The Art of Reclaiming Yourself: Kat's Mission to Helping others Live Courageously

Your past may shape you, but it never has to define you.

Opening

What is your name and what do you want the world to call you?

My name is Kat Polsinelli….the world can call me Kat

Where are you from and where do you call home now?

Born in Winter Park Fl, currently residing in Murfreesboro, TN

If someone met you for the first time at a dinner party, how would you want them to describe you after the conversation ended?

I would love to be described and have been described as someone with great energy, the kind that draws you in and you want to be around.

I would love to be described and have been described as someone with great energy, the kind that draws you in and you want to be around.

The Origin

Take me back. What were you like as a little girl? What did you dream about becoming before the world told you what was realistic?

Oh my gosh ... .when I was a little girl I was so outgoing, loved being outdoors. I always took charge, did my own thing, protected others and stood up for what I believed in. You could also find me in my backyard singing at the top of my lungs. I just knew that one day I would be on stage singing. I also had a huge love for geology. I was always digging up rocks and reading about the different types. I would pack a snack bag and go for a walk in our woods. I was always convincing my friends to be outside with me as well or in the water. That is definitely my other love.I felt that I was unstoppable and no one could tell me no. I would figure it out one way or another.

Was there a moment, a person, or an experience early in your life that shaped how you see yourself today?

I don’t know if there was one moment but I can remember several times in my life when people pushed their agendas on me or how they thought I should be when I grew up. I remember the first time I was told I could sing better if I didn’t try to sing like xyz. I remember being told music was as hard job to get into and being secure would make more sense. I can recall 1 major experience that really shifted how I lived my life for years and has shaped me to this day. Becoming a mother at the age of 16yrs. That was when I stopped being a kid, when I put away all the dreams, and put my head down to do what I was “expected” to do or told was the best way to go.

She didn't just rebuild her life she reclaimed her fire and now teaches others to do the same.

What is something about your upbringing that explains who you are now, even if it does not seem obvious on the surface?

In my upbringing of a tight knit Catholic family,(religious was the focal point of who we were, why did things, how we dressed, etc) we were not taught to say No, to create boundaries. I was however taught to not depend on others, to just do it yourself to make sure that got done. That has followed me throughout my life and instead of helping me make the right choices it actually put me in the perfect position to be taken advantage of in my relationship.

The Turn

What was happening in your life right before you decided to build what you are building now?

After leaving a 10yr abusive relationship and realizing years later that I really needed to work on me so I could be better for my kids. I was let go from my 10yrs medical position, decided to leave a 5 yrs relationship, sell my house to my ex at the time, and start over with just me, my kids and a totally different career path in real estate which lead me to where I am now.

Was there a breaking point? A moment you knew something had to change?

Absolutely! There were 2 big breaking points. The first was while with my abusive ex. I remember standing in my living room arguing with him as my 2 boys who were 5 & 7yrs at the time, come out of their room and stand next to him and yell at me…”ya mom, why are you so mean, You’re the bad one.” I left 2 yrs after that breaking point. The second breaking point was standing in the kitchen with my 14yrs at the time, arguing with one another, standing eye to eye and realizing for a split second I lost sight of my son and thought I was defending myself from a stranger. That was when I realized this wasn’t a “teenage” issue but a I am becoming my abusive ex issue and that had to change.

What did you have to walk away from to become who you are today?

I feel like in order to be who I am today I literally had to leave an old life, an old life style, an old way of being. I left friends, a career, and this need to say yes to everyone, to please everyone, to always put myself last. I left a 10yrs abusive relationship that I thought was going to be my only life. I left a second 5 yrs relationship with a family, a house, and decided to say no to one more chance. I left the way that I use to mother and control my children and instead adopted an open mind, open heart, and vulnerability with them that I was never offered in hopes of giving them a fresh start as well as myself.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing in that moment, what would it be?

I would tell myself that while the world feels like it is crumbling and burning you from the inside out….It all ends up being worth it. Take in every lesson with pride and know that one day it will lead you to what you truly desire and away from misery. This is not the end.

The Work

How did you land in this specific field? Was it intentional or did it find you?

The work found me. I had planned to go back to corporate but was pulled in another direction and decided to “test out” coaching with businesses and that just continued to open doors I had never heard of and into a world I fell in love with. Now I know this is what I was called to do but I needed to have my experiences first to be able to serve at my best.

What is the real reason you do this work? Not the polished answer. The true one.

I do this work because I choose to. There is no forcing, there is no “because you should” or “you are so great at it” feeling. There is this deep knowing that I am in the right place. When I share my story, when I connect with people on a personal level without having to dig into their past and yet they feel seen, heard, and understood and now want to be in my space because they want more of that. That is my reminder that I am doing what I am called to do. Not just telling but showing that we are not alone, that we deserve more, and that real support is out there. Just like I once craved myself.

I do this work because I choose to.....There is this deep knowing that I am in the right place.

What is the transformation you are actually trying to create in the people you serve?

I want to transform your mind, your belief system, your soul. I transform how you think about yourself and others by creating a relentless knowing that you are worthy, courageous, and beautiful on a soul level. This level of knowing creates a level of self worth and confidence that no one can ever take away from you.

If your business disappeared tomorrow, what is the one thing you would want people to remember it stood for?

If my business disappeared tomorrow, I would want everyone to know that I stood for me, for what I believed in. And in that I showed others how true authenticity can work and how much you can be loved for it.

The Woman Behind It

When you are not working, who are you? What lights you up that has nothing to do with your business?

If it has nothing to do with business it would be….being outdoors. I love to hike, to walk in nature, and to play in waterfalls. I also enjoy spending time with my boys and enjoying the moments of growth I get to see in them.

What does a perfect ordinary Tuesday look like for you right now?

I don’t know if I consider my days ordinary lol but a simple Tuesday for me starts with gym time first thing in the morning (around 5:45a) then home for a cup of coffee and maybe sitting outside to soak up the sun. Then it is into my office and jumping into my community. Asking questions, sharing quotes, and inspirations for the day. Followed by some follow up calls and emails and getting ready for my next event inside my community. I end my day with a nice simple dinner, sometimes with my boys joining in (as they are both grown now) and ending the evening with either some brainstorming on the couch about my business or some form of a documentary on tv with hubby.

What is something most people do not know about you that you wish they did?

Ohhh this is a great question. That I truly have the biggest heart for people and want to help everyone in the world. I hate seeing people in pain and suffering.

What are you most afraid of, and how has that fear shaped the way you move through the world?

Being alone. Losing my kids, my husband, is definitely a big fear. It does mean that I still sometimes put their needs before mine to make sure not only are they taken care of but that they know how much I love them. Sometimes it blurs the lines of what I need to do to grow me and my business vs what I actually get done.

The Future

If you let yourself dream without limits, what does your life look like in five years?

Oh! No limits…let’s go! In 5 years I am a multi-million dollar company with not only a wonderful and huge online community but I am also traveling the country creating these moments in my community in real life, on stage with thousands of people. I would have a nonprofit that creates growth and opportunities for those that have been in or have been a part of a domestic abusive relationship so they can grow, learn about themselves, and heal without having to worry about the money. I would also be an international speaker traveling to speak more about domestic abuse so it becomes a common conversation that darkness could not hide it. And in my down time I would travel the world, visiting different cultures and continuing to expand my knowledge and understanding of people. There would also be a few rental properties in a few places for breaks or some needed away times with the ability to share those with others as well. I would also be helping if not already established a business with each one of my kids, showing them what entrepreneurship looks like and working with them to build their own legacy.

What is the legacy you want to leave behind, separate from money or titles?

I want to leave a legacy that the younger generations continue to go to as they go through their own journeys in their lives. The one that people look to when they realize they want to change, show up different, or change their whole damn life. One that they don’t just read about and hope to understand but that they can really see and still feel through my videos and books that creates real transformation on their own terms.

What is one thing you are still working to become, even now?

The best version of me. This will and always will be an evolving space. I don’t see the end point, just a continuation of bettering myself and who I am today vs tomorrow.

Closing

She didn't let her story end in survival. She rewrote it with courage.

If a woman reading this is standing exactly where you stood before everything changed, what do you want her to know?

I would tell her the same thing I would tell my younger self: I know the world feels like it is crumbling and burning you from the inside out but it all ends up being worth it. Take in every lesson with pride and know that one day it will lead you to what you truly desire and away from misery. This is not the end.

What is the one sentence you want people to remember about you?

I choose to lead with courage - even though I may feel weak, I know I always have the willingness to choose my path.

Kat Polsinelli —Founder of The Dragon Reclaimed Community

Meet the expert:

Kat is an inspiring entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and podcaster. As the founder of The Lotus Effect, Kat believes true success transcends strategies and tactics. She empowers individuals to cultivate a powerful mindset and creates personalized business operations that align with her client’s authentic selves. From time management and productivity to leadership and mindset, she equips individuals with the tools to thrive in both business and personal life.

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