Investing in Yourself: Gentle Guidance from Stacy Harmer, Certified Life and Health Coach
After unexpectedly losing a child, Stacy Harmer found herself navigating deep grief and depression. The intentional journey she took to heal—body, heart, mind, and spirit—now shapes the compassionate work she does through Vibrant Living Wellness.
“I believe it’s absolutely essential that we take time to care for ourselves,” Stacy says. “When we nurture our own well-being, we’re able to show up more fully for the people we love and the life we’re meant to live.”
Her approach to investing in yourself centers on four foundational areas: body, heart, mind, and spirit.
Body
“Our physical health influences everything else,” Stacy explains. “When we strengthen the body, we create energy and capacity for the rest of our lives.”
She uses the acronym PLEASE as a simple reminder for daily physical care:
- P – Proper supplementation
- L – Low glycemic, nourishing foods
- E – Exercise and movement
- A – Adequate hydration
- S – Sleep and restoration
- E – Energy
“When we care for our bodies consistently,” she says, “we create the energy needed to live a vibrant, meaningful life.”
Heart
“The heart is where we hold our emotions,” Stacy says. “Many of us were never taught how to process feelings in a healthy way.”
Rather than suppressing emotions, she encourages gentle awareness and release.
Some of her favorite tools include:
- Writing: Freewriting each morning to identify emotions such as frustration, sadness, disappointment, or fear.
- Movement: Physical activity helps release stored emotional energy.
- Talking with someone safe: Processing out loud often brings clarity and healing.
“When we allow ourselves to feel,” Stacy explains, “our hearts become lighter and more open to connection.”
Mind
“Our thoughts create our feelings, our feelings drive our actions, and our actions produce our results,” Stacy teaches.
She encourages intentional mindset practices such as:
- Noticing thoughts that aren’t serving you
- Choosing more supportive thoughts
- Repeating daily affirmations with emotion and belief
“With practice,” she says, “we can gently retrain the mind to support the life we want to create.”
Spirit
Spiritual care looks different for everyone, but Stacy emphasizes that it is just as important as physical and emotional health.
“Give yourself permission to explore what helps you feel connected, peaceful, and grounded,” she says.
This might include:
- Time in nature
- Journaling
- Music
- Prayer or quiet reflection
“Spiritual nourishment helps us remember who we truly are.”
Lifting Yourself Lifts Others
Stacy emphasizes that investing in yourself is not selfish—it’s transformational.
“Any investment in ourselves is never wasted,” she says. “I often picture a net: when you lift one string, the entire net rises. As you lift yourself, everyone around you is lifted too.”
Through intentional care of the body, heart, mind, and spirit, she believes anyone can begin creating a more vibrant life. Stacy and Rozanne Marsh lead a community of women called “Come What May - Women United” to help women rise above life’s most difficult challenges.
If you’re seeking professional life coaching, learn more about what Stacy does at VibrantLivingWellness.org, StacyHarmer.com, or www.ComeWhatMay.world