From Pain to Power: Living Boldly in the Face of Uncertainty

There are moments in life that define us—not because of what happens, but because of how we choose to respond. When Pauline Victoria was born without arms or legs, her father gently broke the news to her mother. Her mother, in return, spoke four simple words: “Thy will be done.”

In that quiet moment, something profound took root. It wasn’t surrender in the way we often fear it—defeated, resigned, broken. It was surrender in its most powerful form: trust. Trust that even this—the unknown, the painful, the unimaginable—had a purpose. That even here, something beautiful could unfold.

I keep thinking about those words. About what it means to meet our circumstances, not with resistance, but with radical acceptance. What if the things we fear are here not to break us, but to build us?

In the latest episode of ‘Thriving Changes’, Pauline Victoria shares her life journey. Born without arms and legs, Pauline chose to defy the odds and courageously build a fulfilling life as a wife, mother, businesswoman and a motivational speaker.

Pauline’s life doesn’t just challenge the idea of limitation—it dismantles it. But this story isn’t about Pauline. It’s about you. It’s about the quiet courage you carry. The uncertainty you’re walking through. The ways you might be called to surrender—not to give up, but to give in to something deeper. And more than anything, it’s about the choices available to each of us when life doesn’t go as planned.

“Surrender leads to acceptance. And when you accept something as it is, there’s nothing to fix, nothing broken, nothing to change—just peace.” It took me a minute to truly understand what she meant. The statement is so profound, I would invite you to read it again. 

That surrender shifted her perspective. She knew there was something bigger at play. She trusted that there was a bigger purpose in it all. And when you believe in that, you live differently—you see your circumstances not through the lens of victimhood but from a place of empowerment and gratitude for being part of the story. In that moment, we stop reacting…we start choosing.

We live in a world that’s constantly asking us to be more, do more, prove more. Pauline’s wisdom reminded me that confidence isn’t built by doing—it’s built by knowing, “The more you know yourself, the more you can own who you are,” When you own your story, even the chapters you once tried to tear out, you stop seeking permission to be.  

Owning your life doesn’t mean pretending everything’s okay. It means standing up in the middle of the mess and saying: I still get to choose who I am in this. “In my life,” she said, “I’ve always had to believe it before I could see it.” That’s not easy. It requires us to trust what hasn’t yet taken shape. But belief—raw, untethered belief—is often the first step toward something meaningful.

I could hear the freedom in her voice. Discomfort, for her, wasn’t a threat. It was a teacher. She shared how she often doesn’t know exactly how she’ll do something—but that never stopped her. “I’ve become very comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she told me, smiling. “It’s about you dealing with life, not life dealing with you.” There’s so much pressure to have the plan, the five steps, the roadmap. But sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is take the next uncertain step. Even if we’re shaking. 

“So many people wait to feel confident before they act,” she said. “But what you really need is courage. Courage to say yes—to step into what’s meant for you.” I thought about the times I’ve hesitated—waiting until I felt ready, skilled, prepared. Pauline reminded me that readiness is often a myth. Confidence is something we grow in motion.

You don’t have to be sure. You just have to be willing.

How often do we wait for our circumstances to change before we do? But what if change begins the moment we decide to stop waiting? Essentially, what she was saying was that you are not at the mercy of life. You are the author of your response.

“Life whispers to you, but if you don’t listen, it will scream.” We often ignore the quiet nudges—the gut feelings, the subtle knowing—because we’re too busy or too afraid? Pauline spoke about how her own path became clearer the more she ignored the noise and learned to listen to the still, small voice within.

Are there too many voices around you—giving you advice—telling you what to do? Maybe you’ve been hearing whispers but ignoring them. Maybe it’s time to lean in and explore what those whispers are saying…

We all have pain in our lives, but Pauline refused to let it define her. She used it as a catalyst for transformation, “You stop using pain as an excuse and start turning pain into personal power.”

I couldn’t help asking myself: Where am I still using pain as a reason to play small? 

And maybe you can ask yourself too: What can I learn my pain? How can I use it as an opportunity for growth? As I build my muscle, how can I use it to serve others in the future?

Sometimes we forget, especially in seasons where we feel invisible or exhausted or left behind, but Pauline is clear: You matter—not because of what you do, but because of who you are. 

Your presence is a gift. You are enough.

Then, gently, she said something I’ll never forget:

“Sometimes…it’s not about you.”

That moment stilled me. Our stories, our healing,  our growth—they ripple. Sometimes, who we are becoming isn’t just for us. It’s for someone else who needs to see that it’s possible.

Pauline’s story is extraordinary. But the mindset she lives by? That’s available to all of us. It’s not about overcoming something dramatic. It’s about choosing to live differently. With trust. With purpose. With love.

Pauline didn’t wait for the world to validate her. She lived as though her worth was already true. And in doing so, she invited the world to catch up.

What if you started living from that same truth?

So, wherever you are right now—sitting in uncertainty, craving direction, healing from heartbreak, or ready for something more—here’s what I hope you remember:

✨ You are not broken.
✨ You are becoming.
✨ And you, too, can thrive through change.

With love,