September 13, 2024 • 27 mins
You Were Meant for Greater with Jeana Nunez
Embracing Challenges and Empowering Others
In this heartfelt episode, Jen Banks welcomes Jeana Nunez, a remarkable mother and entrepreneur, who shares her journey of navigating motherhood while battling a chronic illness. Jeana opens up about her struggles with hypokalemic periodic paralysis and the challenges of raising children with mental health issues. Despite these obstacles, Jeana's story is one of resilience, faith, and empowerment.
Jeana discusses the importance of self-care, the power of gratitude, and the role of faith in overcoming life's hurdles. She emphasizes the significance of allowing children to find their own paths and the value of one-on-one time with them. Jeana's insights are a testament to the strength and determination required to thrive as a mother while pursuing personal aspirations.
Join us as Jeana shares her journey of self-discovery, the pivotal moments that led her to embrace her greater purpose, and her mission to empower other women to become the queens they are meant to be. Tune in to be inspired by Jeana's unwavering optimism and her message that we are all worthy, regardless of the challenges we face.
Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome to Let Yourself Bloom
(01:20) Introduction to Jeana Nunez
(03:45) Jeana's journey with hypokalemic periodic paralysis
(08:30) Balancing motherhood and chronic illness
(15:00) The importance of self-care and gratitude
(20:15) Jeana's pivotal moment of realizing her greater purpose: She was meant for greater
(25:30) Navigating mental health challenges with her children
(30:45) Empowering children to find their own paths
(35:00) Investing in personal growth and self-discovery
(40:15) Jeana's advice for moms struggling with chronic illness and mental health issues
(45:00) Jen's reflections and takeaways
(50:15) How to connect with Jeana Nunez
(55:00) Closing thoughts and staying connected
#Podcast #Motherhood #PersonalGrowth #SelfCare #ChronicIllness #MentalHealth #Empowerment #LifeBalance #RideTheWaveMedia
Keywords: Motherhood, Personal Growth, Self-Care, Chronic Illness, Mental Health, Empowerment, Life Balance, Jeana Nunez, Jen Banks, Let Yourself Bloom, Ride The Wave Media, Podcast Episode
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(01:26):
Let
Let Yourself Bloom [00:00.976]
Welcome to the Let Yourself Bloompodcast I am here today with Jeana
Nunez and she's going to shareher story of being a mom aunt.
Welcome Jeana.
[ 00:13.158]
Hey, how are you?
Let Yourself Bloom [00:14.716]
Doing so great.
I am so thrilled that you're hereand every time I find someone that is
willing to do the story segment, I am soexcited because I love hearing stories.
We're wired for stories andthere are so many takeaways
we can glean, so I'm excited.
We'll just have you jump into your story.
Jeana Nunez [00:29.79]
Yeah,
Jeana Nunez [00:13.158]
Hey, how are you?
Let Yourself Bloom [00:14.716]
Doing so great.
I am so thrilled that you're hereand every time I find someone that is
willing to do the story segment, I am soexcited because I love hearing stories.
(01:47):
We're wired for stories andthere are so many takeaways
we can glean, so I'm excited.
We'll just have you jump into your story.
Jeana Nunez [00:29.79]
so my name is Jeana Nunez.
I have been married to my husbandfor 20 years and I am a mom of four.
Basically in the teen world right now.
My kids are 19, 17, 14, and 12.
(02:08):
So full -blown teen stages,which is a little crazy.
And on top of that, I have three boysthat deal with mental health stuff and
so that has definitely been a journey.
been a journey.
have a disease called hypokalemic periodic
have a disease called hypokalemicperiodic paralysis and for a really
long time nobody really knew about it.
I didn't talk about it, I didn't sayanything, but I've dealt with this disease
(02:28):
like as long
like as long as I've had kids andit's not going away and we had...
visits and
many, many hospital visits andER stays and misdiagnosis and I
mean it's been a long journey.
And as a mom, dealing with a chronicdisease like that, when sometimes
you can't get out of bed, youkind of feel less than as a mom.
(02:50):
And I had to learn toovercome that piece of me.
I had to learn that I am thebest mom that I can be despite
everything going on, right?
I have this tipping point wherewith period menopause, I didn't even
existed.
these symptoms
Nobody told me I knew menopause existedbut when all these started when all
(03:11):
these symptoms started happening andmy body started just freaking out with
my disease everything has to be online.
It's kind of like I'm walking on atightrope and if anything is off then
potassium to kind
all hell breaks loosebasically it's just crazy.
And
went a
I take a ridiculous amount of potassiumto kind of keep everything in balance.
However, I had went a month anda half of not being able to walk.
(03:35):
couldn't, I didn't, like foran entire day I could not walk.
I would wake up not walking.
Some days I would wake up not, you know,like paralyzed from the waist down.
And other days I would wake upokay, but then by the middle
of the day I was like wobbly.
And so I couldn't getin the car and drive.
I couldn't be who I wanted tobe because I'm just a woman that
loves to empower other women.
I'm a big
(03:55):
Jeana Nunez [02:31.106]
leader for other women and I was justreally feeling kind of down and was like
okay is this gonna be in my life now?
Like I finally had gotten back to thepoint where I was working out six days
a week and life was pretty normal andthen all of sudden this just came out
of like it just came crashing down.
of sudden this just came out of like
(04:16):
With all this going on, I had a day thatI was just like, okay, I've got this big
event coming up, I've got to get there.
So I just was like, okay, HeavenlyFather, I need to get to this event.
I know I'm supposed to be there.
And I went to this event, itwas called Ignition Point Live.
If you don't know Ignition Point,their podcast is incredible.
It's like 15 minute podcast.
But I went there and I sat in thefront row seat and nobody knew
(04:39):
anything about my story really.
minute podcast.
But I went there
person that's just full of energythat just like is kind of charismatic
and just can bring people to me and
like is kind of
there in the front and nobody knew mystory but I'm listening to this guy
Jeff Griffin and he was sharing hisstory about how he became paralyzed and
(05:04):
how he became paralyzed
he was an amazing motivational speaker.
He was talking on creating habits andhe was talking on belief and he shared a
story about how he wanted to be able towalk again and he went to 16 different
doctors trying to figure out a wayto be able to walk right and it was
He's like why did I go to 16 because itwas finally that last one that gave me
(05:26):
hope and he's I'm gonna walk my daughterdown the aisle I'm gonna walk with my
walk, you know hand in hand with my wifeand he It was like the most Monumental
moment when I watched this man stand upand walk across the stage Because I knew
what it felt like I knew what it felt liketo be confined to that wheelchair and yes
(05:46):
I had days when I could walk a little bitand other days when I couldn't but I I
Jeana Nunez [04:27.248]
At that moment, God said to me,Jeana, you're meant for greater.
I
Jeana
You are playing small andyou're meant for greater.
And I'd always had a business.
I'd always done things on the side.
And I always knew that Godwanted me up on a stage sharing
(06:08):
my story and empowering others.
But it was that moment that I finally,that garnation point that I just was
like, okay, I've been playing small.
If you want me to go bigger,I'll do what you want me to do.
And
been playing small.
Yeah, it took a little bit because whenyou have kids with mental health, I had
been building a business like previouslyand we had a suicide attempt just out
(06:32):
of the blue with my sixth grader andit threw my entire world upside down
and I completely threw my life intomy kids, put my business to the side
completely threw my
and just was in survival mode.
And I know as moms we getin survival mode a lot.
We do.
We forget to put
We forget to realize that we are peopletoo and we lose our identity a little bit
(06:57):
and that's kind of what happened with me.
My identity was just tryingto keep my kids safe and
I got to
I got to that point wherehe was doing much better.
was starting to build my business again.
Like I started to rebuildmy business again.
And I was still kind of playing small.
And then like all that healthstuff started coming back again.
(07:18):
And that's when I was justlike, okay, enough is enough.
So now I'm on a whole differentjourney and I just signed up to
Elevated Coaching Academy to bea high performance life coach.
and empower women.
And I am so excited to be able toempower moms and women to be able
(07:39):
to find their worth and become thequeens that they're meant to be.
So that's kind of where my journey is now.
My disease hasn't went away.
There are still daysI wake up not walking.
My kids still deal withdepression and anxiety.
And it's not going away.
We maintain it.
We work on it.
have a choice every
But I realize that you havea choice every single day.
(08:00):
Jeana Nunez [06:35.93]
Every single day you canchoose how you wake up.
You can choose if you're going towake up and let the day defeat you
or you can choose up and be grateful.
Like I just choose to wake upand choose to look for gratitude.
And some days I'm not walking and somedays I'm stuck in my bed for a while.
But I can still look out my windowand we live on the lake so I get
(08:23):
to look at the beautiful views thatGod gave me and say, know what?
I'm just grateful for thedays when my legs work.
I'm just
that I have four beautiful amazingkids and I'm just grateful for a
husband that thinks I'm the world.
And so that's kind of where I had to gothrough a self -discovery myself though.
I hired a know like like a business coach.
(08:45):
I went and started on focusingall of my personal care and I like
personal care is a priority to me now.
is a priority
Let's see, else did I thinkI A relationship coach.
And I really invested in myself infinding me so I could be the best mom
and version of myself and best wifeand be able to empower other women.
(09:07):
So that's kind of been myjourney and it's still going.
It's just beginning.
Like my business Pure Aspirations wasfrom, I built the brand knowing that
I wanted to expand on it because Iwas in the health and wellness world
and I'm all about, you know, likeempowering yourself and getting the
out of your home but you know purifyand empowering that's kind of been
(09:27):
like who I've been at the core andnow I get to add that coaching aspect
into it as you aspire to what youwant to become in with pure intent.
intent.
Yeah so
Yeah so that's kind of my whereI'm at right now in my life.
Let
[08:20.198]
That is such a good story and there'sso many things to unpack there.
(09:48):
So I'm so grateful that you sharedit and that you were willing to
be vulnerable in certain partsand throughout the whole story.
So thank you.
First of all, with your chronic illness,did that become part of your life
because of kids or was that something
[ 08:39.672]
just kind of triggered by having kids?
we do not know where it came from.
(10:09):
I served a mission in Paraguayand it could have come from there.
come from
But we really don't know.
Like there's so many anomalies to it.
A lot of times it's a
times it's a genetic
disease that you, like theonset is in the teen years.
However, that wasn't my case.
But I've been diagnosed with itand the amount of potassium I
(10:30):
take would kill a person in a day.
So we know I have the disease.
But it wasn't until right afterI got married, pretty soon after
I got home from my mission at 24.
got home from
And it was just right after Ifirst got married that everything
started happening and we didn't know.
Like I said, we went throughmisdiagnosis after misdiagnosis.
(10:52):
I was put on seizure meds,my license taken away.
There was a lot of divine interventionin between where God kind of stepped
in and helped guide and lead.
And it was about seven years ago thatthrough divine intervention I was able
to be led to someone that has my disease,that led me to my doctor, that got
me on a path so that it's manageable.
(11:14):
But
don't.
It's kind of one
yeah, we really don't.
It's kind of one of those mysteries.
and that's okay.
It's just there and it's notgoing away and that's okay.
We've learned how to work with it and mykids joke because since I learned Spanish
when like with this disease when youdon't have potassium in your body, your
(11:36):
body focus like runs off of potassium soyour muscles don't work, your brain, all
these things and I notice now with mybrain like I'll be like I can't remember
somebody's name or like something that Iknow and I'm like my potassium's low or
Jeana Nunez [10:25.306]
I'll get to where I go into Spanish mode.
Because I literally
And my kids are like, no,mom's in Spanish mode again.
(11:57):
Because I literally just, I can't get thewords out in English the way I need to,
but I can fluently speak them in Spanish.
But my kids don't speak Spanish.
And so they kind of joke, it's kind oflike that Buzz Lightyear moment where it's
like, no, turn up for Spanish mode, dad.
Right?
Because my husband's Latin.
anyway, so no, I have no idea.
one of
It's just one of those things.
(12:48):
Yourself Bloom [10:53.776]
Yes, and wow, just taking
within your motherhood.
Jeana
of teens at this time, do you haveany mom squad secrets for your time
of raising teens or any other secrets
Jeana Nunez [11:22.728]
So I feel that you have to let them
Let Yourself Bloom [11:23.054]
or within your motherhood.
Jeana Nunez [11:30.83]
Find themselves and that's been reallyhard I used to have control like probably
because I had so many things out of mycontrol with my health and things I had
this this control that I wanted to be ableto have everything in order and control
(13:08):
things Like when I was when I was likeeveryone in my pregnancies I was like
walking on my knees more than I was likehalf as much as I was walking right and
Every every one let me in the hospitalso these kids were so special to me to
be able to have it and like I just want
just want
I just want to like help hone theminto what you know what they can become
(13:30):
because I see their great potential
All of
All of my kids are very very headstrong
my boys have
and very opinionated and Two of my boyshave ADHD and ODD which is oppositional
defiant disorder I think two even arelike high functioning autistic, but
(13:51):
we're in the process of figuring that out
most is
and so with
talk, especially teens
you have to learn togive them their voice.
You have to
listen and take time to do what they
listen.
Listen to understand.
And what I found the most is kids liketo talk, especially teens at night.
kids.
I had
(14:11):
You have to take those moments when theycome to just listen and take time to do
what they love, even if you don't love it.
What I've really done and tried to do isjust have one -on -one time with my kids.
I had a life and business coach thatwe were going through different aspects
of like accountability and I was like,okay, well, I'm trying to build my
(14:34):
business, but then I feel like I'mtrying to help with my kids, my family.
And she's like, okay, what'ssomething you can do so that
they know they're important?
we just took, okay, this is something Ican do with this kid every single day.
This is something I can dowith this kid every single day.
And I took 10 minutes every single dayand gave them my undivided attention.
And that 10 minutes was better thanany hours I could spend on them.
(14:56):
Jeana Nunez [13:32.574]
Mostly there but not all the way therebecause I was doing what they wanted
what they needed and they and like oneof them we have an air hockey table and
I would go and play air hockey with himand I found that there was some nights
I forgot and he would come and get meat 11 o 'clock and I'm mom we've got to
play air hockey we haven't had our airhockey game and I didn't realize what a
difference it was making but it does youjust have to let them find themselves
(15:19):
and as moms we As soon as they're bornwe have their whole life planned out
for them, but that's not how it works
and especially with mental health.
Mental health robs a lot oftheir life and you have to
you have to
just help them realize their worthand help them find themselves.
Let
(15:39):
I love that so much.
Thank you for giving that piece of advice.
Allow them to be themselves and thenspend that one -on -one time with
them to showcase their unique self.
That is wonderful.
their unique self.
Then let's talk about yourrealization where you heard
that you were meant for greater.
I just love those words.
It gives me chills evento hear it secondhand.
(16:00):
Walk us
Walk us through what itwas like to feel that
And
how you
kind of how you saw all theseobstacles, were they just all of
sudden gone or did you feel empoweredto overcome them or how did that feel
when you were hearing those words?
Jeana Nunez [14:50.846]
So like I said, I'vealways been an optimist.
My husband jokes that I'm likethis eternal optimist that, and
(16:22):
my kids do too, they're like,mom, how can you be so happy?
How can you always seethings from the positive?
like, because it's a choice, right?
And so my kids have seen me this way.
They've seen me overcome my whole life.
And like I said, theobstacles didn't go away.
In fact, I've now got my 12 yearold, like we're in that stage again.
And it's just like, I don'tknow what it is about 12, but.
(16:43):
is about 12,
Now he's dealing with majordepression and anxiety.
I actually had to pull him from school.
God basically said, you need to pullhim and you need to home school.
And I was like, are you kidding me?
This was during when I wasn't beingable to walk on top of it all.
And my husband was not on board, butI was like, okay God, if that's the
case, then this is what I need from you.
(17:04):
I need him to, I need aprivate dyslexia tutor.
him to, I need
I need him to like have a private dyslexiatutor and I need to find something that's
gonna work as far as school becauseI can't be the only one teaching him.
And I, the very next day found aprivate dyslexia tutor 10 minutes from
my house that had an opening, whichagain, total divine intervention.
(17:27):
And that's what I foundis I don't have to do it.
It's not me.
I just have to let God lead and let go.
And that's how I've lived mylife and that's kind of what I
want to help moms understand.
If you just let go and let God and heknows the bigger picture and he doesn't,
you don't have to figure out the how.
(17:48):
He's gonna figure out the how andthat's kind of what I realized
is like, I don't know the how.
work out.
But
how it's all gonna work out.
But I know that if he's callingme to it and if he's putting
in, if he gives you a dream
head, he's gonna create
or he puts it in your head,he's gonna create a path.
And so I just walk in faith.
That's kind of how I'm doing it.
(18:08):
Like I said, it hasn't went away and it'snot going away and there's still obstacles
and there's obstacles every single day.
You just have to decide what you'regonna do with those obstacles if you're
gonna let them define you or if you'regoing to let them become a stepping
stone.
(18:30):
walking by faith.
So that is incredible.
And you have such a great exampleand what's the word, energy
about you that is contagious.
So I love that you're empoweringwomen and sharing that.
A lot of times I wish I could bottle upmotivation or enthusiasm or empowerment
because we do need it all the time.
And so it's great to bereminded of these things.
(18:52):
Let's talk for a minute about being both.
So you said there was a time when you werein survival mode and your identity was
on the back burner and then other timeswhere your identity was at the forefront.
How do we know when it's timeto break past survival mode or
when we're at that capability?
Do you have anything to speak to for that?
Jeana Nunez [17:48.22]
(19:12):
Hmm that's a
Mm, I love that.
Well, you have shared so many nuggetswith us about optimism and gratitude
and choice and walking by faith.
So that is incredible.
And you have such a great exampleand what's the word, energy
about you that is contagious.
So I love that you're empoweringwomen and sharing that.
A lot of times I wish I could bottle upmotivation or enthusiasm or empowerment
because we do need it all the time.
And so it's great to bereminded of these things.
Let's talk for a minute about being both.
So you said there was a time when you werein survival mode and your identity was
on the back burner and then other timeswhere your identity was at the forefront.
How do we know when it's timeto break past survival mode or
when we're at that capability?
Do you have anything to speak to for that?
Jeana Nunez [17:48.22]
Hmm that's a hard one because atthat time my whole world needed to be
Focused that on that but at the sametime if I was continuing to do that
it was that realization that I couldn't
You can't pour from an empty cup.
I think that's the biggestthing and we think we can.
(19:33):
As moms we think we're invincibleand that we can pour from
an empty cup, but we can't.
And it was that realization that Icouldn't pour from an empty cup and that I
needed to invest in me and find me again.
And
away My that that son
I believe that God's gonna nudgeyou and help you and you just
kind of have to listen and follow.
(19:53):
I'm just really close in that way that Ijust like I said, God basically just said,
It's time and there's been several timesin my life like one of those times when I
came back to that business after I walkedaway My that that son that we'd had you
know like the mental health stuff withhe was in an eating disorder clinic a
really intensive eating disorder clinicin Portland and we had just my we just
(20:18):
sold our home and Moved to Utah, butI was still in stuck in Oregon because
he was still in this eating disorderclinic And he couldn't be released they
were trying to get him to 100 pounds
So I had my two teens with me, living inthe Ronald McDonald house for a month and
a half, and my husband had moved to Utah
timing
Jeana Nunez [20:00.638]
There's
to be able to start his job and help thetwo younger ones get started for school.
(20:41):
gratitude.
You can still choose totake those moments and have
our CEO was talking about how theworld needs what we have to offer.
so many people were hurting,and we had a solution.
And God was like, it's time.
And I was like, like now?
meant for greatness.
And I know we are all
have anything.
I don't
that God has created.
And so
have a computer.
don't have you and I bought an iPad andgot to work and that's kind of how I
(21:05):
reignited my business was it was not themost convenient time and sometimes it's
not gonna be but I truly believe that
as you are like in tune and youconnect with God that he's gonna
help you through those differentpieces and know the right timing
Jeana Nunez [20:00.638]
(21:25):
There's little things you can doevery single day, even if you can't
focus 100 % on you, you can stillchoose to wake up in gratitude.
You can still choose to take those momentsand have a little bit of self care, even
if it's just 10 minutes to yourself.
And so there's little things youcan do every single day to still
be able to fill your own cup.
(21:46):
And that's what I suggest.
And I mean, I think we'reall meant for greatness.
And I know we are all meant to bethese queens that God has created.
And so it's just a matter of justletting Him lead and taking care of
ourselves and realizing our worth.
Let Yourself Bloom [20:38.256]
I love that.
What a great reminder to listen to Godand to pay attention to those nudges
when they come because we will be guided.
And I've often forget thatis that we're not here alone.
We have all of those reminders andthat spiritual connection that we
can be guided and pushed on our way.
I also
love that.
What a great reminder to listen to Godand to pay attention to those nudges
(22:07):
when they come because we will be guided.
And I've often forget thatis that we're not here alone.
We have all of those reminders andthat spiritual connection that we
can be guided and pushed on our way.
I also feel like self -compassionis great to bring up because that's
something I've been working on
seasons,
(22:28):
you know, recognizing it's okay if I'min survival mode or if I'm at this phase
in my life, I can give myself graceand recognize that the time will be
shown or I will have different seasons,you know, my kids are young, young,
young, and I have been doing a lot.
I have a book coming out in just a coupleweeks, but also just the compassion to
(22:48):
you're doing enough and you're doing whatyou're supposed to be doing as long as
you're listening or as long as you'retrying or being open to the possibility.
Jeana Nunez
Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, and we have toremember we are enough.
And it doesn't matterhow our kids turn out.
It doesn't matter what our kids do.
That doesn't define our worth.
We are worthy just being.
(23:10):
And I think sometimes we attach it toriches or to success or to the way we
look or, you know, like all those things.
And we are of worth.
just because we're daughters of God.
And if we can just remember that,then the rest kind of falls.
[22:04.956]
So true.
(23:30):
I write in my book that I used to basemy worth on accomplishments or action.
And so anytime I was in action or
successful, then I
not successful, then I feltthat ping that I wasn't worthy.
But it's so true.
We are worthy just as we are.
If we got up and did nothing allday, we would be at the same worth.
true.
Jeana Nunez [22:22.76]
Yes.
But as a achieving women, have toremind ourselves of that, right?
(23:52):
Let Yourself Bloom [22:28.786]
Bloom [ 22:28.786]
Yes, you can do all the things, butyou can also rest and yes, start with
a full cup and then go from there.
Jeana
[22:36.382]
And
found also is that with my teensget to see me fail and they get
to see what I do with failure.
They get to watch me rise and that'sthe best gift I can give them is taking
(24:15):
time to find me and follow my passions.
They get to see that ignition in me.
They get to see that fire andthey also get to see the failure.
to
They have to learn and watch how youfail because failure is part of life
and I think it's really important
teens fell and and learn howto pick themselves back up.
(24:36):
Let Yourself Bloom
[ So true, I just want to re-emphasize what you just said there.
They get to watch me rise.
Ugh, that is huge.
So, so true.
We are an example with oursuccesses and our failures.
(24:56):
I love that.
Is there anything else you want toshare today or say before we close?
Jeana Nunez [23:27.632]
Hmm.
Jeana Nunez [23:33.672]
You're enough.
I think we need to hearthat more and more and more.
I don't think that mental health getstalked about enough and if you're a
mom that struggles with mental healthor struggles with chronic illness or
you know like other diseases that areinvisible to the normal person that you
(25:20):
are enough and don't let your obstaclesdefine you let them refine you let them
be that light and that stepping stoneto your greatness because you have
a story to share and that's part of
story.
Let Yourself Bloom [24:10.45]
I love it.
Well, thank you foryour time today, Jeana.
How can people find you ifthey want to get in touch with
Jeana Nunez
Nunez [23:27.632]
Hmm.
Jeana Nunez [23:33.672]
You're enough.
I think we need to hearthat more and more and more.
I don't think that mental health getstalked about enough and if you're a
mom that struggles with mental healthor struggles with chronic illness or
you know like other diseases that areinvisible to the normal person that you
are enough and don't let your obstaclesdefine you let them refine you let them
be that light and that stepping stoneto your greatness because you have
a story to share and that's part of
story.
Let Yourself Bloom [24:10.45]
I love it.
Well, thank you foryour time today, Jeana.
How can people find you ifthey want to get in touch with
(25:40):
Jeana Nunez
[ 24:16.486]
So I am getting ready tolaunch a group coaching
that and just
we're in the process of doing thatand just on helping moms really become
empowered and women be able to becomethe queens that they're meant to be and
giving some of them some of those stepsthat I had to take to get back to finding
(26:01):
myself you know about self - care aboutmindset about connecting with God those
kind of things so I'm in the processof putting that together but I met on
at Pure Underscore Aspirations and
would be too
I think that's like that's where mywebsite would be too is pure aspirate
or my pure aspirations dot com
(26:22):
I am right
and so yeah that's kind of whereI am right now like I said I'm I'm
evolving and going bigger and I'mpreparing to be able to speak on
stage soon and do some different funthings there so yeah just stay tuned
Let Yourself
So great, thank you again.
Jeana Nunez [25:13.842]
thank you again.
Jeana Nunez [25:13.842]
Thank you.
Let
Let Yourself Bloom [00:00.976]
Welcome to the Let Yourself Bloompodcast I am here today with Jeana
Nunez and she's going to shareher story of being a mom aunt.
Welcome Jeana.
[ 00:13.158]
Hey, how are you?
Let Yourself Bloom [00:14.716]
Doing so great.
I am so thrilled that you're hereand every time I find someone that is
willing to do the story segment, I am soexcited because I love hearing stories.
We're wired for stories andthere are so many takeaways
we can glean, so I'm excited.
We'll just have you jump into your story.
Jeana Nunez [00:29.79]
Yeah,
Jeana Nunez [00:13.158]
Hey, how are you?
Let Yourself Bloom [00:14.716]
Doing so great.
I am so thrilled that you're hereand every time I find someone that is
willing to do the story segment, I am soexcited because I love hearing stories.
(01:47):
We're wired for stories andthere are so many takeaways
we can glean, so I'm excited.
We'll just have you jump into your story.
Jeana Nunez [00:29.79]
so my name is Jeana Nunez.
I have been married to my husbandfor 20 years and I am a mom of four.
Basically in the teen world right now.
My kids are 19, 17, 14, and 12.
(02:08):
So full -blown teen stages,which is a little crazy.
And on top of that, I have three boysthat deal with mental health stuff and
so that has definitely been a journey.
been a journey.
have a disease called hypokalemic periodic
have a disease called hypokalemicperiodic paralysis and for a really
long time nobody really knew about it.
I didn't talk about it, I didn't sayanything, but I've dealt with this disease
(02:28):
like as long
like as long as I've had kids andit's not going away and we had...
visits and
many, many hospital visits andER stays and misdiagnosis and I
mean it's been a long journey.
And as a mom, dealing with a chronicdisease like that, when sometimes
you can't get out of bed, youkind of feel less than as a mom.
(02:50):
And I had to learn toovercome that piece of me.
I had to learn that I am thebest mom that I can be despite
everything going on, right?
I have this tipping point wherewith period menopause, I didn't even
existed.
these symptoms
Nobody told me I knew menopause existedbut when all these started when all
(03:11):
these symptoms started happening andmy body started just freaking out with
my disease everything has to be online.
It's kind of like I'm walking on atightrope and if anything is off then
potassium to kind
all hell breaks loosebasically it's just crazy.
And
went a
I take a ridiculous amount of potassiumto kind of keep everything in balance.
However, I had went a month anda half of not being able to walk.
(03:35):
couldn't, I didn't, like foran entire day I could not walk.
I would wake up not walking.
Some days I would wake up not, you know,like paralyzed from the waist down.
And other days I would wake upokay, but then by the middle
of the day I was like wobbly.
And so I couldn't getin the car and drive.
I couldn't be who I wanted tobe because I'm just a woman that
loves to empower other women.
I'm a big
(03:55):
Jeana Nunez [02:31.106]
leader for other women and I was justreally feeling kind of down and was like
okay is this gonna be in my life now?
Like I finally had gotten back to thepoint where I was working out six days
a week and life was pretty normal andthen all of sudden this just came out
of like it just came crashing down.
of sudden this just came out of like
(04:16):
With all this going on, I had a day thatI was just like, okay, I've got this big
event coming up, I've got to get there.
So I just was like, okay, HeavenlyFather, I need to get to this event.
I know I'm supposed to be there.
And I went to this event, itwas called Ignition Point Live.
If you don't know Ignition Point,their podcast is incredible.
It's like 15 minute podcast.
But I went there and I sat in thefront row seat and nobody knew
(04:39):
anything about my story really.
minute podcast.
But I went there
person that's just full of energythat just like is kind of charismatic
and just can bring people to me and
like is kind of
there in the front and nobody knew mystory but I'm listening to this guy
Jeff Griffin and he was sharing hisstory about how he became paralyzed and
(05:04):
how he became paralyzed
he was an amazing motivational speaker.
He was talking on creating habits andhe was talking on belief and he shared a
story about how he wanted to be able towalk again and he went to 16 different
doctors trying to figure out a wayto be able to walk right and it was
He's like why did I go to 16 because itwas finally that last one that gave me
(05:26):
hope and he's I'm gonna walk my daughterdown the aisle I'm gonna walk with my
walk, you know hand in hand with my wifeand he It was like the most Monumental
moment when I watched this man stand upand walk across the stage Because I knew
what it felt like I knew what it felt liketo be confined to that wheelchair and yes
(05:46):
I had days when I could walk a little bitand other days when I couldn't but I I
Jeana Nunez [04:27.248]
At that moment, God said to me,Jeana, you're meant for greater.
I
Jeana
You are playing small andyou're meant for greater.
And I'd always had a business.
I'd always done things on the side.
And I always knew that Godwanted me up on a stage sharing
(06:08):
my story and empowering others.
But it was that moment that I finally,that garnation point that I just was
like, okay, I've been playing small.
If you want me to go bigger,I'll do what you want me to do.
And
been playing small.
Yeah, it took a little bit because whenyou have kids with mental health, I had
been building a business like previouslyand we had a suicide attempt just out
(06:32):
of the blue with my sixth grader andit threw my entire world upside down
and I completely threw my life intomy kids, put my business to the side
completely threw my
and just was in survival mode.
And I know as moms we getin survival mode a lot.
We do.
We forget to put
We forget to realize that we are peopletoo and we lose our identity a little bit
(06:57):
and that's kind of what happened with me.
My identity was just tryingto keep my kids safe and
I got to
I got to that point wherehe was doing much better.
was starting to build my business again.
Like I started to rebuildmy business again.
And I was still kind of playing small.
And then like all that healthstuff started coming back again.
(07:18):
And that's when I was justlike, okay, enough is enough.
So now I'm on a whole differentjourney and I just signed up to
Elevated Coaching Academy to bea high performance life coach.
and empower women.
And I am so excited to be able toempower moms and women to be able
(07:39):
to find their worth and become thequeens that they're meant to be.
So that's kind of where my journey is now.
My disease hasn't went away.
There are still daysI wake up not walking.
My kids still deal withdepression and anxiety.
And it's not going away.
We maintain it.
We work on it.
have a choice every
But I realize that you havea choice every single day.
(08:00):
Jeana Nunez [06:35.93]
Every single day you canchoose how you wake up.
You can choose if you're going towake up and let the day defeat you
or you can choose up and be grateful.
Like I just choose to wake upand choose to look for gratitude.
And some days I'm not walking and somedays I'm stuck in my bed for a while.
But I can still look out my windowand we live on the lake so I get
(08:23):
to look at the beautiful views thatGod gave me and say, know what?
I'm just grateful for thedays when my legs work.
I'm just
that I have four beautiful amazingkids and I'm just grateful for a
husband that thinks I'm the world.
And so that's kind of where I had to gothrough a self -discovery myself though.
I hired a know like like a business coach.
(08:45):
I went and started on focusingall of my personal care and I like
personal care is a priority to me now.
is a priority
Let's see, else did I thinkI A relationship coach.
And I really invested in myself infinding me so I could be the best mom
and version of myself and best wifeand be able to empower other women.
(09:07):
So that's kind of been myjourney and it's still going.
It's just beginning.
Like my business Pure Aspirations wasfrom, I built the brand knowing that
I wanted to expand on it because Iwas in the health and wellness world
and I'm all about, you know, likeempowering yourself and getting the
out of your home but you know purifyand empowering that's kind of been
(09:27):
like who I've been at the core andnow I get to add that coaching aspect
into it as you aspire to what youwant to become in with pure intent.
intent.
Yeah so
Yeah so that's kind of my whereI'm at right now in my life.
Let
[08:20.198]
That is such a good story and there'sso many things to unpack there.
(09:48):
So I'm so grateful that you sharedit and that you were willing to
be vulnerable in certain partsand throughout the whole story.
So thank you.
First of all, with your chronic illness,did that become part of your life
because of kids or was that something
[ 08:39.672]
just kind of triggered by having kids?
we do not know where it came from.
(10:09):
I served a mission in Paraguayand it could have come from there.
come from
But we really don't know.
Like there's so many anomalies to it.
A lot of times it's a
times it's a genetic
disease that you, like theonset is in the teen years.
However, that wasn't my case.
But I've been diagnosed with itand the amount of potassium I
(10:30):
take would kill a person in a day.
So we know I have the disease.
But it wasn't until right afterI got married, pretty soon after
I got home from my mission at 24.
got home from
And it was just right after Ifirst got married that everything
started happening and we didn't know.
Like I said, we went throughmisdiagnosis after misdiagnosis.
(10:52):
I was put on seizure meds,my license taken away.
There was a lot of divine interventionin between where God kind of stepped
in and helped guide and lead.
And it was about seven years ago thatthrough divine intervention I was able
to be led to someone that has my disease,that led me to my doctor, that got
me on a path so that it's manageable.
(11:14):
But
don't.
It's kind of one
yeah, we really don't.
It's kind of one of those mysteries.
and that's okay.
It's just there and it's notgoing away and that's okay.
We've learned how to work with it and mykids joke because since I learned Spanish
when like with this disease when youdon't have potassium in your body, your
(11:36):
body focus like runs off of potassium soyour muscles don't work, your brain, all
these things and I notice now with mybrain like I'll be like I can't remember
somebody's name or like something that Iknow and I'm like my potassium's low or
Jeana Nunez [10:25.306]
I'll get to where I go into Spanish mode.
Because I literally
And my kids are like, no,mom's in Spanish mode again.
(11:57):
Because I literally just, I can't get thewords out in English the way I need to,
but I can fluently speak them in Spanish.
But my kids don't speak Spanish.
And so they kind of joke, it's kind oflike that Buzz Lightyear moment where it's
like, no, turn up for Spanish mode, dad.
Right?
Because my husband's Latin.
anyway, so no, I have no idea.
one of
It's just one of those things.
(12:48):
Yourself Bloom [10:53.776]
Yes, and wow, just taking
within your motherhood.
Jeana
of teens at this time, do you haveany mom squad secrets for your time
of raising teens or any other secrets
Jeana Nunez [11:22.728]
So I feel that you have to let them
Let Yourself Bloom [11:23.054]
or within your motherhood.
Jeana Nunez [11:30.83]
Find themselves and that's been reallyhard I used to have control like probably
because I had so many things out of mycontrol with my health and things I had
this this control that I wanted to be ableto have everything in order and control
(13:08):
things Like when I was when I was likeeveryone in my pregnancies I was like
walking on my knees more than I was likehalf as much as I was walking right and
Every every one let me in the hospitalso these kids were so special to me to
be able to have it and like I just want
just want
I just want to like help hone theminto what you know what they can become
(13:30):
because I see their great potential
All of
All of my kids are very very headstrong
my boys have
and very opinionated and Two of my boyshave ADHD and ODD which is oppositional
defiant disorder I think two even arelike high functioning autistic, but
(13:51):
we're in the process of figuring that out
most is
and so with
talk, especially teens
you have to learn togive them their voice.
You have to
listen and take time to do what they
listen.
Listen to understand.
And what I found the most is kids liketo talk, especially teens at night.
kids.
I had
(14:11):
You have to take those moments when theycome to just listen and take time to do
what they love, even if you don't love it.
What I've really done and tried to do isjust have one -on -one time with my kids.
I had a life and business coach thatwe were going through different aspects
of like accountability and I was like,okay, well, I'm trying to build my
(14:34):
business, but then I feel like I'mtrying to help with my kids, my family.
And she's like, okay, what'ssomething you can do so that
they know they're important?
we just took, okay, this is something Ican do with this kid every single day.
This is something I can dowith this kid every single day.
And I took 10 minutes every single dayand gave them my undivided attention.
And that 10 minutes was better thanany hours I could spend on them.
(14:56):
Jeana Nunez [13:32.574]
Mostly there but not all the way therebecause I was doing what they wanted
what they needed and they and like oneof them we have an air hockey table and
I would go and play air hockey with himand I found that there was some nights
I forgot and he would come and get meat 11 o 'clock and I'm mom we've got to
play air hockey we haven't had our airhockey game and I didn't realize what a
difference it was making but it does youjust have to let them find themselves
(15:19):
and as moms we As soon as they're bornwe have their whole life planned out
for them, but that's not how it works
and especially with mental health.
Mental health robs a lot oftheir life and you have to
you have to
just help them realize their worthand help them find themselves.
Let
(15:39):
I love that so much.
Thank you for giving that piece of advice.
Allow them to be themselves and thenspend that one -on -one time with
them to showcase their unique self.
That is wonderful.
their unique self.
Then let's talk about yourrealization where you heard
that you were meant for greater.
I just love those words.
It gives me chills evento hear it secondhand.
(16:00):
Walk us
Walk us through what itwas like to feel that
And
how you
kind of how you saw all theseobstacles, were they just all of
sudden gone or did you feel empoweredto overcome them or how did that feel
when you were hearing those words?
Jeana Nunez [14:50.846]
So like I said, I'vealways been an optimist.
My husband jokes that I'm likethis eternal optimist that, and
(16:22):
my kids do too, they're like,mom, how can you be so happy?
How can you always seethings from the positive?
like, because it's a choice, right?
And so my kids have seen me this way.
They've seen me overcome my whole life.
And like I said, theobstacles didn't go away.
In fact, I've now got my 12 yearold, like we're in that stage again.
And it's just like, I don'tknow what it is about 12, but.
(16:43):
is about 12,
Now he's dealing with majordepression and anxiety.
I actually had to pull him from school.
God basically said, you need to pullhim and you need to home school.
And I was like, are you kidding me?
This was during when I wasn't beingable to walk on top of it all.
And my husband was not on board, butI was like, okay God, if that's the
case, then this is what I need from you.
(17:04):
I need him to, I need aprivate dyslexia tutor.
him to, I need
I need him to like have a private dyslexiatutor and I need to find something that's
gonna work as far as school becauseI can't be the only one teaching him.
And I, the very next day found aprivate dyslexia tutor 10 minutes from
my house that had an opening, whichagain, total divine intervention.
(17:27):
And that's what I foundis I don't have to do it.
It's not me.
I just have to let God lead and let go.
And that's how I've lived mylife and that's kind of what I
want to help moms understand.
If you just let go and let God and heknows the bigger picture and he doesn't,
you don't have to figure out the how.
(17:48):
He's gonna figure out the how andthat's kind of what I realized
is like, I don't know the how.
work out.
But
how it's all gonna work out.
But I know that if he's callingme to it and if he's putting
in, if he gives you a dream
head, he's gonna create
or he puts it in your head,he's gonna create a path.
And so I just walk in faith.
That's kind of how I'm doing it.
(18:08):
Like I said, it hasn't went away and it'snot going away and there's still obstacles
and there's obstacles every single day.
You just have to decide what you'regonna do with those obstacles if you're
gonna let them define you or if you'regoing to let them become a stepping
stone.
(18:30):
walking by faith.
So that is incredible.
And you have such a great exampleand what's the word, energy
about you that is contagious.
So I love that you're empoweringwomen and sharing that.
A lot of times I wish I could bottle upmotivation or enthusiasm or empowerment
because we do need it all the time.
And so it's great to bereminded of these things.
(18:52):
Let's talk for a minute about being both.
So you said there was a time when you werein survival mode and your identity was
on the back burner and then other timeswhere your identity was at the forefront.
How do we know when it's timeto break past survival mode or
when we're at that capability?
Do you have anything to speak to for that?
Jeana Nunez [17:48.22]
(19:12):
Hmm that's a
Mm, I love that.
Well, you have shared so many nuggetswith us about optimism and gratitude
and choice and walking by faith.
So that is incredible.
And you have such a great exampleand what's the word, energy
about you that is contagious.
So I love that you're empoweringwomen and sharing that.
A lot of times I wish I could bottle upmotivation or enthusiasm or empowerment
because we do need it all the time.
And so it's great to bereminded of these things.
Let's talk for a minute about being both.
So you said there was a time when you werein survival mode and your identity was
on the back burner and then other timeswhere your identity was at the forefront.
How do we know when it's timeto break past survival mode or
when we're at that capability?
Do you have anything to speak to for that?
Jeana Nunez [17:48.22]
Hmm that's a hard one because atthat time my whole world needed to be
Focused that on that but at the sametime if I was continuing to do that
it was that realization that I couldn't
You can't pour from an empty cup.
I think that's the biggestthing and we think we can.
(19:33):
As moms we think we're invincibleand that we can pour from
an empty cup, but we can't.
And it was that realization that Icouldn't pour from an empty cup and that I
needed to invest in me and find me again.
And
away My that that son
I believe that God's gonna nudgeyou and help you and you just
kind of have to listen and follow.
(19:53):
I'm just really close in that way that Ijust like I said, God basically just said,
It's time and there's been several timesin my life like one of those times when I
came back to that business after I walkedaway My that that son that we'd had you
know like the mental health stuff withhe was in an eating disorder clinic a
really intensive eating disorder clinicin Portland and we had just my we just
(20:18):
sold our home and Moved to Utah, butI was still in stuck in Oregon because
he was still in this eating disorderclinic And he couldn't be released they
were trying to get him to 100 pounds
So I had my two teens with me, living inthe Ronald McDonald house for a month and
a half, and my husband had moved to Utah
timing
Jeana Nunez [20:00.638]
There's
to be able to start his job and help thetwo younger ones get started for school.
(20:41):
gratitude.
You can still choose totake those moments and have
our CEO was talking about how theworld needs what we have to offer.
so many people were hurting,and we had a solution.
And God was like, it's time.
And I was like, like now?
meant for greatness.
And I know we are all
have anything.
I don't
that God has created.
And so
have a computer.
don't have you and I bought an iPad andgot to work and that's kind of how I
(21:05):
reignited my business was it was not themost convenient time and sometimes it's
not gonna be but I truly believe that
as you are like in tune and youconnect with God that he's gonna
help you through those differentpieces and know the right timing
Jeana Nunez [20:00.638]
(21:25):
There's little things you can doevery single day, even if you can't
focus 100 % on you, you can stillchoose to wake up in gratitude.
You can still choose to take those momentsand have a little bit of self care, even
if it's just 10 minutes to yourself.
And so there's little things youcan do every single day to still
be able to fill your own cup.
(21:46):
And that's what I suggest.
And I mean, I think we'reall meant for greatness.
And I know we are all meant to bethese queens that God has created.
And so it's just a matter of justletting Him lead and taking care of
ourselves and realizing our worth.
Let Yourself Bloom [20:38.256]
I love that.
What a great reminder to listen to Godand to pay attention to those nudges
when they come because we will be guided.
And I've often forget thatis that we're not here alone.
We have all of those reminders andthat spiritual connection that we
can be guided and pushed on our way.
I also
love that.
What a great reminder to listen to Godand to pay attention to those nudges
(22:07):
when they come because we will be guided.
And I've often forget thatis that we're not here alone.
We have all of those reminders andthat spiritual connection that we
can be guided and pushed on our way.
I also feel like self -compassionis great to bring up because that's
something I've been working on
seasons,
(22:28):
you know, recognizing it's okay if I'min survival mode or if I'm at this phase
in my life, I can give myself graceand recognize that the time will be
shown or I will have different seasons,you know, my kids are young, young,
young, and I have been doing a lot.
I have a book coming out in just a coupleweeks, but also just the compassion to
(22:48):
you're doing enough and you're doing whatyou're supposed to be doing as long as
you're listening or as long as you'retrying or being open to the possibility.
Jeana Nunez
Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, and we have toremember we are enough.
And it doesn't matterhow our kids turn out.
It doesn't matter what our kids do.
That doesn't define our worth.
We are worthy just being.
(23:10):
And I think sometimes we attach it toriches or to success or to the way we
look or, you know, like all those things.
And we are of worth.
just because we're daughters of God.
And if we can just remember that,then the rest kind of falls.
[22:04.956]
So true.
(23:30):
I write in my book that I used to basemy worth on accomplishments or action.
And so anytime I was in action or
successful, then I
not successful, then I feltthat ping that I wasn't worthy.
But it's so true.
We are worthy just as we are.
If we got up and did nothing allday, we would be at the same worth.
true.
Jeana Nunez [22:22.76]
Yes.
But as a achieving women, have toremind ourselves of that, right?
(23:52):
Let Yourself Bloom [22:28.786]
Bloom [ 22:28.786]
Yes, you can do all the things, butyou can also rest and yes, start with
a full cup and then go from there.
Jeana
[22:36.382]
And
found also is that with my teensget to see me fail and they get
to see what I do with failure.
They get to watch me rise and that'sthe best gift I can give them is taking
(24:15):
time to find me and follow my passions.
They get to see that ignition in me.
They get to see that fire andthey also get to see the failure.
to
They have to learn and watch how youfail because failure is part of life
and I think it's really important
teens fell and and learn howto pick themselves back up.
(24:36):
Let Yourself Bloom
[ So true, I just want to re-emphasize what you just said there.
They get to watch me rise.
Ugh, that is huge.
So, so true.
We are an example with oursuccesses and our failures.
(24:56):
I love that.
Is there anything else you want toshare today or say before we close?
Jeana Nunez [23:27.632]
Hmm.
Jeana Nunez [23:33.672]
You're enough.
I think we need to hearthat more and more and more.
I don't think that mental health getstalked about enough and if you're a
mom that struggles with mental healthor struggles with chronic illness or
you know like other diseases that areinvisible to the normal person that you
(25:20):
are enough and don't let your obstaclesdefine you let them refine you let them
be that light and that stepping stoneto your greatness because you have
a story to share and that's part of
story.
Let Yourself Bloom [24:10.45]
I love it.
Well, thank you foryour time today, Jeana.
How can people find you ifthey want to get in touch with
Jeana Nunez
Nunez [23:27.632]
Hmm.
Jeana Nunez [23:33.672]
You're enough.
I think we need to hearthat more and more and more.
I don't think that mental health getstalked about enough and if you're a
mom that struggles with mental healthor struggles with chronic illness or
you know like other diseases that areinvisible to the normal person that you
are enough and don't let your obstaclesdefine you let them refine you let them
be that light and that stepping stoneto your greatness because you have
a story to share and that's part of
story.
Let Yourself Bloom [24:10.45]
I love it.
Well, thank you foryour time today, Jeana.
How can people find you ifthey want to get in touch with
(25:40):
Jeana Nunez
[ 24:16.486]
So I am getting ready tolaunch a group coaching
that and just
we're in the process of doing thatand just on helping moms really become
empowered and women be able to becomethe queens that they're meant to be and
giving some of them some of those stepsthat I had to take to get back to finding
(26:01):
myself you know about self - care aboutmindset about connecting with God those
kind of things so I'm in the processof putting that together but I met on
at Pure Underscore Aspirations and
would be too
I think that's like that's where mywebsite would be too is pure aspirate
or my pure aspirations dot com
(26:22):
I am right
and so yeah that's kind of whereI am right now like I said I'm I'm
evolving and going bigger and I'mpreparing to be able to speak on
stage soon and do some different funthings there so yeah just stay tuned
Let Yourself
So great, thank you again.
Jeana Nunez [25:13.842]
thank you again.
Jeana Nunez [25:13.842]
Thank you.
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