Empowerment Through Choice: How to Take Ownership of Your Healing Journey
In this episode of The Empowered & Embodied Show, hosts Kim Romain and Louise Neil are joined by personal empowerment coach Ramona Kossowan for a deep dive into healing, growth, and the art of taking ownership of your well-being. This thought-provoking discussion unpacks the intricacies of self-discovery and the transformational journey of letting go and leaning into authenticity.
Empowerment Starts with Intentional Decisions
Ramona introduces a powerful definition of empowerment: it’s all about choice. She explains that while there are many things in life we cannot control, empowerment lies in how we choose to respond, show up, and create a vision for ourselves. Ramona emphasizes, “Life is more joyful when we feel like we have choices. We bring more of our authenticity when we have choices.”
Key Takeaways:
Empowerment is not about controlling everything but about responding authentically.
Making choices aligned with your values allows you to build a joyful, authentic life.
Releasing trauma and outdated patterns opens the door to self-trust and creativity.
Letting Go to Create Space
A recurring theme in the episode is the concept of release. Ramona shares her personal journey of letting go of past struggles and failures to create an “empty vessel” ready to be filled with what energizes and excites her now.
Kim expands on this idea by noting that releasing is not just an act of letting go but also a step toward empowerment. “When we consciously release what no longer serves us, we create space for new possibilities and self-acceptance,” she says.
Highlights:
Release what no longer serves you to make room for growth.
Acknowledge the fear and discomfort that can come with letting go.
Find strength in the healing process, even when it feels uncertain or slow.
Navigating the Healing Phase
Ramona and Kim both reflect on the importance of the healing phase, the “messy middle” where transformation happens. Kim likens it to a melody, describing this phase as an opportunity to find harmonies, acceptance, and softness in self-discovery.
Ramona encourages listeners to embrace this phase with patience and to take small, intentional steps. She explains that while many people desire a “quantum leap,” our nervous systems often need incremental progress to avoid overwhelm or retraumatization.
Key Points:
Healing is a process, not a destination.
Slow down and honor the transitions in your life.
Build capacity for both the challenges and joys of growth.
Practical Tools for Transformation
The conversation is rich with practical advice on navigating transitions and embracing empowerment. Ramona likens the process to a renovation: dismantling outdated structures, experimenting with new ideas, and leaning into the unknown with curiosity. Louise adds that the journey requires trust—not only in yourself but in the process itself.
Kim underlines the importance of self-care, suggesting that tuning into your body’s needs is essential for self-trust. Ramona builds on this by encouraging listeners to treat themselves with the same care and compassion they’d offer a toddler.
Tips for Transformation:
Experiment and play with new ideas to discover what feels right.
Use tools like vision boards or journaling to clarify your next steps.
Approach self-care as a full-time commitment to your well-being.
Bringing It All Together
As Ramona reminds us, “Start right this minute. How can I take ownership of my well-being? It’s now my number one, full-time freaking job to make sure that my needs are being met.”
Key Takeaways
Empowerment is Choice: True empowerment means embracing the ability to make choices that align with your values, intuition, and authenticity.
Healing Happens in Phases: Transitions start with an ending and require time in the “neutral zone” before stepping into the new. Don’t rush the process.
Feel Safe in Your Body: Releasing trauma and rebuilding trust with yourself begins by reconnecting with your body and addressing its needs.
Metaphors as Tools: Use metaphors like renovations, stew-making, or even building a plane mid-flight to understand your healing and growth journey.
Nurturing the Inner Child: Treat yourself with the same compassion, care, and encouragement you would a toddler learning something new.
Key Moments
[00:00] Celebrating the power of release
[07:24] What it means to feel safe in your body
[09:45] Defining empowerment through choice
[12:29] The conflict of letting go and feeling empty
[19:11] The healing phase: Embracing the middle ground
[27:33] Playing with possibilities and self-trust
[35:42] Building a safe space for intuition to flourish
[41:10] Taking ownership of your well-being
Connect with Ramona Kossowan
Website: ramonakcoaching.com
Follow her on social media for more insights, videos, and updates on upcoming programs.
Are you ready to reclaim your power and live (and work) with more ease? Discover your unique blueprint to do just that with Kim's Strengthscape Self-Mastery Profile.
Looking for something different and feeling lost about where to start? Rediscover your purpose and how to craft a career that makes sense. Check out Louise's Midlife Career Mastery program.
