Today we’d like to introduce you to Char Wilson
Hi Char, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a strict, religious household with parents who loved me the best they could, but I never felt emotionally safe with or connected to them. To feel loved and gain approval, I became the high-achieving, award-winning, ‘good girl’ who followed the rules and succeeded at whatever I put my mind to. I did what I was told, without considering my needs and wants. This led to an adult life filled with anxiety, poor boundaries, and no sense of my own identity.
As expected of me, I married a man right out of college, despite numerous red flags. To the outside world, I had everything going for me. A budding career, strong marriage, great body, a beautiful home, and many friends. But behind the scenes, I unknowingly endured mental and emotional abuse for 17 long years in that relationship. Until it all came crashing down in 2019. After vows were repeatedly broken, I found the strength to finally walk away from that marriage.
This was the beginning of my healing journey. My life – the one I chose for myself – started at 37 years old. And I was determined to rise, like a Phoenix, from the ashes.
While grieving the life I once knew, I found my way into a yoga studio. For the first time, I felt safe enough to explore my feelings and consider what I truly wanted going forward. I showed up multiple times a week and left every class in a puddle of sweat and tears. But, between processing the betrayal trauma of my divorce, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic just a few months later, and then burying both of my parents the following year, my nervous system was completely shot. My body began breaking down from years of chronic stress, self-abandonment and neglect, and prioritizing productivity and status over my health and happiness. I suffered from digestive issues, insomnia, panic attacks, among many other mystery health issues, and was finally admitted to the E.R. while on a work trip. I believed I was dying from a heart attack like my dad. I remember it like it was yesterday. Laying alone, in the dark hospital room, shaking, exhausted, and terrified, thinking “I’m not ready to die. I have too much to live for. If I survive this, everything has to change or I’m heading straight for the diseases that killed my parents.”
Through consistent effort and dedication to my wellness journey, I began to see profound changes in my overall health. I committed to a regular yoga practice, went to therapy, journaled, read self-development books, nourished my body, and practiced mindfulness. I studied nights and weekends to certify in yoga and breathwork while working my full-time corporate job. I practiced holding boundaries and invested in healthy relationships. I drew strength from a small, inner circle of safe and supportive people. I began learning how to regulate my nervous system and process my emotions. And I identified my core values, strengths, needs, and wants, which helped me develop a strong sense of identity and purpose. Gradually, my anxiety lessened, my body healed itself, and I felt a renewed sense of power and control over my life.
A few years later, I took the leap and left the safety and comfort of the corporate world to follow my calling of becoming a MindBody Wellness Coach for high-achieving women who suffer from stress and anxiety, just like I had all my life. I turned my pain into my purpose.
Today, I’m living as my happiest, healthiest, most confident self in a safe, loving relationship, and doing what I love. I no longer hustle for my worth, neglect my needs, or negotiate my boundaries. I’ve reclaimed my power and love who I am. Now, I guide other high-achieving women to regulate their nervous systems and self-heal, break free from people-pleasing patterns, and live as their most empowered, authentic Self.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like all transformational stories, my journey up to this point has been full of challenges and obstacles such as abuse, betrayal, divorce, grief, anxiety, and health issues. But pain and suffering can be a powerful teacher and catalyst for change.
One of my favorite quotes by spiritual leader Michael Bernard Beckwith says: “Pain pushes until vision pulls.” Until our current reality is more painful than the fear of change, we don’t often willingly choose change and growth. At least that’s been my personal life experience and observation with my coaching clients.
I love the psychological concept called “Post Traumatic Growth,” which refers to the positive transformation and significant personal growth that can occur as a result of someone struggling with highly challenging, stressful, or traumatic life events. I envision the Phoenix, rising from the ashes, rebirthed into a new life. Because that’s my story and it’s why I named my business Wilson Phoenix Wellness.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a former corporate professional turned MindBody Wellness Coach, Trauma-Informed Somatic Practitioner, Ayurveda Practitioner, Reiki Master, and Sound Healer.
I help high-achieving women reduce anxiety, restore their health, and reclaim their power through an integrative and holistic wellness approach that takes all of them into account – mind, body, and soul.
I educate, equip, and empower my clients to become the masters of their lives through a 5-step framework of proven strategies and practical tools.
My services include 1:1 and Group Coaching, Bodywork Treatment (Reiki, yoga, and/or breathwork), facilitating wellness events, spiritual ceremonies and retreats, and corporate wellness workshops.
What sets me apart is my empathy, good energy, dedication to creating safe relationships with my clients, personalized solutions, and commitment to helping them get their desired results in an efficient and highly effective way. I bring 20 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and multi-certified wellness and life coach. I’m trained in a variety of healing modalities and an advanced coaching model that gets to the root of my clients’ problems, equips them with self-regulation tools to heal their mind and body, and guides them to their inner wisdom so they can become the masters of their lives. What I offer is total life transformation.
How do you think about luck?
I’m a firm believer, student, and teacher of manifestation principles and practices. I’ve seen this play out in my own life, both conscious manifestation and counter manifestation based on the beliefs I hold about myself, success, and money, as well as how tightly I cling to an expected outcome. A few examples of “luck” that come to mind: In 2020, during the pandemic, I had a strong pull to completely change my lifestyle, from living in a bigger house that felt burdensome to minimizing and downsizing to a tiny home. That dream became a reality within two years. While going through yoga teacher training, I had a gut feeling that my time in Corporate world was coming to an end. Within two years, I launched my wellness and coaching business. We are always manifesting, either in our favor or not based on what we’re focused on and giving our energy to. Some people just understand and apply the principles better than others and so they appear to be “lucky.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/wilsonphoenixwellness
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charwilson_phoenixwellness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charwilsonphoenix
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@charwilsonphoenix
Image Credits
Malerie Veillon
