Meet Marnie Dachis Marmet

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marnie Dachis Marmet. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marnie below.

Marnie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Finding my purpose has been an evolving journey of self-discovery, reflection, and growth. Early on, my purpose was rooted in raising my children while also balancing my role as an entrepreneur, running multiple businesses alongside motherhood. As I now transition into the role of a soon-to-be empty nester, I feel my purpose expanding outward. Writing “My Song, Unleashed,” and delving into deep, probing questions helped me understand that my purpose now lies in creating a ripple effect in the world, particularly in the health and wellness space.

Time spent outside on a trail or in nature allows me to tune inward, where I can ask myself what truly makes me feel alive. This journey has involved trial and error, exploring where I feel most authentic and energized. Each time I connect with others, helping or educating even just a few, I experience a profound sense of contentment and alignment, knowing I am contributing to something greater. Now, my purpose is about living in ways that resonate deeply and sharing that authenticity with the world.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was raised in a health-conscious home––we were all about fitness. My mom was a TV aerobics instructor in the 80s, and I attended many of her classes. I’ve always been an athlete; I was a gymnast, runner, skier, and dancer throughout my school years. In my early years, I looked like the picture of health. Exercise and sports? Absolutely. But healthy food and mindset? Not so much. I knew certain foods didn’t agree with me, but I didn’t have a good handle on healthy eating.

I graduated from UW Madison with a BA in Journalism and landed a tempting, high-paying corporate job right out of school. I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me. I needed a career that nurtured my independence, creative thinking, and bubbly optimism, and I sure didn’t find that in the corporate world. I was starting to listen to my gut feeling, although I didn’t know that’s what it was at the time, and it was telling me to carve out my path.

Eventually, after a few different jobs and a couple of self-started businesses, I set up (and still run) my own company, ChillyBean Promotions. I have spent the last 23 years as an entrepreneur. It’s been a rewarding and satisfying business in many ways, but something felt wrong. I thought I was living my purpose, but was there a nagging voice whispering that I needed meaningful change? With some honest self-inquiry, I confronted some hard truths. I was in good physical shape, but I’d neglected a massive part of my well-being, the part that is harder to see and more difficult to heal. I figured out the “body” part, but what about my racing mind? What about my spirit?

For years now, I’ve had a passion for wellness and holistic health and I immersed myself in books, articles, and self-education, but it hadn’t occurred to me yet that I could turn this passion into a career. During this self-inquiry period, where I felt deeply dissatisfied, I began to focus on my health, and my path slowly opened up. Wisdom crept in, and I had my awakening. I realized it is not enough to have an active lifestyle. Although yoga had been a big part of my life for over two decades, I missed its central message – the physical, emotional, and spiritual interconnectedness. I began to address my health as a whole. My mindset shifted. I changed my nourishment, movement, self-care routines, and how I spoke to my teens. I established positive self-talk, a gratitude practice, and a morning routine, slowly weeding out negative, toxic energy and people from my life. I became an outlier by living my truth.

As I plunged deeper into my health and wellness, my inner voice told me there was no stopping me. I stepped into my many fears and continued to put myself into uncomfortable situations. I enrolled in three simultaneous educational programs in one year and rearranged my whole world around wellness. I now live, breathe, and teach integrative wellness. I get to inhabit my passion––if you’ve ever followed your heart, you’ll know how satisfying that feels.

My loving husband and three young adult children are also making small and steady changes. Our home is much happier because I live my purpose and feel satisfied. I wake up every day excited and invigorated. My journey has been over many years. I have learned so much about nurturing my inner self and not being so focused on my exterior. I have made small, consistent changes over time. Feeling in my body and being present and mindful have been wonderful gifts.

Today, I am an entrepreneur, certified holistic health coach and integrative health practitioner, yoga and meditation teacher, podcaster, and author. Every one of us possesses the ability to unleash our unique song into the world, and I seek to motivate others to discover their passions and live a life of authenticity. Beginning in 2015, I pursued my passions in health and wellness, culminating in my completing multiple certifications, including an Integrative Health Practitioner certification (Levels 1 and 2), a Holistic Health Coach certification, a 230-hour yoga and Yoga Calm® teacher certifications, and training on gut health and mindfulness/meditation. Along with managing ChillyBean Promotions—a promotional products company I have owned and operated for over 20 years—I currently run a health coaching practice, Zenful Life Coaching. I enjoy coaching busy women and teens on implementing personalized plans that embed gradual, sustainable, healthy nutrition and lifestyle changes to create a happier and healthier life and women in their midlife seeking longevity for optimal aging. I have also just completed a certification in High Performance Health in order to help clients lead an active, healthy, long life. I am fascinated by the study of longevity and healthy aging. I meet you wherever you are and truly care about your success – whatever that means to you.

Zen means “calm and restful.” It’s the serenity and confidence you achieve when you let go of what’s holding you back so that you can create a brand-new reality. My health journey and diving into my intuition and inner knowing have guided me to where I am today, and I feel so grateful. So many of us are searching for answers; what I discovered is that all of my answers lie within me, and the secret is figuring out how to unlock yourself so you can inhabit your mind, body, and spirit to live a healthy, present, long, and engaging life.

My passions have led me to co-create and co-host a weekly podcast, The Art of Living Well Podcast, established to empower people to challenge the status quo and live their healthiest and most authentic lives. The weekly guests I meet are such a gift, and I walk away with profound nuggets to incorporate into my life. I am incredibly proud of my podcast and feel inspired daily to work on my show.

In my free time, I enjoy an active lifestyle: yoga, running, biking, hiking, skiing, water sports, travel, reading, photography, and spending time with family, friends, and my labradoodle Lila.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

For me, the most impactful qualities have been:

Being curious – Asking questions and truly listening to others has been invaluable. Often, people are so focused on what they’ll say next that they miss out on what’s being shared. My curiosity has taken me down countless rabbit holes, deep dives into new topics, and has fueled continual learning, growth, and inspiration. Staying curious keeps the journey exciting and full of potential.

Stepping into my fears – I regularly challenge myself to face things that make me uncomfortable, and each time it becomes a bit easier. Whether it’s writing a memoir filled with deeply personal stories, climbing 29,029 feet on a mountain, or putting myself out there in ways that push my limits, I’ve found that the reward is always worth it. I ask myself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” If it’s not truly a worst-case scenario, I go for it!

Staying present – Living in the past or future can drain joy from the present moment. I’ve found that life feels richer when I focus on the here and now. This is a constant practice for me—I have to remind myself often to return to the present. Engaging conversations, time outdoors, and work that fulfills me help keep me grounded in the moment.

For anyone starting their journey, I’d suggest taking baby-steps toward the life you want. Identify something you want to do that scares you, make a list of the worst possible outcomes, and then go for it!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, my go-to strategy is getting into my body and out of my head. Yoga is one of my favorites for unwinding, but really, any kind of movement helps create that mental release. Running, hiking, or even walking with a friend helps me channel that energy and feel grounded again. My advice here is to find a physical activity that you enjoy—something you can turn to as a healthy escape that brings you back to the present moment.

Another simple yet powerful tool is deep breathing. Just taking a few slow, deep breaths—four counts in, four counts out—can quickly relax the nervous system and shift my focus back to the present. My advice is to make this a habit: even practicing deep breathing for a minute or two each day can train your body to use it naturally during stressful moments.

Lastly, writing is incredibly helpful. I like to do what I call a “brain dump,” where I grab a notebook and jot down everything on my mind—thoughts, worries, frustrations, dreams, anything. This doesn’t have to be organized; it’s just about clearing mental space. For those new to this, my advice is not to overthink it. Just start writing, even if it feels scattered. Over time, you’ll notice the release and clarity this process can bring.

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