Have you ever been through a time when nothing is going your way even though you seem to be doing all the right things? I think we’ve all been there; I know I have. Whether our trials and suffering are related to our health, our career, or our family, we all endure struggles at some point.

For me, the biggest trial I’ve endured is restoring my health. I remember when I was at my worst, I was ready to throw in the towel and surrender. I thought I was doing everything right, so why wasn’t I getting better? I envied all those people who were magically transformed when they simply removed gluten from their diet. Why couldn’t that be me?

I had gone above and beyond simply removing gluten, and I still felt miserable. I was angry, frustrated, tired, and depressed. I had literally lost all hope, and I began to accept this fate with a very negative attitude. Then I realized that this mentality was going to kill me. I had to change my mindset and start to believe that I could heal. I had to restore my faith and not be willing to give up.

Even if it wasn’t in the cards for me to heal completely, I knew there was a reason for all of this. The thing that needed to change was how I approached the situation.

So, how did I do it? I made a very conscious decision each and everyday to have a positive outlook on life. I had to ditch the negative, glass-half-empty, self-pity attitude and learn to be thankful for the blessings in my life.

I continued with my very clean paleo diet, and I cleaned it up even more to give my gut a chance to heal. I continued with my gut-healing supplements but also started some adrenal support since my body was completely burned out.

Lastly, and most importantly, I reduced the stress in my life and prioritized my health. I was in a very stressful corporate wellness job that was completely burning me out. Fortunately, I was in a position that allowed me to quit this job and take some time off.

During this time I focused on my health and what I needed to do to get better. I got quality sleep every night. I went on a walk almost every morning. I sat out in the sun and relaxed. I joined a bible study, which strengthened my faith in God. I took epsom salt baths. I cooked. I journaled. I read books.

Learning to slow down, breath, and trust was the most impactful experience for me. I am totally type A, so I like to be busy and control everything. But I had to let that go. I had to rest. I had to take a break. I had to trust that God was in control and hand the reigns over to Him. It was such a freeing experience, and a huge burden was lifted.

I have learned so much through my trials and challenges, and I continue to learn and grow every day. We endure struggles everyday, but it’s how you react to them that makes the biggest difference.

I know I am where I’m supposed to be right now. And I know that I’ve experienced all of this, so I may be of help and service to others.

If you are struggling right now with your health, don’t give up hope. Have faith that healing is possible. 

If you’d like support in your healing journey, check out my Heal Your Digestion Program. It is designed to help you heal your gut, reduce chronic inflammation, and restore your health.

About Jen Broyles, CHC

Jen Broyles is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and is on a mission to help people regain their health naturally, specifically in the area of digestive wellness. Her personal story is what inspired her to educate and guide others. She dealt with chronic digestive issues for over 10 years, and it was significantly affecting her quality of life. She returned to school to study nutrition, started doing her own research, and trained with functional medicine practitioners. She now helps clients restore their health naturally through diet and lifestyle changes and necessary diagnostic testing to uncover the root cause. She is a firm believer in the role that real food, a balanced lifestyle, and a positive attitude plays on overall health. You can visit her website and blog for FREE digestive wellness tips, recipes, and healthy living advice. Jen offers private health coaching to individuals who are struggling with chronic digestive problems as well as an exclusive online program designed to Heal Your Digestion.

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