ALL OF IT HAS LED ME HERE
When I was young, I was surrounded by all kinds of abuse at the hands of my family members. Home was never a safe place so I left when I was just 16, ill-equipped for the many brutal challenges that I would meet.
By the time I was in my late teens and early 20s, I showed significant signs of the emotional damage from my upbringing. I had anorexia, OCD, ongoing anxiety, panic
My mother always thought this photo of me was so funny. "A baby, trying to get away from its mother! See how scared she looks?" she would say, laughing every time she showed it to her friends. "You were so fat and ugly," she would tell me. "When we adopted you, I hoped no one would want to come and see you, I asked your dad if we had to tell anyone about you until you looked better." She laughed about that, too.
attacks and agoraphobia - and to deal with all of that anxiety, I developed an addiction. To top it off, I was coping with an insane number of personal and family problems, including single parenting and trying to earn a living.
My physical health suffered, too, and worsened for many years as I continued to make poor life choices based on a foundation of toxic beliefs, which only added to the already overwhelming anxiety. Eventually, I fought my way out of the anxiety disorders and addiction, but they had taken their toll and I developed a long list of health ailments. By the time I was in my 30s, that list included a significant heart problem, despite being an underweight non-smoker with a healthy lifestyle.
Over the next several years, the heart problem continued to worsen. Eventually, I became suicidal because I couldn't stand the suffering any longer. Thankfully, I had patients who needed me and I kept pulling myself through one moment at a time until I dug myself out of that terrible dark hole.
Marriages, divorces, five children and single parenting were tough enough. But my days were also filled with crises and turmoil that could rival any soap opera. I was determined to find a better life, one that included healing on all levels, a life that would bring me peace and happiness, and that would allow me to make a difference in the lives of others. I sought counselling until I became the counsellor. I sought healing until I became the healer. I sought external religions until I discovered internal spirituality.
My life and work are dedicated to sharing what I've discovered throughout this journey of challenges, healing, and finding balance, leading those who have also come through the other side of suffering as they seek a deeper connection with themselves and greater meaning in life. I am so blessed to be able use my natural abilities as a psychic and medium, along with my passion for writing, art and music to share my messages of hope, empowerment and healing.
Every day is a precious gift, no matter what your circumstances. There is always the option to find the beauty that exists in your life. There is always a way to rise above difficult circumstances, turn them into your strengths, and create a fabulously empowered life.
Like everyone else, I’ve had my share of heartbreak and misery, rejection and fear. Sometimes I’ve had to look for the blessings and joy, the love and gratitude. And I've always found plenty.
Although I could do with more profiteroles. I looooove profiteroles.
ABOUT LIBERTY
Award-Winning author and Huffington Post contributor, Liberty Forrest, is represented by Knight Features Literary Agency in London, England. She has written several inspirational and motivational books covering a range of self-development, healing and empowering topics.
Her compelling book, The Power and Simplicity of Self-Healing, has been changing lives and helping people find hope and healing in several countries around the world.
In 2015 her book, Meditation Essentials: How to Quiet the Mind to Achieve More Personal and Professional Success, won the Beverly Hills International Book Award in the Well Being category.
Her articles have appeared in numerous publications in many parts of the globe, including Canada, USA, London, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and more. For two years, she had a weekly column in the Dubai branch of "Hello!" Magazine. Currently, she has regular columns in both print and online magazines and newspapers.
When Liberty was finally able to pursue her lifelong dream hobby of painting, she was more than a little surprised when within weeks, there were offers to purchase her pieces. Within two months, her paintings were hanging in galleries and upscale dining rooms, and it wasn't long before she was invited to have her first exhibition.
She adores painting murals, particularly landscapes and ocean views, bringing expansive vistas into homes and offices to soothe, relax, inspire and rejuvenate her clients.
Liberty taught herself to play the organ and piano from the age of four. At nine she began formal lessons. By the age of 12, she was participating in festivals and competitions and began performing in public, such as TV, radio, Calgary Stampede, and various other venues.
At 13, she began playing occasionally in church, eventually becoming the full time organist and choir director for several years.
Liberty and her father shared a passion for music, often playing impromptu duets. When Liberty was an adult and her father was in spirit, she received messages from him, urging her to begin writing music. Initially, she composed instrumental piano pieces until dear friend, Frank Moffatt (international bestselling author, movie producer, and father of international boy band "The Moffatts") offered to write a song with her.
From that very evening, Liberty began writing songs with inspiring, empowering, healing messages.
In a past life, Liberty studied social work and spent 12 years as a counsellor, adding hypnosis to her bag of tricks to further help her clients.
In childhood, Liberty discovered her abilities as a psychic and medium, which continued to develop over the years, leading her to do readings professionally. Eventually, she took to the stage where she connected audience members with loved ones in spirit.
Left, popular BBC Presenter, Sue Marchant with Liberty in Cambridge.
Signing the contract with Peter Knight, of Knight Features Literary Agency, London, England. Not pictured but nearby, Liberty's lovely agent, Samantha Ferris, who handles their non-fiction books.
For five years, she appeared approximately monthly on Sue Marchant's evening show on BBC Radio doing psychic phone-ins for listeners. To Liberty, this natural gift is just one more way that she has been able to offer comfort, hope and healing to those who are struggling.
Liberty loves doing stand-up comedy and enjoys incorporating humour into her work wherever possible, believing that when we can finally get to the point of laughing at our foibles, we have truly found healing. And in the meantime, it can sure make the hard times a little softer around the edges.