Behind every high achiever lies a story most people never see—a narrative woven from unprocessed trauma and relentless pursuit. For years, I was fueled by a dark motivation: a survival instinct honed by childhood wounds that pushed me to perform, to prove, and to control every aspect of my life. I tracked every calorie, trained until exhaustion, and rebranded my eating disorder as discipline and wellness. On the surface, I had it all together. But beneath that polished exterior, I wasn’t thriving—I was merely performing. I wasn’t grounded; I was surviving. I realized that the fuel I was using—pain, fear, and the need to prove my worth—was slowly killing me. That dark drive, while it carried me through countless challenges, never allowed me to rest. It kept me in a constant state of chase, a relentless cycle of proving that I was enough, even when deep down I felt anything but. I had mistaken destruction for transformation, chaos for clarity, and performance for true growth. Phenyx Fit Kate Hastings Podcast  @coachkate1  Mental Health Coach