Meet Nina

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

Nina, 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?

I found my purpose the moment my life could’ve gone another way — at just five years old, when I was hit by a car. As strange as it sounds, that accident planted the first seed of my dream to become a doctor. Something about being in the hospital, watching the doctors move with such care and purpose, captured my heart. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to help people heal.

But dreaming it and living it were two very different things. College hit me like a second collision — classes were brutal, my confidence took blow after blow, and there were times I genuinely believed I wasn’t smart enough for medical school. I even had a 1.9 GPA at one point. I thought my dream was slipping away. I thought I was slipping away.

But then came a turning point — a night when a young prophet spoke over my life and told me, ‘You will be a doctor. You will travel the world. You will be successful.’ It was the confirmation my heart needed when my mind was full of doubt. That moment reminded me that purpose isn’t just about what you want to do — it’s about what you’re called to do.

I didn’t find my purpose because everything came easy. I found it because God refused to let me give up on myself — even when I wanted to. My purpose was built through resilience, faith, and a stubborn refusal to quit. Every closed door, every failed Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), every tear was part of the process.

Purpose, for me, was never about perfection — it was about perseverance. It’s about being chosen for something bigger than yourself, and choosing, over and over again, to say yes.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a psychiatrist, business owner, author, motivational speaker, podcast host, wife, mom, and runner — but at my core, I’m simply someone passionate about inspiring joy and resilience in others. I am the founder of NJoy LIFE Living In Full Empowerment, LLC, where I provide trauma-informed psychiatric care, therapy, and coaching to help individuals not just survive, but thrive. My mission is to show people — especially those balancing multiple roles — that joy isn’t something you have to wait for; it’s something you can create, even in the midst of life’s challenges.

Through my podcast Journey to Joy Live, I create conversations that promote mental wellness, resilience, and authentic living. I’m also the author of NJoyNAL: Nurturing Authentic Living, a 7-in-1 therapy companion journal designed to help individuals shift from stress to joy across mental, physical, financial, aspirational, and social health.

Outside of my professional work, I’m a proud wife, mom of three boys, and an avid runner with a goal of completing 100 half marathons — I’m currently at 40 and counting! Running has become both a metaphor and a real-life example of endurance, resilience, and the pursuit of joy.

What’s new and exciting? I’m currently expanding my brand with the upcoming launch of my second book Inspire Joy for the Wife Mom Boss: Balancing It All Without Losing Yourself this spring. I’m also building new group programs and wellness events focused on helping women prioritize their well-being and reconnect with their joy, no matter how busy or overwhelming life gets.

At the heart of everything I do — whether it’s psychiatry, speaking, writing, or podcasting — is the belief that joy is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. And it’s absolutely possible to live empowered, resilient, and joyful — even while being everything to everyone.

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

Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were resilience, optimism, and faith.

Resilience kept me standing when life knocked me down — whether it was academic setbacks, moments of self-doubt, or just the sheer exhaustion of chasing big dreams while balancing multiple roles. One of my favorite quotes from A League of Their Own captures it perfectly: “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.” I lived that truth. The challenges weren’t proof that I didn’t belong — they were the very proof that I was growing into my purpose.

Optimism gave me the ability to keep dreaming even when the reality didn’t match the vision yet. It allowed me to believe that every no, every closed door, and every setback was setting me up for something greater. That’s why I created my own mantra: “GPA is a reflection of effort, not of your intelligence.” I had to separate my worth from the numbers and keep believing in my potential even when my circumstances told a different story.

And faith — faith was my anchor. There were moments when the only thing I had was a quiet belief that God’s promise was still alive, even when everything around me seemed to be falling apart.

For those who are early in their journey, my advice is simple: Don’t run from hard things. Lean into them. Let the hard shape you, not define you. Work on strengthening your resilience by getting back up — every single time. Protect your optimism by surrounding yourself with people who pour into you. And feed your faith, especially when you’re in the waiting seasons. The journey won’t always be easy, but if you stay the course, it will be great in ways you can’t even imagine yet.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I run. Running is my therapy, my medication, my zen — it’s the one thing that resets me completely.

No matter what I’m up against — a packed schedule, a stressful day, even an invitation to an event — if it comes down to that or running, I choose running. Every time. Even when I’m tired, even when it means sacrificing sleep, I know that lacing up my shoes and hitting the pavement will give me more energy, more clarity, and more peace than anything else.

It’s not just about movement — it’s a spiritual experience for me. Running clears my mind, helps me process emotions, and takes me from 0 to 100 — from stress to joy — every single time. It’s where I pray, cry, strategize, and sometimes just breathe.

My advice? Find your “running.” Find that one thing that reconnects you with you — something that grounds you, energizes you, and helps you come home to yourself. Whether it’s movement, music, journaling, therapy, or time in nature — prioritize it like it’s medicine. Because for me, it is. That consistent act of choosing myself in those moments is how I stay aligned, present, and resilient.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Erica Ehiwe
from EBEPR Studios

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