What happens when the life you’ve built—the one that looks perfect on paper—feels nothing like the one you were meant to live?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with coach Caroline Brown to unpack her journey from burned-out nurse and high-achieving people pleaser to becoming a bold, purpose-led coach who helps other women do the same. Caroline opens up about the pressure to fit into a "respectable" box, the slow unraveling of a life that wasn’t hers, and the life-altering moment that changed everything.

We talk about:

• How perfectionism and people-pleasing steal your voice
• The unexpected wake-up call that led her to coaching
• What it actually takes to become visible and live on purpose
• How to reconnect with who you are beyond the roles you play
• And why your greatest gifts are often hidden in the parts of you that were told to shrink

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this all there is?”, this episode will remind you there is more—and it’s never too late to claim it.

Keywords

coaching, personal development, women empowerment, career change, self-discovery, visibility, purpose, nursing, life transformation, generational patterns

Summary

In this conversation, Caroline Brown shares her journey from a high-achieving nurse to a transformative coach for women. She discusses the pressures of societal expectations, the struggle to find her true calling, and the pivotal moments that led her to coaching. Caroline emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, overcoming fears of visibility, and the power of community support. She highlights the difference between therapy and coaching, advocating for the need to trust one's intuition and live with purpose. Through her experiences, she inspires women to reclaim their voices and pursue lives that truly resonate with them.

Takeaways

Caroline had unconventional dreams growing up, often dismissed by others.
She struggled with societal expectations and people-pleasing throughout her life.
Nursing felt misaligned with her true self, leading to burnout.
A pivotal moment led her to discover coaching as a new path.
Coaching allows her to empower women to reclaim their purpose.
Visibility fears were a significant barrier for Caroline, which she overcame through practice.
Personal loss catalyzed her growth and visibility in her coaching journey.
Finding purpose often involves reconnecting with past experiences and passions.
Coaching differs from therapy in its focus on forward movement and action.
Support and community are crucial for personal transformation.

Chapters

00:00 Dreams and Expectations: The Early Years
02:59 Navigating College: The Search for Identity
05:49 The Nursing Journey: A Disconnect from Purpose
09:02 The Call to Change: Discovering Coaching
11:58 Embracing Visibility: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
14:51 Transformative Moments: From Fear to Empowerment
17:53 Helping Others: The Coaching Experience
20:57 Finding Purpose: The Journey of Self-Discovery
29:14 Embracing Your Unique Superpowers
33:11 Understanding the Difference: Therapy vs. Coaching
36:30 The Importance of Continuous Coaching
39:24 Reconnecting with Yourself
40:52 Trusting Your Intuition
42:01 Breaking Generational Patterns
44:45 Radical Honesty and Micro Decisions
46:23 The Perception of Time
47:39 Overcoming Fear and Building Safety
49:01 Being Misunderstood and Finding Your Voice

Aligned & Ascending is an 8-week space where I help you get clear on your next step, your message, your offers—all of it—so you can stop second-guessing everything and actually build the purpose-driven business you’ve been thinking about.

So if you’re craving clarity and momentum—and a business that feels like you—DM me the word ALIGN on Instagram to get all the info.