I’m JoAnn Begley, and here is my story…
There was a moment in time when overwhelm nearly got the best of me. At the time I was taking care of 2 older family members, my 2 kids were ages 8 and 10, I was trying to juggle and balance life’s daily challenges and had just started a new career in the caregiving space. I was so overwhelmed by the pure volume of how much needed to get done that I compartmentalized my feelings, thoughts and just focused on action. What I found interesting was, others shared that I didn’t look like I was overwhelmed. I was often told I seemed like I had it together because I always appeared healthy and positive, (but thin doesn’t mean healthy and internalizing stress is never a healthy option.)
Then came the day that changed everything. I discovered I had missed two appointments—something I had never done before. I was the person who kept it all together, who never let anything slip through the cracks. But what frightened me most wasn’t that I’d missed them; it was that I had absolutely no memory of ever scheduling them. It felt as though those events had happened in someone else’s life, not mine. In that moment, I realized my way of “holding it all together” wasn’t working anymore. My body had been sending me warning signs for years, and I could no longer ignore them.
Much of what I was doing I couldn’t just stop doing, nor did I want to, so I had to start small. I did this by setting boundaries in little ways – by delegating tasks, enlisting a “team” approach and protecting my time more. I started saying NO sometimes vs. always saying yes. In order for that to be successful I needed to believe that giving good care didn’t mean having to do it all myself. In my work, my mantra to others was “Take baby steps. Self care is not selfish. It makes us better caregivers”. It was time to start living what I was teaching! This mindset shift is what showed me that those in my care could get better care within a support system while allowing myself space to better care for me, minus the guilt. Serving others is a privilege and we can’t pour out of an empty cup.
From there I continued to take baby steps and several years later as my caregiving responsibilities naturally lessened, I learned about a program that expanded on the body, mind and lifestyle work that I had been practicing! It gave me a formal system of more small ways I could continue to create physical health and release years of pent up stress. It became my ticket back to restored vitality, better sleep, and a better handle on stress. It was something I achieved by being 1% better each day. And now that my to-do list isn’t nearly as long as those days before, I often find myself still feeling the hurry and rush of those times. My body still remembers so I’m grateful to have a system that gives me permission to slow down, reminds me that letting out the stress won’t make me fall apart and helps me redirect that energy into caring for myself without a huge time commitment.
It was my own life-changing health journey that inspired me to create Wellness Fusion. My mission is to help others who feel stuck in a cycle of overwhelm, struggle to find balance in their health, can’t seem to lose weight despite trying countless diets, or lie awake at night even though they’re physically and mentally exhausted. You don’t have to settle for simply getting through each day—you deserve to feel your best.
My practice combines 25 years of holistic therapies with a simple nutrition, health and lifestyle program rooted in the science of blood sugar balance and centered on a daily focus of Body-Mind-Lifestyle 1% at a time. I invite you to learn more about how I can support you in your personal health journey by booking a free consultation. It would be my pleasure to assist you!