If You Don’t Want To Be Healthy, Don’t Read This
If You Don’t Want To Be Healthy, Don’t Read This
How can business owners prevent burnout and stay present?
Life is happening now, not someday. I've lost many people in my life—both my parents are gone. I’ve lost colleagues from my time in the Marines. I have two little boys and an amazing husband, and I used to find myself always looking to the future. I’d think, “When this happens, I’ll feel this way. When I achieve this success, I’ll finally be happy.” But it’s just not true. I’ve learned that when I stay present and truly appreciate the people around me, I’m much happier. I want to share that with others because you never know how much time you have.
My dad passed away suddenly, while my mom suffered for years from breast cancer. We just don’t know how much time we get on this earth, so I choose to live in the now with the end in mind. I don’t hold back from telling people I love them, forgiving myself or others, or letting go. Holding onto things can wreak havoc on your life.
I want to give that gift to others, especially in the business world where burnout is so common. People are stuck behind their computers on Zoom all day, disconnected from life. Leaders are often disconnected from their teams. This is the one life we have, and I want to teach people to embrace it. That’s what I do—help people live in the now, own their lives, and encourage leaders to give their teams permission to do the same.
How can business leaders overcome shame and ask for help?
I didn’t realize that you won’t always feel motivated and that motivation comes after action. But what I did know was that I had to face my shame. I put myself in a position where I had to ask for help, which meant opening myself up to shame from others and myself.
Despite that, I knew deep down that I mattered to my father and to other people in my life, and something needed to change. This led me to ask, “What does Teresa want?” For a long time, it was about being the best because it felt good and brought attention. Whether in the Big East as a top athlete or in the Marine Corps doing pull-ups, it was one way to earn respect. But was that what I really wanted?
The act of asking for help became a catalyst for me to discover who I truly was and what motivated me. It wasn’t immediate—it took time. The process, not a quick fix, involved a year and a half of intense therapy, and I still go because I believe in maintaining my mental health. Just like working out keeps my body strong, talking to someone keeps my mind healthy.
Asking for help was the first step in a journey of change, but through taking action and working through my shame, I began to realize what I truly wanted: to help people and show them that life is happening now. It took time, but I discovered my passion for helping others.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
