Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Halderman.
Kara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up I lacked self-confidence and didn’t trust myself. I deemed my body the enemy and spent a lot of time with chronic sinus infections, strep, mono, severe stomach pain and extreme fatigue. My weight fluctuated constantly and was called “thick” by peers in high school. By the time I went to my stomach was in shambles and I’d developed patterns of disordered eating.
Things had declined so fast that I ended up leaving college one semester in. My health had deteriorated so much I could no longer take care of myself. This is where I found a paleo-style diet and it completely changed my life. It sparked acknowledgement of the bodies’ miraculous ability to heal through food. I followed this passion and enrolled in the Nutritional Therapy Association and as an NTP I help women create their own versions of health through food.
But something was missing. I felt better, but gained little confidence and kept repeating the same destructive habits that got me there in the first place. This is where NLP training comes in. I had been involved with Nuero Linguistic Programming and other self-development courses since 11-12 years old. I would go with my Dad and Stepmom to 3 day seminars and about the subconscious, meditation, rapport, mind-altering behavioral techniques and a bunch of other “hippie stuff” as I call it. I knew a lot more about the mind than most teenagers and rebelled out of fear I would be judged. So I wrote it off and forgot about it. Consciously, that is. But just recently when my health hit another wall, I dove back in head first. I’m now a NLP Advanced Practitioner and Master Practitioner. I use these tools as a mindset coach to help women create a healthy relationship with their food, body and lifestyle.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh god no! It’s STILL not a smooth road. No matter how much self-improvement, meditation, energy work and crystals we collect it’s impossible to avoid bumps in the road. My health has always been my #1 struggle, as that’s been an issue my whole life. I’ve dealt with chronic fatigue for years that’s held me back from scaling my business. I’ve bounced around in and out of college and questioned if the entrepreneurial life is right for me. I’ve gone through an eating disorder, anxiety, depression and the feeling of lacking purpose. Today I would say I’m in the best space to date, but the road is still bumpy. Every single day is a work in progress and I focus on the big picture instead of obsessing over the details
Ultimately, all of my challenges in life stemmed from me. One thing I’m big on is radical responsibility. Life is too short to blame and make excuses, and that’s what I did for years. I blamed doctors for not knowing what to do about my health; blamed not being where I want in life on my health; and overall shifted responsibility to others when things didn’t go my way. Now, I own up to all my faults and take the reins. Once I took responsibility for everything that has happened in my life, it allowed me to move forward and get what I want.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kara Halderman – what should we know?
I’m a Mindset Coach and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. While I no longer consult people on what they should eat; I’m more interested in helping women create a healthy mindset around food and their body. However, it goes much deeper than that. With my clients we discover the problem they have with food is never really about food, so we explore the underlying problem and clear it using behavioral modification techniques.
For every client I also run what is called their “fixed design”- AKA their astrological symbol, card from the deck, Chinese animal and Hawaiian number. When these 4 maps are put together and interpreted correctly, it’s a huge piece of self-discovery that can propel people forward. It helps you understand strengths, weaknesses and simply why you are the way you are.
I am also really active on Instagram and YouTube giving mindset tips and sneak peaks into my daily life. I’m really honored to project authenticity and honesty when it comes to social media, as I feel like a lot of the time it’s really curated and creates false pretenses on what life “should” be.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
In my business and in life, my biggest mentors are my parents, boyfriend and NLP Learning Systems in Dallas.
My parents are who introduced me to self-improvement, spirituality and the idea of creating your own reality. Without them planting the seed and constantly supporting mentally, emotionally and sometimes financially I wouldn’t be the person I am today. My boyfriend has also been a huge supporter of my business. In life you need someone who’s not afraid to call you out, and that’s exactly what he does! He keeps me on my toes and is certain I practice what I preach.
With mindset coaching, the whole staff at NLP Learning Systems in Dallas has been my most accredited mentor. NLP is a training program that helps further communication and techniques to get what you want in life. I’ve been involved with them for over 10 years and their training is instrumental.
Pricing:
- Mindset Coaching- $100 /hr
Contact Info:
- Website: karahalderman.com
- Email: kara.halderman@gmail.com
- Instagram: @karahalderman
- Facebook: Kara halderman
- Youtube: Kara Halderman
Image Credit:
Maribel Morales
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