We were lucky to catch up with Marnie Dachis Marmet recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marnie, appreciate you 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.

From the time I was a little girl, I have felt a strong pull to write a book. A teacher once said to me, “if you write, you are a writer.” I was inspired by her and journaled for years, still continuing to do so today. My book, however, came years later.

And, I didn’t set out to write a memoir—I always thought I’d write a novel.

In 2018, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and during her treatments she didn’t hear many inspirational or uplifting messages. Instead, she was bombarded with so many stories that she felt overwhelmed by all of the negativity. Furthermore, my mom’s doctors weren’t encouraging her to make choices that were healthy for her body. I felt so frustrated by all this negativity, but it empowered me to want to create something uplifting for my mom.
I have always loved learning about people and their life stories, so I set out to interview thirty women cancer survivors, or “thrivers,” about their experiences during their cancer journeys. My plan was to compile these stories into a beautiful book with a health and wellness slant. After finishing the interviews and working on the book for a while, my mom went into remission, and my passion for the project dwindled a bit because I felt so burnt out from the topic of cancer. Looking back on the work that I started, I would love to find a way to honor the women and their wonderful stories in the future.

A few years later, I decided to enroll in a local writing course. I enjoyed the course and found myself writing personal stories based on the prompts given by the instructor. When the course ended, the instructor recommended I try a course through the CNF, Creative Nonfiction writing program. I signed up and I took the course with the same instructor four times over the span of a year. My memoir came pouring out of me, yet in my mind it was not something I would ever publish. We had weekly prompts and topics and daily word counts due. I loved the peer feedback, which helped me to dig deeply and explore a story more than I had initially planned. This kept me on track. I didn’t write early in the morning, or at the same time of day like many writers do. I wrote when I felt inspired. Sometimes, When I would reach a block, I would take long walks in the woods with my dog, Lila, and really tune into myself and eventually the words would come to me. I really needed the outdoors for my inspiration and still use that time daily.

I wrote this book initially for myself, as it was a cathartic experience, but as I delved further into the process, and received feedback from my instructor and peers, I was encouraged to take the process further and considered writing and publishing my memoir. This scared me. My classmates were from all around the world and they were interested in what I had to say, and I began to learn that this act of vulnerability in my storytelling has the ability to forge connections that transcend societal facades. I began to hope and realize that perhaps others would feel connected to my story and empowered to use their voices in their own lives. This motivated me to step into my fear and take the risk of moving forward with my memoir. By opening up about my struggles, triumphs, and moments of self-discovery, I hoped that others could reflect on their own lives; this shared vulnerability creates an authentic bond—a reminder that we’re all navigating life’s complexities together.

In the process of finding my authentic voice, I recognized that my journey is an opportunity to uplift and empower others, especially other women. I have been on this path to finding my voice for many years—and I’m not sure I even realized it along the way. By embracing my true self, I hope to set a precedent for authenticity that could inspire those around me. It’s also important to acknowledge that finding my authentic voice is not a destination, but a continuous path. Just as I change and grow, so does the expression of my authenticity.

I have found that putting myself into situations where I step into my fears helps. Each time I do something new, I feel a little more confident and a little less afraid the next time.

I co-host The Art of Living Well Podcast, and the first time I recorded an episode, I read from a script. I was so nervous, and now four years later, I have become so comfortable bantering with my co-host and guests.

I am fifty-one years old and I finally feel like I’m stepping into myself.

Through my journey of writing my memoir and finding my authentic voice, I’ve learned that true empowerment comes from embracing the uniqueness within. Authenticity is not about conforming to external ideals, but about celebrating the genuineness that resides at our core. By honoring our individuality, a reminder that our voices, when fully and truly embraced, can transform not only our lives but the lives of those around us.

Marnie, 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 grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was raised in a health-conscious home––we were all about fitness. My mom was a TV aerobics instructor in the 80s, and I attended many of her classes. I’ve always been an athlete; I was a gymnast, runner, skier, and dancer throughout my school years. In my early years, I looked like the picture of health. Exercise and sports? Absolutely. But healthy food and mindset? Not so much. I knew certain foods didn’t agree with me, but I didn’t have a good handle on healthy eating.

I graduated from UW Madison with a BA in Journalism and landed a tempting, high-paying corporate job right out of school. I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me. I needed a career that nurtured my independence, creative thinking, and bubbly optimism, and I sure didn’t find that in the corporate world. I was starting to listen to my gut feeling, although I didn’t know that’s what it was at the time, and it was telling me to carve out my path.

Eventually, after a few different jobs and a couple of self-started businesses, I set up (and still run) my own company, ChillyBean Promotions. I have spent the last 20 years as an entrepreneur. It’s been a rewarding and satisfying business in many ways, but something felt wrong. I thought I was living my purpose, but was there a nagging voice whispering that I needed meaningful change? With some honest self-inquiry, I confronted some hard truths. I was in good physical shape, but I’d neglected a massive part of my well-being, the part that is harder to see and more difficult to heal. I figured out the “body” part, but what about my racing mind? What about my spirit?

For years now, I’ve had a passion for wellness and holistic health and I immersed myself in books, articles, and self-education, but it hadn’t occurred to me yet that I could turn this passion into a career. During this self-inquiry period, where I felt deeply dissatisfied, I began to focus on my health, and my path slowly opened up. Wisdom crept in, and I had my awakening. I realized it is not enough to have an active lifestyle. Although yoga had been a big part of my life for over two decades, I missed its central message – the physical, emotional, and spiritual interconnectedness. I began to address my health as a whole. My mindset shifted. I changed my nourishment, movement, self-care routines, and how I spoke to my teens. I established positive self-talk, a gratitude practice, and a morning routine, slowly weeding out negative, toxic energy and people from my life. I became an outlier by living my truth.

As I plunged deeper into my health and wellness, my inner voice told me there was no stopping me. I stepped into my many fears and continued to put myself into uncomfortable situations. I enrolled in three simultaneous educational programs in one year and rearranged my whole world around wellness. I now live, breathe, and teach integrative wellness. I get to inhabit my passion––if you’ve ever followed your heart, you’ll know how satisfying that feels. I also started a co-hosted podcast (The Art of Living Well Podcast). The weekly guests I meet are such a gift, and I walk away with profound nuggets to incorporate into my life.

My loving husband and three young adult children are also making small and steady changes. Our home is much happier because I live my purpose and feel satisfied. I wake up every day excited and invigorated. My journey has been over many years. I have learned so much about nurturing my inner self and not being so focused on my exterior. I have made small, consistent changes over time. Feeling in my body and being present and mindful have been wonderful gifts.
Zen means “calm and restful.” It’s the serenity and confidence you achieve when you let go of what’s holding you back so that you can create a brand-new reality. My health journey and diving into my intuition and inner knowing have guided me to where I am today, and I feel so grateful. So many of us are searching for answers; what I discovered is that all of my answers lie within me, and the secret is figuring out how to unlock yourself so you can inhabit your mind, body, and spirit to live a healthy, present, long, and engaging life.

Today, I am an entrepreneur, certified holistic health coach and integrative health practitioner, yoga and meditation teacher, podcaster, and author. Every one of us possesses the ability to unleash our unique song into the world, and I seek to motivate others to discover their passions and live a life of authenticity. Beginning in 2015, I pursued my passions in health and wellness, culminating in my completing multiple certifications, including an Integrative Health Practitioner certification (Levels 1 and 2), a Holistic Health Coach certification, a 230-hour yoga and Yoga Calm® teacher certifications, and training on gut health and mindfulness/meditation. Along with managing ChillyBean Promotions—a promotional products company I have owned and operated for over 20 years—I currently run a health coaching practice, Zenful Life Coaching. I enjoy coaching busy women and teens on implementing personalized plans that embed gradual, sustainable, healthy nutrition and lifestyle changes to create a happier and healthier life and women in their midlife seeking longevity for optimal aging. I meet you wherever you are and truly care about your success – whatever that means to you.

Additionally, I co-created and co-hosted a weekly podcast, The Art of Living Well Podcast, established to empower people to challenge the status quo and live their healthiest and most authentic lives. I am incredibly proud of my podcast and feel inspired daily to work on my show. In my free time, I enjoy an active lifestyle: yoga, running, biking, hiking, skiing, water sports, travel, reading, photography, and spending time with family, friends, and my labradoodle Lila.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Besides being incredibly driven to succeed, I am hyper organized and block my time out so I can maintain balance in my life. This is something I work on a lot with my clients. Figuring out what is important to you and then cultivating your days and weeks around your desired goals.

I start by asking myself the larger questions in order to lead the life that I want to. I identify what matters most to me in different areas of my life, such as: work, relationships, health, and personal growth. I then clarify my values and goals to guide my decisions and actions. I need to have a clear picture of what a balanced life looks like to me. This will be different for everyone. I also do this with my family in early January, and we share our goals with one another. I look at my vision board regularly.

I break down my long-term goals into manageable steps and create action plans to achieve them. I celebrate my progress along the way and adjust my goals as needed to stay aligned with my priorities.

I have learned to say no to commitments that drain my energy or detract from my priorities. I set boundaries to protect my time, relationships, and personal space.

I also make self-care a priority by nurturing my physical, mental, and emotional health. I aim to get enough sleep, eat nourishing foods, exercise regularly, and engage in activities that bring me joy and relaxation.

I have developed healthy coping strategies to manage stress and prevent burnout. I practice mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing exercises, journaling, and spending time in nature to unwind. I have worked very hard over many years to cultivate these practices.

Finding harmony between my professional and personal life is key for me. I set limits on my work hours, designate time for leisure activities, and prioritize spending quality time with my loved ones.
I also surround myself with supportive and uplifting people who encourage my growth and well-being.

Finally, by cultivating an attitude of gratitude I focus on the positive aspects of my life. I try to regularly reflect on the things I’m thankful for, learn from the things that didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, and express appreciation to myself and others.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I recently published my memoir, My Song, Unleashed, which chronicles the lessons I’ve learned and unlearned on my journey to finding my voice and stepping into my authentic self.

One significant lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that my thoughts and feelings were unimportant and that no one cared about what I had to say. During my Yoga Teacher Training, we discussed the negative, nagging voice in our heads. I named mine Flick. Every time Flick tries to undermine me with negativity, I metaphorically flick her off my shoulder. The more I dismiss her, the less she intrudes into my life.

Training my brain to be present and find joy in the moment, rather than dwelling on the past or future, has been crucial in silencing those negative voices. I delve deeper into this process in my book, emphasizing that life is a journey with no final destination.

Struggling to find your voice is a common challenge. My advice is to embrace what scares you. Our time on this planet is finite, so seize the moment and just do it. Stay true to yourself. Take time daily to tune into your needs, avoid people who drain your energy, and surround yourself with those who uplift you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zenfullifecoaching.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenfullifecoaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenfullifecoaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marniemarmet/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGrJIdAwx2squX-1DNjE3lg. @theartoflivingwellpodcast
• Other: https://www.theartoflivingwell.us/recent-episodes
  https://www.chillybean.com/