In the most recent episode of the Inspiring Journeys Podcast, Barb Jacques shares her remarkable story of resilience and transformation following a rare bone marrow diagnosis of PNH and aplastic anemia. Barb’s life changed overnight after she fainted, leading to a 20% survival prognosis. Her journey of self-advocacy, personal growth, and redefined purpose highlights the importance of trusting intuition in healthcare and breaking free from societal labels. Beyond her health battle, Barb’s passion for storytelling, mentorship, and advocacy shines through her TEDx talk, Bridging the Gap from Labels to Lives, which emphasizes seeing beyond stereotypes to embrace humanity’s interconnectedness. Barb inspires others to embrace transformation, challenge the status quo, and find strength in adversity. Her story stands as a powerful example of resilience and positivity.
Join us as we engage in a conversation about resilience, hope, and using life’s toughest moments to become a force for positive change.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Barb’s life before her health crisis and how a sudden fainting episode led to her diagnosis of bone marrow failure.
- The concept of “hollow bones” and dismantling societal labels to cultivate self-awareness and transformation.
- The story behind Barb’s TEDx talk and its message on human interconnectedness and empathy.
- Her volunteer work with the prison system and the lessons learned about compassion and life trajectories.
Key Takeaways:
Courage in Life-Altering Decisions: Barb’s journey showcases the bravery required to confront life-changing decisions, such as undergoing a bone marrow transplant, while navigating the emotional toll of leaving behind cherished parts of her life.
The Interconnectedness of Human Experience: Her volunteer work and TEDx talk highlight the shared humanity in diverse life paths and the vital role of support systems in shaping personal outcomes.
Healing Through Transformation: Barb’s experience emphasizes the power of embracing personal growth and shifting limiting beliefs to navigate adversity and live authentically.
Empowering Others: Through programs like the “Uncaged Insight Session” and “Identity Shift,” Barb inspires women to challenge societal norms, step into their true selves, and thrive in their unique life paths.
Noteworthy Quotes:
“As soon as you put a label on somebody, boom, your head is stuck in a stereotype, and you can’t get past that unless you’re very aware. If we started looking through the lens of interconnectedness, maybe we could change things.”
“Until you start asking and talking and getting to know people, we’re just going to be stuck in our divides because of these labels. And labels are so damaging.”
Barb’s Bio: Barbara Ann Jacques, PhD, founder of Disrupting Gracefully, combines her criminal justice background with consciousness-based leadership. Her experience overcoming bone marrow failure inspired her mission to help individuals and organizations break free from limiting patterns, embrace authentic growth, and navigate change with resilience, grace, and purpose-driven leadership.
More About Barb:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to the Inspiring Journeys Free newsletter and we’ll send the show notes and let you know when a new episode is released.