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In this episode, we discuss:

• Justine’s thyroid healing journey
• Working out with autoimmune
• The coolest thing we’ve ever manifested
• How to ACTUALLY change your habits

Additional Resources:

COURSE: Tapping to Support Chronic Illness

Discover the immense power of emotional freedom technique! This is an effective tool for your toolbox that will help you to overcome negative beliefs, clear your energy, and even identify information from your subconscious mind so you can get to the root of the challenges you are experiencing.

PRODUCT: Autoimmune Strong

Try a 7-day free trial of Autoimmune Strong! This fitness program was specifically created for people who live with autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain.

Episode Transcript:

Welcome to the Healing Uncensored podcast. My name is Sarah: Small, and I’m a health and mindset coach for women with autoimmune disease. Just like you, I absolutely love helping you tap into your self-healing power, uncover the energetic side of healing, and release limiting beliefs around your body and your life. Think of this podcast as everything you wouldn’t hear at your doctor’s office. It’s a place for empowered souls to move beyond food, and heal themselves on a soul level. I hope you enjoy today’s episode. Now, let’s begin.

Hello and welcome today. I am chatting with Justine: Clark, who is a certified health coach, group fitness instructor, and master of habit change for women with autoimmune disease. Most of her life, Justine: had struggled with anxiety, depression, and fatigue, and she was quickly thrown into the autoimmune world with a suspicious thyroid nodule. After multiple tests and biopsies, the surgery left her with only half a thyroid. And it wasn’t until her doctor refused to prescribe her medication, due to her blood tests being quote, “normal”, that Justine: began seeking alternative holistic methods of healing. Now she leads other women on their own healing journey, but educating them and how to heal from the inside out, in a fun, easy and sustainable way. I think you guys are gonna love the energy that Justine: brings to this conversation today. So let’s dive right in.

Sarah: Welcome to the show Justine:. I’m so excited to have you today.

Justine: Sarah, I’m so excited to be here. Thank you so much.

Sarah: Yes. So this is an exciting conversation we were now, both on each other’s podcasts, which is super fun. I love to do a little bit of that back and forth. And now I get to learn more about you. So I’d also love our listeners to start to get to know you. So can you share your personal auto-immune story?

Justine: Yes. and I feel like ours are very similar. It goes all the way back to when I was a kid. My whole world was health and fitness. I was one of those weird kids that would get up in the morning before the sun rose. And I would do tae bo in my bedroom. Billy Blanks was my idol.

Sarah: Oh my god, you just transported me back, way back with tae bo.

Justine: I know. I still have some of his DVDs I should pop one in and just relive my days.

Sarah: They are so fun.

Justine’s thyroid healing journey

Justine: So I was that kid, but I always got in trouble because I had this self-image and I was trying to uphold. I was in the whole diet mode. I was in the, okay I have to work out seven days a week. Hardcore. I have to be dripping in sweat otherwise it doesn’t really count. I was in that stage. I think we’ve all been there, but I would get in trouble all the time, because of that. And now, just looking back, I realized getting in trouble was probably not necessary, but it just made me realize that, Oh, I am going way overboard. So I was in that constant rollercoaster of, okay, I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this. And I was an A-plus person when I did everything. So I did above and beyond. And then, as I grew older, I started to have anxiety. And that was partially, probably because of the high expectations that I held for myself, around my body image, around my dieting, around my exercise.

And I didn’t think anything of it and neither did my parents. It was just a phase teenagers go through, that they have anxiety. And then, I started to have belly issues and it just all snowballed at once, around my teenage years. And so, I went to multiple doctors, and they all give you medication. I remember just so many things. Aside from the medication, they’re, okay, you need to stop chewing gum. You need to stop swallowing so much air, stop chewing hard candies. Make sure however I was sleeping, just don’t sleep that way. What? So my world was totally just confusing at that point, because everything that they were telling me to do, I didn’t do anyway. And then, I was having the medications. They didn’t work. And it then eventually snowballed into a thyroid disorder.

And the funny thing is about this. I wasn’t going to the doctor to have them check my thyroid. It was just a normal test. Not even a test. What is it called, you just go to the doctor? A physical. You just go to the doctor for a checkup. I don’t even know right now, but she found a lump in my throat. And I was a group fitness instructor at the time. I had been a group fitness instructor for years. And it’s funny how it all happened because, one of my friends who was also a group fitness instructor with me, she had just had surgery on her vocal chords. So I’m thinking, okay, well I yell all the time. I am that motivating person. I yell, I get on the microphone, you know how that is? You’re a fitness instructor, with a yoga type. So it might be a little bit different, But you’re more mellow, chill.

Sarah: A little bit. Yes.

Justine: I am that way now. But looking back I’m, wow, Justine:, you were way too over the top. But my friend had just had that surgery. So I was, Oh, no bug deal, it’s probably just that for me. I was excited that it was just going to be that. But then the doctor, I remember it like it was yesterday. The doctor called and she’s, we need to get you back in here for a test, asap. And I was, okay. And everyone’s that’s probably not a good sign. Doctors don’t normally go out of their way to tell you to come back in for no reason. So, it quickly ended up being a thyroid nodule, three centimeters. So it was a big one. They had no idea what type it was. So biopsies, all the procedures, still couldn’t figure it out. So I was up against the wall with a decision of, do I have surgery and take it out, just to be safe? Or do I keep it in there, hope for the best, come back every six months for testing, and just go from there? And that was when I was 22 years old. I wasn’t supposed to be making the life altering decisions at that point. Like life or death decisions. All my other friends were making, should I go out to party today? Should I go?

I was faced with that decision. I decided, I didn’t know. So I was, well, better safe than sorry. I should probably just have it removed. And so I did, and that’s where I’m at now. am half thyroid-less. And it was a really long journey. It was hard. It was so hard at first, because when you think, okay, the problem is now resolved. It’s gone, it’s no longer there. You would think all of my other symptoms: my anxiety, my sweaty armpits, my sweaty palms, my acne, all those things that teenagers in early adulthoods don’t want. You would think that would have gone away, but it actually didn’t, it got worse. And it just went downhill, very rapidly, after surgery. Until I just decided to take it into my own hands and figure it out myself.

Sarah: So how long ago was that, when you had the surgery?

Justine: It was almost five years ago, since I’ve had surgery.

Sarah: Okay. And so you said it got worse after that. So then, you seem to be feeling pretty good now, and have things are under control. You’re coaching other women on this too. What has shifted for you? What changed? What started to make you feel better?

Justine: What I mean by it actually went down first. So, there’s that whole weight gain. You’re going to gain weight. I didn’t gain any weight. But that was still there in my mind, because, remember, going back, I was that whole exercise, that whole diet person. I was balls to the wall. So it was a mental game for me, I would say. So yes, food has definitely helped. Taking away food sensitivities, and they’re different for everybody. But, just removing those out of my diet has helped. But, regardless of how clean I could be eating, kind of like you, it doesn’t matter if we have all of these salads every single day, we can still be stressed. And that was me just because, that was holding me back. So for me, I had to get real with myself, and actually figure out the root of my problem. Because I was not quote unquote fat. I was not overweight. I was not all of those things that I thought I was, in my head. But I thought, now that I had that I thyroid removed, that it was going to happen to me regardless.

So, I think just taking a step back and just really reeling it in, and being, Justine: whatever you’re seeing yourself, it’s not your reality. So I really had to just almost journal. I had to do a lot of journaling, a lot of self-reflection, a lot of tapping into the root of the problem, because since I wasn’t actually, that person. What made me think I was that person? What was stemming? Was it something that happened in my childhood? I was make fun of as a kid. I had red hair. I got made fun of a lot. I was actually a little bit chubbier when I was little. So I think all of those things were just holding onto me, like a fricking shark. Like, just argghh. I hope that answers your question.

Sarah: That’s beautiful. And if you could look at yourself, four or five years ago, how would you say, you have changed more on the emotional level over this experience? What has been some of the big shifts for you? Do you feel like you’re a completely different person? You’d be like, the same person, has a lot or a little changed?

Justine: Yes, that’s a really good question. When I talk to people, I think about this transformation. And transformation to me, means that, I’m the same person. I still have the same humor. I’m still the same person. I’ve never really changed as that. But, how I handle situations, my relationship with my husband. How I handle work situations. How I’m able to handle money, my career. I think health is so much more than just food and exercise. Health is everything. It goes into all those areas of our life. And I’d say, yes. even though I was a Nazi dieter and a Nazi exerciser, I think that’s the biggest thing. Is that I was able to actually dial it back, and be, okay, what’s most important to you right now? Is it this strict diet that you’re doing, or is it happiness? Is it this balls to the wall exercise that you’re doing, or is it long-term success? What is most important to me right now? And I think for me, I realized after doing several hard exercises, after the other. It was affecting me, my energy, my thyroid, I could tell. Exercise is supposed to energize us. It’s supposed to revive us and refill us, but it was actually doing the opposite, because of how hard I was working. So I almost had to take a step back from all that stuff and focus on the other things. Which was a total transformation for me, because it was just not who I was. I was the all-in, go, go, go person.

Sarah: Yes. I’m curious. So, I talk a lot about the emotional roots of illness in autoimmune tribe, and on my Instagram, and everything. And I see this as a generalization, so it doesn’t apply to everybody. But I’m curious if you can relate to thyroid issues as being: are you that people pleaser; are you someone who had a hard time expressing herself, or sticks sticking up for herself; or being able to speak her truth? Do you feel you relate to that at all?

Justine: Oh my gosh. Yes. Yes. So, not now, because I’m really good at setting my boundaries, and knowing who I am now. But back then, literally everything that you just said, I was that person, to a tee. I always cared about everyone. else’s happiness over my own. I would do anything for anybody, except for myself. And what’s really sad, looking back, I was so into this perfect vision of myself. And it’s so bad even when I was talking to people. If, me and you Sarah:, were having a conversation back then, I would be stuttering through this whole episode. I could barely talk to people without stumbling over my words, stuttering. Because I was so anxious, and so afraid of what they were thinking, while I was talking to them.

Sarah: I think it’s so interesting that are, again, it’s a generalization, so it’s not everyone’s unique situation. But it’s very, very common and I try to talk to my clients about that, and see if they relate to that emotional side of it. And they’re, Oh yes, I was made fun of, or it was hard for me to speak my truth, or I did want to make everyone happy. I would want to go to the greatest lengths to make everyone happy. I feel that, also then tie into the anxiety and depression you were feeling. And were you able to heal that as well, over the past few years?

Justine: Yes, for sure. I think it all ties together. Because when we put that pressure on ourselves, and we’re not able to uphold it. Let’s be honest, no one’s perfect. We cannot expect ourselves to be perfect, and then, when we fail, it’s oh my gosh, you’re a total loser. And that spikes anxiety, that spikes depression. And it was the case for me, for sure. It was a lot of internal struggle, fighting, and that had a lot to do with my self-image. But, at the same time, this autoimmune disease was happening. That chronic illness, my fatigue, all of those things physically, were also draining on me. And like anxiety and depression, they stem a lot from our gut health. And that’s where we hold a lot of our pain and past, and that’s where we hold a lot of things.

Yes, food and stuff, digestion is really important. Food’s important, quality over quantity. I feel it was all intertwined. And it’s funny, I think for me, since I came from that whole diet and exercise, that was the first thing for me to fix. Simple things, surface level stuff I can do, because that’s already what I’m good at. So I started with food stuff, started with dialling back my exercise stuff. And I feel once I got into that type of a routine, and I was able to sustain it, and again, it’s not perfect. It’s still not perfect. Nobody is. But, I started to feel that shift, not only in my gut, and my digestion, but it also, almost went to my head. So then I was, okay, because I feel when we take these tiny steps, we take things that we’re most comfortable with, and we take them in bite-sized chunks. And then, when we’re able to do those bite-sized chunks, then that gives us a confidence boost. Okay, Justine:, you did this, now what’s the next step? And just, bite-sized chunk, after bite-sized chunk. And it just continuously gives us that momentum, and that confidence, and almost that drive of, okay, I can do this.

Sarah: That’s really powerful. I’m glad you shared that bite-sized chunks too. Because I know a lot of women in my community may or may not have an autoimmune diagnosis or struggle with chronic illness. But they are definitely experiencing some form of anxiety and depression. And a lot of them are wondering, where do I start? And so, I love that, okay, let’s take it one step at a time. And let’s look at some of our habits and our patterns. So I know something that you also do is, help people change their habits that are not serving them. So can you talk a little bit about maybe some of the habits you’ve changed in your life, or how our listeners can start releasing habits that are not serving their health?

How to ACTUALLY change your habits

Justine: So I think my biggest habits, like I’ve said, is just overdoing it. I know that sounds really weird, wow, overdoing it is a habit? But it totally is. Over-exercising, oh my gosh, it’s almost awful. But getting into the habit, not only was I over-exercising, but not able to maintain it long-term. So I was falling off the wagon. It’s almost like that yo-yo diet, yo-yo exercise. That was my habit. And I think that people overlook that as being a habit. If we’re constantly doing that, repeat, repeat, repeat, that’s a habit. And I think that’s a big thing, that people, they don’t know how to get out because they don’t know that they’re doing it wrong. Or it’s not necessarily that they’re doing it wrong. It is just, that’s a pattern that we don’t really recognize as one.

So for me, that was the biggest habit that I had to break. And, just going into the whole habit thing, taking it by bite-sized chunks. But, for anyone that’s trying to, just like what you said, just realizing what our habits are, and our patterns. For me, I’ve actually always been good at pattern reading. My mom, when I was little, I would tell my mom, I know exactly what you’re going to do. I know your pattern. And she’d be like, what? Who are you, some psychology professor? No, I know your patterns. And it’s always been my thing. But I think knowing ourselves, I think that’s a process in itself. So journaling, I would say number one is journaling. And also monitoring what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. And what I mean by that? Number one, journaling, brain dump everything that’s going on in your head. And just let it flow. Let it be what it is. You’ll probably find out a lot about yourself. And, also, that’s going to help relieve not only your anxiety and depression, but it’s going to make you feel better. And almost more confident, knowing that it’s no longer in there in your head. It’s all on a piece of paper, so it’s no longer in you. And then, where was I going with that? Man, I’m just…

Sarah: No, you’re rolling. You write down all your brain dump on the journal.

Justine: Yes. Oh, and then, just monitoring your patterns. And what do I mean by that? If you screw up, in your head, if you’re, aww, dang it, I wish I didn’t do that. I’m a failure. Write down what it is that you just did, and just think about why you did it. And what I see with a lot of people is that, they’re Oh my gosh, I screwed up. It’s a time when they are so busy at work, they come home, they’re super stressed or unhappy, whatever the situation is. Maybe they eat a food that they’re not supposed to, or they know that’s going to trigger them, or whatever. Or they think that they’re going to gain 10 pounds by eating that food. So that is a typical, Oh crap I screwed up.

So maybe just write that down. And you’ll start to notice patterns. A lot of people, they’ll do it after work, because that is their stress reliever. That is a way to make them feel good. As humans, we’re trying to get away from pain to pleasure, and that’s a linear thing in our mind. Away from pain, straight to pleasure, as quickly as possible, and that’s food. So, if we’re able to monitor a deeper level of why am I eating this food? Oh, I’m stressed. Okay. What else can I do to help my stress? I can work out. I can meditate. I can do yoga. I think that’s the biggest thing that I have been able to do. And I also help my clients with, is just getting to the root of the problem. Not just surface level stuff, and just bashing ourselves. That’s not going to help. Really get to it and fix it from below.

The awareness of the problem, I think is huge, like you just said. And sometimes, we can see it in ourselves, and sometimes we need that coach, or somebody to help us pinpoint it. And I think the journaling can help us find it within ourselves, though. Where it’s, when do you reach for the bag of chips or candy? Or are you stressed? Or maybe you don’t reach for food when you’re stressed. Maybe you go and you overexercise, and you work yourself out super, super hard when you’re stressed. And just realizing, well, when I am stressed, what are my habits? What do I do? Do you practice meditation, or do you use meditation at all in your healing?

Justine: Yes. Oh my gosh. I am obsessed with meditation. Right now I’m doing a Deepak and Oprah’s–

Sarah: I am obsessed with those series. Yes, I do them everytime.

Justine: What? Oh my gosh, you are doing that one too? No way. That’s awesome.

Sarah: I’ve been doing, their series for probably five years now. And everyone has a different theme. And this one’s on manifestation, which is super cool.

Justine: Yes, it’s totally is. So it totally goes with everything that we’re talking about today.

Sarah: Yes. So do you mostly do the guided meditations?

Justine: I love guided meditations, because sometimes I get squirrel brain, because I work from home. I can think of 5 million different things that I could be doing. So I like guided meditations. However, sometimes I just like to sit in silence and do nothing. I think meditation, we think of, okay, I have to sit cross-legged, and my hands have to be up. I have to own the whole time. And yes, I don’t do well with that one. I just, don’t. I’m not there yet. I think it’s just a level of practice. I’m not to that level of practice yet. So I do like the guided ones, or I could just go over in a corner, and stare at a white wall. And just close my eyes, or listen to music or, I don’t know. I think meditation is just silencing the mind, and just letting whatever comes out, flow. So I’m totally, totally down for that.

Sarah: Without judgment towards yourself and what does come up? Those thoughts that come up and how can we receive them without judging ourselves? So question for you is, were you ever scared of meditation? I feel you have an A-plus, go, go, go. Just like this bubbly personality that wants to make everyone happy. I feel like meditation might scare the hell out of you. Do you ever feel that way?

Justine: Oh my God. Yes. I seriously thought meditation was a joke. I never ever did it until this whole chronic illness and almost mental illness. I don’t want to call it that, but I feel anxiety and depression need to definitely be addressed. And I don’t want to call it an illness, but it’s something that needs to be addressed. But yes, I was never into that whole thing. I even tried, when I was an instructor, they wanted me to teach yoga on the weekends. And I was, okay, I’ll give it my best shot. But, a person that yells on the microphone, and is just that opposite person that tries to just slow their roll. It doesn’t work well, so it wasn’t my favorite class to teach. I could teach it, but it wasn’t pretty. So yes, I was that person who thought it was a joke.

Sarah: So then what changed for you? Did you just decide one day? Like you said, chronic illness it really can make you look at life in a different way. And sometimes we get desperate and we’re, I’m just going to try anything to make me feel better. So what then, opened that doorway? And the reason I ask is, that I’ve heard both friends and people in the autoimmune tribe, community. Who are meditation is just not for me, or I can’t do that. I’m not good at meditating. I suck at meditating. And so, what would you tell them?

Justine: That’s okay though. We all suck at meditating. There’s no perfect meditation. So, we all kind of suck, but it’s a beautiful kind of stuck. I feel that goes with anything in life. Our beautiful screw-ups, they make us who we are, and they make us, I don’t know. So anyone who thinks they’re silly or whatever, I totally get that. But, we find out a lot about ourselves through the process. What was your question again? I’m going to stay over here on my sofa.

Sarah: What made you feel okay, this isn’t, maybe you still felt it was silly, or you could not focus, but you decided to do it anyways?

Justine: And actually it was a really defining point in my journey. Well, because I was non-stop. I thought, well, I’m going to just push through this illness, and I’m going to figure it out. And that was my mentality, and it still is my mentality. I am strong, I can do this, I can conquer anything. But, pairing that mentality with my past, overdoing it tendencies, I was over-exercising hardcore. And I was feeling like shit, basically. And I recognized it as a sign, to where I would just give meditation, flash yoga, because I was pairing them. Wwhether it was meditation every day, or whether it was a meditation or yoga, it was vice versa. There was no schedule, is what I want people to think. It doesn’t have to be a set schedule, as long as you’re implementing, and practicing, and doing your best. That’s where the magic comes.

But that, for me, was literally deciding in that moment, I’m going to let hardcore exercising go, for 30 days. And that was going to be tough. But I was, okay, Justine:, you have to. You have nothing to lose right now. You’re already feeling like crap. So that’s what I did. I decided 30 days, marked it on my calendar. I meditated and did yoga for 30 straight days. Nothing else, maybe walk, I would probably walk outside, hike. I feel that’s just extra stuff, if I wanted to do it. But, after that 30 days, or even not even after 30 days. Even after a week of doing it, I was, wow, this has just been amazing so far. And then, after 14, 21 on the 30 days, I’m, wow, okay, I don’t know why I never did this before. Probably, because all the other things you just talked about, but it was just life-changing. I think that’s just the gist of it. I will never, ever go without meditating that long again.

Sarah: Yes. It’s beautiful. I think I see it as this opportunity to accept yourself as you are, and your thoughts as they are, but also open yourself up to receive a lot of intuitive downloads and guidance. And just, if nothing else, just a little bit more clarity around how am I feeling in this moment? Understanding my body in this moment. What do I feel like doing for the rest of the day? Just listening to those little nudges inside of you, that when we do go, go, go, we don’t really allow ourselves to listen. We’re not great listeners when we’re going, going, going. And when we step back and we stop for even five minutes. We become better listeners in life.

So switching gears just a little bit, but within the same context. So we’ve got meditation, but also manifestation. That’s the theme of our meditation series right now. So, do you have a meditation practice? What does it look like? What turns you on to manifestation?

Justine: So right now, my meditation process is just sitting 10 to 15 minutes guided. That’s my meditation process. But, as you said, I love meditation for that reason. Because literally receiving downloads is, at first, before all this I’m looking at these yogis. And probably, if I was to see somebody like you I’d be, what, what, what is this girl, Sarah: doing? It doesn’t make any sense to me. And logically, on a person that was on the opposite side, it won’t make any sense. And I think that’s beautiful. But it’s just receiving those downloads, and it can be through anything. If you’re struggling with something that day, if it’s something that you’ve been trying to push through or obstacles that you’ve been facing/ I feel that is literally the best part of meditation, is that you’re able to just slow your roll, and just listen. And I feel, like you said when we stop, and we actually listen, I feel that’s when we’re asking for guidance, and we’re able to actually receive guidance in return. And that’s where manifestation takes place. Because we can want anything. If I want to feel better, if I want to have energy, if I want to lose weight, whatever that is for you.

But every single thing that I’m doing in my life is against what I’m wanting. If my actions are saying something else, then it’s not going to play out. It’s not going to manifest for me. If I know what I want, then I have to take the actions. That said, basically, if I’m talking the talk, then I have to walk the walk. So walking the walk is hard. It takes that practice and that patience and almost just that surrender. I think that was a big one for me. Is just surrendering to all the craziness that’s happening around me, for my higher self, and my higher good. Because I think that’s ultimately why we get into this. Well, health coaching, it just the same way. I don’t know. It all plays in together. But manifestation, I feel now for me, when I’m trying to manifest something, I ask for signs. I ask for signs from the universe as downloads. And whether that be from meditation sometimes. My sign, my universal sign is a feather. So when I’m walking and I don’t have to ask the question, it can just be something that I’m holding in my heart, and I could see a feather. And it just, okay, you’re going in the right direction. It’s just almost that validation of, okay, I know what I’m doing. I can do this. It’s almost that. And that can play off in many different levels. When we manifest one thing, I feel, honestly, the thing that I’ve been able to manifest the best, recently, it has just been money.

And I come from a place of six hundred people. There are no job opportunities. My family fought over money, and I came from that background. So to be able to say, that is easy for me, it just goes to show, for me, the power of manifestation, is that real. Yes. It’s almost just indescribable.

Sarah: Yes. You feel like you have a superpower. You’re like, I just [inaudible] invested in this.

Justine: Yes, yes, yes. That connection.

Sarah: I love that you brought in, so we have the law of attraction, which is like attracts like. So it’s like I say, I want money for example, but then there’s also a lot of action that we need to do too. So if you say I want $10,000 this month, but then you don’t pick up the nickel on the side of the street. And there’s money. There it is, right in front of you. You don’t pick it up, you’re not taking the action to then, actually, receive that money. And so, there can be this mismatch of energy there. So I love that you brought up that, yes, I’m going to like declare to the universe, that this is what I desire. This is what I want more of in my life. But, I’m also going to take action on that. So that I’m showing the universe that, Hey, I appreciate this money, for example. So what is one of the coolest things you’ve ever manifested or maybe the craziest? And do you have any tips or even resources for people who want to start manifesting?

The coolest thing we’ve ever manifested

Justine: Ooh. Yes. I’m the craziest thing that I’ve ever manifested. That’s a really good question. So my favorite manifestation, even though I wasn’t practicing it back then. I think like we all have that level of longing for something, and taking the steps. So I wasn’t practicing it back then, but, I think just taking the right steps in the right direction, and implementing and following our intuition. I think that, is just a level of manifestation almost. So my favorite is my husband eight years ago. But since then, since I “hardcore” started manifesting, I would say, leaving my full-time job to coach. I think that was my biggest thing, but that was also my scariest thing. And I think that is where another magic happens. Is that, the biggest thing that you want, is probably behind the scariest thing that you have to do. I don’t want to say that for all cases. Because I don’t want people to be, Oh my God, I have to go through something really scary. No. But define scary.

We’re not going up against Big Foot. We’re not boxing match Big Foot. It’s not literally a haunted house that you have to walk through. It’s those scary things that we cook up in our mind of, Oh my gosh. And it all goes back to that failure. Oh, I’m going to fail. That’s what’s scary. But really is it though? I don’t know. Probably not. In the gist of everything. It’s not.

Sarah: That’s awesome. And I know there are so many women listening who are probably in that same position, and where you used to be, where, they have an unfulfilling full-time job. Maybe they’re even listening to this podcast at work because they [inaudible 35:05] need it.

Justine: Oh yeah, I did that all the time. Podcasts at work. Yes. It was the only thing that kept me going.

Sarah: Yes. You need that little dose of inspiration. And I think what you’re showing the community too, is that it is possible. I’ve done it, you’ve done it. We’ve left these unfulfilling full time jobs and manifested a business that we are obsessed with. And one that aligns with our soul’s purpose and what we’re most, most passionate about. So, suoer cool. I also love that you talked about your husband too, because I feel like we can be unintentional manifestors sometimes.

Justine: Yes. So true.

Sarah: It’s like, you didn’t really even know what you were doing, but you were putting all this energy out into the world. And all of a sudden like this person, or this money, or health, whatever it is, shows up in your life. Or the perfect doctor, or someone who’s going to help you heal. It could happen in so many different ways, but I feel maybe, you unintentionally manifested your husband. So that’s super cool.

Justine: Yes, thank you. And I think that goes to prove that, if we think in our head that one single route is going to be the right answer, we’re going to miss it. I think during, (what guided meditation was it today?) Anyway, talking about like the endless opportunities, the endless routes. And I think 99% of the time when I’m creating or trying to manifest something, I always have an open mind of how it can be perceived. Because I think it’s really easy to be, okay, well I’m going to make all my money from X today, or Y, or whatever. It can come from a million different places. I think that could be a holdup, thinking it has to come from one area when it can come from a million different ones.

Sarah: You gotta let go of the how. How it comes and instead, open yourself up to any possible way, of receiving it. Any path that it might come through, or else, it’s so constricting to think it can only come in one specific way. So, Justine, I wanna ask you a little bit about, you starting to take this more holistic route in your healing. And I love asking people this, because there are all these different answers. But do you have any memories of before you started to take a more holistic path in your health? Of any of the craziest things you’ve ever heard at your doctor’s office? Or even just a moment where you’re, okay, this is no longer what’s best for me, and my well-being and so, I’m going to try a different path.

Justine: Oh my gosh, yes. I know the exact thing. So, I had half my thyroid removed. And every single test that I ever got from the doctor, blood work, going for checkups, all they ever told me was your normal. Your blood tests are normal. Everything’s normal. You’re fine, we’ll see you in six months. I’m just sitting there all anxious, and tired, and run down. And I was having all those same symptoms. And yet, my blood tests were normal, and they always had been. So, after so many times of being told that you’re normal. And you just see yourself steadily decline. It’s like, no, I’m putting my foot down. I’m done with you guys. That was my point. I couldn’t hear, “your normal” anymore. It’s almost like people saying you’re crazy, or you need therapy, or something like that. That’s what it felt like to me, because I didn’t feel like I was normal.

Sarah: Yes. The things that I’m feeling are not valid, because it doesn’t show up on a blood test. So I must be making it up in my head or something. I know that I’ve had that experience as well. Specifically with fibromyalgia where it was like, well, your back’s not broken and you didn’t tear any muscles back there, so you’re fine. Here are some pills to take the rest of your life. And I just started being, no way in hell is that going to be the solution that I choose. There has to be another way.

Justine: Right. Yes. It’s just a flawed system really.

Sarah: Yes. And not to hate on all medical doctors.

Justine: Yes. For sure.

Sarah: There are some good ones out there, but I just think that the more that we can share our story. And how we decided to choose a different path, I think it shows other people out there that there is a different path. Because I didn’t even realize at the time, all I knew was that I didn’t want those pills. I had no idea that there was this other side that I could even go to. So, I just said no, without having another option. And now, I think that we can show people, you can say no. You are the CEO of your health, and your doctor works for you, versus vice versa. So really empowering yourself to be able to make informed decisions. So when someone works with you, Justine, can you just give us like a little snapshot of what that experience is like?

Justine: So normally what I do with people, I like to chat, of course. To see if it’s the right thing for them, because I might not be the right person for you. You might not be the right person for my program. So I’d like to chat with people. I like to start with a Double Your Energy Discovery Session. That’s always where I start, with just to see if it’s a right fit. But once we dive in, it’s a 90-day program and basically we hit on the main things. I normally help people with autoimmune disease, chronic illness, thyroid issues, things like that. But it’s on a whole health level. So we don’t just focus on thyroid stuff. I feel that is a fine line. I’m not a doctor. I don’t prescribe medicine. I don’t help people wean off medicine. That’s been a really big question lately. Can you help me wean off my medicine? No. Technically, no, I’m not licensed to do that. However, if that’s your goal, then the practices that you need to have in place, and the habits that you need to have in order to build your body back up. Because it’s not just your thyroid, that’s “taking you down”, but it’s a lot of other pieces to the puzzle.

And that’s what I help people do. Is to help build those parts of the body up, help them work through emotional issues, anything that could be holding them back. That’s basically what my program is, but it’s 90 days. So we start off small. I’m all about the habit change. I’m all about the life change. And I want it to be something that people can take with them. So, for a lot of people, I always say this, for the more problems that you have, the smaller you can take on at one time. And I think we have all of these different levels of things that we want to work on. So how I start with people is the small things. For me, the small thing for me was diet and exercise. Okay, I can do that. That’s something that I could do. So if that’s what your small thing is for you, then we start there. And then every single time we get on the phone weekly, we just dive a little bit deeper. And it’s a process that is very beautiful. I never expect anyone to be perfect. And I think that’s what’s cool about it. So I fully expect people to be, whoa, whoa. Sometimes we’re not able to be perfect. And sometimes on the calls, people are, well, I didn’t really follow through with the action steps. Okay. So it goes back to that whole thing of, why do you think that you weren’t able to follow through with the action steps? Just getting in tune with who you are, and what’s going on emotionally. Whether it’s stress at work, overexercise any, anything. So starting on a surface level, gaining confidence, building habits and really tapping into the emotional side of things. That’s the overview.

Sarah: There’s the snippet of it. I love that you, what do you call it, the double your energy, discovery?

Justine: Yes. Double your energy discovery session. That’s just the first call that I get on with people. It gives them some wins, but it also gives them an overview of what we’ll be doing inside the program. So that’s what I like to start off with.

Sarah: I love that you call it that, because I feel that embodies you and your energy so well.

Justine: Oh, thank you.

Sarah: Regardless, of half a thyroid, you still are so high energy. And I think a lot of people listening are aspiring to get their energy back. Because they’re, I don’t have nearly that much energy, but I want that feeling again and so, just knowing that’s possible. So I think that you serve as an inspiration for that. And obviously, then people can work with you to double their energy as well. So any last thoughts, and where can people actually find you?

Justine: Actually, last thoughts. I’m going to think of a good one, so that way we can leave this. But to find me, my website is thyroidbabe.com, and I’m on Facebook and Instagram @thyroidbabe. I don’t really hang out anywhere else. I love Instagram, it is my main hangout. Yes, that’s pretty much it. But I think my biggest thing for people is just never give up. That was the thing for me, that I just remember telling my husband, it had been a couple years after my surgery, maybe just one. But anyway, I remember in the beginning stages, where I was just fed up, and I told my husband, I don’t know what it’s going to take. I have no idea how long, but I’m going to figure it out. And I think in this world of illness, we have to have that mentality of, I’ll pretty much do anything. And I know we’re all at different points. And for me, I had to get to the lowest, lowest point in my life in order for me to want to change it around, but just know that you can. It doesn’t matter where you’re at. You could be the most anxiety-ridden, depressed person on the earth. And you could still find that little twinkle of light to get you through. So do not give up.

Sarah: I love that hope and just a reminder that healing is possible for all of us. So thank you for your time, Justine. I appreciate you so much, and just being open to sharing your story today. So thank you.

Justine: I had so much fun, Sarah. Thank you so much for inviting me.

Thank you for tuning in today. You can learn more about Justine by clicking the links in the show notes. And part of what we discussed today was changing our habits. Right now in the Autoimmune Tribe Facebook group of hosting a 14-day Morning Mindset Makeover, where you can join our community and transform the way that you start your day. If this sounds like something that you are craving, desiring, needing in your life, I will pop a link in the show notes as well, for you to join us and follow along. See you next time.

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