Bernie welcomes Heather Johll for an open and deeply vulnerable conversation about healing and transformation in midlife. Heather, currently Vice President at Ascension Health with over twenty years of leadership experience, shares her remarkable journey of reinvention—from reaching a weight of 385 pounds and struggling with serious health issues, to making a life-changing career shift and reclaiming her physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Heather opens up about how she learned to embrace not just weight loss but a new sense of self. Through candid reflections on overcoming personal trauma and rediscovering joy, Heather exemplifies what it means to pursue not just an acceptable, but an exceptional version of yourself.
3 🗝️ Takeaways
1️⃣ Reinvention requires courage—and sacrifice. To step into your future, it costs you your current self. Being willing to “deconstruct” who you were is the only way to grow.
2️⃣ Lasting change is holistic. The external breakthroughs (like weight loss or career pivots) are only sustainable when you address the underlying mental and emotional challenges. Heather found that investing in counseling and mental health was as important as gym time or eating right.
3️⃣ Fulfillment comes from being exceptionally you.
After years of striving and self-improvement, Heather now finds joy in simple pleasures—morning routines, movement, and authentic connections. Her goal is no longer to be an “acceptable” version of herself but to be the exceptional version.
Main Takeaway:
Heather’s story is a testament to the power of vulnerability and intentional transformation. No matter where you are in your journey, becoming your most fulfilled self means embracing the courage to change, investing in your mental health, and showing up authentically.
Connect with Heather Johll
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Connect with Bernie Borges
Email: bernie@midlifefulfilled.com
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter
Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore corporate hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
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Watch the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube
Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno
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