Ashlee Cox Ashlee Cox

She Walked Away From a 12-Year Dream…and Found Her True Purpose

From Medical School Dreams to Aligned and Empowered

"Do I really want this?" Karleigh Lindsay asked herself in 2021 as essays for her third medical school application spread before her. That single question would unravel twelve years of striving and rebuild her life from scratch.

For Karleigh, founder of Aligned and Empowered, the collision between childhood ambition and adult wisdom became the catalyst for complete realignment. Her story mirrors anyone standing at the crossroads between who I said I would be and who I truly want to become.

A Dream Rerouted

Karleigh was taking a leave from work to focus on medical school essays when she paused mid-sentence. "I realized the dream of medicine belonged to my 12-year-old self, not my present-day self," she shared. "I needed to reroute the pathways in my brain because my former self had been calling the shots."

That clarity, though painful, was freeing. It marked the beginning of grieving a dream she'd outgrown and reclaiming permission to evolve.

"I realized the dream of medicine belonged to my 12-year-old self, not my present-day self."

What Alignment Really Means

When Karleigh first explored alignment, it wasn't spiritual; it was literal. "If you think about alignment tactically, you think about a car. When your alignment's on, the steering wheel and wheels move in the same direction. But when it's off, your steering wheel might look straight while your wheels are pulling somewhere else."

For years, she'd been steering straight toward a version of success that looked right from the outside but wasn't truly taking her where she wanted to go. What kept her on that road? The identity she'd carried since childhood: I'm not a quitter.

Releasing the "Not a Quitter" Identity

Karleigh's drive to "see things through" became both her strength and her stumbling block. Even when doubting medicine, she rationalized the unthinkable: "I told myself, I'll go to med school, finish all four years, go to my internship, and then if I don't like being a doctor, I'll quit. That's how deeply ingrained 'I'm not a quitter' was."

She'd spent years defining herself through others' expectations. "There was no plan B. It's doctor, or it's doctor, or I'll die trying." The fear of what people might think, of being seen as someone who gave up, followed her into every decision.

That same fear almost stopped her from starting her coaching business. "I kept thinking, what will so-and-so from high school think about me becoming a life coach?"

In the end, she decided to act anyway. "I really had to decide that what other people might be thinking of me is none of my business. And it definitely doesn't get to influence my decisions."

The Cure for Judgment

The cure for judgment is simple but rarely easy: "You have to just do it. You have to do it scared."

That fear isn't weakness; it's wiring. "Your nervous system is saying, 'We'll be rejected from the tribe. We'll be outcast, and we'll die.' It sounds dramatic, but it's real."

So she started small. Her Instagram name was LC Karleigh (short for Life Coach Karleigh) because spelling it out felt too vulnerable. But little by little, she began showing up. With every post, she gathered proof that her fears were unfounded.

Her advice: Make the next move, however small, and let it evolve. "You’re not married to the first thing you do. You get to let it grow with you."

One Laughably Easy Step at a Time

When I asked Karleigh how she helps people stay connected to goals through motivation dips, her response was refreshingly honest.

"Everyone says, 'Remember your why,' and I don't disagree. But when you're overwhelmed, more thinking doesn't help. I always go back to baby steps, making it laughably easy to move forward."

She breaks big goals into the smallest, most doable pieces. "Your to-do list can literally say: open computer, Google x-y-z, open spreadsheet. Give yourself a play-by-play."

Because lack of motivation isn't about laziness; it's about overwhelm. "When you feel unmotivated, it's usually your nervous system saying, 'There's too much to do right now.' That's when we freeze."

When overwhelm hits hard, Karleigh prescribes something counterintuitive: an overwhelm nap. "Commit to doing absolutely nothing for a set time. Let yourself rest and receive. When you slow down long enough to listen, your next step reveals itself."

And if what you're feeling is plain resistance—the "I just don't want to" kind—celebrate it instead of fighting it. "The level of resistance you feel is equal to the level of expansion waiting on the other side. Nobody gets resistant to sitting on the couch eating chips. Resistance only shows up on paths that are meant for you."

"The level of resistance you feel is equal to the level of expansion waiting on the other side."

Her advice? Treat each small step like a victory. "Celebrate it. Say, Hell yeah, I opened my computer. You have an inner child, and she's coming with you on your whole journey. Cheer for her."

TRY THIS: What's one task you've been avoiding? Break it into three easy steps and complete just the first one today.

Resistance or Redirection? How to Tell the Difference

"Give yourself stillness. Take that rest, take that nap, and then ask…is this self-sabotage, or is my intuition redirecting me?"

Sometimes clarity comes not from sitting and thinking, but from moving. "Go on a walk. I love what I call a 'signs walk.' The first animal or plant you notice, take a photo, look up its spiritual meaning, and see what message it has for you. It's such a fun way to move from resistance to insight."

TRY THIS: Take a "signs walk" this week. Notice the first creature or plant that catches your eye, photograph it, and look up its spiritual meaning. What message does it hold for you?

Turning Growth Into a Game

Karleigh doesn't believe personal development has to feel heavy. She's built a framework around making self-growth playful. "I wanted heart-centered humans to get addicted to acting on their dreams, not just thinking about them."

Execution is everything. "Always use a verb. Don't just write 'schedule mechanic'—write 'call mechanic,' and include the number. Keep the action tangible. That's what separates thinking from doing."

"Every box you check is evidence that you show up for yourself. That's how self-trust is built. That's how confidence grows."

One client started self-critical and paralyzed by perfectionism. Within two weeks of using the scoreboard system, they'd landed five new clients. The difference wasn't luck; it was proof.

"You can't think your way into self-belief. You build it through evidence."

Integrity as the Foundation

"A house built on a solid foundation can't fail," Karleigh told me. "Integrity is that foundation. You can acquire things without it, but you won't keep them. Lack of integrity always comes back to bite you."

Real success isn't about hustling harder; it's about being rooted in who you are. Integrity isn't just a moral stance; it's a form of self-alignment that allows every decision, word, and action to point in the same direction.

Building Self-Assurance, Brick by Brick

After surviving both an abusive relationship and a home robbery, Karleigh had to rebuild from the ground up. "The version of me you see now? She was built brick by brick. I chose who I wanted to become instead of settling for who I once was."

The same practices that shaped her business became her personal anchors: journaling, daily check-ins, the scoreboard, and what she calls her Level Up Club rituals. She also leaned into intuitive tools like human design, astrology, and movement.

"Those practices helped me rebuild self-assurance in the places trauma had taken it. They reminded me that I wasn't broken. I was just remembering my power."

The reminder: Return to integrity, again and again, until you recognize yourself in the life you're creating.

Rituals, Mantras, and Manifesting More

For Karleigh, alignment is a daily practice. Her mornings begin with a "menu of grounding"—yoga, meditation, tea in bed, oracle cards, or a slow swim. "I want my mornings to feel like a choice, not a chore." Her ritual always begins with "Good Morning, Your Highness" by Queen Herby, a musical affirmation that sets the tone for self-respect and joy.

Her favorite mantra? "Everything's always working out for you." It's a reminder to zoom out, to see challenges as part of a larger story unfolding in your favor.

Recently, Karleigh hosted an entirely unscripted, intuition-led workshop—no slides, no talking points, just presence and trust. "It was terrifying and thrilling, but it ended up being one of the most powerful sessions I've ever led."

Now she's dreaming bigger: a 2026 community cruise bringing her Austin, Texas circle together for an immersive Mediterranean journey. It's a reflection of her favorite truth that expansion doesn't have to mean striving. It can mean opening, softening, and trusting what's next.

"Manifestation isn't about forcing outcomes. It's about becoming a match for what you desire by showing up in integrity, joy, and faith."

Final Thoughts

Growth isn't always loud or linear. Sometimes it's the slow, trembling kind…the kind that asks you to walk away from what once felt certain so you can make space for what's true.

Karleigh's story is about the moment you stop steering toward what looks right and begin to honor what feels right. It's about trusting your inner compass, even when the map you've been handed no longer fits.

May her journey remind you that change isn't failure, that fear can be a teacher, and that you, too, are allowed to reroute the path.

Your Turn

Reflect: What dream are you still chasing that belonged to a younger version of you?

Share: What's one small, laughably easy step you're taking today? Drop it in the comments below. We're cheering for you!

Connect with Karleigh

Ready to start your own alignment journey?

WokenHeart Spotlight celebrates women building lives that feel aligned, purposeful, and free. Know someone whose story should be featured? Nominate them here.

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Walking in Grace: Friendship, Authenticity, and Choosing Faith Over Fear

Bringing back WokenHeart Spotlight because this person is too amazing not to celebrate.

Have you ever met someone and felt like you’ve known them for a lifetime? That’s how it felt when I met Erika “Kika” Darbouze in a small Thai café on a hot and humid day in Chiang Mai, Thailand. From that first conversation, I knew she carried a kind of wisdom and energy that deserved to be shared.

This month’s Spotlight is all about Kika—a woman whose honesty, grace, and perspective on friendship, authenticity, and courage will leave you reflecting on your own journey. What unfolded in our hour-long conversation was less of a Q&A and more of a soulful exchange, filled with lessons that feel both grounding and liberating.

Friendship in Your 30s: From People Pleasing to Grace

When asked how her understanding of friendship has shifted from her 20s to her 30s, Kika reflected on a journey many of us can relate to.

“In my 20s, I was so focused on belonging,” she said. “I compromised a lot, sometimes shutting down what I truly wanted just to appease others. People pleasing defined a lot of my friendships back then.”

But something shifts as we grow older. “In my 30s, friendships feel grounded. I’m more sure of myself, more intentional. And while people often say we become quicker to cut others off as we age, I’ve actually found myself extending more grace. I forgive faster. I understand perspectives better. My friendships are softer, more life-giving.”

Her metaphor struck me deeply: friendships are like trees. Some branches break away with the seasons, but the strongest grow alongside us, becoming part of who we are. For Kika, many of those branches are friendships that have lasted over 20 years, relationships that now feel more like family.

Making Friends Later in Life

Kika also noted the surprising beauty of making new friends in adulthood. “Friendships now are so intentional. When I meet someone today, it’s because we’re aligned in values, in energy, in the stage of life we’re in. Those new friendships feel like diamonds, rare, precious, and deeply rooted in purpose.”

Unlike childhood or high school friendships that were often born out of proximity, these later in life connections come from a place of clarity and self-assurance. “When you know who you are, you recognize alignment quickly and you don’t waste time where it’s not there.”

Walking in Authenticity

Perhaps the heart of our conversation was around authenticity, a core value of WokenHeart.

“I’ve never known a version of myself that wasn’t true to who I am,” Kika told me. “Even as a child, I had no problem sitting on the swing alone while everyone else played in the mud. Staying authentic isn’t always easy, but it’s part of my essence.”

Kika spoke about protecting her inner child, honoring her energy, and entering spaces with clarity about her “why.” If she’s not received fully for who she is, she sees it not as rejection but as redirection. “Not everyone is for me, and that’s okay. The sooner I know that, the better.”

It’s a refreshing reminder: authenticity doesn’t mean we’ll always be embraced, but it does mean we’ll always be aligned within ourselves.

Choosing Faith Over Fear

We also spoke about courage, the kind it takes to take sabbaticals, leave jobs, or step into the unknown.

“The reason most people don’t go after what they want? Fear,” Kika said without hesitation. “Fear of failure, of the unknown, of being alone. But on the other side of fear is freedom. On the other side of fear is joy.”

So how does Kika move forward anyway?

“You don’t wait for fear to disappear. You do it afraid. You do it with shaky legs, trusting that you’ll figure it out. Faith is the opposite of fear. Faith in yourself, faith in your resilience, faith that things will work out. And just like a muscle, the more you choose faith over fear, the stronger that courage becomes.”

Her words carried the kind of conviction that can only come from lived experience. It’s why I joked during our conversation that she should be a life coach. Her insights were that powerful.

A Final Word

What I walked away with is this: grace, authenticity, and faith are not just lofty ideals. They are daily practices. Whether it’s forgiving a friend, walking into a room as your full self, or booking a one-way ticket to a new country, the heart of it all is the same: honoring your truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Kika’s story is a reminder that growth doesn’t mean hardening. It means softening with grace, with understanding, and with faith. Talking with her feels like those long, unhurried Sunday brunches with your best girlfriends. Full of laughter, honesty, and the kind of wisdom that lingers long after the plates are cleared.

To the WokenHeart community: Which of Kika’s reflections resonated most with you? Have you noticed your friendships evolving with more intention, or faced moments where you had to choose faith over fear? Share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear how these themes show up in your own journey.

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