Meet Vivian Võ Okuma

We were lucky to catch up with Vivian Võ Okuma recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Vivian Võ, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
The story of my resilience begins with a chilling truth: not everyone in my family survived the perilous escape from Vietnam after the war. My mom fled Vietnam after the war on a boat with her family. Unfortunately, three of my aunts drowned and did not make it. My mom and her surviving family then lived in a refugee camp in Thailand for a year, barely having anything to eat during that time. My mom would tell me that their family of 7 would share one small piece of fish.

If my mom went through that entire ordeal and yet was still able to make a living for herself in California and retire early, all while having a great attitude and making those around her laugh (she’s a huge jokester), then I have nothing to complain about. No matter the challenges I go through in life, I draw from my history to help me get through it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Imagine living a life where success feels fulfilling, not exhausting. As a doctor and life coach, I empower driven individuals to break free from the achievement treadmill and cultivate inner peace. Being a recovering overachiever, I’ve lived the first part of my life setting and achieving goals based on external achievements and what society deems “successful”. The constant striving left me feeling burnt out, anxious, and disconnected from myself. I knew I needed a change, not just for my health, but for my entire well-being.
Once I realized my life wasn’t sustainable the way it was going, I did years of inner work to set my inner and outer world up to be sustainable for me. Fortunately, I finally found a system that won’t take clients as long as I did to find inner alignment.
Through my program, you’ll move beyond simply surviving to truly thriving. Discover the secrets to inner alignment, build healthier relationships, and achieve mental resilience – all without the pressure to constantly achieve more.

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?
Curiosity, Empathy, Perseverance

Curiosity acts as a key unlocking a beginner’s mindset. Recognizing our own limitations opens the door to learning from anyone and anything. This journey isn’t just about acquiring knowledge; it’s also about discovering who we don’t want to be. We learn from others’ wisdom and mistakes, both positive and negative. Witnessing kindness, compassion, and healthy boundaries inspires us to cultivate them within ourselves. Conversely, observing mistreatment, hurtful words, and harmful tones allows us to recognize what to avoid. Curiosity fuels personal growth on a continuous spectrum.

Empathy starts with self-compassion. Offering ourselves grace during challenging times allows us to recognize that obstacles are temporary, and difficult emotions will pass. By understanding our own inner world, we cultivate the capacity to truly understand others. This fosters a kinder, more forgiving approach, encouraging us to give people the benefit of the doubt. With empathy, life flows more easily. The angry driver becomes someone rushing to a medical emergency, and the frustrated customer service representative might be dealing with a personal loss. Seeing beyond initial impressions fosters connection and understanding.

Perseverance embodies the spirit of “falling seven times, rising eight.” Life’s journey isn’t linear; it’s filled with unexpected twists and turns. What truly matters is how we bounce back from challenges. Are we engaging in self-destructive behaviors, or are we actively choosing practices that promote well-being and growth? Perseverance reminds us that we always have the power to start over, learn from mistakes, and move forward in a healthier, more life-giving way.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love one-on-one connections! I would love to collaborate with podcast hosts in being their guests on their podcasts. If their listeners are into self-help, personal growth, living authentically, spirituality, and mental fitness, then we would be a great fit for each other. Also, if there are any teams or organizations who want to increase their team’s potential, establish a growth mindset, and manage stress better, I’m available for a keynote or introduction talk on mental fitness.
Interested folks may email me directly at [email protected]

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Corey Pham and Loc Ngo

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