Jessica Kirkland-S

Health Life Coach

From the Hamster Wheel to Self-Empowerment

I was successful—or at least, that’s how it looked from the outside. My days were packed, my mind always one step ahead. I functioned, completed tasks, achieved goals. But one day, I asked myself a simple question: “Is this really all there is?”

I am 53 years young and grew up in Germany, where following a traditional path was the norm: If you don’t go to university, you get a solid vocational education. So, after earning my German Abitur with a focus on business and economics, I became an industrial management assistant—not out of passion, but because it was the logical choice.

Then came the next life decision: marriage. I married young, and suddenly, my career path was influenced by external circumstances. “Why do you even want to work? Your husband is a naval aviation officer in the German Navy—you’re well taken care of.” I heard this over and over again. And over time, I began questioning myself: “Am I really living my own life?” “Am I happy—or just adapting?” “Why doesn’t success feel like freedom?” I kept going, but the feeling that there had to be more grew louder and louder.

The Moment I Chose Myself: During our first stay in the U.S., I made a decision that changed my life. I started training as a health & fitness coach. For the first time, I wasn’t following a role that had been given to me—I was creating my own.

Back in Germany, I worked as a coach. I loved it. But then something happened that I hadn’t expected: My success grew—but my energy levels dropped. I found myself stuck again—this time in my own system. I had freed myself, yet I was trapped in the pressure of constantly achieving more.

One night, I found myself sitting in front of my laptop—completely drained, yet unable to stop. It was past midnight, and I was still working on a new program, answering messages, optimizing details. My body screamed for rest, but my mind kept telling me, “Just a little more. You have to keep going.” I ignored the exhaustion, thinking that pushing harder was the only way to succeed. Then came the moment that changed everything.

I was sitting on a plane, listening to the safety instructions: “Put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others.” And it hit me like a bolt of lightning. I had once again forgotten to put myself first. I had freed myself—only to land in a new hamster wheel. So I Changed Everything: I developed routines that truly served ME. I learned to manage my energy instead of letting my daily life control me. I recognized the early warning signs of exhaustion—and knew how to stop them. And Then, Something Incredible Happened: The joy in my work returned. I felt clear, focused, and full of energy. I was successful—without losing myself in the process.

YOU! Empowered Collective – Because Success Should Feel Good Today, I know: Success means nothing if you lose your energy, your health, and your life along the way. That’s why I founded YOU! Empowered Collective—a community for entrepreneurs and high-performers who have realized that working harder is not the solution.

Success can be easy—when you stay true to yourself. Self-empowered action is the key to focus, energy & clarity. Growth never stops—but you decide how you want to grow. “The peak of one mountain is just the beginning of the next.” Everything you do, you should first do for yourself—because without self-care, success is only temporary.