Meet Kasey Rogers

We were lucky to catch up with Kasey Rogers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kasey, 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 never thought my journey would be so far from my goals when I was younger. I started out to write a musical for the Broadway stage. I ended up as a founding member of an organization called I Know Why She Stayed, which educates others about the connection between domestic and financial abuse. Using my personal experiences to help others avoid the challenges I faced as a victim of domestic abuse has been so rewarding. I genuinely believe the challenges I faced gave me a purpose-driven existence.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Writing has always been my creative outlet. Years ago, I workshopped a musical I wrote in New York City and had the distinction of being a triple threat (composer, lyricist, and librettist.) This was at a time when there were few opportunities for women to write, direct, or produce for the Broadway stage. However, the obstacles were overwhelming, so I left theatre behind to focus on a career in the commercial film industry. Once I had kids, I gave that up, too, so I could spend time with my twins. But I eventually found myself trying to escape an abusive marriage. I believed the myth that leaving was simply a matter of deciding to go. But I soon learned that, like myself, 99% of women who stay do so because they are financially unable to leave. Financial abuse was a form of abuse that most people didn’t talk about. It wasn’t until I sat down to write about my experiences in the memoir I Know Why She Stayed that I was not alone, far from it. Now, I speak about the subject internationally and have formed an organization to help others learn about this form of abuse. Using my skills as a writer has been extremely rewarding, and the best part is that I know I am helping a future generation avoid the pitfalls of financial abuse.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I am persistent. I am actively self-aware. I am enough. I do not require anyone to valid that I am worthy of love and respect. Love is not something you can earn. Erich Fromm in his book, The Art of Loving said it best: “To be loved because of one’s merit, because one deserves it, always leaves doubt. Maybe I did not please the person whom I wanted to love me, maybe this, or that—there is always a fear that love could disappear.’
When I was married, I tried to prove I was worthy of my husband’s love. Then, I began to understand that my entire self-worth had been based on this faulty notion. This shift in perspective gave me more control over my own happiness. I knew if my self-esteem was no longer in the hands of another human being, I could let go of so much of the insecurity that kept me chained to the repeated negative messages I received from him. I was determined to learn that I didn’t need to prove myself worthy of his love. In the end, that is truly what saved me.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest is a gem. Each day, you read just one page that has profound messages about your ability to change and lead a happier and healthier life. It really has helped me change my perspective on what is important and what truly matters. A passage the had a significant meaning for me was as follows. Day 198 “One day, you will see your own strength you will begin to realize that the things that once pressed up against every nerve in your body are able to move through you with a little more ease, You will walk through the things you want most deeply feared, and you will walk out on the other side and be okay. You will realize that through what you face you find your deepest strength and you get to keep that with you for the rest of your days.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Iknowwhyshestayed.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/iknowwhyshestayed/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasey-rogers-96196823/

Image Credits

Cover design by K.J. Harrowick