Sometimes the scariest choice is the best one | Stephanie Whitley

Stephanie Whitley was still in the middle of domestic violence, a new mom to a three-year-old and an almost one-year-old, when a moment in her garden knocked her to her knees.It was late spring or early summer of 2022. She was watering her plants with music in her headphones when grief arrived out of nowhere, and with it a realization: the situation she was in, the choices that had led her there, and the life she could give her children instead. She describes it as a veil being lifted. She knew it would be incredibly difficult. She also knew what she had to do.Sherry and Stephanie talk about what happens after you choose to leave. Getting out was not one decision. She compares it to separating industrial strength Velcro, slowly and methodically, and she names why the time after leaving can be a dangerous one. There were moments when getting back together looked easier.From shadow work, to a therapist who pushed her back into dating, to the custody weeks alone that gave her time with herself.She is fierce about protecting her peace now. She still struggles with guilt about the life with mom and dad both at home.Her definition of soft power is a kind of alchemy: turning darkness into lightness, gently, without forcing it. Her advice for anyone going through it right now: sometimes the scariest choice is the best one.0:00 - Intro 1:29 - Lost, then a moment in the garden 6:26 - Why leaving is like separating Velcro 15:11 - Rebuilding a relationship with herself 18:53 - Dating after trauma 28:39 - Dating as a single mom 34:47 - Protecting her peace 43:41 - Did it make her a better mom? 46:40 - Soft power as alchemyMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Roddy by Djo, the song Stephanie says resonates with her moment in the garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCfCzzCyMU4ABOUT STEPHANIE WHITLEY: Stephanie Whitley is a single mom to two young boys. She left an abusive second marriage, and she says she has since worked through most of the trauma it left her with. She is on the parent teacher organization board at her kids' school, was recently appointed to a city committee where she lives, and is going back to school.#SoftPowerProject #SingleMom #Healing #Boundaries Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.fm/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/commentsYoutube Instagram Do you want to become a more confident, clear, and self-trusting communicator? Let's talk! Fill out this form and see you soon.Would you like to share your life stories? Please fill out this form.