Navigate life’s crossroads with clarity and courage as we uncover your next chapter, align with your deeper purpose and create a joyful, powerful roadmap to success.
The history of the Holistic Life Map
From uncertainty to alignment:
How the Holistic Life Map transformed my life - and can transform yours
In 2005, I hit a crossroads.
On paper, my life looked fine. But inside, I felt deeply unsettled. I kept asking myself the big questions: What am I really doing? Am I on the right path? Is this the life I’m meant to live?
Until then, I’d been moving forward without stopping to ask what I wanted. I was showing up for everyone else but had never really paused to design a life that felt aligned with me.
That changed when a friend handed me a simple chart with seven life categories. It was just a basic goal-setting tool - nothing fancy - just a simple goal-setting tool, but it asked powerful questions about what I wanted in different areas of my life and it required me to think in terms of “what,” “how” and “when.” That quiet moment changed everything. It was the first time I had ever taken the time to reflect on all areas of my life - not just my career.
So I sat down.
I wrote.
And I mapped out a vision that would become the foundation of everything I’ve done since.
Some of the first goals I wrote:
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To travel internationally as part of my work, as often as I choose.
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To be a recognized motivational speaker focused on healing and purpose.
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To feel spiritually, emotionally and financially rewarded for the work I do.
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To own a financially thriving business
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To uplift and empower others through my work
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To be an excellent fitness trainer
… and more.
Since then I’ve:
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Traveled to 37 countries for my work.
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Spoken on global stages to thousands of participants.
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Facilitated transformational workshops around the world.
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Landed two dream jobs that allowed me to lead with purpose and impact.
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Been invited to join the boards of two international organizations aligned with my mission.
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Helped thousands of people align with what truly matters in their own lives.
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Most importantly - I’ve lived in deep alignment with my values and purpose.
My friend Tracy Foss shared the original seven-category life reflection chart with me. It was a thoughtful and generous tool that planted a powerful seed - one that I have since nurtured, expanded and evolved into what is now this life-changing Holistic Life Map framework. I remain deeply grateful for that early spark which inspired a journey of continuous growth, refinement and global application. What began as a basic goal-setting exercise has grown into a rich, transformative process encompassing 12 life categories, a range of reflective exercises and practical action planning tools.
It’s not just a framework for setting goals. It’s a pathway to clarity, courage and conscious living.
This body of work is deeply rooted in community. Since I first began sharing the Holistic Life Map in 2008, I’ve had the extraordinary privilege of presenting it to diverse groups of people around the world - most often to exceptional women leaders who are courageously addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges with grit, resilience and grace.
Over time, the framework has been shaped, stretched and enriched by individuals, teams and organizations from more than 100 countries who have taken part in workshops across 20 countries. Their reflections, aspirations and lived experiences have meaningfully shaped and expanded this work. Many of the examples included in this work come directly from participants who generously shared their personal goals and life journeys with me. Through these conversations about challenges faced, dreams pursued and lessons learned, the Holistic Life Map has become richer, more inclusive and more resonant. I am deeply grateful for their trust, openness and willingness to co-create something far greater than any one of us.
Since launching my new consulting business in January 2025, I’ve had the opportunity to bring the Holistic Life Map to broader and more varied audiences - people from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and life stages. This has included individuals navigating job loss, those pivoting after decades of impactful work and many seeking clarity during times of global change. I’ve also had the joy of working with a more diverse participant base, including both men and women and ages ranging from university students to retirees. Their stories, insights and reflections have inspired me to continue evolving the content - adding more relevant and inclusive examples that speak to this broader community. I am deeply grateful for their gracious contributions, thoughtful conversations and the trust they place in this work.
I am also deeply grateful to the many authors and teachers whose work has illuminated my path - among them the late Wayne Dyer, Khalil Gibran, Don Miguel Ruiz and Sonia Choquette. Their wisdom continues to guide my thinking and inspire my own journey.
This work would not be what it is without the encouragement and trust of key individuals along the way. I am deeply thankful to Alyse Nelson, President & CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, for the opportunity to bring this workshop to cohorts of fearless women leaders worldwide and to Pam Seagle, SVP of Inclusive Entrepreneurship at Bank of America, for making space for its inclusion in our Global Ambassadors Program.
Looking ahead, the Holistic Life Map continues to grow as both a personal practice and a global movement. As the world changes, the need for grounded, values-based reflection becomes more essential. My vision is to expand this work through train-the-trainer programs, licensed facilitation models and asynchronous digital offerings that make it more widely accessible. Future developments include multilingual editions, tools including apps and goal-trackers and adapted versions for youth and educational settings. I also envision online communities for connection and accountability, publishing projects that deepen the learning experience and partnerships that ensure this work reaches underserved communities through scholarships and pay-it-forward access.
The Life Map is, and will remain, a living and evolving framework rooted in reflection, fueled by purpose and shaped by the diverse community that continues to bring it to life. I hope that it will become a meaningful companion on your own journey of alignment, growth and purposeful living.
