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It's looking at your wedding gallery and film for the first time and knowing that the images capture people's souls. It's never understanding how beautiful you are until you can see yourself fully, completely immersed in all of the little moments on your wedding day.

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My hope is to make wedding days less about crossing items off of a shot list and more about being present in the real, raw and unposed moments.

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Finding Light in Darkness: How Adversity Shapes Us into Stronger Individuals

Manifesting Photographer Podcast Show Notes

Manifesting Photographer Podcast Show Notes

Key Takeaways:

  • The power of faith and spiritual awakening during life’s most challenging moments.
  • Emphasizing the importance of community, self-care, and helping others in personal healing.
  • Transforming personal trials into sources of strength and inspiration for oneself and others.

The Power of Faith and Spiritual Awakening

In the latest episode of Rebel CEO, host Bree sits down with her long-time friend Vanessa Ford, who shares a powerful story about resilience, faith, and overcoming adversity. At the age of 19, Vanessa experienced a life-changing accident while on a mission in Afghanistan, which nearly cost her the ability to walk. As she recounts, after being given the devastating news that she would never walk again, a miraculous encounter with a chaplain changed her life. This moment of unexpected peace was more than just comfort—it was a spiritual awakening.

Vanessa explains: 

“I had this joy in my soul, like, it was like, it’s okay. Like, I have God.”

Her faith served as a bedrock during her recovery, helping her see beyond her immediate pain and find meaning in her experiences. For Vanessa, this spiritual moment was pivotal, transforming her despair into resilience. 


Embracing Self-Care and Seeking Community

Vanessa’s journey since the injury has been marked not only by her medical recovery but also by her mental and emotional healing. She emphasizes the importance of therapy, which has been integral to her healing. Vanessa advocates for seeking out community and support systems as antidotes to isolation, a common compounding factor of depression and anxiety. 

She advises:

“First, I’m a big proponent of therapy… Second, do something for yourself. Journal, tea, anything like that… And third, do something for other people.”

Vanessa’s approach underscores the need to balance self-care with community involvement. By taking care of oneself and engaging with others, one can foster a supportive environment conducive to healing. This blend of self-care and community can be seen as a powerful strategy for anyone facing similar struggles.


Transforming Trials into Strength and Inspiration

Vanessa’s story wouldn’t be complete without discussing how she turned her trials into sources of inspiration. Despite enduring long-term effects such as seizures and a heart condition, Vanessa chooses to live her life without fear. She doesn’t let these challenges limit her activities, whether it’s rollerblading, zip-lining, or traveling the world.

She reflects on her growth and gratitude for her life’s journey:

“If I go back to who I was before, that I am not the person that I was back then… I am proud of where I’ve come, where I’ve been, the people I’ve met. It’s amazing.”

Vanessa’s outlook on life is truly inspiring. Her decision not to live in continual lament over her injuries, but to instead embrace the joy of each new day, sets a powerful example. Her choice to see her accident as a second chance at life encourages others to reframe their own adversities as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.


Vanessa’s insights offer an incredible perspective on dealing with life’s difficulties. By leveraging faith, seeking support, and focusing on both self-care and service to others, we can transform even the most daunting challenges into sources of inner strength. Her story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the incredible outcomes of facing adversity with grace and gratitude. Keep forging ahead with the knowledge that our trials can mold us into the best versions of ourselves.

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