Life and Work with Melissa Venable

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Venable.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Melissa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I introduce myself to potential clients, I always tell them that I am a “trainwreck turned trainer”. I want them to know that the Melissa that they see now isn’t the Melissa that existed fifteen years ago. Still… as difficult as life was back then, it was during the trainwreck period of my life that my story truly began.

Fifteen years ago, I was broke and broken. I was a mother to two young sons but trapped in an emotionally (and sometimes physically) abusive marriage that stripped me of my dignity, identity and self-worth. I knew that I needed to get myself and my boys out of the toxic situation that we were in–but I had no idea how to do so.

The complete lack of control, depression and repressed anger that I experienced during that period of my life manifested itself in the form of a severe eating disorder. Weighing in at 82 pounds (as a woman in my early 30’s), I was essentially committing slow-motion suicide by way of Anorexia Nervosa.

What many people don’t realize is that the illness, Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.–including severe depression, bipolar and schizophrenia. This disease was hell-bent on killing me–but, it didn’t. In fact, receiving the Anorexia diagnosis was the exact wake-up call that I needed. I had two precious little boys who needed their mama to be strong and healthy for them–so that is what I vowed to become. At that point in my life, I didn’t feel like I was strong enough to make the changes that I needed to make for myself–but I KNEW that I could make them for the sake of my boys.

It wasn’t easy (or immediate), but with the help of an incredible therapist, supportive friends & family and a wonderful life coach, I was able to take back the reins of control in my life and make the changes that I needed to make. I found a good job that allowed me to support myself and my boys so that I could leave my toxic marriage (my ex-husband never paid child support, but I was proud that I didn’t need it) and most importantly–I regained my physical and emotional well being.

Now, over fifteen years later, I can see just how those difficult trainwreck years served as the training ground for the life that I live now. Those two little boys that once saved my life are now amazing young adults. I still love being their mama and am so proud of the young men that they have become. I am also happily married to an incredible man who is truly my partner and who loves me with a strong and healthy love. I have managed to take my breakdown and turned it into a break-through. My “trainwreck” experience now serves as the catalyst that led me to become a trained and certified Life Coach and to write two personal development books; Finding FabYOUlous: A ‘Self-Help with Sass Guide to Finding, Celebrating and Capitalizing on the FabYOUlousness that Makes You, YOU and The FabYOUlist: A Daily Discovery Guide for Your Most FabYOUlous Life.

My mission now is to ensure that no other woman ever feels lost in her own life. My coaching programs and books are designed to help women rediscover and re-ignite the unique passions that they have within, and use those passions to create a meaningful life on their own terms. Nothing brings me more joy than watching as a client rediscovers just how FabYOUlous she is and then goes out and rocks that FabYOUlousness in the world.

For free downloadable resources, more information on my books, coaching programs, etc. please visit www.FabYOUlousLife.com.

I’ve come a long way from my trainwreck years, but in retrospect, I can see how the lessons that I learned and applied at that time have shaped me into the healthy, successful and (more importantly) fulfilled woman that I am today. I want every woman to know that If I can do it–ANYONE can.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been easy–but it has been SO worth it. The biggest struggle that I have faced has been learning to worry less about who society thinks I should be and instead, get back to the person that I know I was created to be. Trusting my gut, following my instincts and making my own empowered decisions has been what has made the biggest difference in my life. Unfortunately, these things are also often the most difficult things to do.

My advice to young women is to take the time to know yourself. Discover your passions, explore your interests and trust your intuition. Don’t let anyone else call the shots in your life. You are fully capable of creating the life that you want to live. Don’t give that up for anyone else. Surround yourself only with people who will help propel you forward as you live your most courageous, fulfilling and meaningful life.

Please tell us about FabYOUlous Life Coaching.
My experiences led me to want to help other women who might be struggling to live their most fulfilled lives. Because of this, I became a certified Life Coach. My business, FabYOUlous Life Coaching, specializes in helping women to rediscover and re-ignite the unique passions that light them up and then helping them to come up with strategies for bringing those passions to life.

I have also written two personal development (or as I like to call it, “self-help with sass” books) to inspire women to live their most FabYOUlous lives.

In addition to my coaching and writing, I am also available for speaking engagements, workshop facilitation, and panel discussions.

Who have you been inspired by?
While I am, of course, inspired by women like Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Brene Brown and Gabrielle Bernstein; I am even more inspired by ordinary women who wake up every morning and do the work to make life better for themselves and for others. I’m inspired by the single mom who holds down two jobs to afford night classes so that she can study to become a pharmacist, the empty-nester who takes her long-held hobby and turns it into a successful business, the college student who finds the courage to be vulnerable and submit her poetry for publication.
THESE women are the kinds of women that I find most inspiring.

Pricing:

• Finding FabYOUlous book $12.99 on Amazon.com
• 3 Month Coaching Series $600
• 6 Month Coaching Series $1200
• The FabYOUlist Book $14.99 on Amazon.com
• Super-Sessions Series (three personal discovery coaching sessions) $150

Contact Info:

• Website: www.FabYOUlousLife.com
• Phone: 970-218-8109
• Email: melissa@FabYOUlousLife.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/FabYOUlous_Life
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/FabYOUlousLife
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/FabYOUlousLife
• Other: www.pinterest.com/FabYOUlousLife

Image Credit:
Valerie Mosley

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