Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeannie Stumne.
Hi Jeannie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For over 25 years, I embodied the definition of a high-achieving working woman. I built a successful career, led passionately, dedicated myself to helping others, and became a mother. On the outside, I was thriving. But behind the scenes, I was silently drowning—overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from myself.
Like many high-achieving moms, I carried the immense pressure to do it all and do it perfectly. The weight of responsibility, unresolved trauma, and the deep-seated belief that I had to prove my worth drove me to the edge. I spent years in survival mode, pushing through chronic stress and emotional and physical pain until my body and nervous system could no longer cope.
Eventually, I reached a breaking point. I had to take medical leave from my job due to suicidal thoughts and a complete nervous system overload. I was able to return to work for a few years, but in 2021, I had to leave my career. At one point, I experienced a life-threatening catatonic shutdown—trapped in my body, unable to function, completely consumed by fear. Everything I had worked for crumbled.
But that breakdown became my breakthrough.
With the help of beloved friends who intervened during my lowest moment, I survived and began to heal slowly. That rock-bottom experience served as a profound awakening. I realized I had abandoned and neglected myself for years in service of everyone and everything else. I needed to learn to accept help, to be vulnerable, and to allow myself to be supported.
Healing hasn’t been linear, but through deep inner work, nervous system regulation, and soul-level transformation, I haven’t just recovered; I’ve reinvented myself. I released the need to prove, perform, and push. I began the courageous process of redesigning my life from the inside out, intentionally aligning it with my values, well-being, and purpose.
At 50, I’m in the best mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health of my life. I wake up with clarity and calm. I go to bed with peace and possibility in my heart.
Today, I’ve left the career that once defined me and created Shine Brighter LLC, my coaching business devoted to helping working moms who feel overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, or unfulfilled despite everything they’ve achieved. The moms who on the outside seem to “have it all,” but are stretched too thin and stuck. I support them in reclaiming their power and well-being, rising from burnout, reconnecting with their True Selves, and reinventing their lives with freedom, confidence, and joy.
My story isn’t just about burnout and recovery; it’s a narrative of awakening, healing, and empowered reinvention. It proves that it’s never too late to return to yourself and create a life that genuinely supports and reflects who you are.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
t has not been a smooth road. It’s been a long, winding journey of deep healing and reinvention, one that truly began after I turned 40, when my mind, body, and soul could no longer contain the trauma I experienced in childhood. It demanded to be seen, felt, and finally dealt with. I was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. For years, I coped by pushing through, overachieving, people-pleasing, and ignoring my own needs. But the cost was steep. My nervous system was in a constant state of survival, and eventually, everything came crashing down emotionally, mentally, and physically. I had to take medical leave from a career I loved. I felt lost, broken, and deeply afraid. At one point, I was in so much pain that I became catatonic. I couldn’t function or take care of myself. I was consumed by fear and hopelessness. Hitting that rock bottom was terrifying, but it also cracked me open. It forced me to stop abandoning myself and start truly healing. I continued the slow, layered process of recovery, self-discovery, and reinvention. I did the hard inner work to heal trauma, rewire beliefs, regulate my nervous system, and reconnect with who I really am, not just who I thought I had to be. I had to let go of perfectionism and prove-it energy, and instead, learn to receive, rest, and rebuild. It hasn’t been easy, and it’s an ongoing journey, but it’s been worth it. Working moms who are silently struggling do the same. Because even when the road is hard, healing, clarity, and freedom are possible.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Shine Brighter LLC?
Shine Brighter LLC is a heart-centered, trauma-informed coaching and mentoring practice dedicated to helping working moms rise from burnout, anxiety, overwhelm, and unfulfillment so they can reclaim their power and well-being, reconnect with their True Selves, and redesign their lives to be rich with freedom, joy, and purpose – without obligation or guilt.
After years of living in survival mode and ultimately experiencing life-threatening burnout, I founded Shine Brighter as a sanctuary for women like me and also those experiencing quiet burnout and dissatisfaction. Working moms who look successful on the outside but feel exhausted, stuck, or disconnected inside. These are the women who give everything to everyone else but feel like they’ve lost themselves in the process.
At Shine Brighter LLC, I specialize in nervous system healing, emotional well-being, burnout recovery, and life reinvention. I integrate somatic practices, mindset work, heart coherence techniques, and trauma-informed coaching through my signature method: The Bloom Framework™. It’s a structured yet soulful roadmap that supports transformation from the inside out, moving through awakening, grounding, reclaiming, blooming, flourishing, and radiant lasting change.
What sets Shine Brighter apart is the depth and wholeness of the work. This isn’t surface-level self-care or quick-fix coaching. It’s a holistic, evidence-informed, soul-guided journey that honors each woman’s unique story and empowers her to heal at the root. I combine 25+ years of experience in higher education, career development, and leadership with certifications in trauma, somatics, nervous system regulation, mindset, and HeartMath techniques to offer deep, sustainable support.
What I’m most proud of is how transf
ormational and life-affirming this work is for the women I serve. It’s not just about overcoming burnout; it’s about rediscovering your worth, rewriting your story, and redesigning your life in a way that feels authentic and aligned. I see my clients stepping into more peace, more confidence, more joy—and it’s an honor to witness.
For those who feel like they’re holding it all together while feeling like they’re falling apart inside, I want you to know: you don’t have to keep doing it alone. Support isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline. Your well-being matters. You matter. You are worthy of the life you desire.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
There’s no single quality that has led to my success; it’s a powerful combination of inner strengths and daily commitments that have shaped both my healing and my work.
At the heart of it lies self-awareness. It’s what helped me recognize the burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism I had normalized for far too long. From there, self-love and self-compassion allowed me to soften the inner critic, set boundaries, and give myself permission to rest and receive.
I also credit vulnerability, the openness to change, and the bravery to face my past, acknowledging trauma, rewiring old patterns, and consciously shifting the habits and beliefs that were no longer serving me.
A major part of my evolution has been my willingness to try new things, get uncomfortable, take risks, and embrace unfamiliar healing modalities, tools, and ways of being. I’ve also made room for fun and creativity in my life and business again, which is vital to recovery, healing, and reinvention.
Of course, being willing to receive support after years of doing it all on my own was one of the most powerful shifts I ever made. Committing to daily practices like nervous system regulation, heart coherence techniques, and movement has helped me stay grounded and aligned.
Together, these qualities have allowed me to not just heal and reinvent my life, but to guide other working moms to do the same, supporting them as they rise from burnout and rediscover who they truly are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shinebrighterllc.com
- Instagram: @shinebrightermoms
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniestumne
