Meet Christie Pierce

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christie Pierce. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Christie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I’ve been asked how I made it through to the other side and my reply has been, “because failure wasn’t an option”.

Social media is loaded with hashtags about resilience but this is what it means to ME:

Realizing
Events
Simultaneously
Include
Lessons
Incorporated (to)
Effectively
Necessitate
Cause (for)
Evolution

There are days where I wish I knew then what I know now but honestly, this is my journey and although it has been incredibly unpredictable and obscenely challenging it’s also been overwhelmingly expansive.

In April of 2023 I was hiking in the South of France. I had taken a few weeks off from work to attend a week-long women’s retreat in Bandol and afterwards planned to visit friends in Paris.

It was a break from work that I desperately needed. Things had become unbearable and I felt this retreat would bring me back to center. Little did I know that just over 24 hours after landing in Nice, I’d be transported and lying in a hospital Easter morning with a broken ankle requiring surgery.

A week later, I flew back to the States underwent surgery and was gifted (sarcastically) with a titanium plate and six screws. Life can be incredibly cruel and unpredictable so I thought, but the events that unraveled after my surgery is how I built my resilience even stronger than before.

So here I was, unable to walk. Incapable of driving. Everyday tasks came to a screeching halt!

I didn’t think it could get worse but then the final door to the outside world slammed shut. I wasn’t needed anymore.

For over 20 years I drove to the same place day after day, week after week, year after year and then one day – I didn’t.

I was confused, hurt and furious! I felt deep sadness and was lost for first time in my life. My daughter moved out of the house following that surgery. Talk about feeling like your life just blew up??

Everything I had known for the greater part of my adult life was frayed or broken into pieces and I was certainly not in a space mentally, emotionally or physically to put anything back together.

What provided my daughter and me with financial means to buy a home, maintain healthcare, put food on the table, heat our home in the winter and assure our basic needs had just disappeared.

I was no longer a part of what I had known and felt (somewhat) secure in for over 20 years.
This was “my place” where I had sense of purpose; direct impact on people’s lives. Built and maintained amazing connections. I thrived and truly enjoyed what I did for all those years. It was “my place” albeit at times a living hell, it was otherwise profoundly satisfying and it was MY identity.

But after breaking my ankle, undergoing surgery, my daughter moving out of our home, losing my job with a company I had been an integral part of for over 20 years, I was forcibly pushed SO deep into darkness that I wasn’t sure I would ever “see” never mind “find” the light.

Sometimes it takes complete darkness for light to shine onto the cracks that the darkest corners of our imagination take us and not because we want to go there, but because we have been pushed there. We weren’t given another choice.

The last two years have been so exhausting learning to straddle the duality of light and dark. Healing the wounds that appeared to be on the surface yet, coming to the innerstanding that they were FAR deeper than imagined. It’s been a massive process and at times, spiritual surgery to release the pain associated with those wounds allowing them to heal.

I was a hyper-independent and self-sufficient woman most of my life so to ask for help and RECEIVE IT was way out of my comfort zone. Thankfully, my friends and family offered to assist with as much as I was willing to relinquish and let’s be honest, I wasn’t in any position to forgo help. Yet silently, I sat and battled demons far bigger than mowing the lawn, or going grocery shopping but I was sincerely grateful when they would sit with me in their free time.

Just last month I arrived at the conclusion that much of my struggle was associated with shame I felt in losing my job. When you’re told that you are no longer needed, your position has been eliminated, all sorts of old abandonment and “not being worthy” issues come to the surface wreaking havoc not only on your mental state but your emotional and physical wellbeing. I didn’t speak about any of it. I sat in misery with a cast up to my knee and my mouth shut.

So I kept that pattern going where I push everything down – WAY down! Leading to moments saddled with past demons that danced alongside daily thoughts forcing me to find MY OWN light. Igniting new purpose and changing the impact I could obtain in a world without the boundaries, policies and a safety net of the corporate arena.

As I was regaining strength mentally, physically and emotionally I decided to begin inspecting the rubble that was left behind and truly embrace the emotions that infused each piece. I had to take a long look at myself and understand what part I played in this chapter.

The ankle was healing, I was attending physical therapy; I also became part of a mastermind group of women that required me to show up for myself which hadn’t happened in so long because in the hierarchy of the corporate arena when I spoke out I typically made matters worse for myself.
So the mastermind group encouraged dissecting those parts of myself and situations that occurred in the past that were either blocked out, pushed aside or my ever so helpful ego thought, nah, “I’m good”.

In the late Fall of 2023 I felt called to Sedona, Arizona and went deeper than I ever thought I could and discovered a beautiful and innocent inner child that I had pushed aside and forgotten about for nearly 50 years. Meeting her and building a relationship initiated so much healing for my adult self.

Just last month I returned to Sedona for more expansive and transformational experiences giving me further insight to who I am, what I want to accomplish and allowing myself grace to completely let go of “what was” and look forward to “what will be”.

The chaos has been replaced with calm. “The place” is in the past and I’ve found peace with all of it. New connections and my calling have been creating a new community.

Self awareness, gratefulness, and love have given me the opportunity to truly embrace change and allow myself to become even more resilient.

I am so passionate about helping others who have been or are in similar spaces in life. I wholeheartedly believe transition IS transformation. Life has the ability to shift the moment you stop looking for more information and started acting on the information you already know.

Change is necessary. Change can be painful, remaining in the same place won’t allow for viewing other angles.
So, fight through the darkness because you will only find light, releasing what no longer is, only clears your sight ~cp

Inevitably, more challenging chapters may present themselves however, this chapter is now closed and I’m ready for anything.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Since leaving the corporate arena, I’ve gone on to receive certifications in the healing arts (Reiki, Integrated Energy Therapy, etc.). I’m currently working on transformational mentoring, speaking and in the near future, I’d plan on offering writing workshops. One of the most profound things I found to release trauma was to write/journal. When we drop down from our mind and into our hearts, the memories that hold trauma likely lessen as we truly want to let go of it.

I’ve had a passion for photography since I was a kid. Traveling and capturing not just the pretty, perfect things in life but meeting ordinary people with extraordinary stories is what compels me to share. In recent trips overseas. I’ve creatively woven poetic words with music into my photos, inviting others to feel the energy captured within a particular moment.

I want to help individuals who may be in a similar place where change, challenge and uncertainty has impeded their lives. Or perhaps feel a nudge that there is something more for them? We all have the ability to shed what no longer serves us, jumpstarting the reprogramming of our limited belief system that occurred during childhood so we can fully step into our purpose with passion. Leading us toward unbelievable freedom to be whoever we want; without needing validation from others.

I’m so excited to embark upon a new chapter. My website has been revised where my photography, blog posts and upcoming healing and mentoring sessions will be offered.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Self awareness – I’ve learned to recognize and understand my thoughts, emotions and own behaviors and how they affect others. Reflecting on my strengths, weaknesses, values and goals enabled personal growth and has improved relationships to help me navigate life with greater clarity and purpose.

Individual wisdom – My insight and understanding of unfortunate life experiences has helped me become a better version of myself. And learning these lessons has allowed me to go deeper, drawing from my experiences where empathy fosters understanding in helping others see the bigger picture by offering support, patience and compassion creating a ripple effect in the community.

Personal validation – Taking my own thoughts, feelings and experiences as valid and meaningful. I’m learning to accept myself without judgement, recognizing my intrinsic worth and valuing my unique perspective. It has rebuilt my self-confidence and emotional resilience; reducing reliance on external approval for sense of self-worth.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

If you’re a curious, open- minded individual who is looking to enhance your art, creativity or passion, let’s connect. I would also love to connect with those who thrive in the “art of healing”. I want to continue expanding a community with empowered individuals full of kindness, love, respect, trust and self-validation. Whether it’s a passion for writing, speaking, photography, and/or conducting healing sessions, let’s plant more seeds to grow.

@thelenstothesoul (IG)

The Lens to the Soul (Facebook)

@thelens_tothesoul (X)

@Christie.Pierce.a (IG)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thelenstothesoul.com
• Instagram: @thelenstothesoul @christie.pierce.a
• Facebook: The Lens to the Soul or Christie Pierce
• Linkedin: Christie Pierce
• Twitter: @thelens_tothesoul