Transforming pain into personal growth.
Opportunity in crisis: A personal reflection on how to transform pain into personal growth.
When the word “crisis” is spoken, it often conjures feelings of fear, uncertainty, and pain. It is a disruption—a force that breaks us open, leaving us vulnerable to life’s harshest realities. Over the past year, I have lived through such a disruption. My husband’s passing in November 2023, following his suicide, thrust me into a period of profound grief and upheaval. We only just got married 5 months before. Compounding this tragedy were the lawsuits over his legacy and the heartbreaking distance from my bonus kids, all of which threatened to break my spirit.
And yet, standing here today, I can say with certainty that this crisis also opened a door. It invited me to embark on a journey of profound self-discovery and transformation—a journey that revealed how crisis can be a potent catalyst for growth, healing, and reconnecting with one’s true self. It pushed me forward to evolve in my work as a transformation mentor en teacher.
Crisis as a portal to growth
In Quantum Human Design™, we understand crisis not merely as an obstacle but as a doorway. It is an opportunity to evolve, to shed layers of conditioning, and to reconnect with the essence of who we truly are. This perspective mirrors Eckhart Tolle’s insights in his seminal work, “The Power of Now”. Tolle writes: “Some changes look negative on the surface, but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”
When my husband passed away, the grief felt insurmountable. Every day brought a new wave of pain, questions, and doubts. Why him? Why now? Why in this way? I was also very angry at the people that hurt him in his core being. Yet, through prayer and the framework of Quantum Human Design™, I began to see the space this tragedy was creating. It was a painful space, but it was also sacred—an invitation to examine my own patterns, beliefs, and purpose.
Prayer: A lifeline to grace
Prayer became my anchor during the storm. It was not a plea for the pain to end, but rather a practice of surrender and trust. In those quiet moments, I found solace in a higher power and a reminder that I was not walking this path alone. Prayer became the bridge between my anguish and the possibility of peace, a tool to ground myself in the present while navigating an uncertain future. As a christian God is my guiding force.
Prayer also served as a reminder of interconnectedness—a central tenet of Quantum Human Design™. When we pray, we align with the frequencies of the universe guided by God, inviting grace, clarity, and strength into our lives. It’s a practice of opening ourselves to what is, even when “what is” feels unbearable.
Discovering the true self in crisis
One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned through this journey is that crisis has a way of stripping away illusions. It demands authenticity. In the darkest hours, when the distractions of life fall away, we are left with the raw truth of who we are and what truly matters.
Quantum Human Design™ teaches that each of us has a unique blueprint—a design that holds the key to our purpose and potential. Crisis, in its painful wisdom, pushes us to align with this blueprint. Its some kind of wake-up call. It forces us to confront the stories we tell ourselves, the roles we play, and the truths we avoid. In my case, it was an opportunity to reflect on my mission and the ways I could integrate my experiences into the work I do as a transformation mentor.
Eckhart Tolle beautifully encapsulates this process: “When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world. Your innermost sense of self, of who you are, is inseparable from stillness.” For me, crisis became a path to stillness—a painful, often chaotic path, but one that ultimately led me closer to my true self.
Reframing pain as purpose
The pain of loss, legal battles, and separation from my bonus kids could have consumed me. There were moments when it felt like it might. But through the lens of Quantum Human Design™, I began to see this pain as a teacher. It was pointing me toward my mission: to help others navigate their own transitions and crises with grace, courage, and authenticity.
By sharing my journey, I hope to show that crisis, while devastating, is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a new chapter—one where you are invited to reconnect with your purpose, rewrite your narrative, and step into your fullest potential.
When you start a new exercise program you also experience some kind of crisis: your muscles will be sore and it will seem hard in the beginning but after a while your body gets used to the new movements. I see this in my practice when my clients get into the habit of daily exercise which is mainly brisk walking. Same goes when changing your diet or installing another healthy habit. Going through the first phase of ‘pain’ you get rewarded with renewed energy to fulfill your life. Personal note: this renewed energy is necessary for my clients when I work on their Human Design chart. Mind and body are connected.
Guiding clients through crisis
In my work as a transformation mentor, I guide clients through the storms of their lives into the calm and clarity of their true life story. Together, we explore the opportunities for growth that crises present, using tools like Quantum Human Design™ and the TAKE YOU TIME™ Method. I help clients see their challenges as a gateway to rediscovering their purpose and aligning with their unique blueprint. By working together, they emerge stronger, more authentic, and ready to embrace their highest potential.
If you are ready to turn your pain into purpose, I invite you to connect with me. Let’s embark on this journey together. You can reach out through my website lieshelsloot.com where you can book a discovery call to learn more about how I can support you.
The role of community and support
One of the most challenging aspects of my journey was the feeling of isolation. Grief can be an isolating experience, and the additional complexities of legal disputes and estrangement amplified this. But I also discovered the healing power of community—whether through friends, spiritual advisors, or the Quantum Human Design™ community. Surrounding yourself with people who hold space for your healing, without judgment or agenda, is invaluable. By nature, I like to be alone, after all, I am an initiator/manifestor in Quantum Human Design™ with also a 2/4 profile that reinforces that like to be alone. But I have learned to accept help, albeit from the people who intuitively feel ‘right’ to me.
If you are facing a crisis, I urge you to seek out this kind of support. You do not have to navigate the storm alone. There is strength in connection, in sharing your story, and in being witnessed.
Moving forward: A new vision
As I continue to heal, I carry forward the lessons of this past year. I am more committed than ever to helping others embrace the opportunities within their own crises. Through my TAKE YOU TIME™ Method and the principles of Quantum Human Design™, I guide clients toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their potential. Together, we transform pain into purpose, loss into growth, and crisis into a catalyst for profound change.
Closing thoughts on Transforming pain into personal growth.
Crisis is never easy, and it is never welcome. But it holds within it the seeds of transformation. If you find yourself in the midst of a storm, know that there is a way through. Trust in the process, lean into prayer or whatever practice grounds you, and remember that you are not alone. Most importantly, allow the experience to guide you back to your true self—the self that is whole, resilient, and ready to step into its highest purpose.
As Eckhart Tolle reminds us, “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.”
In every crisis lies an opportunity. It is up to us to embrace it.
Big hug, Lies
My name is Lies Helsloot, Transformation mentor, Quantum Human Design Specialist™ , trained by Karen Curry Parker and founder of the TAKE YOU TIME™ Method. I am the author of 3 books (“Walk Yourself Slim & Happy. How taking More Steps can Change Your Life”, “Move yourself slim and happy”(English translation coming soon) and “The Complete Guide to healthy Hair“), I blog here at takeyoutime.com and coach individual clients, groups and companies around the world to live a happy, healthy life and more work-life balance with my 7-step concept of self-care called TAKE YOU TIME™ and Quantum Human Design™. For more motivation and free training and challenges, be sure to sign up for the newsletter on this site and follow me on Instagram, Facebook. Or get in touch to know about my online- and in person coaching programs.
Some of the content on my website is sponsored content but I only promote products and services that I truly trust and use for myself, my family or my clients.
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