From Broken & Divorced To Confident Badass: "I Changed My Life Once I KNEW THIS" | Sonja Stribling

Added: May 16, 2024

In this podcast episode, Sonja Stribling shares her powerful story of overcoming adversity and finding empowerment after facing numerous challenges in her life. Stribling, a former military officer and now a transformational speaker and coach, opens up about her journey from feeling broken and depleted to becoming a confident and empowered woman. She discusses key decisions and actions that helped her take control of her life and emphasizes the importance of resilience, self-love, and personal growth.

Key takeaways

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Sonja Stribling's journey underscores the importance of resilience and personal growth. Despite facing significant adversities, including teenage pregnancy, rape, and a difficult divorce, she made conscious decisions to rise above her circumstances and not let them define her.

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Stribling emphasizes the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving. She encourages individuals to be honest about their struggles, seek help, and take ownership of their lives to align with personal growth and fulfillment.

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The journey towards self-love and healing is crucial. Stribling highlights the importance of taking time to heal and rediscover oneself, especially after traumatic experiences or toxic relationships, before entering new ones.

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Surrounding oneself with supportive and empowering people is essential. Stribling discusses the importance of discipline in staying focused on goals and taking consistent action to achieve them, while also practicing self-compassion to avoid burnout.

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Understanding and stepping into one's purpose is vital for direction and fulfillment. Stribling believes that determination and an obsession with living life on purpose are key to personal growth and success.

Stribling's Triumph Over Adversity

Stribling begins by recounting her early life challenges, including getting pregnant at 15 and feeling ashamed and embarrassed. She describes how she managed to rise above these experiences and not let them define her. At 17, she faced another traumatic event when she was raped and left for dead in a field. Despite these harrowing experiences, she emphasizes the importance of making a conscious decision to have a better life and not allowing circumstances to hold you back.

Thriving vs Surviving: Finding Power in Vulnerability

She highlights the distinction between being a strong woman and a powerful woman, stressing the importance of thriving rather than merely surviving. Stribling encourages listeners to identify where they are in life, be honest about their struggles, and seek help and support through therapy, counseling, or mentorship. She shares her own experience of going through a divorce after 18 years of marriage, which left her broke and without a home. Despite these setbacks, she underscores the significance of taking ownership of one's life and making decisions that align with personal growth and fulfillment.

Importance of Relational and Emotional Stability

Stribling delves into the topic of relational stability, sharing her experience of getting married quickly in the military and the importance of seeking counseling and communication in relationships. She emphasizes the need to lead oneself before entering into a relationship and ensuring that the relationship complements who you are rather than fulfilling you. In terms of emotional stability, she stresses the importance of focusing on oneself and handling pressure to come out stronger, likening the process to how diamonds are formed under tremendous heat and pressure.

Overcoming Hurt and Injury

Stribling discusses the concept of being hurt versus being injured, explaining that being hurt refers to emotional pain that one can overcome, while being injured signifies a more severe setback that may require external support. She encourages individuals to assess their situations and determine whether they are hurt or injured, making a conscious choice to get back up and keep moving forward. She also shares her perspective on the idea that challenges and setbacks happen for us, rather than to us, and emphasizes the importance of finding lessons in difficult situations to foster personal growth and development.

The Power of Vulnerability and Resilience

Stribling reflects on her work with women and the impact of sharing her own story of resilience and transformation. She discusses the importance of standing in the gap for others who may not yet have the strength to do so for themselves and the role of authenticity and vulnerability in creating a supportive and empowering community. She encourages individuals to embrace their challenges, learn from them, and use them as opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

Finding Self-Love Through Healing

The conversationdelves into the concept of self-love and the journey towards finding inner strength and confidence. Stribling reflects on her struggles with feeling unattractive and unworthy after her divorce but ultimately found hope and self-love through introspection and healing. She emphasizes the importance of taking time to heal and rediscover oneself before entering into a new relationship.

Societal pressures and stigmas

Stribling also discusses societal pressures and stigmas surrounding divorce and the fear of being alone. She shares her personal experience of leaving a toxic marriage despite feeling scared and uncertain about the future. Through self-reflection and self-love, she overcame her fears and made the decision to prioritize her well-being and happiness. The conversation touches on the challenges of navigating relationships and the importance of finding a partner who supports and uplifts you. Stribling shares how she met her current husband on a dating app and how their relationship is built on mutual respect and partnership.

The Power of Support and Discipline

Stribling discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive and empowering people who celebrate you rather than tolerate you. She emphasizes the need for discipline in staying focused on your goals and taking consistent action to make them a reality. She introduces the concept of the discipline method, which involves setting clear goals and taking consistent action to achieve them. She acknowledges that self-compassion is essential in avoiding burnout and maintaining a healthy mindset.

Finding Supportive Love and Vulnerability

Stribling shares her experience of finding a supportive partner who takes care of her and allows her to be vulnerable. She reflects on how her past experiences shaped her expectations in relationships and how she learned to appreciate a partner who respects and supports her. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing signs of a healthy relationship and being open to love and support from others.

Creating a Balanced Life Map

Stribling introduces the concept of the life map, which includes different aspects such as social, spiritual, financial, family, love, health, recreational, household, and career. She encourages listeners to assess each area of their life and identify areas that need improvement. She emphasizes the importance of setting goals and taking action to create a fulfilling and balanced life.

Finding Your Purpose in Life

Stribling discusses the roots of a warrior woman, starting with purpose. She explains that understanding your purpose in life is essential for finding direction and fulfillment. She emphasizes that purpose is not something you find but something you step into as you become the person you were meant to be. She encourages listeners to explore different paths and experiences to discover their true purpose.

Stribling also talks about the importance of resilience, courage, confidence, authenticity, vulnerability, and self-love in embodying the qualities of a warrior woman. She shares personal anecdotes and insights on how these qualities have helped her overcome challenges and achieve success in her life. She encourages listeners to embrace their inner strength and believe in their ability to create the life they desire.

The Power of Determination

Stribling discusses the significance of determination in achieving success. She talks about being obsessed with reaching a place where she feels safe, empowered, and successful. She believes that being determined and obsessed with living life on purpose is essential for personal growth and fulfillment. She encourages listeners to be relentless in pursuing their goals and not to let anyone deter them from their path.

Embracing Self-Identity and Authenticity

Self-identity is another key aspect that Stribling highlights. She emphasizes the importance of defining oneself and not letting societal norms dictate one's worth or capabilities. She shares her own experience of self-identifying as a warrior and embracing her inner strength and resilience. She encourages women to discover who they truly are and to live authentically without seeking validation from others.

The Power of Visualization

Visualization plays a crucial role in Stribling's journey towards success. She talks about visualizing her future and seeing herself in a place of abundance and fulfillment long before it manifested in reality. She believes that visualizing one's goals and desires helps to set clear intentions and create a roadmap for achieving them. She encourages listeners to visualize their ideal life and to have unwavering faith in their ability to make it a reality.

Embracing Self-Validation and Confidence

Personal validation is another important concept that Stribling discusses. She believes that validation should come from within and not be dependent on external sources. She encourages individuals to give themselves permission to be amazing and to trust in their own abilities and worth. She emphasizes the importance of self-approval and self-love in building confidence and pursuing one's dreams.

The Power of Courage

Courage is a quality that Stribling considers essential for personal growth and transformation. She draws inspiration from Wonder Woman and her courage to be different and stand out. Stribling believes that having the courage to step out of one's comfort zone and take risks is key to unlocking one's full potential. She encourages listeners to embrace their fears and use them as stepping stones towards growth and success.

The Power of Confidence

Finally, Stribling discusses the importance of confidence in achieving one's goals. She acknowledges that confidence is often a byproduct of taking action and facing challenges head-on. She shares her own struggles with insecurity and self-doubt but emphasizes that she did not let them hold her back. She encourages listeners to build their confidence through action and perseverance, knowing that they are capable of achieving greatness.

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