Q: When you graduated from High School, did you have any idea you would be an Air Force Veteran, a Mental Health Therapist, Best Selling Author and run a Nonprofit Organization?
MF: Absolutely not. I knew I wanted to help people, but I have a learning disability and when I was in high school my guidance counselor told me that I should never go to college because I was never going to graduate. Little did I know that at that exact moment I would begin working tirelessly to prove him and myself wrong. I successfully graduated with my master’s degree and I am licensed to practice therapy in both Michigan and California. Becoming a Best-Selling Author and starting my nonprofit all happened in the last 2 years and I never ever expected these things to happen. I am living proof that with the right mindset you can truly build the life of your dreams.

Q: Can you share with us your experience in the Air Force?
MF: I had been practicing as a Mental Health Therapist for 10 years before the opportunity came for me to join the Air Force. I commissioned as an officer (Captain) in 2012 at the age of 33. I moved from Michigan to California and was stationed at Travis Air Force Base. I provided mental health and substance abuse treatment to active duty members. My transition into the service was difficult since I was 33 years old and had absolutely no knowledge about the military culture, but I was able to find my way rather quickly. I loved wearing the uniform and helping fellow service members serving our country. However, being a Mental Health Therapist in the Air Force was difficult at times due to rules and regulations and I felt at times it was more about the “higher ups” rather than the patients. I made the decision to leave the Air Force after my contract was complete. I felt that I could not be the most effective therapist for my patients due to the military culture that I was expected to follow as an officer. 

Q: Congratulations on being recognized as an Amazon Best Selling Author … share with us the story and what inspired you to write “You Are Enough: 5 Steps To Move From Struggle To Strength” 
MF: After a decade of being a Mental Health Therapist I found myself in an extremely narcissistic abusive marriage where he had an affair for 14 months of our 2.5 year marriage. You would think as a therapist, I would have recognized red flags and walked away but I didn’t. After our divorce I remained committed to him for two years. In February 2018 the last traumatic event occurred and on February 15, 2018, I finally after six years of having him in my life I walked away from him. Four months earlier I had lost my six-figure income. So, there I was … no income and walking away from my ex. I was beyond traumatized. I felt empty and damaged. Oftentimes I had no idea how I was going to continue. When I tapped into my inner being, the messages I received during this time were: “You’re worthless.” “You’re not wanted.” And the worst one ... “You are not good enough.”

I sought out my own therapist and began doing the difficult work of moving from my struggles into my strength. I began writing my book in Feb 2018 while I was in the midst of such heartbreak, turmoil and trauma. My book is my saving grace. 

My book outlines my story but also talks about a system I developed called “5 Steps to Move From Struggle to Strength.” I personally have worked through each of these steps and so have many of the clients I have worked with. This 5 Step System that will help you move from just maintaining the problem of feeling stuck and move you into believing you are enough! 

Q: What's the greatest fear you've had to overcome to get where you are today?  
MF: Leaving my abusive ex-husband and not returning to a full-time job as a Mental Health Therapist. Two years ago, I made the decision to open my own private practice and jump into entrepreneurship. I had to learn to allow myself to be vulnerable and share my story without fear of being judged. Today I can confidently say that I unapologetically own who I am, and I am enough! 

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?
MF: Don’t live a mediocre life. Go out and create the life of your dreams. Yes, it is scary, but I am living proof that more authentic and vulnerable you allow yourself to be, the more your life will be exactly how you want it to be. The right people and the right opportunities will come to you. 

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments in your career?
MF: In the last two years of being an entrepreneur, I have had so many amazing moments, but I would have to say launching the international I Am Enough Movement has been one of the best moments to date. 

During my healing process I wrote on a note card why I am enough and began repeating this day after day. Every time I thought I wasn’t good enough out came the card. Once I came to believe that I truly was enough, I began visualizing how I wanted to make an impact in this world not just through my best-selling book but also through the I AM ENOUGH Movement.

The I AM ENOUGH MOVEMENT provides visual coping cards for free to people all over world. I created movement as a way to give back. In November 2019, the movement became a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization. 

The I Am Enough Movement empowers people around the world to realize their full potential by providing free visual coping cards, outreach activities, and advocacy/educational programs that stimulate their well-being.

The vision for the I Am Enough Movement is to empower individuals to rewrite their story and shift their understanding of what’s possible by guiding them to know they are enough.

You can order your FREE I AM ENOUGH coping cards at: http://iamenoughmovement.info

Q: Which woman inspires you and why? 
MF: My Grandmother because her heart was so pure and loving. She went out of her way to help people and although she is no longer here, I want to make her happy with everything that I do. I always say my heart for helping people and giving back comes from my Gram. 

I am truly inspired by any woman who says YES to herself and begins pushing the boundaries to create or become involved in something that she is truly passionate about. No matter the outcome, no matter the difficulties that may arise a woman who works hard to live her best life inspires me! 

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?
MF: More than 80% (8 in 10) of women believe they’re not good enough, feel they don’t measure up in some way and believe they fall short when it comes to their looks, success in business and relationships. In Business: The fear that you’re not good enough can have a dramatic effect on your career. It prevents you from leaving a bad work situation, seeking stretch assignments, or applying for a new position. 

Eventually leading to a loss of motivation undermining your self-esteem. In your personal life: Research shows low self-esteem is the most common cause of toxic relationships. Women who believe they are not good enough are more likely to stay in toxic/abusive relationships. Result is 

This “not enough” mentality steals dreams, ambitions, relationships, health and happiness from women. It causes increased depression, anxiety, fear, & lack of motivation and creates a vicious cycle of self-abuse. 

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?
MF: When women do not think they are “good enough” they will not take the necessary steps required to achieve their goals. Every person must reach and maintain healthy levels of self-esteem and confidence in order to succeed. People can only do that when they unconditionally accept themselves as they are. 

Here is my SELF formula which will help you rebuild your mindset and believe you are enough: 

Stop Self-Sabotage - You have to be 100% honest with yourself about the limiting self-beliefs that are keeping you stuck. If we take a minute to think about our own negative self-talk—consciously and subconsciously—in a day, it is astounding! Why is it so easy for us to say something nice to someone else, but we can’t do the same for ourselves? The key is to be able to identify those negative thoughts, acknowledge them, and then to immediately replace the thoughts with something positive. 

Enough - Reprogram your limiting beliefs. Once you are able to identify these
negative thoughts, you can boldly take the first step in changing those thoughts by
reprogramming new beliefs into your subconscious mind using skills such as visual coping cards and daily affirmations. On the back of the I Am Enough card write why you believe you are enough. Stand in front of a mirror, look into your eyes and repeat out aloud (with some feeling and emotion). Do this 10- minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night. I encourage you to keep the card with you throughout the entire day so you can re-read the card to yourself whenever you feel you need a boost in your day. 

Love yourself - Set good personal boundaries, it’s an effective way of loving and taking care of yourself. Stop seeking validation and approval from others. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself. Learn to give yourself grace. Use this affirmation; “I forgive myself for judging myself for ______” (fill in the blank i.e.: for getting sick, for acting out, for not doing your best). Take time to meditate and journal. Learn to live in appreciation by completing a simple gratitude list daily. 

Fun - Self-love requires time to relax, play and create face-to-face interactions with others. Our fast-paced world creates a goal setting, competitive craziness that doesn’t leave time for fun! Get out there and do the things that light your fire. Enjoy them, enjoy being you and enjoy your incredible life. 

Five Things About Megan Fenyoe

1. If you could talk to one famous person past or present, who would it be and why? 
Oprah of course! 

2. Favorite city? 
San Diego!

3. What book are you currently reading? 
Honestly, I am not reading any right now … I am writing my second book ☺ 

4. What app can’t you live without? 
I am not sure if this is considered an app or not, but I cannot live without my “notes” app on my iPhone. I have about 16 different “notes” and I seriously use the app at least once an hour ☺

5. What’s the best advice anyone’s given you? 
Think big. Don’t be afraid to be bold.