We were lucky to catch up with Tralisa Colby recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tralisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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.
In 2018 I took the biggest risk of my life which was quitting my government job in public relations with the FDA to pursue my career in Holistic Health & Wellness, and in all honesty, it was one of the hardest experiences I have ever endured, but hands down the best decision I have ever made.
Shortly after acquiring a position at the FDA, I started to have what one would call a spiritual awakening. Although I seemingly had everything, the education, the career, all the essentials of adulthood, once the celebratory period died down, I began to feel unhappy. My new and shiny career was not fulfilling like I thought it would be, my social life became extremely uninteresting, and generally I just started to feel disconnected, empty, and aloof. And as the days went on it seemed to get worse and worse, to the point where I was crying every morning before I had to go into the office. After a month or two of this I had had enough, I realized this is not ok and I was not ok. If there was one thing I did know, I knew that life WAS NOT supposed to FEEL that way. I was not supposed to feel miserable. I was supposed to feel happy. But why wasn’t I? Is what I wondered. I accomplished all the goals I was “supposed to accomplish” by societies standards, I had made my parents proud.
Why do I feel so empty? And then it clicked. That was EXACTLY the problem.
I had been so busy chasing other people’s goals, living for society and living out my family’s dreams they had for me, that I had no clue what Tralisa’s dreams were. I had no clue what made Tralisa truly happy. To be honest, I didn’t even know who Tralisa truly was.
But when that goal chasing was over…… All I had was myself to pay attention to, and I gathered that I , Tralisa, was just not happy internally…. Nor had I ever been, indeed, I was one sad human being…… since as far back as I could remember.
But again… why?? I was determined to find the answer.
After months of inner work…… I came to the bittersweet realization that I had not been living true to my authentic self. I had not been living in alignment with who I was, because I didn’t know who I was, or who I was destined to be. Purpose was missing and I wanted to go searching; and that is what I did.
So, when I acquired all my needed credentials and had a few coins saved up in the bank, I decided to take the risk and leave the corporate world for a while to explore my destined career path. I knew it was in healing and wellness, and centered around mental, emotional health and spirituality but I just did not know how to pull it all together.
I didn’t have a set plan, or any opportunities lined up. I just followed my heart….. and it took me on one hell of a journey. There were extreme highs and even more extreme lows, but I would not do anything different because my steps were divinely ordered; and every experience good AND bad led me to an opportunity or gave me the experience needed to be exactly where I am today, and who I am today.
Today I have a steady and growing small business, The Odyssey Holistic Health & Wellness. I provide individual services and partner with larger organizations to provide holistic health and wellness services, workshops, trainings and events. I was also referred and offered a position at a University as a Senior Health Program Specialist. Where I would work on creating research-based health, wellness and programs to improve the quality-of-life outcomes and reduce health disparities, focusing on mental health and maternal health, in black and brown communities in West Baltimore and surrounding areas, which I happily accepted. And most importantly I am well mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. I am happy and I am at peace because I have found healing and I have found purpose.
So, the risk I took was very challenging, yet very rewarding at the same time. And again I wouldn’t change a thing, because bringing my business into fruition and still being blessed with new opportunities, was a result of me making a decision, following through with it, and never giving up. We all have a destiny, a purpose and a reason why we were born. And I truly believe once you find that reason and lean into your divinity and your connection with God, however you define God, you will be guided to your destined path of self-realization which only bring SUCCESS! Joy, peace, and abundance in all forms.
From five years back to now I truly see how all my experiences led and prepared me for where I am today and where I will be in the next 5-10 years because I am honestly just getting started.
I will close by saying follow your heart, NEVER give up, chase after your dreams until the soles of your shoes have holes in them, because there is no such thing as failure just quitting!!! And last TRUSTTTTTT THE PROCESSS! Have UNWAVERING FAITH! It will get dark, it will get confusing, it will be scary, but you have to Believe In God, and Believe In Yourself! You got this!
Tralisa, 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?
My name is Tralisa Colby, known as Oriyomi Oshundare in the spiritual community. I am a scholar, spiritual healer and teacher, as well as trained and initiated Reiki MasterTeacher…some people like call me a Magician. :-)
I created The Odyssey Holistic Health & Wellness in the midst of my own spiritual awakening, and journey of self-discovery and healing. I had so much personal success I wanted to share my methods, ideologies and philosophies with others who may be on a healing or awakening journey as well.
The Odyssey Holistic Health & Wellness was created to facilitate healing on all levels through ancient African and Indigenous spiritual and ancestral modalities.
These modalities include but are not limited to:
• Reiki/Energy Work,
• Reiki Training/Initiation,
• Chakra Balancing,
• Ancestral Veneration,
• Intuitive Therapy/Empathic Listening,
• Divination Services (Tarot, Oracle Cards, Obi, Bones/Shells),
• Meditation,
• Sound Baths,
• Past Life Regression,
• Group Healing Rituals
• Classes and workshops
I help people who are dealing with mental, emotional, and spiritual imbalance. Namely those who are experiencing a spiritual awakening and or suffering from grief, loss, and or narcissistic abuse (you will find that the two-spiritual awakening/emotional imbalances often go hand in hand).
What sets me apart from others in this field is my ability to connect with various people from all different types of backgrounds, education levels, and socioeconomical statuses. I connect with an individual’s spirit not so much their outward vessel or representative. And everyone’s souls speaks the same language, a language that I am very fluent in and that is the language of energy. I can see and hone into an individual’s highest spiritual potential and lead them on a path of inner transformation to reach it through the practical application of ancient healing modalities and thought philosophies.
Not only do I have scholarly expertise and training regarding physical/mental/emotional/and spiritual health, (Bachelor of Science in Behavioral and Community Health, Master of Public Health, DBT and CBT certified, Mental Health Educator and Advocate) but I also have personal experience with the things that I help others with. Grief, loss, soul loss, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, suicidal ideation…have all been no strangers to me in the past, and I believe that is what creates an effective healer one who has overcome. One who has the ability to not only sympathize but also empathize and understand what their clients have experienced and guide them on a path of healing, while encouraging, uplifting, and holding space.
I want my clients to know that life is spiritual, and success, joy, happiness, peace and abundance is their birthright. We were not created to live a life of no emotional fulfillment and hardship. We have the power and the authority to create the changes in life that we want to see. However, it is usually our own limited perceptions and scarcity mindsets that are holding us back. And by returning to ourselves and connecting to the divinity that lives inside of us and resides outside of us, like magick, we can harness that power to create the change we need in our lives to bring about the outcomes we desire.
Believe in Your Magick is motto of The Odyssey Holistic Health & Wellness. And what I mean by Believe in Your Magick is Believe in You. Believing in your ability to create positive change and bring forth positive outcomes in your by life co creating with the divine forces within you and surrounding you. Believing in your magick is believing in yourself, and your own personal power.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
During my mentioned journey of spiritual awakening, and self-discovery I found myself in a relationship with a malignant narcissist. I thought this person was the love of my life, we were so alike but so different in so many ways. We complimented each other very well and he appeared in my life at what seemed like the perfect timing, and I truly believed that we were tailor made for each other. We even shared the same birthday 7.9.1991. To make an extremely long story short in 2017 we moved in together and in 2018 we found out we were expecting, and it was not too long after that when I realized the person who I decided to trust and fall in love with did not exist.
My partner became extremely rigid, very cold as well as mentally and emotionally and even occasionally physically abusive. And the ironic thing is…. because of my upbringing…. I did not even realize I was being abused. I did not see myself as a victim, and still today I sometimes wonder if it was all a bad dream. But back then, one thing I did know is that what I was in was not healthy and I wanted out before our baby came. So I started to prepare an exit plan, but unbeknownst to me, while I was preparing my exit plan my child’s father had a plan of his own. 5 months after our daughter was born he kidnapped her, and I had no physical contact with her for 101 days. It was March 6, 2020 and COVID had just shut down the nation. The courts were closed, the police were not doing wellness checks, there was literally nothing I could do… but sit in isolation…. reach out to who I could for help in the meantime and wait.
It was in that period of spiritual isolation and bondage that I first seen the face of death. One night the pain of everything just hit me… the relationship its progression from sunlight to complete darkness… the absence of my newborn and first-born daughter, the lack of physical support from my family and so called friends… some of who resided in the same state as me. Life just didn’t seem like it was worth living and I was tired of being a soldier on the battlefield and I had made my plans to lay my soul to rest in the most peaceful way possible. I remember I started texting a few friends I loved that I loved them, and appreciated them for everything with what I would thought would be the last tears I cried streaming down my face but I ended up falling asleep.
God had another plan….. when I woke up my phone was still in my hand and it was lit like I had just received a message. It was around 3-4 o clock in the morning and my Grandpas wife who I consider my Grandma had just sent me a text saying that for some reason I was on her spirit really strongly. I just remember her sending words of love protection and encouragement and telling me not to give up. She had no idea about my plans that night. After I took in her messages I immediately got up and drained the tub of the water I had filled it with……..and looked at my silhouette in the water. As the water was going down the drain…. I allowed the spirit of defeat and hopeless to go down the drain with it…. and DECIDED I am not going to lose this battle and I am definitely NOT going to lose this war.
And I did just that. By the grace of GOD, not too much longer after that night, the Chief Judge of Baltimore County heard about my case, I give thanks to my father, and she accepted it despite the family courts still being closed, and I was given a hearing date of June 15, 2020 where I was awarded full custody of my daughter and she was returned to me the very next day.
Present day me and my daughter are together and happier than ever and I am advocate for Narcissistic Abuse Awareness. As a part of my small business and in my own personal time I help many women navigate and heal from their relationships with toxic or narcissistic partners and or family members.
What I have learned from this experience is never give up, never lose hope, believe and have faith, and God always has a plan and a purpose for your pain.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
“In Rome Do as the Romans Do” is probably the most terrible advice or lesson I learned growing up. Instead, it should read “In Rome Do as You Would Normally Do.”
I have found that on the path to success, and even just in life… it is impossible get to where you are destined to go if you are too busy trying to be like everyone else.
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT! DARE TO BE YOU!
I say dare because it is not at all easy and it takes a lot of strength as well as courage to be yourself, authentically, in a society that encourages people to be the very opposite.
Many of my family members and peers have always tried to influence me to conform in one way or another. And what I mean by conform is to behave like them, or in a certain way, in order to be liked, accepted or shown love; and that expressing your own individuality or difference of opinions and or different beliefs was a bad thing.
However, in my spiritual, personal, and career journey I am realizing this is 100% bullshit. Excuse my French. 😊
It is your bravery, your boldness, and your willingness to rock the boat and challenge societal standards and follow your heart, that makes you a leader, influencer, and an inspiration to others!
I have spent much of my life up until my late 20s dimming my light and not speaking my personal truths, because I was too afraid to let my light shine. I felt I would be judged, or even worse rejected and not accepted and therefore unloved. And it is just now in my 30’s that I am realizing that rejection, not being accepted and feeling unloved actually stem from not being your authentic self. Because you’re attracting people who are being drawn to who your pretending to be. Not who you really are. When I became brave enough to be myself , which is still a work in progress there is never a time where you are not learning about yourself, that Is when I started finding success, recognition, fulfillment and attracting the loving and fulfilling relationships that I have always deserved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theodysseyholistichealthandwellness.square.site/
- Instagram: @TheOdysseyHolisticHealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOdysseyHolisticHealthAndWellness/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tralisa-colby-mph-rmt-96928143
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theodysseyhhw