We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Faith Broussard Cade a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Faith, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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.
On January 9, 2018, life came crashing into me out of nowhere and rocked me to my core. I was hit from behind in a motor vehicle accident on my way to work that morning, and I sustained a concussion, and a traumatic brain injury, conditions that continue to challenge me on a daily basis. Shortly after the accident, I began to struggle with migraines, sensitivity to light and sound, chronic physical pain, insomnia, sensory issues, and distractibility. I was unable to return to my career of school counseling that I had been in forover 10 years and forced to resign. I felt broken and lost, confused as to how I was going to continue my career as a helper, since that was how I had always defined myself. What was I going to do without the occupation that I felt gave me purpose in life?
For years, I struggled with chronic pain and headaches, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, 4-5 day stretches of chronic insomnia, and unshakeable anxiety. In the midst of all of the physical, mental, and emotional challenges I faced on a daily basis, I lost my job as a school counselor which caused an unimaginable financial strain on our little family. We were trying desperately to make ends meet from week to week, and we almost lost our home. The amount of stress we were under felt unfair and oftentimes, unbearable. I struggled to maintain a sense of normalcy for my family: to be the wife and mother I’d always been while also prioritizing my own recovery. My entire world had shifted in a split second and I felt like I couldn’t regain a sense of control, no matter how hard I tried.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve always been the “helper” friend. The one people can count on to hold space for them and their deepest, darkest secrets, feelings, and thoughts. I realized during undergrad that this was my gift and my purpose in life: to show up for others and walk beside them during their journey toward wholeness and healing. I began my career as a school counselor after completing my Masters degree in Human Development Counseling at Vanderbilt University. After my car accident in 2018, I shifted to providing virtual individual counseling and coaching from home and began sharing positive affirmations and mental health content on social media. I share content about mental health and my personal healing journey to inspire women to prioritize peace, boundaries, and emotional well-being in their lives and relationships. My goal is to challenge the toxic “hustle mindset” and culture of lack-of-boundaries for the modern woman so that they can live peaceful lives enriched with knowledge that individual healing leads to collective healing. Those who may not be able to afford the appropriate mental health care can get advice, support, compassion, and empathy from my content so they can feel capable of advocating for themselves, their truths, and what they need. I have written 2 guided journals. I’m also the author of a book of affirmations published by Harper Collins called “Shine Bright Anyway: 90 Affirmations That Declare You Are Enough When the World Says You’re Not, which will be released on September 3, 2024.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Authenticity and transparency. When you are open and honest with people, they feel they can trust you. As a mental health professional, that is at the forefront of what I do. I’m building rapport with my clients. It takes courage and resilience to share your personal life with a complete stranger. It’s my job to make them feel as comfortable as possible. To let them know that who they are is okay and more than enough.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely. I know that being a helper is my calling and purpose in life. It comes so naturally that I don’t see how I could do anything else. Being an entrepreneur is work; being a business owner is work. But helping others never feels like work for me. It’s apart of the fabric of who I am as a human being and it’s how I contribute to my community and the world. I’m beyond blessed to be able to do the work that I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fleurdelisspeaks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fleurdelisspeaks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fleurdelisspeaks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-cade-m-ed-7a5a0a39/
- Other: Landing page for my book:
https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate/shine-bright-anyway/#begin
Image Credits
Kelley Raye Photography