The Space Between
Life has the power to change you. And. You have the power to change your life.
Both are true.
Freedom is learning to navigate the space between.
Learning when to push. And when to be pulled.
Learning how to drive toward goals. And release expectations.
Learning when to grind. And when to rest.
Learning who's feedback counts. And who's does not.
Learning how to let go of who you think you should be.
Embrace who who you are.
And seek growth.
Learning what you can control. And releasing the rest.
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The curveballs will come. And they will change us.
Some might rock us to our core. Shattering our view of the world. Bringing unimaginable pain.
Others might wear on us. Subtly.
All of them will challenge us.
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No matter the level of darkness in your life right now, there is light.
In the opportunity to rise.
One small step at a time.
You have the power to set yourself free.
To dance in the space between.
YOU get to decide how you show up.
Choose you.
Choose love.
Choose the space between.
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Love that this FB memory popped up today:
This crazy crew + the one you can't see = total rockstars today. Last minute change of plans today - from hockey and hanging out with daddy to schlepping out of bed early to go on a four-hour-round-trip road trip with me today.
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Today was the first time I shared pieces of my coaching journey on stage.
Three years ago I was surviving - living most of my days in a triggered state. I honestly don't remember much from that January beyond the round-the-clock compound meds. We were fresh off of Mia's discharge from Children's. And far from being in the clear.
Many people don't know that I was already a 'coach' with Beachbody - I had signed up about a month before Mia's open heart surgery. For a discount on products I loved. I had no intention to share or run a business.
Looking back, I believe the Universe nudged me to take that leap. It was one of those soul tugging pulls that didn't really make sense to me at the time. And I listened anyway. And then prepared like hell for her surgery.
What I didn't realize is that there is no preparing for what happened.
For those of you who don't know, M went in for a routine ASD closure and mitral valve repair. Her surgery went well. And. She went into heart failure the next morning, and I was bedside. My trauma stems from this moment - and the days of uncertainty that followed. At the time, I didn't know that ECMO was even a thing - let alone the medical device that would save her life.
Her heart began to heal. Miraculously. And after 41 days, she came home.
On the other side of what was the most difficult and intense moment(s) of my life, I had a tribe holding space for me. They welcomed me with open arms and love, reminding me daily to take care of myself. To nourish. To move. To be kind to me. It was exactly what I needed.
Over the course of the past three years, this tribe has walked alongside of me through some seriously tough shit. The workouts and nutrition tools have been the catalyst for physical change, no doubt. Regaining my level of fitness post twins, healing my IBS, keeping my PCOS completely at bay, helping to shed 80+ lbs, and now again as I work to grow stronger after baby number 4...
The workouts gave (and still give) me an outlet to pour into when I'm triggered. My team gives me a safe space to grow - to fully step in to my life. And they motivate and push me and inspire me daily. The people I've met because of this journey have changed my life.
Especially Mike Mullaly. The summer that I decided to share and dive into this coaching journey, I watched him stand on stage and tell his story. Though the details were different, he was telling my story. He is a hero - and courageously and honorably served our country. And he's learned how to find joy living with PTSD.
Watching him and listening to his story gave me hope.
Two and a half years later, we shared a stage. This morning I shared a bit about my journey - and how this coaching journey has been the vehicle that has helped me to find FREEDOM and BALANCE and PURE JOY. ✨🙏✨
My team. The shared vision. The courage of those around me. The focus on personal growth. This. This environment allowed me to grow in ways I never knew possible.
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This journey we are on is about so much more than inches and lbs. Those pieces matter. And so does our mental health. Without that last piece, life doesn't feel as good as it could.
We all have shit. And we are all so capable of diving in, working through it, and learning how to cope.
What I've learned... The shit doesn't disappear. We just get stronger. We add new skills to our tool kit. We CAN do hard things.
And we don't have to do it alone.
Today I shared. Trauma didn't lead the conversation. That is progress. That is progress that can never be measured.
Now, we just need daddy's flight to get off the ground!!
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I invite you to join me. On January 15th, I am linking arms with a group of women + men who are committed to transforming their lives - physically, mentally, emotionally. Our focus will be on finding balance with food - dancing in that space of FREEDOM. No more all-or-nothing. No more deprivation. No more constantly obsessing over food choices. No more ruminating over all the shoulds.
I know there is an absolute connection between our physical bodies and our mental and emotional health. When we don't feel good - we stop ourselves from fully feeling JOY.
There isn't one right way to pour into YOU. And. This way - it's changed my life. And hundreds of lives. Witnessing their transformations has been humbling and an true honor.
Together we've learned how to get results. And balance.
Together we've learned how to choose the hard that sets us free.
My hand is out if you haven't found a way that works for you. If you're afraid to try because you don't want to fail at one more thing. If you feel alone in it. If you can't look in the mirror with love. If you aren't sure what the hell to do anymore. Or how you'll even have the time. Or money. Or energy.
To join us - or to learn more - head over here.
Together we are stronger.
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Samantha Livingstone is an Olympic Gold Medalist, transformational speaker, high performance coach and mama of four. She inspires and empowers others to cultivate the courage, resilience and perseverance needed to let go of perfection and other limiting beliefs so they can live their dream. Samantha candidly shares her battles with her inner critic, depression, perfection, PTSD and parenting as a working mother because she believes in the transformative power of story – and the strength that comes from knowing we are not alone. She is on a mission to pay forward all that she’s learned to help others find joy and live free.
A mama of heart warrior and mama of twins, Samantha and her husband, Rob, live in the Berkshires with their four girls.
You can learn more about Samantha at www.samanthalivingstone.com.