From Struggle to Grace: My Journey to Finding Balance

Hello, beautiful souls. Abby here.

If you’ve been part of this community for a while, you know I don’t shy away from sharing the raw, unpolished parts of my story and my Journey. Today, I want to open up about a deeply personal journey, one that took me from a place of overwhelming struggle to the graceful balance I now live with intentionality.

This isn’t just a story about me. It’s about you, too. Because if I could walk through my chaos and find calm, during my life journey, then you can, too.

In this post, I’ll share the struggles I faced, the shifts that helped me rise, and the lessons that continue to guide me as a mother, career woman, luxury traveler, and intentional woman gliding through the journey life.

Why Balance Feels So Hard for Women

Let’s be honest: balance often feels like a myth. Society tells us to “have it all,” but rarely explains how. Instead, we end up feeling stretched too thin, rushing between work deadlines, family responsibilities, and the quiet yearning for our own self-care and dreams.

I’ve been there. I’ve sat at my desk late at night, tears stinging my eyes, wondering if I was failing at everything. I’ve packed suitcases for glamorous trips while secretly worrying if my children felt my absence. I’ve smiled in public while battling exhaustion in private.

The truth? Balance journey isn’t about doing it all. It’s about choosing what matters most and giving yourself permission to let go of the rest.

My Season of Struggle

My struggle didn’t happen all at once. It built slowly.

At first, I thought I was just “busy.” Work demanded more of me. Motherhood stretched me in new ways. And as someone who loved to travel and inspire other women, I felt pressure to “look the part” elegant, successful, and unshaken.

But beneath the surface, I was crumbling.

• Physically, I was exhausted. My mornings started with rushing instead of calm. My nights ended with restlessness instead of peace.
• Emotionally, I felt guilty. Guilty for the moments I missed with my children. Guilty for the deadlines I delayed. Guilty for not being enough.
• Spiritually, I felt disconnected. I was moving so fast I had no time to listen to my inner voice.

This season taught me something important: when you’re always running, eventually you run out of yourself.

The Wake-Up Call

One evening, after another long, draining day, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My face looked tired, but it wasn’t just physical fatigue. It was the emptiness in my eyes.

That moment shook me. I realized I couldn’t keep living on autopilot. I wanted more than just surviving. I wanted grace, peace, and purpose. I wanted to be present not just for my family or career, but for me.

And that’s when my journey to balance began.

From Struggle to Grace: The Shifts That Changed Everything

1. Redefining Success

For the longest time, I equated success with busyness. If my calendar was full, I must be doing well, right? Wrong.

Success, I realized, isn’t about being everywhere at once. It’s about being fully present where you are. It’s not about perfection; it’s about alignment with your values in your journey.

Now, I measure success by:

• Did I spend intentional time with my children today?
• Did I nurture my body, mind, and soul?
• Did I contribute meaningfully at work or in my passion projects?

Anything outside that doesn’t define me anymore.

2. Creating Rhythms, Not Rigid Routines

I used to think the balance journey meant tightly controlling my schedule. But life doesn’t always cooperate. Children get sick. Work emergencies arise. Travel delays happen.

Instead of rigid routines, I created rhythms that allow flexibility.

• Morning rhythm: 15 minutes of prayer, stretching, or journaling before I touch my phone.
• Work rhythm: Focused deep work in blocks, instead of multitasking endlessly.
• Evening rhythm: Disconnecting from screens and having real conversations with my loved ones.

Rhythms gave me structure without suffocation.

3. Learning to Say No Gracefully

This was hard for me. As women, we’re often taught to say “yes” to opportunities, to requests, to every little need that comes our way. But every “yes” is also a “no” to something else, often ourselves.

Now, I practice saying no with kindness. “Thank you, but I can’t commit right now.” Or, “That doesn’t align with my priorities.”

Saying no doesn’t make me less loving. It makes me more intentional.

4. Making Self-Care Sacred

Self-care isn’t indulgence; it’s survival. For too long, I treated self-care like a reward for when everything else was done. But everything else is never done.

Now, I prioritize self-care daily:

• Quiet time with a cup of tea.
• A luxury bath with calming music.
• Reading a book that inspires me.
• Scheduling solo travel moments just for reflection.

When I fill my cup, I show up as a better mother, mentor, and woman.

5. Embracing Help and Support

This was a big mindset shift in my balance journey. For years, I thought asking for help meant weakness. But grace taught me otherwise.

I hired support where I could. I leaned on family and friends when I needed. I allowed myself to not do everything alone.

Balance became possible when I realized I wasn’t designed to carry it all by myself.

Lessons for Every Woman on This Journey

Looking back, my transition from struggle to grace wasn’t about a single breakthrough moment. It was about a series of small, intentional shifts.

Here are lessons I’d love for every woman in this community to carry:

• Balance is personal. Your version of balance may not look like anyone else’s. And that’s okay.
• Grace is freedom. Release the guilt of not being perfect.
• Intentionality is power. When you live on purpose, you find peace even in the busiest seasons.
• You are enough. Always.

How This Journey Shapes Me Today

Today, when I wake up, I don’t rush. I breathe, I pray, I choose how I want my day to feel. I travel with intention, not just for luxury, but for connection and renewal.

As a mother, I don’t strive for flawless parenting. I strive for presence. As a mentor, I don’t pretend to have it all figured out, I share openly so other women feel less alone.

And as Abby, I’ve learned that grace isn’t about being untouched by struggle. It’s about walking through it with courage and coming out stronger.

A Gentle Invitation to You

If you’re in your season of struggle right now, know this: it won’t last forever. Struggle has a way of breaking us open so grace can fill the cracks.

Start with small shifts. One intentional choice at a time. And remember, you’re not alone. This community is here to walk alongside you, to remind you of your strength, and to celebrate your wins, no matter how small.

Because if I could find balance, so can you.

Final Thoughts

“From struggle to grace” isn’t just a story I tell; it’s a mantra I live. Life will always throw challenges our way, but with intention, support, and self-love, we can transform even the hardest moments into stepping stones toward balance and elegance.

So, my beautiful sisters, take heart. Your journey is unfolding exactly as it should. Trust it. Live it. And know that grace is always within reach. Our community is a place where you get all the mentorship you need to actually start this journey.