Meet Sara Kostelnik

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

Sara, so appreciative of you coming on today to talk with us about a topic that is important but rarely talked about – overcoming bankruptcy. Can you talk to us about your story and how you overcame bankruptcy and managed to build a happy, fulfilling and thriving life and career after bankruptcy?

I found it really interesting that this is the topic I chose to speak on, and I’ll explain why in a minute. Generally speaking, I knew that I had officially overcome bankruptcy because within the 10 years after filing, I’ve purchased and sold homes, financed cars, opened credit cards, and maintained a credit score of at least 750+. However, to truly overcome bankruptcy is to recognize it as a message from the Universe that this is something you need to look at deep within. Getting curious about your relationship with money or your beliefs about money is the first step.

I remember the day I celebrated: it was the day our loan officer emailed us saying we were pre-approved for a home loan. My husband and I were ecstatic, but I was also shocked. I certainly did not think we’d qualify for a home loan with the bankruptcy still on our credit report. It takes 10 years to clear, and we were only three years in. So, I truly expected to be denied the loan. And, when I shared that with our loan officer, she said, “Well, you’ve been doing all the right things.” And, as I’ve learned, the most critical thing one can do is to slowly rebuild a positive credit history.

About a year after filing for bankruptcy, my husband and I both got approved for a credit card. We used it to make small necessary purchases like gas and groceries, and then paid it off immediately by the end of the week. This practice had a compounding effect on our credit score and is how we manage our monthly finances to this day. We still put necessities on a credit card and pay it off by the end of the month. However, you have to be diligent in this process. Setting up automatic transfers or payments once or twice a month can be helpful, because the same compounding effect that benefits your credit score can also work against you if you’re not paying attention. It still shocks me how quickly one can rack up credit card debt!

So yes, I have “overcome bankruptcy” by using tactical tools and advice. However, as I stated already, overcoming bankruptcy is an ongoing process of uncovering subconscious beliefs about money, understanding what money is at its core, and how it can serve not only me but others as well. Bankruptcy, like any perceived negative event, is a wake-up call from the Universe—a clue in the game of life that there is something you need to heal in order to fully appreciate its value and meaning. There are times I still feel panic when my credit card balance is higher than my comfort level or when I realize I’ve been swiping a little too much. I know I’ve gotten my finances back to a place where I’m not in a state of worry over money or a looming bankruptcy – we live a pretty good life! However, my task now is working on healing my relationship to money so that I can create a beautiful and prosperous life for myself and my family with a sense of comfort and ease.

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?

As a business owner, there’s nothing more confronting than a poor money mindset. Starting my company made me truly acknowledge the importance of healing my relationship with money instead of solely focusing on a good credit score. How was I supposed to manage other people’s money if I wasn’t great at managing my own? How could I accept payment from clients with gratitude if I was instead stressed and focused on the outgoing money necessary to operate the business? Being in business was the catalyst for healing my money mindset.

I started Jade Scott Design seven years after filing for personal bankruptcy. Interestingly, at the time of this interview, I’m now celebrating seven years in business! The number seven in numerology represents introspection, inner wisdom, and spirituality. As a home and lifestyle coach, I often consider the numerology of my clients’ home address and life path number to help assess what they truly need to work on and reveal in their lives. Looking at the trajectory of my own life and business, along with the energy of the number seven, it’s become clear to me that operating a business has been a critical component to my healing around money.

Jade Scott Design started as an interior design studio but has evolved since the pandemic. During COVID, the stress of everyone being home all day, everyday gave me a different perspective on how we live at home. What didn’t we like about our home? What could I do to make us more comfortable? What frustrates us about the home and what home projects needed to be addressed? This last question is why the pandemic sparked a home remodeling frenzy, which ultimately led to my own business burnout in design. Instead of jumping into my own home renovation, I turned to Feng Shui. This is what has allowed me to marry my love for design with my passion for spiritual development into a business model.

Integrating Feng Shui into my design practice was a game-changer for me both professionally and personally. Crafting spaces for clients that feel good, as opposed to just looking good, brought back the spark of joy and creativity to my entrepreneurial journey. My practice has recently evolved further, and I no longer offer interior design services. And, Feng Shui has become just one tool in my toolkit. Now, I coach clients on all aspects of life they are looking to heal from, integrate into, and transcend so that they can live a purposeful life. This can include finding more joy, purpose, or love, healing our bodies, and as well as our relationship with money.

I’ve integrated my personal and professional experiences into a form of life coaching I call Mind Body Home Alignment. This is where my clients and I use the home as a playground for exploration and transformation. I often say that home is the missing piece to the mind-body equation because our environment plays a critical role in our journey. When all three—mind, body, and home—are in balance and flow, we live life from our spiritual alignment of peace and joy.

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

My first piece of advice is to maintain a sense of curiosity to gain clarity. Whether you are going through or healing from bankruptcy (or any financial stress), start by turning inward and asking yourself questions. Without shaming yourself, reflect on how you got here. What thoughts or beliefs about money do you hold? What was the financial status of your parents, and what were their beliefs about money? Look to your home and body for further insights. Financial stress often settles in our hips, glutes, and legs. Do you have muscle or fascial pain in these areas? Do you suffer from any chronic illness involving the bones, hips, or pelvic area? In your home, your relationship to finances is represented by the far back left corner. What’s going on in that area? Is there clutter or disorganization? Has your home had plumbing issues or leaks? All of these questions help tell a story. By staying curious, you can begin to get a clearer picture of what’s really going on in your life, paving the way for healing and resolution.

My second piece of advice is to get support. A trusted advisor or coach can be invaluable, but if you’re not in a financial position to afford these services, find a supportive community of people who are a few steps ahead of where you want to be. Surrounding yourself with people who understand your situation will help you avoid cycles of shame and guilt. A support system is critical to your healing journey, and many can be found for free, such as Facebook groups, YouTube channels, and podcasts.

Lastly, take responsibility for your actions. It’s easy to blame others or circumstances for our hardships. I had to file for bankruptcy partly due to the 2008 economic crisis, and for years I focused solely on that. It wasn’t until I took a deeper look at my relationship with money that I truly began to heal. Our life, like our home, mirrors what’s going on internally. We are here to learn, heal, and grow through our human experiences. And, when we start viewing our life through that lens, we see that everything is unfolding for our greater expansion, exactly as it should. Maintaining trust and faith in this perspective can help soften the impact of any negative experience.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

There have been so many influences in my life—too many to name here! Besides online coaches, mentors, authors, family, and friends, two significant people have given me lifelong skills to ensure my success in any aspect of life.

First, I would have to mention Kim Chestney, an expert in intuition development, who has probably been the most influential. I studied with her for nearly four years, and I believe that developing our intuitive skills is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. Everything we need to know or want to know is within us and accessible. Kim provides the tools to learn how to access your intuition, trust it, and build a relationship with it. When life feels chaotic and out of our control, we often look to others for answers or advice. Unfortunately, that advice isn’t always beneficial because it doesn’t truly match our personal experience or expectations. By learning to hear your own inner voice, you become your own personal guru and lifelong friend.

Another mentor of mine is Susie Moore, a life coach who helps other coaches succeed through various practices and resources. I began working with Susie over seven years ago, before starting my company. She had a course on starting a side hustle, which propelled my own side hustle into a full-time business, eventually replacing my unfulfilling corporate career. I’ve stayed committed to Susie and her various programs over the years because I look up to her as a coach and a woman. Her uplifting perspectives on life and bubbly attitude are contagious. People are drawn to those who are confident and sure of themselves, and Susie embodies that for me.

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