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

Alright, Bonnie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

Corporate America is heavily focused on following an “in the box” mindset and the bottom line/making money first. I previously worked in Corporate America at a bank for almost 20 years. I was there long enough to see and feel the standard behaviors and tendencies. I can appreciate that rules must be made to help avoid chaos, increase productivity and create a sense of discipline in a high-pressure environment. One of the downsides of this rigid belief system and “in the box” thinking is that employees are being treated more like robots than humans. I agree that focus needs to be made on making a profit when you are running a business, in order to keep it viable and sustainable. However, leaning too far into restrictive thinking that doesn’t consider human circumstances doesn’t serve any of us. When us humans are made to feel like our feelings don’t matter, our choices are limited and our uniqueness is being stifled at every turn, it results in negative experiences. It creates the exact kinds of problems that currently exist in our society related to Depression, Suicide, Mental Illness and Disease. Money should not be more important than taking care of people, period.

I happily left Corporate America many years ago as a result of this mindset/culture and find that work of service from the heart fits me perfectly. I can now make decisions putting my clients first, instead of putting the bottom line first. That being said, I know I need to make money to sustain my business. I simply make sure that my clients’ needs come first, so that they always feel appreciated for who they are. One of my big “buttons” is authenticity. I am not a fan of things that create a sense of shame/judgement for someone being who they are. We all deserve to be ourselves, and if employers/Corporate America could learn the importance of this factor and have a more open and accepting mindset, they’d surely retain happier employees and higher productivity as a result!

I’m grateful I now have the privilege of creating healthy environments for my clients to thrive while being their authentic selves, instead of being negatively judged in Corporate America.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started my business to help break the negative chains running rampant in our culture. The vicious cycles of disease, anxiety, fear and misery do not serve humanity. I strive to be better and help my clients do the same. I help empower people to transform from overwhelm to peace. My business is all about stress management. Under the stress management umbrella life is ever changing, I offer various services to ensure I meet people where they are. My services list grows regularly to adapt to the needs of my clients. I regularly receive additional certifications and training, so that I can be most helpful to those who need it. Everyone’s needs are different, but common modalities I practice include Reiki Energetic Healing, Sound & Crystal Healing, Life/Soul Coaching, Tapping/EFT, and Meditation. I also teach classes to empower others to their own unique greatness.

I want people to feel confident in their own skills and ability to handle situations as they arise. I’ve learned for myself that the answers we often seek for happiness are found within, instead of searching outside of ourselves. Sometimes we just need a nudge in the right direction to see positive changes in our lives. I hope to be a drop in the ocean to create a catalyst of change for others to live more peacefully and find more joyful days.

I am most proud of my staying power and my clients’ progress! In my industry, it’s difficult to land new clients due to the vulnerability factor. Many people are so used to burying their emotions, they’re afraid to expose them because culture has judged them for so long. Their fears drive them away from anything that brings the truth forward. This has made it very difficult for people to take the first step and ask for help. Consistently bringing in new clients is very much affected by this fearful thinking. However, once my clients take the courageous first step in their healing journey, they’re glad they did! My repeat client rate is 100% as they see the value of my service, making a positive change in their lives. I’m honored by this, and even though the new client consistency has been challenging, existing client progress makes it all worth it. Slow and steady, I continue to push through and am grateful to still have the opportunity to serve others even when challenged daily.

My clients are taught to do the work, not expect a quick fix. A quick fix doesn’t resolve the roots of our problems, so it’s essential for the “YOU work” to be completed consistently. This is my version of homework, and is absolutely necessary to put past pains behind you. Afterall, YOU are worth it! 

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The hard lesson I’ve had to learn is that although I’m an excellent support system for others, it is NOT my job to FIX anyone! I was raised to think it was my job to help everyone, and the culture I grew up in made me feel like I was supposed to fix people when they came to me “broken.” I held guilt for many years when I discovered I couldn’t fix them and would then beat myself up, as if it was my fault and I failed them. I’ve thankfully learned since, that it’s only my job to fix myself. Creating the best version of myself and handling my own difficulties creates more open space for me to purely support others. The “I need to fix it” mentality has harmed more people than I can count, and I continually strive to erase this limiting belief, so that I can be a light for myself and others to follow.

I’ve always been considered the “glue of my family.” As such, I took pride in providing love to all and doing my best to help. It started off as a “fix it” mentality, but I have happily transitioned into the reality of supporting. I remind myself daily when I feel the pressure of doing more to help, that my efforts are enough, and each person has their own responsibility to fix their lives the way they choose. Since I finally got the message, I’m no longer the glue of my family. Instead, I’m supportive and helpful along their paths, because I do the work to keep myself in a healthy state so I can be there for others.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I started my business years ago, I attempted to get a business loan to launch. Unfortunately, our banking systems are highly focused on the bottom line, so they are often unwilling to take a chance on a new business owner. I was told in order to get a business loan, I’d have to show steady income of $100,000 per year for at least 2 years. Well, that obviously defeats the purpose of needing a loan to begin with right?! IF I had that level of income, I wouldn’t need the loan right?! It made me giggle and irritated at the same time! Sooooo, I decided I’d just do it on my own and have done so since that time. I’ve fully funded my business with mine and my husband’s financial support. I have no shame when it comes to being thrifty and finding creative ways to sustain when the tougher times arrive. I am able to see positive differences in my income each year. Although I have a distance to travel before I’ve met my profit point, I’m fulfilled in knowing I did it myself, even when the system would not support me when I needed it. Resilience is key and I fully believe in what I do!

Contact Info:

• Website: letyoursoulbreathe.com
• Instagram: letyoursoulbreathe1111
• Facebook: @letyoursoulbreathe1111
• Linkedin: Bonnie Rigsby
• Youtube: @letyoursoulbreathellc