Reconstruction Route

There's no exact moment when you become disabled. It's more like you finally stop fighting something your body has been trying to tell you for decades—and suddenly you can breathe again. Actually breathe, not just survive.

I've lived with fibromyalgia since I was 20. I've had chronic pain my entire adult life. But I didn't accept I was disabled until six months ago—at 40 years old. In this episode, I share how acceptance came in waves, how my professional identity as an HR leader was built on masking, and why unmasking changed everything about my work. This isn't about finding silver linings in suffering—it's about finally telling the truth about what you need.

In This Episode:

• Why disability is a spectrum, not a binary you cross
• What internalized ableism actually sounds like (and how it kept me suffering for decades)
• How a decade in corporate HR taught me that accommodations work very differently in practice than on paper
• Why my work got better, not more productive, when I stopped masking
• A guided mudra meditation practice for when you're fighting reality
• The difference between acceptance and giving up

Includes: 3-minute guided Chin Mudra practice for nervous system regulation during identity shifts

If you're wondering if you're "disabled enough," exhausted from performing wellness, or realizing your professional identity was built on masking—this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned: Chin Mudra meditation practice (included in episode)

Connect with me:

• Instagram: ⁠@solejourneywellness⁠
• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠
• Website: ⁠solejourneywellness.com

This is Episode 1 of The Lighthouse Series—four episodes exploring what it means to rebuild your life when the foundation keeps shifting.

After months away, I'm back...but different. In this introduction episode of Reconstruction Route, I share why I'm starting my podcast in the middle of my healing journey instead of waiting until I have everything figured out.

In this episode:

• Why I took a "healing break" and what I learned in the silence
• The cascade of diagnoses that changed everything: autism, ADHD, EDS, long COVID, perimenopause
• How the lighthouse metaphor shapes my approach to healing and community
• Why guidance from the middle of the journey is more valuable than advice from the "other side"
• What to expect from a podcast that refuses to perform wellness

This podcast is for you if:

• You're navigating health changes, disability, or neurodivergence
• Your professional identity no longer fits who you're becoming
• You're rebuilding your life after major transitions
• You're tired of toxic positivity and want real conversations about healing
• You need community that celebrates different minds and bodies

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @solejourneywellness
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: solejourneywellness.com

Next Episode: "Accepting I'm Disabled" - The moment I stopped fighting the label and started listening to what my body actually needed.

We all experience loss and grief in this lifetime.

In this vulnerable episode, host Dani Frank shares her deeply personal ritual of observing an annual “grief week” to honor her late father and beloved furry companion. She explains why it’s so critical that we develop “grief literacy” skills to compassionately care for ourselves and others during times of mourning.

Dani also leads a soothing 35-minute balancing Yoga Nidra meditation to help you find steadiness and light, even in the darkest moments. This meditation features breathwork and body sensing, beginning at 10:17. Through gently guiding your awareness through your body and breath, this meditation helps you rediscover your natural state of equilibrium and center. Even amidst the turbulence of grief, you can find your inner calm. May this practice guide you to tap into your inner wisdom and resilience.

This practice is adapted from the book "Yoga Nidra Scripts" by Tamara Skyhawk.

Join Dani Frank, founder of Sole Journey Wellness, for the debut episode of The Resilient Compass podcast. In this introduction, Dani shares her origin story – from childhood trauma, to alcoholism, depression and burnout on the way to recovery and resilience.

You'll discover what motivated Dani to start The Resilient Compass community dedicated to cultivating grit, growth mindsets, emotional flexibility and more through inspiring stories and expert insights.

Get a glimpse into the promise of empowerment that lies ahead as you tune into future episodes filled with compassionate conversations about overcoming life's challenges.

Explore more from Dani and her work at solejourneywellness.com and on Instagram @solejourneywellness