Melissa Oatman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Melissa, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I try to be very intentional about the way I start my day. When I wake up, I try to be thankful for my coffee, the warm bed I had to get out of, my house…really anything that supports me in my life. I then try to listen to something uplifting while I drink my coffee. It is my time to set my intention to have a good day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am from Collinsville, Illinois. In addition to teaching German, I am a healer and intuitive, author, and podcaster. I host Awaken Your Inner Awesomeness, a weekly podcast dedicated to improving lives and deepening spirituality. I am the author of two books. Beautifully Broken, the Spiritual Woman’s Guide to Thriving After a Divorce or Break up, and Beautiful Mourning, A Guide to Life After Loss .I am a single mother of twins who is passionate about helping others heal and helping others find a life that they love.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I’m a reformed people pleaser. For a long time, I believed it was my responsibility to keep the peace and make everyone else happy. In doing so, I lost sight of my own happiness.
It has taken me half a lifetime to unlearn the beliefs I once held about myself and my role in the world. I’ve had to learn how to set boundaries, how to let go of the weight of others’ expectations, and most importantly, how to love myself more.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
After an incredibly painful divorce, I discovered a strength within myself that I never knew existed. I found my inner resilience and began using it to support and uplift others.
That same strength carried me through one of the hardest chapters of my life, the loss of my mother. Her passing was deeply painful, but it became a powerful teacher, revealing even more about who I am and what truly matters in life.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that the challenges we face in life are ones we chose long before we ever arrived in this world. While this idea may be controversial, I’ve found it to be true, especially in my darkest moments. It’s in those times of deep struggle that I’ve learned the most about myself and about life.
Adversity is a teacher. It’s meant to shape us, not to break us. It’s also here to transform us for the better. We always have a choice in how we respond to what life throws our way. We came here to grow, and growth isn’t always easy, or comfortable. But it is always meaningful.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop saying yes to things that didn’t make me happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melissaoatman.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/melissaoatman222/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reikiwithlissa/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQPtU9hPeEWjbHr62LxuEXA
- Other: http://tiktok.com/@melissaoatman
