Episode 21 - From Financial Rock Bottom to Purpose and Prosperity: Michelle Campbell’s Story of Healing, Hope, and Financial Freedom
By Jessica Garrison
Trigger warnings: depression, suicidal ideation
We are honored to have Michelle Campbell with us this week for a new episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast. She is a serial entrepreneur, a learner, curious, and purpose-filled. Michelle has come a long way since the beginning of her journey, but she still works to grow and evolve, offering whatever resources she can to those who are in the position she once was.
Michelle has struggled with finances in the past, and this was her biggest obstacle to overcome. If you ask anyone what their number one stressor is, they’re probably going to say money. All anyone wants to do is live comfortably, but in this world, especially in America, finances are a struggle. It’s the measurement of success in many people’s minds, and this causes a lot of emotional distress. We’re getting closer to Christmas, the most financially taxing holiday, so this is the perfect time to listen to Michelle talk about her experiences and how she handled them. Michelle became very depressed, even having suicidal ideation because being without money means being without security. You get wrapped up in debt, interest, and before you know it, you’re so deep in the hole you don’t know where to start to get yourself out. Michelle was in this exact same spot, but she was able to turn things around for herself.
While discussing how to support other women in living unapologetically, Michelle says that she loved to do small, random acts of kindness but wanted to spread the joy on a larger platform. Between her toxic relationship with money and the battles she won to come this far, Michelle knew she could change people’s lives for the better with her voice. She wrote the book Bluebird, a memoir about her life and everything she’s been faced with, as well as how she was able to overcome it. Although it’s difficult to be vulnerable, especially in a public forum, Michelle knew that sharing her story would bring it to the people who needed it most. We don’t have to go through the struggles alone or without additional resources, the same reason Melissa started the podcast a few years ago.
It’s like an unspoken rule that you aren’t supposed to discuss money, but I think more than ever we should. Not only to understand more, but to also hold people accountable. I’ve been told before not to discuss my hourly pay at work, but if I hadn’t, then I wouldn’t have found out the people I was training were making more money than me. It’s in the best interest of a capitalistic society to keep people financially illiterate and to struggle by themselves with money, but we don’t have to live that way. We should be talking to one another, learning from one another, and growing.
You don’t have to go through life unknowing, there are so many amazing people and resources out there to learn from. Even if you don’t know where to start, just wanting to begin the journey is a great step forward. Listen to Michelle’s story and allow her to inspire you that every day is a new day, and it isn’t too late to start over.
Ways to Engage: Keep a budgeting journal. If it’s new to you, try starting small like budgeting for those new shoes you want or a night out. Keep track of what comes in and what goes out, being more mindful with your money.
Resources:
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
call or text 988