Commercial Fisherwoman, Author, Speaker, and Mental Health Advocate
Healing Conversation #1379
— What if the greatest obstacle to living a joyful, authentic life isn't what happens to us—but the patterns we use to cope with it?
Whether it's grief, fear, shame, or the desire to escape difficult emotions, many of us carry habits that quietly pull us away from ourselves. Today's conversation explores what it means to face those patterns with honesty, courage, and compassion, and how even our deepest struggles can become a doorway to healing, purpose, and freedom. We'll talk about resilience, self-awareness, the power of keeping promises to ourselves, and why following our inner compass may be the truest path back to joy.
Colleen Clifford is a commercial fisherwoman, speaker, and most importantly a mental health advocate. As she moves through her 6th decade of life, surprisingly it’s been her most authentic. It wasn't until her late husband’s death by alcohol-related suicide and her last dangerous drinking episode; that she vowed to change. Colleen explores through her writing and speaking opportunities the intersection of grief, binge drinking, suicide, resilience, and the hidden patterns we use to survive. There is a silver lining in all the tragedy. A promise made to her late husband and to herself. To share her message, it only takes one time of drinking too much for a life to change forever. Through podcast interviews, her book, Life Beyond the Binge, A Commercial Fisherwoman’s Journey Home and speaking engagements, Colleen offers hope to others through non-judgmental curiosity and compassion.
