WTL 5: Meet Beth Terrence

 Five provocative questions answered by an inspiring and fabulous woman – a woman with something to say.

Meet Beth Terrence

Beth Terrence’s vision is to support others in living a heart-centered, balanced and joyful life through discovering the healer within.  She is a Shaman, Holistic Health & Wellness Practitioner, Speaker, Writer and Recovery Coach.

Beth believes that her own life journey has served as a catalyst for the message she brings to the world — that at our core, we are all beings of love, light and peace — we just need to “remember”.  She shares about her journey in her stories in Inspired Voices: True Stories Of Visionary Women and Harmonic Voices: True Stories Of Women On The Path To Peace, both Heal My Voice collaborative books.

Beth’s blog, The Heart Of Awakening: Searching For A New Paradigm, offers an online resource for transformation and healing.

People would be surprised to know that: About ten years ago, I was at a crossroads and having difficulty making some big decisions about my life. At a friend’s suggestion to do something that I was afraid to do, I decided to take a “leap” of faith and go skydiving. The experience was terrifying, exhilarating and liberating! Afterwards, I felt like I could do anything and my decision-making was easy. I totally recommend the experience of skydiving or perhaps some subtler way of facing a fear as a way to gain clarity and confidence about life choices.

The WTL 5:

What’s the conversation that changed your life?

I just finished writing the Foreword for an upcoming Heal My Voice book, Tender Voices, where I share about an experience I had about a decade ago that really changed my life. The “conversation” took place during a year-long spiritual healing program I attended called University Of The Heart. That year, I learned that everything I believed about Love was distorted based on my life experiences and I began to see how those misperceptions kept me from living the life I desired. What came next was writing a new blueprint for love and my life based on a deeper truth.

What are you most conscious of today?

I really see life on earth as a school. We come to learn and grow; this is the journey of our lifetime. We may be trying to get somewhere or achieve certain goals we have set for ourselves, but often life has its own ideas. I try to stay very conscious of the need to be open and willing in each moment — to surrender to the path of life as it unfolds. Even if it is totally different from what I may have envisioned, the present moment is where the true blessings of this life are to be found.

What part of you have you yet to give voice to?

I am still working to give voice to aspects of my inner children. Healing from the trauma of growing up in a family with mental illness and addiction has been a big part of my journey. Ultimately, it led me to my path as a shaman, healer and recovery coach. Today, I find there is more that my inner ones need to say. I see this as part of the spiral of healing. Loving and accepting oneself is, in my view, the key to change and healing ~ as I deepen in this, more of my voice is able to flow!

What’s the conversation women need to be having collectively?

It’s only in the last few years that I have been able to enjoy connecting with women in community. I never really felt safe around women in groups until my experience with Heal My Voice, an organization that empowers women and girls globally to heal, reclaim their voice and step into greater leadership. Similar to learning about love a decade ago, I needed to change my blueprint around women that was based on my life experiences. I know I’m not alone in this. I think women need to talk about how we can build trust with one another and in community.

What needs to be said bigger, louder, stronger? 

I have recently completed training as a Recovery Coach and Certified PEER Recovery Specialist. There are lots of changes going on in the field of Recovery for addictions and mental health. My passion around this comes from wanting to support individuals and families to know that recovery is possible — they don’t need to stay hidden anymore. Having grown up in a time when all we knew to do was hide, feel ashamed and perpetuate the cycle of pain, now is a time we need to speak up, to be open and honest about our experiences and begin to end the stigma that has been an obstacle to Recovery for so long.

*** 

Thank you, Beth, for sharing your powerful voice
with WomanTalk Live