How I Reclaimed My Power After Burnout.
- Heather Mangiaratti
- May 25
- 3 min read
A Personal Story of Rediscovery, Healing, and Inner Strength
"I don’t know how you do it all.”
I heard that all the time. From friends. From family. From people who had no idea what it was really like behind the scenes.
Sure — on the outside, I looked like I had it together. But inside? I was exhausted. Numb. Overwhelmed.
Burnout wasn’t a big crash—it was a slow fade. And I didn’t even realize I was in it until one day I thought:
“Why am I always so tired? ”🛌 (Nap Queen here, always ready to escape into sleep...)
“I don’t recognize myself anymore.” 🎨 (Changing my hair color constantly, hoping a new shade would bring a new me.)
“I’m holding it together by a thread.” 😭 (Cue the late-night crying sessions in the dark, trying not to wake anyone up...)
The Wake-Up Call
My joy had flatlined. I couldn’t even fake my own spark anymore.
That’s when I knew: I wasn’t just tired — I was disconnected from my soul.
And it was time to stop surviving and start remembering who I was.
The Path Back to Me
There was no perfect plan. Just one tiny decision: I was done abandoning myself.
And so, I started showing up for myself. Bit by bit. Breath by breath.
🌿 I Created a Self-Soothing Ritual:
Something simple, calming, and intuitive — which later became Heather’s Hug — a blend of acupressure, grounding, and breath to reset my nervous system.
I found myself doing these techniques everywhere:
🚗 In the car before walking into the chaos of my mom’s house
💼 Before work, to ground and prepare for whatever energy was coming my way🚿 Even in the shower, to wash the heaviness of the day off my body and spirit
This ritual was my lifeline — a gentle daily exhale.
💬 I Permitted Myself to Feel:
Not just the polished, “safe” emotions — but the messy, aching ones too.
No one wants to sit in the dark stuff — but the truth is:
We need the darkness to appreciate the light. We need to grieve, to cry, to release — so healing can happen.
So, I let myself feel the things I’d spent years pushing down. And that’s when the healing truly began.
🔮 I Reconnected with My Intuition:
Instead of asking, “What should I do?” I got curious and gentle with myself. I started asking:
“What do I need right now?”
“What would love do?”
“What in my body feels right?”
“Do I want to say no… instead of people-pleasing my way into burnout again?”
That shift? That was power returning.
💗 I Found Support and Sisterhood:
I stopped trying to do it all alone. I reached out, asked for help, and let others see the real me.
Most importantly, I found other women who got it —Who understood the emotional and mental toll of carrying it all.
I love the men in my life, truly — but please, let me be soft. Let me cry. Let me not be judged for needing my feminine, nurturing space. That’s where I began to feel safe again, in connection with women who reflected my soul to me.
And Then… I Rose
Not in some glittering, magical movie moment —But in real, raw, sacred little ways:
Laughing again.
Setting boundaries.
Choosing myself.
I rebuilt from within — and now, I help other women do the same.
If You’re Feeling Burnt Out, Please Know This:
You are not broken. You are not lazy. You’re just overdue for a return to yourself.
You don’t need to “fix” anything — just remember your wholeness.
🌸 Ready to Begin Your Return?
Start with my gift to you — Heather’s Hug — a video + guidebook ritual to reconnect with your calm, clarity, and inner strength in just a few minutes a day.
💌 Already downloaded it? Beautiful. Keep going.
If this spoke to your heart, I’d love to support you more deeply. Let’s talk about what’s holding you back — and how you can rise again, too.
📞 Book your Free 15-minute Empowerment Call.
Sending you strength, softness, and the reminder: You’re never alone in this.
With love & big hugs,
Heather Mangiaratti
Holistic Healer & Master Empowerment Coach
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