We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erika Burnett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Erika, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I grew up in a single-parent home, with little support from my father. As a child, I often felt alone and voiceless, not quite fitting in with the other children my age because I had no interest in being popular. In search of connection and belonging, I joined the Girl Scouts at the age of 9 and remained a part of the organization until I was 17. Girl Scouting became a sanctuary for me, where I was accepted and valued for who I was, a sense of belonging which I hadn’t experienced before. It provided fulfillment and balance amidst the trauma I experienced during my high school years, where I endured bullying and was even physically assaulted by strangers—simply because I was different. I never tried to conform, and that was what set me apart.
After high school, I continued to serve as a Girl Scout leader for 10 years, nurturing young girls who, like me, needed a place to belong. In 2005, I took my passion for growth a step further by enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania’s College of General Studies to study Sociology, and later, at Manor College, where I majored in Business Administration. Despite these accomplishments, for years, I chased accolades, believing they would fill a void I didn’t even realize I had.
In an attempt to fill that void, I entered into a marriage with a man who was mentally and emotionally abusive. This only deepened my feelings of abandonment and uselessness, leading me to retreat into isolation. I was convinced that my voice didn’t matter and that people only cared about what I could do for them, not who I was.
Then one day, everything changed. God reached out to me through my sisters in business. It was through them that I began to rebuild my self-esteem and, ultimately, discovered my purpose. I realized that my purpose wasn’t something I had to find—it found me. My strong passion to help women who, like me, felt lost, became the driving force in my life.
Now, my purpose became clear: to be a compassionate listener, share my experiences and insights, and to support others on their healing journey. I cultivated my relationship with God, immersed myself in self-help resources, surrounded myself with positive influences, practiced mindfulness, and established firm boundaries. These small, consistent practices led me to the woman I am today—someone who is deeply compassionate, empathetic, and genuinely supportive of others.
In my life, I faced numerous challenges, from a fatherless upbringing to bullying, self-esteem struggles, abuse and a painful divorce. But rather than letting these obstacles defeat me, I fought on to become a better and stronger person. My purpose aligns with my values and beliefs, exemplifying my allegiance to God and myself to always maintain integrity, give love, and serve others. It holds me accountable and reminds me that I have a responsibility to help those who need it.
It is deeply fulfilling to offer a listening ear, knowing that my presence and understanding can help someone feel less alone by sharing my own story and knowledge. I hope to inspire and uplift those on their path to healing, making their journey a little easier and more helpful.
In the end, I decided to turn my professional and personal experiences into tools to help others. Driven by a deep desire to guide individuals in overcoming life’s challenges, and inspired by the unwavering support of God, I earned my Life Coaching certification. My greatest accomplishment has been learning to love myself, and now it is my mission to help others do the same. I aim to be a source of encouragement for those who are fighting to overcome past hurts, just as I have.
During my journey to discovering my purpose, I gained a deeper understanding of the human experience and a stronger compassion for others. Now, when people share their stories with me, I can truly understand what they’re going through and support them from a genuine place. My advice to others on this journey is simple: don’t worry about finding your purpose—when the time is right, your purpose will find you, just as it found me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I support individuals on their journey to healing. The most exciting thing about what I do is that I get to watch individuals change and grow into someone they never thought they could be.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Discipline, Individuality and Faith were the three most impactful areas in my journey.
Discipline is a form of control over your choices. You develop discipline by placing boundaries on weak areas of your life one at a time.
Individuality is being your authentic self. Be okay with who you are, standing alone and not trying to fit in with the crowd.
Faith is knowing that things will always work out the way they were supposed to in the end. Be patient.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
God has been most helpful in me overcoming my challenges and developing the skills, qualities and knowledge needed to be successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pathwaysofreflection.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathwaysofreflection/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pathwaysofreflectionllc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikanburnett/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachErikaNich
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsC2XWX-UUxoYHUexSbDwGQ
Image Credits
N/A
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
