous, and take creative risks.
KUELLIFE: What do you do for self-care?
KAREN: Meditation, breath-work, exercise, reading, listening to podcasts, spending time out in nature, getting plenty of sleep and allowing myself to daydream!
KUELLIFE: And last but definitely NOT least: What are the top three things on your bucket list?
KAREN:
- Launch my coaching business, Unhinged Perspective and make a massive impact in women’s lives through my 30 day experience and online courses.
- Travel to Greece and spend a few weeks island hopping
- Write my book, Project Love Letter, dedicated to my sister’s life
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