Episode 12: Healing After Loss, Faith After Pain: Gina Economopoulos on Boundaries, Recovery & Self-Discovery
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of alcoholism, emotional abuse, and grief. Please listen with care.
This week’s episode is a deeply moving and empowering conversation with Gina Economopoulos, a resilient, faith-filled woman who has walked a winding road of identity, loss, and healing. Gina shares her powerful story of breaking away from toxic environments, rediscovering her faith after being emotionally abused within a religious institution, and learning how to set healthy boundaries.
As the seventh of eight siblings, Gina grew up battling health issues and self-esteem challenges, turning to alcohol to cope. Known as "the life of the party," she wore that label like armor until grief struck and forced a shift in her path. After losing her mother to cancer, she pursued God wholeheartedly, becoming a Catholic nun for over a decade, only to be removed from the convent under painful circumstances.
But Gina’s story didn’t end in despair—it evolved into a journey of self-discovery, radical self-love, and purposeful living. Now grounded in her truth, Gina uses her compassionate heart to serve others while nurturing her own peace and boundaries.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How alcohol masked deeper emotional pain and insecurity
The connection between unresolved grief and identity struggles
The role of faith in recovery and personal transformation
Why setting boundaries is essential to emotional healing
How to rebuild after being emotionally abused in spiritual spaces
How to ask the empowering question: "Why not me?" instead of "Why me?"
Reflection Prompt: Ask yourself: What do I truly want? and give yourself permission to answer honestly. Then follow it up with, Why not me?
Ways to Engage: Journal your emotions. Instead of asking yourself, “why me?” ask yourself, “why not me?” Flip the narrative you’re telling yourself on its head and look at your situation from a new perspective. Not everything that happens to us is for the better, but with this technique we can eliminate the victim mentality and recognize our blessings and opportunities in disguise.
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Timestamps:
Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:54 )
Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 6:02 )
Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health -
( 22:33 )
Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 27:25 )
Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 32:10 )
Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 32:38 )
Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 37:58 )
Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 42:55 )
5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 48:35 )
5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 49:00 )
Original FEEL Podcast Theme Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis
✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨
In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
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