From Burnout to Breakthrough: Jayme Shiarla's Journey of Faith-Fueled Leadership

Jayme Shiarla, an Executive Wellness Coach, NLP practitioner, speaker, and author, embodies high-impact leadership. Her journey, marked by profound personal and professional challenges, reveals a powerful transformation fueled by faith. From a broken home, abuse, and addiction, to a diverse professional background spanning massage therapy, finance, to corporate consulting, and more. Jayme's life is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of purpose

Jayme’s early life was a crucible of adversity. Before the age of 26, she navigated murder, suicide, overdose, cancer, abusive relationships, eating disorders, issues with drugs and alcohol, rape, and even attempted suicide. There was even a health scare, leading her to be put on bed rest from running herself into the ground. Professionally, she explored numerous paths, always with an underlying passion for coaching and helping others. Despite being raised Catholic, a deep relationship with God eluded her during these tumultuous years. "I always knew of him but didn't necessarily have a relationship with him," she reflects. It was through persistent life challenges that she began to rediscover her faith, a gradual process that wasn't a sudden, dramatic conversion but a slow, steady drawing closer to God.

From Burnout to Breakthrough: An Ongoing Journey

This renewed faith dramatically altered her approach to leadership and daily life. Previously driven by a desperate need for control, accomplishment, and external validation, Jayme’s leadership was characterized by intensity and a degree of aggression. Her motivation stemmed from a belief that success and acceptance were earned through relentless effort. "If I had this, people would like me. If I did that, then I would be successful," she explains. However, strengthening her relationship with God allowed her to shed these layers. Her work now flows from a place of grace, driven by a genuine desire to love and live like Jesus. This shift has brought a profound sense of calm and a focus on serving others, whether through coaching, prison ministry, or her church prayer team. Her ultimate goal: "to help make heaven more crowded."

Take What You Need and Leave the Rest

Jayme’s book, Beyond The Words-123 Quotes To Inspire Action and Growth, was an accidental creation born from her personal coping mechanism: quotes. During her darkest moments, inspirational quotes plastered across her home provided solace and motivation. She began sharing these daily insights, first through group texts and then a Facebook group, elaborating on their meaning and offering calls to action. This collection of wisdom, initially stored in a Google document for five years, came to fruition when a friend encouraged her to finally publish it. The book, featuring 123 quotes, each with an explanation and actionable steps, challenging perspectives, and inviting readers to find encouragement to go out and do something with what they've just read.

Faith-Fueled Redefinition of Success

When asked to define success, Jayme’s answer is rooted in her faith. Three years ago, her theme word was "glorify," leading her to prioritize glorifying God in every daily action. "As long as I am living every single day making sure that I glorify God, I'm successful," she states. This perspective redefines success beyond worldly achievements, focusing instead on eternal impact and aligning her life with divine purpose.

Advice for Christian Leaders

For other leaders, especially Christian leaders, Jayme offers two profound pieces of advice. First, she emphasizes the non-negotiable practice of engaging with God's Word before engaging with the world. "The second we pick up that phone... we see a notification that now impacts the trajectory of our day," she warns. Prioritizing spiritual nourishment first ensures that one's day is influenced by divine wisdom rather than worldly distractions.

Second, she encourages leaders to embrace the concept that slowing down doesn't mean stopping. Drawing inspiration from Jesus, who was never in a hurry despite his world-saving mission, Jayme challenges the notion that constant sprinting is necessary for success. Just as athletes need rest for recovery and strength, leaders need to slow down to maintain momentum and avoid burnout. "Smooth is fast," she reminds, advocating for intentional pace over relentless speed.

Coffee with Jesus: Presence over Productivity

Jayme concludes with a deeply personal challenge: to have "Coffee with Jesus." Inspired by a pastor's advice during a period of defeat, she encourages setting aside time not for Bible study or prayer requests, but simply to sit in Jesus's presence, imagining a conversation over a cup of coffee. This practice, initially difficult for her results-oriented mind, led to a profound experience of rest and connection. It's a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most impactful thing we can do is simply be present with God, allowing His presence to fill and transform us.

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