We recently connected with Danielle Vann and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Danielle, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I teach women how to take risks in their lives every day, whether it is addressing their healing, getting their lives back on track, finding their purpose, repairing relationships, or simply leveling up their lives. However, I would not be able to teach it if I didn’t take my own leap of faith.
In 2016, my life was falling apart. First, I lost my father-in-law. Seven days later, my stepmom passed away. Both were massive influences in my life. Forty-five days later, I held my nine-year-old daughter in my arms as I ran through the Emergency Room doors screaming for help. She was gravely ill, in kidney failure, and was in need of immediate care. Truthfully, life before those moments was fueled by proving a point, showing people what I was capable of, and hitting many successful targets. However, if I look back, I realize I was not fully happy. I was living for all the wrong reasons. I was not giving the best of me. I was giving what I thought would make me celebrated and seen as successful. With those three upheavals smacking me in the face, I was suddenly required to take a deep look at my life.
When I did so, I realized I had to heal, not only from those moments but also from the past, and I had to change course. I was only living part of my purpose. So, I left everything I knew—the work I was doing, the friend groups, some of the relationships that were not working, and I bravely took a risk. I went back to school and began my journey of self-discovery. Talk about taking a risk! At one point, early in the journey, I said, “I am okay with losing whatever I must in order to find myself.”
From there, the work I do today, empowering women, teaching mindfulness, meditation, life tools, and cognitive behavioral therapy was launched. I went back to school. I dug my heels in and created what was not available to me when I went seeking different tools or understandings. We have the choices, and I chose me.
The risk I faced was two-fold, really: stay the same and continue to live a mundane life, or take action, get uncomfortable, and thrive.
If you aren’t sure which will provide the biggest reward, deep dive into the second option. Getting uncomfortable is the best thing anyone can give themselves permission to do. Because, when the discomfort leaves, the life we need and are purposeful in living arrives. This is where the magic of our lives truly unfolds.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
About me, gosh, I feel like I’ve lived a thousand lives sometimes. Well, I have always had a passion, scratch that, thirst for understanding people’s life stories and how those experiences are used as a benefit or detriment.
Now, as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Life Coach to women, Master-Level Advanced Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, 300-hour Meditation Instructor through the IMMA, HeartMath Trauma-Sensitive Certified Practitioner, MSBR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) instructor, Sound Healing Therapist, Reiki 2 Practitioner, Master-Level Emotional Intelligence Therapist, Emotional Freedom Tapping Practitioner, DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) therapist, Positive Psychology practitioner, and trained in Energy Healing Medicine, Subconscious release, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Neuroscience, PTSD and Anxiety, I have the tools to help people own those stories, while we created the blueprint for getting their life together while healing, creating self-love and inner peace.
This blueprint combines psychology, mind and spiritual healing, somatic, neuroscience, mindfulness, purpose work, and the development of emotional intelligence. It’s a total mind, body, and soul awakening through the principles of Eastern and Western beliefs and practices. My mission is to help women across the globe.
Some of my biggest wins have been watching women come back from the edge of suicide, watching women gain control of eating disorders, and hearing from thousands of women who listen to my podcast as they learn about their mindsets, behaviors, and how to change what isn’t working for them. There are beautiful testimonies on my website. I am always blown away by women as they take ownership of their lives!
Other personal wins have been I am a nineteen-time intentional award-winning author. Prior to working in mental health and healing, I spent years as a scriptwriter, reporter, and evening/morning news anchor and earned an Oklahoma Broadcast Education Associate award, an Associated Press Award, and an Emmy nomination.
I genuinely want women to have a safe place to meet themselves. So, I am always happy to help women find what works for them and what doesn’t! You can learn how to work with me on my website: www.getyourlifetogethergirl.com/sessions.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
5000%! I don’t live through regrets, but I do wish I had chosen this path early in my career. I am incredibly grateful for where I am, the work I do, the company I own, and how I have chosen to live my life. I encourage everyone to find and do whatever sets their soul on fire! If you do, there will be no regrets.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
One factor that will make anyone successful in any field is practicing being a beginner, even if you are an expert. What does that mean? It means never be so comfortable in what you know that you do not focus on growth. I have a standard for myself that I must engage in, outside what is mandatory for licensing, that I must enroll and complete at least two certifications/training per year. I find what I believe will best serve my audience and clients and commit to following through. I believe this keeps my mind fresh. I learn new ways to serve people and continually thrive in the beginner’s mindset. None of us will know it all, but we can always learn more! I encourage any business owner, in any field, to do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.getyourlifetogethergirl.com
- Instagram: @getyourlifetogethergirl
- Facebook: getyourlifetogethergirl
- Linkedin: Danielle A. Vann
- Twitter: @AuthorDanielleV
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@getyourlifetogethergirl
- Other: Podcast: Get Your Life Together, Girl Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HbXZQP2HNMfhv2gC3KExS?si=b7e4e228201f4459 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-your-life-together-girl/id1579877943 The podcast is on over 35 major platforms: Amazon Music, Samsung, Pandora, Audible, Google, iHeartRadio… I was also recently featured on the international documentary Road Trip Nation. You can watch it here: https://roadtripnation.com/roadtrip/dallas-houston-documentary TikTok @getyourlifetogethergirl Insight Timer: Danielle A. Vann
Image Credits
Last photo is a snapshot taken from the documentary: Road Trip Nation