Who are you?
I’m Bree Marie from livingbreely.com. I am a blogger, online course creator, mindset and success strategist and as of late, a podcast host.
I help women grow their mindset so they can live more fulfilled, mindful and purpose-driven lives.
I created my business because I wanted to cultivate a place where women could connect with each other and discuss how they are shifting their mindset, what goals they are crushing and how they are using things like meditation, mindfulness and self-care to redefine their relationship with stress!
What inspired you to get started?
I was dealing with an anxiety disorder that I didn’t want to confront. It eventually ‘hit the fan’ and I was forced to really look at my life, my environment and myself. I began going to Cognitive Behavioral therapy along with making lifestyle changes that were inducing healing. But I felt like I needed somewhere to document the things that I was doing to help with my anxiety. I also needed someway to funnel my creative energy and that is when I started livingbreely.com. This then unfolded into course creation, one-on-one coaching and a podcast.
What is your main goal?
My main goal is to help women understand that they aren’t alone in whatever they’re going through whether it be job transitions, anxiety, stress, starting a business, failed relationships etc. Through the power of the Internet, we are able to connect with women all around the world who might be dealing with some of the same difficulties that we are going through. And in that process of connection, we are able to grow our mindset toward living a resourceful and tenacious in leading lives that are fulfilling and purpose-driven.
What has been your greatest achievement to date?
I think everything that I’ve built from livingbreely.com. I started the blog and knew nothing about web design or blogging. I would spend my weekends teaching myself HTML and writing blog posts. From there I started online courses, one-on-one coaching, a Facebook community and recently, a podcast. No one in my life was an entrepreneur or blogger or doing any of the things that I wanted to do, so it was a huge mindset shift to have the courage to figure it out and make it all happen. I didn’t anticipate any of the growth but I’ve intentionally gone after the things that I wanted to do and made them happen.
As a female entrepreneur how do you find calm in the chaos?
It can definitely be a challenge sometimes. I have a morning and evening routine that help me establish stability in my life. They are both centered on my mental and physical health because without those two things, I’m not able to perform at the levels I need to. Also, having people around me that aren’t afraid to tell me ‘no’ when I want to take on too many things at once or I’m in the middle of a course launch. Ultimately, when I feel really grounded in myself and body – I find that things don’t feel so chaotic.
During the times when you feel overwhelmed or lacking in motivation, what helps you get back on track?
When I begin to feel overwhelmed or like I’m spiraling out – I take a walk. I get up from my desk or wherever I am and just take a quick lap around these beautiful trails I have behind my apartment. It’s the quickest way for me to interrupt those negative or overwhelming thoughts.
I don’t necessarily believe in motivation as a tool to fuel my work. Motivation comes and goes. It’s totally unreliable! If I only worked when I was motivated, well, I wouldn’t have gotten this far. I think what really drives me are the women I work with and the people I surround myself with.
Who or what inspires you?
My family. I honor them in my work ethic everyday. My dad’s family is immigrants from the Philippines who came to America with very little money, didn’t know how to drive, didn’t have high school diplomas and somehow managed to raise 3 kids. My grandfather was forced to flee and hide in the jungle when the Japanese invaded the Philippines during World War II. He knew that he could have a better life if he joined the United States Navy. I think being aware of my family’s history has given me the mentality of ‘I can start with nothing and still create something.’
What do you do to relax and unwind?
Meditation, journaling, having a good conversation with a friend or loved one, walking my dog, reading a book and getting off my phone.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t feel like you have to do what everyone else is doing to be worthy or deserving of their love. Always do what makes you happy – even if that doesn’t make sense to the people around you. People are always going to have an opinion/judgment of you but only YOUR opinion of yourself matters.
What is your life motto or positive affirmation?
“If you can’t find it – create it.”
When I was in the thick of my anxiety, I would spend hours on the internet looking for resources and ways to manage my anxiety. A lot of the information was outdated, wanted me to get on medication or just totally unrealistic. (Not that medication is wrong but as a personal choice, it wasn’t for me.) I felt like a lot of the advice or blog posts didn’t relate to me. So I decided to create something that did resonate with me.
And that’s been my anthem of my entire business – if I can’t find it, I just create it myself.
Have you ever had a disappointment or setback that ended up leading you to something wonderful?
My entire corporate career went up in flames after a few years. By the time I was 22, I had landed my first corporate job as a recruiter for a web marketing company. It was a tremendous amount of pressure and I was working with people twice my age that had way more experience than me so I constantly felt like I had to prove that I was worthy of sitting in that same boardroom. After that, I decided to work for a large financial institution where there was a ton of red tape as far the autonomy of my job responsibilities.
I remember sitting at my desk – unable to focus, feeling anxious, feeling totally paralyzed because I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. I hated working in a cubicle for 9 hours a day, the department meetings, the office politics and windowless break rooms – but everyone around me seemed fine with it so I thought it must be something I’m doing – something was wrong with me. I ended up getting really sick at work one day and I remember coming home and waking up on the bathroom floor and thinking to myself: “This is it?” “This can’t be it for me.”
And a few months later, I started my blog, livingbreely. I’m incredibly grateful for my time in corporate America because it taught me so much about myself, my work ethic and capabilities and it led me to where I’m at today.
What do you like to do with your free time?
I love new experiences – anything that really pushes me out of my comfort zone. But I also love: cooking, the beach, traveling, and a good book, hanging out with my dog Cleo.
Website:https://livingbreely.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingbreely/?hl=en
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/198048770805269/about/
Podcast: ‘Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life’ Available on iTunes and Spotify!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/change-your-mindset-change-your-life/id1425481942
“The Key for Me” will motivate and empower by supporting you to find the keys to set in motional goals and aspirations to help you make a better life for yourself.
I love reading your story. So many people are where you are and sharing your story helps us to not feel so alone and isolated and crazy. Thank you for being vulnerable and authentic!