Never EVER give up on yourself!

Before I started with Beachbody, the anxiety that I've dealt with my whole life was at an all time HiGh!!! I had a very hard time leaving the house and in any social situation. I desperately WANTED to be with my friends, but my anxiety made me feel overwhelmed, afraid, paralyzed, trapped. I would force myself to get out to of the house, and never regretted it, but it was so difficult to force myself to do things that I was always physically and mentally exhausted. It's hard to explain, but it was just easier for me to stay home then to get myself all worked up just to go out in the world. I have amazing friends and family, but I felt very alone. I even had a hard time making myself go to church, which is right across the street from my house! I really wanted to contribute there in some way. I wanted to serve others, but I didn't feel like I had anything to offer. One Sunday morning, I read about a class that was being offered that would help you identify your spiritual gifts, and how to use them to serve others. I quickly signed up, but dropped out after my first class because it just made me TOO anxious. Ridiculous, I know!

Within a few weeks, I had decided to try some medication to help with my anxiety. After the initial haze of my first week on the medication, I felt quite a bit better, but not amazing. I was worried that nothing would help and that I'd feel that way forever. I also started gaining weight, which in turn, made my chronic pain from my Fibromyalgia worse. It's a vicious cycle with fibromyalgia, you're sore and in pain, so you want to lay around, but laying around makes you more sore and more miserable. UGH!

One evening, I was talking with one of my best friends, and somehow the topic of spiritual gifts came up. I shared how I was struggling with figuring out what I had to offer in that area. She smiled, and said, "Jill, your spiritual gift is that you're an encourager." I'm pretty sure I screamed, and said, "OH MY GOSH!! IS that a "thing" like a FOR REAL spiritual gift or are you just making that up?!" I adore you, Stephanie Slaybaugh; I call her my spiritual guide :)
So anyway, I had been reading about Shakeology and Beachbody programs, and decided to sign up as a coach with one of my dear friends. The clean eating and Shakeology had me feeling better by the end of week 1! My anxiety was under control, the brain fog that's associated with my Fibromyalgia was much better, and I had more energy than I'd had in a long time! I started sharing my story on Facebook, and couldn't believe the response from others! I slowly started getting customers, and they thanked me over and over for helping them, for inspiring them, for encouraging them!! It makes my heart SO happy to help others in this way. I would honestly do this job for free, but amazingly, I'm also making money to help support my family.

*MORAL OF THE STORY* NEVER EVER give up on yourself. I felt lost, I felt hopeless, I could feel the downward spiral happening within myself, but I made CHANGES. It wasn't always easy, but I MADE TIME, I PUT IN THE EFFORT, and I'm headed back in the right direction. Certainly my anxiety and fibromyalgia are not cured, but they're much more manageable. I thank God for Beachbody and the amazing people I've met as a result; other coaches and all of my customers.