We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amanda. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amanda below.

Alright, Amanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

It wasn’t when I won a title or landed a big opportunity. It was the day I couldn’t get out of bed. I had spent years climbing the corporate ladder, working in finance and real estate—externally successful but internally breaking down. What no one saw was that I was silently battling PTSD, the ripple effects of years of trauma, and a growing sense that I was living a life that didn’t reflect who I truly was.

That morning, lying in bed, completely depleted, felt like a collapse—but it became my turning point.

Instead of pushing it down, I listened. I left the industry I thought would define me. I gave myself permission to heal. I enrolled in meditation teacher training—not because I wanted to teach at first, but because I needed it for myself.

From that space of healing, clarity, and quiet strength, a new path emerged. Today, I guide others through that same transformation—from surviving to self-leadership, from silence to visibility. That moment taught me that collapse isn’t failure—it’s the body and soul asking for alignment.

The wisdom I carry from that day is this: listen to the breakdown. It often carries the blueprint for your breakthrough.

Amanda , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Amanda Paulina—meditation mentor, trauma-informed facilitator, and public speaker sharing my lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse. My journey into this work wasn’t traditional. I spent years in corporate America, building a successful career in finance and real estate, while quietly carrying the weight of unresolved trauma, anxiety, and burnout.

Eventually, the pressure became too much. I reached a breaking point where I couldn’t get out of bed. My body and spirit were asking for something different—something more honest and healing. I stepped away from my career and made the decision to prioritize my well-being.

That choice changed everything.

I immersed myself in the study of trauma-informed meditation, somatic healing, and nervous system regulation. I didn’t set out to become a teacher—I simply needed these tools to live. Over time, those practices became the foundation for my personal transformation and my life’s work.

Today, through Amanda Paulina Meditation, I support others who are navigating their own healing and self-discovery. My offerings include:
• The 6-Week Transformation Program, a non-residential, daily-guided experience that combines meditation, mindfulness, spiritual practices, and structure to support emotional healing and nervous system balance.
• Public speaking engagements, where I use my voice to break the silence around childhood trauma, inspire resilience, and share tools for healing and personal growth.
• Private and group mentorship, for those ready to reconnect with their inner clarity, regulate their nervous systems, and move forward with grounded intention.

What sets my work apart is that it’s built on lived experience—not just credentials. I don’t guide from a stage—I walk alongside others. I know what it means to struggle, and I know the strength it takes to rise. I bring that empathy, structure, and depth to every service I offer.

What I’m most proud of is that I didn’t let my pain define me—I transformed it into purpose.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and my work, it’s this: healing is possible—and you never have to do it alone.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

“The 5 AM Club” by Robin Sharma taught me the power of structured mornings and intentional discipline. Waking up early and starting the day with silence, movement, and reflection has become a cornerstone of my personal leadership. It’s not just a productivity hack—it’s a spiritual practice that keeps me grounded and in integrity with my purpose.

“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz gave me a simple yet transformative framework for how I show up in the world and in my business. “Don’t take anything personally” and “Always do your best” are mantras I return to often—especially when navigating challenges, setting boundaries, or leading others through their healing.

“The Body Keeps the Score” by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk was pivotal in helping me understand the somatic impact of trauma. As a survivor and trauma-informed facilitator, this book validated what I had experienced in my own body—and shaped the way I structure my programs, always with nervous system safety and regulation at the forefront.

Together, these resources remind me that sustainable leadership starts with self-awareness. That healing and high performance are not separate—but deeply intertwined. I’ve built my business, Amanda Paulina Meditation, around these principles: structure, integrity, compassion, and embodiment.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that my worth is tied to my productivity.

I spent years hustling—working 10-hour days in commercial real estate finance, chasing goals, saying yes to everything, and wearing burnout like a badge of honor. I thought if I could just do more, earn more, be more visible, then I’d finally feel safe, successful, and enough.

The backstory? It goes deeper than career—it’s trauma. As a survivor of childhood abuse, I learned early that being busy or high-achieving made me feel valuable and in control. Rest felt unsafe. Slowing down felt like failure. I wasn’t just addicted to work—I was using it to avoid being with myself.

Eventually, that constant hustle led me to a full-body shutdown. I couldn’t fake it anymore. I hit a wall emotionally, physically, and spiritually. That’s when I began the slow, sacred process of unlearning. I began redefining what it means to be “successful.”

I learned to honor rest, trust my intuition, and work with my nervous system—not against it. I stopped striving to prove and started creating a life I no longer needed to escape from.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.amandapaulinameditation.com
• Instagram: @amandapaulinameditation
• Facebook: Amanda Paulina Meditation
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/amanda-shisler
• Youtube: @amandapaulinameditation