We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Gillespie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?

In a nutshell, I help women heal, so they can show up and have deeper connections with the important people in their lives. In our busy world it’s easy to get distracted and overwhelmed. When you really boil it down, everything comes back to love. We are wired for connection and belonging and desperately want to feel worthy and valued in our relationships. What I see over and over again in my practice is women abandoning themselves and their values in order to gain love and approval from others. To be connected to others we have to first be connected to who we are. I help women develop self-awareness and learn how to stay grounded in who they are so they can have the relationships they want.

A lack of self-trust is what often gets in the way for people—in their relationships, how they show up at work, parenting, and in the quality of their connections. Stress and anxiety keep us stuck in our heads and out of the present moment.

Connection starts with presence. In our busy world that rewards production and achievement over relationships it can be hard to slow down. Ultimately, we have to be present to be in a relationship with others–including ourselves. I help women get out of their heads and into their bodies in order to truly experience life rather than just going through the motions.

Women don’t need another self-help book prescribing a rigid set of rules on how to be happy. They need to feel empowered and given permission to listen to their own internal GPS.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The road to building my practice was definitely not straight. I always knew that I wanted to have an impact on the world and particularly in helping children and families. I have worked with children for most of my life in varying capacities whether it be caretaking, mentoring, educating, or healing. I have two masters degrees and almost two decades of experience working with kids and families. I can give you plenty of resources, interventions, and tips and tricks for days. What I found though is the greatest asset of all was in helping adults.

The hour I spent once a week with children wasn’t enough. It was much more impactful to work with women. They play such a foundational role in our society–as mothers, as leaders, as partners, and friends. As women heal, they show up differently–more authentically–and have an impact on everyone they touch. They speak up and begin sharing their ideas. They parent differently. They begin asking for what they want. They hold boundaries and develop self-worth, so they’re not exhausted and burnt out. It changes everything. I can’t think of a greater honor than being a witness to a woman coming into her power.

It certainly wasn’t easy. In order to lead women, you have to do the deep transformational work yourself. I have found the hardest part of being a business owner is learning that how you show up impacts how your service, product, etc. resonates with others. You can’t get around doing the inner work no matter how hard you try. You have to develop self-worth and believe in yourself to have a successful business. It takes grit and hard work for sure, but it also requires a level of self-awareness. The more I do the inner work the more it shows up in how I practice and lead others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have lived in Atlanta all of my life and there are so many amazing places to visit. I love the Beltline and exploring the city on foot. I think the best thing about the city is its people and the best way to experience it all is to be part of the action. Each neighborhood has its own vibe. I would highly recommend checking out a restaurant or shop in each to get a taste of some of the many flavors that make this city so rich and diverse.

Some of my favorite restaurants are La Fonda for tacos, Antico for some authentic pizza, Iberian Pig, O-Ku, and True Food Kitchen.

It’s always fun to catch a game at Mercedes Benz and the Fox is a must see for out of towners. Every year, my mom and I would dress up and see a show at the Fox. It was always one of my favorite memories as a child.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I believe we all learn best when in connection with others and these are just a few of my teachers, cheerleaders, and mentors: Annie Kelahan, Dr. Eric Fier, Lena Franklin, Jeff Glattstein, Lillian Charles, Cindy Robinson, and of course, my family. They each have taught me so much about leading, loving, and serving in ways that empower others. I am forever grateful for all of the lessons they’ve taught me and the ways they’ve inspired me to continue to grow and persist (especially when I don’t feel like it). We all need people to walk with us on our journey, and I’m lucky enough to have so many to support me along the way. To each of you I’ve named and the many I did not have enough room to mention, I give a deep bow of gratitude. Thank you, thank you.

Website: www.megangillespie.com

Instagram: @meganegillespie

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