Episode 479 – From Trauma to Unstoppable: Reclaiming Your Life with Merrill Isherwood
Sometimes becoming unstoppable begins with realizing you have more control over your life than you thought. Merrill Isherwood shares how her journey from professional ballet and a battle with bulimia to an abusive marriage, single parenthood, corporate struggles, and life coaching taught her the importance of self-ownership. She and Michael explore trauma recovery, toxic relationships, self-esteem, emotional support, and the courage to ask for help. Merrill also explains why coaching is not about giving people answers, but helping them discover their own strength and make conscious choices about the life they want to live.
Highlights:
03:11 – Merrill shares how ballet shaped her early life and career.
11:00 – Pressure around weight led to bulimia and leaving professional ballet.
20:49 – Toxic relationships taught Merrill the importance of setting boundaries.
31:09 – A life coaching course changed how Merrill viewed control and personal responsibility.
43:28 – Trauma recovery became a focus of Merrill’s coaching work.
59:16 – Undivided attention can help parents build stronger connections with their children.
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About the Guest:
I am still here, and I am most grateful for that privilege.
I have been fortunate to live out most young girls’ dreams of being a professional ballet dancer and an air hostess / flight attendant.
However, for many years was terribly unhappy and felt life was not worth living….
Abusive relationships were the order of the day, both at work and in my personal life, and I unfortunately developed a severe eating disorder which taunted me for 12 years. Atop that were several sexual assaults, exorcism, home robberies, burnout, financial scarcity, manipulation and more.
I overcame being completely broken emotionally; physically, experienced grief from the loss of multiple loved ones and friends; was a single parent (for over 20 years with no support), lost most of our material possessions, and loads more.
Often questioning, “Why me?”, I read one day what we should be asking ourselves is “Why not me?” Why should I think, or assume I should be immune to difficulties in life?
This was when I realised the power of my mind.
I overcame the trauma of the above through mind control, determination, reflection, introspection, and willpower.
That was a changing point in my life.
Perhaps I went through these experiences so I could help others.
In 2019 I studied to become a certified life coach, intent on helping others.
Subsequently, I created a course on healing oneself emotionally, using the principles of life coaching. I discovered once my emotions were better aligned, the physical ‘tiredness’, and lethargy, decreased, and for the first time, (in what felt like forever), I decided life might be worth living after all.
My desire is to teach others to do the same.
Realising how much valuable time I had wasted, hiding from the world, feeling pathetic, and unworthy, I set out to make a difference, spreading love and support. At the lowest of the low, God sent heavenly friends to support me through the dark days.
My mission is to strengthen, and empower others by teaching them the tools, strategies, and skills they need to succeed, and to be able to live the life they choose.
I encourage them not to waste their lives being unhappy, it really IS worth putting in the work, healing, and being able to actually LIVE a productive AND fulfilling life!
Ways to connect with Merrill**:**
Website 1: Merrills Life Transformation Coaching: https://merrills.co.za
Website 2: My Healing Program: https://myhealingprogram.com
Instagram: The Sista Hood: @thesistahoodsa
Facebook: Merrill Isherwood: https://www.facebook.com/merrill.isherwood
Merrills Life Coaching: https://www.facebook.com/Merrillsthesistahood/
The Sista Hood: https://www.facebook.com/Merrillsthesistahood/
LinkedIn: Merrill Isherwood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrill-isherwood-the-change-catalyst/
**My Healing Program: ** ?
About the Host:
Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.
Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children’s Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association’s 2012 Hero Dog Awards.
https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/
https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/
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