We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Rigel Pinon-sloss a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Rigel, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Hello! First and foremost, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story. I believe each of us is here to leave our unique mark on the world, and if sharing my journey touches even one life, it’s absolutely worth it.
A bit about me—my name is Dr. Rigel Macarena Pinon, I am proudly Mexican, originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon yet I received most of my education here in the Rio Grande Valley. I was adopted at the age of 5, and two weeks later, my mother lost her sight due to early onset diabetes. This experience forced me to grow up quickly, taking on various responsibilities at a young age. I’ve always felt like I didn’t quite fit in, which fueled my determination to prove my worth. This drive led me to become the first in my family to earn a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling, establish my own nonprofit, and build a successful hybrid lifestyle coaching business.
Resilience has been the driving force of my life, and I’ve come to understand that true empowerment begins with facing our wounds head-on. It’s about challenging your limiting beliefs and questioning our social conditioning. Five years ago, I made the choice to break generational cycles—both deep and surface level—this was a game changer for me, and it began when I learned to embrace the darkness within me, meaning all those emotions I didn’t feel comfortable sitting with. It was about learning to BE with myself and all that I am that makes me whole. It wasn’t easy—confronting those deep-seated feelings of rejection and unworthiness which undoubtedly required immense courage. But I learned that these shadows hold the key to our greatest strengths. I decided to take back my power and realized it was up to me how my story ends. I want a life full of adventure, challenges, rewritten versions and full of authenticity. After all an extraordinary life knows all-kinds of courage and that is where I am at. This journey of healing is one we all must undertake, a path that demands we dig deep into the most vulnerable parts of ourselves. It’s an individual journey and an essential part of the breakthrough. With courage, we can all endure this process and emerge stronger, ensuring that the pain stops with us and doesn’t touch future generations.
Currently, I’m a life coach at 1Shot, where I lead a dynamic lifestyle coaching community in the Rio Grande Valley. I’m all about shaking up the outdated wellness rules and helping people reclaim their power by redefining well-being to fit their real, everyday lives. My Instagram feed is a mix of bold, fun, and relatable content that shows exactly how I do this—whether it’s busting wellness myths, sharing tips for living your best life, or celebrating small victories. My goal is to connect with those ready to take control, challenge the status quo, and their most powerful self in every area of their life. If you’re ready to rewrite your wellness story, my coaching is where your journey begins.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
So, my business is known as 1Shot, a lifestyle transformation coaching service. We teach people how to change their lives from a mindset, habitual, nutritional, and physical perspective—all from a place of love and a desire for growth. We often forget how fragile life is and live life on autopilot, especially in our region. The Valley is not designed to be pedestrian-friendly, healthy, walkable, or conducive to an active lifestyle. We strive to challenge this and make movement a natural, fun part of life to prevent irreversible illnesses, including neurological disorders, cancer, dementia, and heart disease.
Considering McAllen is one of the most obese cities in the nation, with nearly 45% of the population classified as obese, this work is crucial. This alarming statistic is a call to action, and through 1Shot, we aim to make a meaningful impact. We cater to real people with busy lives, careers, families, and goals, offering them the tools and support they need to live healthier, more vibrant lives.
Our clients are as diverse as they come—our youngest client is just 13 years old, while our oldest is an 82-year-old lawyer. We enjoy working with all kinds of people and pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive, positive culture. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and we partner with various businesses to ensure a smooth life transition for our clients. Our partners include grocery stores, Shake Express, Greens and Lemons, Fit Grill, Protein house, IV drip services, and masseuses. We believe our greatest strength is collaboration.
In addition to my work with 1Shot, I am also the co-founder of a nonprofit known as The Visionaries: The Blind in Action dedicated to serving people who are blind and visually impaired. This nonprofit work is another way I strive to make a positive difference in our community, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a full and empowered life, regardless of their circumstances.
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?
Gratitude: Embracing gratitude can change your perspective on life, helping you to see opportunities where others see obstacles.
Being Coachable: Staying open to learning and growth is crucial. Being coachable means you’re willing to listen, adapt, and apply new knowledge to improve continuously.
Never Take No for an Answer: Resilience is about persistence. When faced with challenges, finding alternative paths and solutions is key to achieving your goals. This is imperative when you are a visionary and are passionate about creating something that doesn’t yet exist. Hold the vision.
Always Reach Back: Success isn’t just about moving forward; it’s about lifting others up along the way. I believe in reaching back to help those who come after us, fostering a community where everyone can thrive. It is very important to me that I become who I needed when I struggled and that how I try to move through life in every environment.
The best advice I’ve learned is that to achieve your dreams, you must put in the reps. It all comes down to one question: Are you going to wish for it more than you work for it?
Finally, my current motto is “F*** your mood, follow the plan” like Leila Hormozi says. I know its aggressive but somedays this reminder is exactly what gets me through the hardest days. Everything works out in the end and I would not change a thing.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
As a life coach, I’m here for the professional women who are ready to step up, break generational cycles, and embrace their full potential. We’re just 15 conversations away from unlocking your best self—the faster we dive in, the closer you get to living your purpose. I’m passionate about connecting with growth-oriented women who are eager to challenge cultural norms and take control of their future. If you’re ready to grow, let’s get started on this journey together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rigelpinon01.wixsite.com/rgvvisionaries
- Instagram: dr.rigel.pinon
- Facebook: rigel pinon sloss
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rigel-pinon-063750183/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
