“You’re always ignoring something. Are you going to ignore yourself or the dust bunny in the corner?” – Tami Stackelhouse

When you’re used to getting things done no matter what, slowing down can feel almost impossible. There’s always another task that needs your attention, someone who needs something from you, or that little voice reminding you what you “should” be doing. Add perfectionism into the mix, and taking care of yourself can easily end up at the bottom of the list. You keep pushing because that’s what you’ve always done, even when your fibro body is asking you to stop.

The good part is that feeling better doesn’t mean you have to become a completely different person. You can still be ambitious, successful, and someone who likes things done well. It’s about learning that not everything needs 150% of you, and that sometimes reading a book, taking a break, saying no, or leaving the windows for another day is exactly what your body needs. When you start working with your body instead of constantly pushing past your limits, life can feel a whole lot better.

Today, Tami is joined by Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Jeannette Rechsteiner, who knows this struggle firsthand. A high achiever and Fibromyalgia Wellness Style℠ Perfectionist, Jeannette went from a severe flare that left her unable to walk and living with pain at an eight or nine out of ten to saying, “I love my life.” She and Tami talk about her life before fibromyalgia, her lowest point that ultimately led to her fibromyalgia diagnosis, how Jeannette finally found hope, why she decided to become a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® and fill a gap in specialized support in Switzerland, how coaching unexpectedly changed her own health and helped her recognize the connection between self care, perfectionism, and her flares, the three major turning points in Jeannette’s journey, why having a coach and community makes such a difference in managing your fibromyalgia, building her business and becoming the kind of role model she wants to be for her children, why Jeannette focuses on helping perfectionists and high achievers, the practical ways she supports clients, why perfectionism became such an important piece of understanding her own fibromyalgia, Jeannette’s advice for getting the right support, and more.

Note: This episode is not meant to be medical advice. Every person and every situation is unique. The information you learn in this episode should be shared and discussed with your own healthcare providers.