We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Liliana Andreia Gonçalves a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Liliana Andreia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?
Let me share a significant lesson I learned from my previous corporate job. It was at a fast-growing company that everyone wanted to be part of. After applying to over five roles and waiting six months, I finally got an interview call. I was ecstatic – I had manifested it, and it came true!
However, reality soon hit differently. Being the only person without a college degree, I felt like an outcast. Our team of four was each handling the workload of five people. I felt overloaded, underpaid, and isolated. The work environment was tense – our computers were monitored constantly.
Things became more challenging when I discovered I was pregnant just as my contract was nearing its end. I pushed myself incredibly hard to prove my worth and secure a permanent position, which I did. However, after returning from maternity leave, the situation worsened. I was made to feel incompetent, and nothing I did seemed good enough.
That’s when I had my awakening moment. I realized that in all my previous jobs, I had excelled and was appreciated. Why was I letting this environment diminish my self-worth? Unfortunately, the damage was done. I developed postpartum depression combined with burnout, which evolved into deep depression. Losing my father that same year was another devastating blow.
The turning point came when I realized how short life is and saw how my struggles were affecting my relationship with my baby. I decided: no more! I began job hunting with a new mindset – knowing I was good enough and that my family’s well-being mattered more than any job title or status.
Within six months, my manifestation came true again – I received a job offer that doubled my salary, allowed me to work from home, and most importantly, offered something my previous company didn’t: respect, value, and understanding. Despite people calling me crazy for leaving a permanent position for a freelance contract, especially with a baby and mortgage, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
The most important lesson? Know your worth and don’t let any job compromise your well-being or family life. Sometimes the ‘risky’ choice is actually the right one when it aligns with your values and needs.
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?
Hello! I’m Andrea, though some know me as Liliana Andreia (Lii to my friends). I’ve chosen to work under ‘Andrea’ – partly for professional reasons, but also because it represents an empowered version of myself that emerged during my personal growth journey.
My path into coaching began unexpectedly. While navigating through depression and weekly therapy sessions, I discovered the holistic wellness world through Inner Bloom Academy. This discovery opened my eyes to how traditional therapy and holistic approaches could work together powerfully. Initially, I started in the online business space working with MRR and PLR products, but something felt misaligned. When I found the holistic approach, everything changed.
Over seven months of running Empower Your Aura, I’ve evolved significantly. Each shift felt natural, guided by intuition, leading me to my true calling: helping others transform their mindset and achieve their goals, just as I did. I’ve experienced firsthand the incredible power of our minds, and I’m passionate about sharing this knowledge.
Currently, I’m expanding my services in three exciting directions:
• One-on-one coaching sessions focusing on Mindset & Self-Concept
• A membership community
• My signature 6-week program
I’m also deeply committed to expanding my expertise. I’m currently working toward my certification as an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) practitioner. Following this, I plan to become certified in both EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) tapping and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). These additional certifications will allow me to offer even more comprehensive support to my clients.
My signature program is particularly special to me. It’s designed to help people break free from societal constraints and limiting beliefs. Having been called the ‘black sheep’ and ‘outcast’ myself, I understand the challenge of not fitting into society’s mold. I’ve always approached life differently – preferring deep conversations over small talk, questioning societal norms, and exploring how the universe works.
What sets my coaching approach apart:
• Personalized attention through detailed discovery/intake forms
• Post-session follow-up with actionable resources
• Interactive and engaging program design to ensure high success rates
• Focus on breaking free from limiting societal beliefs
I help clients challenge thoughts like ‘I could never have that job/house/car/life.’ These limiting beliefs are just that – limits we place on ourselves. My program helps clients overcome these barriers and realize their full potential.
Through my Instagram account and email list, I share insights, tips, and resources for living more consciously. My core philosophy is that once we align our body and mind, transformation becomes possible. Every service I offer stems from this belief and my own journey of growth.
What truly excites me is helping others recognize their worth and potential, just as I learned to do. Whether it’s through one-on-one coaching, my signature program, or my online community, my goal is to empower others to create their own definitions of success and happiness, free from societal expectations.
I’m proud of creating a space where authenticity is celebrated and personal growth is approached holistically. If you’re ready to challenge limiting beliefs and transform your mindset, I’d love to be part of your journey.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Yes! I’m currently immersed in ‘The Power of Habit’ by Charles Duhigg, and it’s been transformative for my understanding of personal and business success. The book brilliantly breaks down how habits shape our lives and businesses. What fascinates me most is how it explains the ‘habit loop’ – the cue, routine, and reward system that drives our behaviors. Understanding this has been eye-opening for both my personal growth and how I will use this approach helping my clients create lasting change. The book’s real-world examples of how companies and individuals have transformed their outcomes by understanding and reshaping habits are not just inspiring but practically applicable.
I’m particularly excited about my upcoming reading list. ‘The Body Keeps the Score’ by Bessel van der Kolk is next, which aligns perfectly with my holistic approach to mindset work, as it explores the connection between physical and emotional well-being. I’m also looking forward to reading ‘The 48 Laws of Power’ by Robert Greene, which I believe will provide valuable insights into understanding human nature and leadership dynamics.
These books reflect my commitment to continuous learning and my belief in combining scientific understanding with practical application in my coaching practice.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the most profound lessons I had to unlearn was that suffering in silence and suppressing emotions equals strength. This belief was deeply ingrained in me from my childhood, growing up in what felt like a military-style household with harsh, verbally and psychologically aggressive education.
From a young age, I learned to manage everything on my own. Affection and attention from my parents were scarce, and nothing was ever good enough – even scoring highest on an exam would be met with ‘that’s not enough, I want more’ from my mother. This environment taught me to close myself off emotionally, never cry, and handle everything alone.
These learned behaviors manifested severely in my adult life, particularly during my corporate career. I developed severe anxiety and panic attacks, with my body constantly in fight-or-flight mode. I vividly remember one of my worst panic attacks – I was alone, driving on the highway during my two-hour commute to work. Thankfully, I had previously researched how to handle such situations, so I immediately called my husband and asked him to distract me with calm, pleasant conversation. That day, I managed to apply what I’d learned about managing panic attacks effectively.
Everything changed when I had my daughter. The perspective of being a mother made me realize that what I experienced growing up wasn’t normal or healthy. I knew deep in my heart that I didn’t want her to inherit the same insecurities and health issues I developed. This realization became my catalyst for change.
The unlearning process hasn’t been easy, and I still face challenges sometimes. However, the difference now is that I have tools and awareness I didn’t have before. I’ve learned to:
• Listen to my body’s signals before a crisis develops
• Engage in positive self-talk
• Practice self-love and compassion
• Validate my emotions instead of suppressing them
• Most importantly, respect myself and my body
This journey of unlearning has transformed not only how I parent but also how I approach life and my own well-being. It’s shown me that true strength lies not in suppressing emotions but in acknowledging, understanding, and working through them. While anxiety still visits occasionally, I now have the tools to manage it effectively, and I’m committed to breaking this generational cycle for my daughter’s sake.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://empoweryouraura.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empower.your.aura/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmpoweringYourAura
