Do What Lights You Up

Life Coaching Tip: Sometimes your calling shows up disguised as your hardest season. My client Camilla discovered this firsthand, finding her path as a parenting coach in the middle of a rough stretch with her own young children. Since then, she’s built a thriving practice, launched a new group program, and grown in ways she never expected, all by trusting what energized her rather than chasing what looked impressive on paper. Her story is proof that your toughest moments can point you straight toward your life’s work. Read on to see how one brave decision changed everything for her.

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“Do what lights you up.”

That’s my client Camilla’s advice, and it’s basically the story of her entire career.

Camilla is a London-based parenting coach and the founder of My Parenting Solutions, but her path there started the way so many meaningful things do: in the middle of a hard season she never saw coming. Before kids, she spent years running corporate training programs, using her education in Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) to teach communication in the workplace. She assumed those skills would translate easily to parenting.

But, unfortunately, they didn’t.

Her toddler son was determined and spirited (her words, and I love the way she puts it), and her baby was colicky. Camilla found herself struggling in a way she never expected. She and her husband, Paul, weren’t enjoying those early years as they thought they were supposed to. Her son was hitting other children, and she felt embarrassed, like she was doing a bad job as a mom.

She read “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen,” which helped, though she wanted more support. So, she joined a parenting group built around those same principles, and that’s when everything began to change.

“It’s then that I became passionate about helping more parents, so I trained as a parenting coach” she told me.

She went on to have two more children, which allowed her to test and refine everything she’d been taught in her training. Two of the main principles behind her work are that connection must come before correction, and that boundaries and love work hand in hand.

Her coaching practice was already thriving by the time she joined Shine On for her first round. Now, in her second round, her growth has shown up in so many significant ways.

During her first round of Shine On, Camilla refined her business model and created a higher-value 1:1 package that allows her to coach at a deeper level with families and deliver even more transformational results.

Since then, she’s built on that momentum by launching a group program, Parenting with Love and Boundaries, so even more parents can access her approach.

She also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, one of the UK’s most prestigious radio programs, reaching millions of listeners as an expert in her field.

And she’s nurtured her closest relationships with her husband, children, and friends, making them stronger and more connected than ever. Best of all, she’s found the confidence to embrace life more fully, taking time off, saying yes to new adventures, and living with a renewed sense of freedom and joy.

I must say, the BBC appearance was an energetic turning point.

“One bold move I made was pitching myself to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, something I don’t think I’d have done without Shine On,” she said. “And then it happened almost like magic. They rang me up one morning, asked me to come into the studio within the hour, and I said yes without hesitation! Shine On gave me the courage to do that.”

Camilla is such a vibrant member of Shine On. Truly, she’s an absolute ball of energy. Every night, she sends me her “wins” from the day, and I am consistently amazed by how much she accomplishes and how many meaningful relationships she cultivates throughout her day. Her work impacts generations, quite literally, and she brings that same generous spirit to everything else in her life too.

I asked Camilla why she does this work, and this is what she said.

“It energizes me to get out of bed. It feels like a true calling. It makes me a better person to be around. It lights me up to help families have a calm family life.”

I asked Camilla if she would offer parents of young children who might be reading this some advice, and this is what she said:

“Put your energy into connection and playfulness. Be clear about boundaries and say “no” when you need to. That “no” can come from love instead of threats or punishment. When a child feels understood, respected, and close to you, they’re so much more likely to actually listen to you.

You can have a loving connection with your child and still say, ‘It’s time for bed.’ You can have a loving connection and your child can still be upset with you. Good parents let their kids feel upset sometimes. That’s part of the job.”

Such wisdom! I sure wish I had Camilla’s support when my daughters were little.

Camilla leads with her heart. I adore her passion and zest for life. It’s an incredible honor to be her coach.

As you reflect on Camilla’s story, my friend, I’d like you to consider how it all started… with one brave person deciding to follow what lights her up, even when she had no idea where it would lead.

How might your life change if you followed Camilla’s lead and pursued that wild, audacious idea that you can’t stop thinking about?

You don’t have to know the whole picture. This is about taking one brave step at a time.

xo Tracy

PS – If Camilla’s story has you thinking about what’s possible for you, mark your calendar. Enrollment for the next round of Shine On opens October 7 and runs through October 21. Space is limited, and enrollment only happens once a year. But if you’d like priority access, you can secure your place at the front of the line by scheduling a complimentary consultation now. https://calendly.com/movingforwardlifecoaching/shineon?month=2026-09

PPS – You can learn more about Camilla’s coaching programs here: https://www.myparentingsolutions.com/private-coaching-process