I would like to share a bit about my own personal transformation in my Heart Empowerment and Destiny Discovery journey. How did I heal from childhood neglect and self-sabotage, experience many life setbacks to be able walk my own path of purpose? Read on to find out….
What were the stepping stones that allowed you to step into your True Purpose/Destiny?
Growing up, I always knew I had a higher calling even though it was not something that was cultivated by my family of origin. My parents did not really have the skills to guide me, as they were unawakened to who they were (let alone who I was as an empath). Fortunately I was intuitive enough to follow my heart early on, and to forge a non-traditional, spiritual awakening path.
As a young girl, I was fascinated by the world around me, and was very much at home in nature, talking with the horses in farmland surrounding my neighborhood in Kentucky. As a teenager and young adult, I found insight in astrology and one of the first “life path” instruments I was curious about was getting an Astrological Natal Chart run. My first reading indicated that communication and spiritual development were very much a part of who I was and what I was here to do. Apparently, I was a natural born communicator and here to facilitate a change in consciousness!
I learned to be quite independent and found my own way in the world after my parents divorced when I was 15. As a first generation college student, I paid my own way first at the community college, then for my bachelors, masters and eventually, I earned a non-traditional PhD program that allowed me to study the correlation between coaching and cognition. There were all a part of my formal studies, but LIFE was the place where the most profound learning occurred for me.
(The image of me as an Angel was created by a Twitter friend of mine.)
“I am not what happened to me, I choose who I become”
My 20’s were really productive, with lots of studying and career moves to keep me busy! My higher awareness always seemed to be with me, and I quickly saw the connection between what happened and how I was feeling/what I was thinking. The awareness was not enough, though, because I did not yet understand how to access my inner knowing to its fullest capacity, and for too long, I was creating my life by default, feeling a little too like a victim of circumstance.
This back and forth between empowerment and disappointment went on until my 30’s when one of my biggest wake up calls happened after I got divorced in 2006…..I had a serious car accident and woke up in an ambulance and asked “is that a bad dream?” and the paramedic said “no mam this is not a bad dream.” (you can read more about my awakening in my book, The Destiny Discovery). Suffice it to say, that was when I had to make the choice to Wake up and Stay awake.
In my 40’s I became aware that I had suffered from childhood emotional neglect and narcissistic abuse. Having a name for it helped. But I had to go through a long dark night of the Soul that lasted for about 8 years…where towards the end, I had a bout with breast cancer which shook me to the core of my being. That health challenge forced me to do some deep soul-level healing around loving and accepting myself and letting go of the emotional baggage I was still holding onto.
It was so liberating to realize that Everything that happened in my life was serving my highest good. I finally accepted the idea that my life was the ‘curriculum for my enlightenment.’ And so I dug deep, and forgave everyone involved, especially myself.
When I finally came out on the other side, I felt lighter and brighter than I had in a long time.
You write and speak a lot about the power of ‘letting go’-
What did you have to let go of in order to truly follow your path?
There were four main things:
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A so-called normal life, based on “society standards.” You know, the ‘socially acceptable formula for success’ which not only was based on money and status, but also on what other people thought about who you were and what you did for a living.
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My initial career was working in a higher academic setting. As much as I enjoyed teaching and counseling students, it was too small for what I was meant to truly do. Whenever I would try to put my big SOUL into a small job-box, it just never worked out. Finally, I had to realize that I was not born to fit in, I was born to stand out. (I bet that is you too!)
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The limiting belief that I had to do things alone and that I was not supported. This has been a painful “life story” that I have battled throughout my life, and even though I have moments when I may slip into old thinking, for the most part, I have given that story up in favor of writing a new, more empowering one, which has opened new levels of fulfillment in my life.
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Emotional baggage in the form of resentments, hang ups and hurts. (My new book, Heart Empowerment for Empaths lays out exactly how to do do this for yourself)
What were the key actions you took to start creating the destiny you wanted to experience for yourself?
My two key actions were education and mentoring. I am an advocate for lifelong learning, especially that of Self-Knowledge, that is knowing and honoring yourself from the inside out. I used traditional “what do you want to be when you grow up assessments” as well as relied on astrology, tarot, and other intuitive arts to guide me. When I faced a challenge, I sought out ways to understand what was happening so I could move through it faster.
I have had many mentors (coaches, healers, guides, mirrors) along my journey, and each one is I believe a “divine appointment.” People that we are meant to connect with to further our path. I know that especially the mentors that I paid to work with had keys to help me unlock more of True Self. I cannot recommend getting mentoring highly enough. It goes without saying to filter everything you hear and see through your own heart and take only what resonates for maximum effect.
What is one key nugget of wisdom you wish to share from your journey?
You are the one you have been waiting for, and the time is now. Stop doing what does not serve you and start doing what lights you up. Life is short, right now is your best shot to experience the MORE that your soul is looking for.
How are you different than other coaches?
I am someone who thrives on the deep personal growth that comes from co-creating someone’s destiny and/or goals with them. I weave together a magical elixir of positive, depth psychology, success strategies and light body/energy healing to help my clients come into energetic alignment with their highest purpose. My coaching goes beyond traditional levels into the Quantum field that activates and allows for rapid personal transformation.
Tell us about your latest writing project.
My lastest book, Heart Empowerment for Empaths provide the other side of living your destiny. It guides the reader to release their emotional baggage and become loving, empowered and free. Much of my group and individual mentoring is based on this book as well.
About Your Success Coach & Transformational Author
Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D. is an awakening to Destiny guide, Heart Empowerment Expert and Divine Energy Healer who guides lightworkers, change agents and holistic business owners in how to release hidden sabotaging programs, reclaim their sovereignty and achieve their version of Ecstatic Success.
Receive my most illuminating and empowering insights and guidance on living an Ecstatically Successful lifestyle by joining my private FB GROUP, Ecstatic Wise Women.
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Ready to be walked through the process of discovering your destiny and how to heal your emotional wounds–so that you can live empowered and on purpose?
Read my two premier guide-books, The Destiny Discovery 
and Heart Empowerment for Empaths on Amazon.com
