In today’s fast-paced and highly connected world, it’s easy to look at someone’s success, their accomplishments, and their smiling faces and believe they’ve always had it together. We’re often quick to make judgments based on what we see in front of us. But behind every success story is often a tale of struggle, rejection, and perseverance. Amber’s story is a perfect example of this, illustrating how deep inner battles can shape the outward achievements we celebrate.
Amber shares that although people may see her as a confident and impactful person now, the reality of her journey is far different. Growing up, she experienced significant loneliness. Her mother, a single parent, worked tirelessly to provide for her family, leaving Amber often feeling isolated. Her older sister, thrust into a caretaker role, responded with resentment rather than warmth, leaving Amber without the emotional connection she desperately needed. This sense of being unwanted compounded over the years, leading her to suffer silently.
As she transitioned into school, Amber didn’t have the skills to make friends. She was branded as the "weird kid" and experienced rejection and bullying, eventually eating lunch in bathroom stalls to avoid conflict. This social alienation continued until her teenage years when a pivotal moment came in the form of a job selling Cutco cutlery. It was a position she never expected to take, but it turned out to be a divine intervention of sorts. In her first training seminar, Amber was introduced to the idea that there are three types of people in the world: those who watch from the sidelines, those who dip their toe in, and those who dive in wholeheartedly. Despite her uncertainty, she decided to be the third type of person, and it paid off. That weekend, she became one of the top sales reps, marking the first time she truly felt a sense of belonging.
This newfound sense of belonging changed everything for Amber. It was the beginning of her journey towards self-discovery, helping her recognize that she had the power to change her narrative. She had felt invisible for so long, but now she wanted to dedicate her life to making sure that others felt seen, heard, and valued—because she understood, firsthand, the importance of those feelings.
However, Amber’s struggles didn’t end with her newfound success in sales. She encountered new challenges when she first used her voice to stand up for a friend, only to be punished for it by being attacked at a party. This traumatic experience reinforced the belief that using her voice would only lead to pain, a belief she had to unlearn later in life. It took many years and a great deal of inner work, but Amber gradually began to heal and realign herself with her true purpose.
In her twenties, Amber launched a company, again seemingly by divine intervention. She became known as a business and book strategist, helping authors achieve success. Yet, as she worked to help others build their brands and find their voices, she was unaware that she was helping people get into alignment. Alignment, as Amber now understands, is about discovering and expressing your true self without the masks we wear for different parts of our lives. It’s about removing the layers of societal expectations, roles, and pressures to reveal the authentic person within.
In 2021, Amber experienced a personal reckoning that shattered the construct of the life she had built. Surrounded by narcissistic individuals who had been keeping her small, she realized she had given away her power over the years. She was pouring into others, leaving herself depleted, because she lacked self-love and self-trust. This realization set her on a new path of healing, one where she learned to nurture herself and reclaim her power.
One of the most profound moments in Amber’s healing journey came during a trip to New Orleans, where she reconnected with her love for art. Purchasing vivid, colorful artwork was a symbolic act of self-love for Amber, reminding her of the parts of herself she had lost. This act marked a turning point in her journey to reclaim her identity, transforming her space—and her life—into one that reflected her true essence.
Amber’s journey is a powerful reminder that alignment and self-love are crucial to living an authentic and fulfilling life. While success can be measured in accolades and achievements, true fulfillment comes from knowing and embracing who we really are. It’s about taking off the masks we wear and living in alignment with our values, our passions, and our truth. And when we do that, we not only heal ourselves, but we also empower those around us to do the same.
