From Fire to Freedom: A Journey of Surrender, Shame, and Self-Trust

In this heartfelt episode, Lynn speaks with Australian physiotherapist Lisa Dempsey about her powerful journey through adversity while participating in the Birth Healing Intensive Program. When Lisa’s clinic was struck by a series of challenges, including a devastating fire, she was forced to face her limits, surrender control, and rediscover the power of vulnerability. 

Through the metaphor of “the feather, the brick, and the truck”, Lisa shares how life’s messages escalate until we finally listen, and how choosing to lean into support rather than resist it can change everything. Together, Lynn and Lisa explore the deep interplay between the masculine and feminine, the importance of asking for help, and the healing that comes from feeling and acknowledging shame. Their conversation is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, the light – and our capacity for self-trust – are always present.

If you are interested in learning more about the Birth Healing Intensive and the support it creates both for you and your clients, go to this link for more information: https://instituteforbirthhealing.com/birth-healing-intensive/

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Transcript

@2:18 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Hello, everybody, and welcome to this episode. I am excited to have this conversation with you, with our guest today.

@2:30 - Lisa Dempsey

I have Lisa Dempsey. She is a physiotherapist from Australia, Brisbane area, correct, Lisa?

@2:36 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah. And Lisa was a part of this year's Birth Healing Intensive Program, and she had something unique happen to her during her journey that her and I were chatting about the other day, and I just thought it would be a really good, and how you handled it, Lisa, I think was just so beautiful that I wanted to share it with the community, and

And in hopes to help others understand how we react and how we respond to life, it's basically life happening to us, can either support us or hinder us.

And I think you did a beautiful way and found that support.

@3:20 - Lisa Dempsey

So do you want to share your experience, please? And welcome to podcast. Thanks for being here. Thank you, Lynn.

It's so great to be here and have this chat with you. So, yeah, it's been a really interesting time and I think, yeah, I'd love to share more about it because I know that people go through similar things and it's the speaking about it piece that I think doesn't quite happen.

So we had an incredibly successful health clinic that we had in Cairns, Far North Queensland. And if you've ever been through those moments where it's like, well, it doesn't just rain, it pours.

@3:59 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

the it's of like, it's

@4:00 - Lisa Dempsey

Like, there was just moment after moment of losing staff, having difficult experiences with staff, and having more things and more things and more challenges being thrown at you.

And in the end, we actually had quite a significant fire that happened at the clinic. And so it was a, yeah, it was such an interesting time.

So I, yeah, it was like initially, oh my gosh, what is happening? And it was just getting like bigger and darker and heavier.

And it's like trying to hold all of this when it was coming, felt like everything was crumbling down. And so I was halfway through the program with Lynn of the Birth Healing Intensive.

And so it was like, oh my gosh, how are going to make this work? What is happening here? Just dealing with the whole situation of, I guess, stress and holding.

And yeah, it felt really big. And so I sat with it and it just kept getting heavier and heavier and more things kept coming.

It's almost like they were being thrown at me. And I was like, hey, is this, this is enough now?

And it's like, no, I'm done. And so, yeah, basically, it was just lots of pressure from all different angles.

And it was, yeah, it was a true test of, well, what, what can you hold? And what are you?

Yeah.

@5:37 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah.

@5:38 - Lisa Dempsey

So building through that resilience.

@5:38 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah. So you had a staff, a bunch of people working for you in your clinic and one by one, they start quitting.

Right. And then you have a fire in your clinic, which basically shuts down all operation.

@5:53 - Lisa Dempsey

Yeah. So revenue.

@5:56 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah. What was interesting, though, Lisa, when you shared the story.

@6:00 - Lisa Dempsey

The is that the fire actually started and stopped on its own, right?

@6:06 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Tell us more about that. And it was somewhat contained. Tell us the damage that you experienced.

@6:13 - Lisa Dempsey

Yeah. So a fire happened in the clinic and I was offside at the time. I was actually in Brisbane and it was in Cairns.

So that's like, you know, 20 hours away in itself. And basically, yeah, a small area of the clinic caught on fire and it could have just been so much worse.

So the whole fire was contained into the one area, but it obviously caused enough damage that we had to close the clinic.

We couldn't then see any clients from there.

@6:39 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And, you know, well, what do we do with the clients? What do we do for money? What do we do with the lease that we're still?

@6:45 - Lisa Dempsey

And so it was this big thing. And, you know, even it's like the feather, the brick, the truck that I was speaking to the other day, Lynn.

it's like, okay.

@6:56 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Talk about that more.

@6:58 - Lisa Dempsey

The feather, the brick, the truck. Yeah. So, Thank I love it too. And it's like, okay, so, you know, cause quite often we'll know, it's like if we're not listening, so there'll be signs, messages, however you, you know, whatever resonates with you, that'll come from above.

And it's like, okay, the feather will be a little tickle. It's like get a little nudge. And then the brick comes, the brick's a little heavier often.

And so like the tickle was for me was like, okay, cause quite often that'll show up in the body too.

It's like, I started to get cold sores. And so I started to like notice these signs that, you know, that, that things weren't working as, as they were set up at the time.

And so I guess the, the idea is if you don't choose not to listen to them, they get stronger, the messages get bigger and heavier, and then boom, you get the truck.

And so that can actually often be like a big accident. can be a car accident, or it's a more kind of like an injury illness.

It's the catastrophic thing that causes the change. Yeah.

@8:03 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Lisa, what was that message for you? What were you not paying attention to in that time?

@8:09 - Lisa Dempsey

you mind sharing that?

@8:11 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah.

@8:12 - Lisa Dempsey

So we'd recently moved from Cairns to Brisbane. And for me, I really feel it was like a time that I needed to be home.

I needed to be home with my kids. I needed to be prioritizing family.

@8:23 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

I needed to be with self and not traveling and not holding this big thing by And that was the, that was the, And, and, and so in hindsight, if, you know, we had that crystal ball, 2020 vision, what was the change that really needed to happen for you then?

@8:46 - Lisa Dempsey

Well, I needed to, needed to ask to help. Yeah. I needed to ask to help. Yeah. Helping all of the ways.

@8:55 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah. Yeah. And so then, you know, you didn't hear.

@9:00 - Lisa Dempsey

You feather. You didn't hear the brick.

@9:01 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

You got the truck. And was it hindsight that helped you to see that?

@9:07 - Lisa Dempsey

Or was it actually dealing with the truck and the mess of the fire and everything that helped you to get the message?

It was the dealing with it. It's the dealing with it. It's like, it's reminding me of that. We have the story.

It's like the bear in the woods, like you can't go over it or you can't go under it. You have to go through it.

It's like, you can't get to that, that other side. And it's like, wow, there is this like, and I genuinely always know that things happen for us.

Like that is something that I, you know, that I've always, always been able to. I'm very grateful for that, to be able to tap into that, that belief.

And it gets tested though at times.

@9:51 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

It's like, really, is this still happening for my good at the time? Right. Yeah.

@9:57 - Lisa Dempsey

Yeah. But you can't just jump from it. Like, you can't just have something happen and then jump to, oh, no, it's all good.

I know that this happens for me. There's that process in the middle. Like, you have to sit with that messiness of it to lean into, okay, well, why is this bad?

And what's the actual real thing underneath this here?

@10:21 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

@10:23 - Lisa Dempsey

And so then what was it for you? How did you find the good?

@10:30 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And what had to happen for you?

@10:34 - Lisa Dempsey

Well, I guess, you know, I just kept reminding myself of that, that I know that this is unfolding as it is.

@10:40 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And even if it's not how I thought it was going to play out.

@10:44 - Lisa Dempsey

And I just really, I guess, had this, it was just like a knowing, this deep, deep self-trust that it was unfolding.

And it's like there were these moments that just kept, you know, getting heavier or there'd be another challenge. And it's like, it's almost like.

like. As you're walking along, you just get things thrown at you. It's like a test to kind of pull you off your path.

So I'm like, hey, you say you want this. Well, how much do you want this?

@11:09 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

We're going to, we're going to test you here. Yeah.

@11:13 - Lisa Dempsey

And I think the, it's like the block is actually really the emotion or the limiting belief that sits underneath it all.

So it's like, okay, well, what's stopping me from asking for help? Hmm. I feel ashamed that I have to be like, hey, Lynn, I'm really struggling here.

I don't know what to do. Do I continue the program? I'm worried about money. Do I keep paying and saying yes to me financially when I've got all these other, you know, reasons to say no.

And it's like, okay, well, what's underneath all of that? Yeah. fear, is it shame? Is it guilt? Is it like, what's the true?

Yeah. Part that sits underneath it all.

@11:56 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And what did you find when you dug deep? Mm Mm-hmm. And you acknowledge the shame, you acknowledge whatever guilt or whatever emotion was coming up.

@12:07 - Lisa Dempsey

What did you notice? Well, once you acknowledge it, it's like, oh, it feels seen.

@12:12 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

You can accept it.

@12:14 - Lisa Dempsey

And it's like the shame will always lose its power once something's spoken about. And you can then just put the steps in place to make it work from there.

So, yeah, so much power in just, you don't even necessarily need to know that, like, you don't have to fix it.

There's no fixing. It's just, like, allowing that to come up.

@12:37 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Right. And so what happened? You, you know, you felt that and you reached out to me. And what did you find?

@12:47 - Lisa Dempsey

I just said, and I think the piece was I had sat on it for a while because I was waiting, like waiting for an answer or waiting for something.

To, you know, to fix it because I'm the fixer, right? And it's. I was this isn't fixing, this is getting worse, and it's like as soon as I just spoke and just explained, okay, this is what's happening, this is the situation, I don't actually know what to do here, and do you have any, can you help, do you have any ideas, what do you think we should do in this situation, and so it was like as soon as I said that, then everything just started to feel like, oh, yeah, that's what it was.

It was just like that. You don't have to hold it all yourself.

@13:30 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Right, and Lisa, I think this is such an important piece to your story, if you don't mind sharing this piece, that you're the family breadwinner.

Yes. That your husband partner stays home and works with and takes care of your kiddos that are four and five, and what did you have to do there as well?

@13:52 - Lisa Dempsey

Mm, and that was so interesting, because that shift had only recently happened, and it was something that I encouraged.

same. my side, of And so I was like, this is what I think we should do. So the pressure even on that weight of me making that decision was big.

Like it felt like it was mine. And so it was like I took on that masculine role in holding the financials for the house.

So when it wasn't, when it felt like it wasn't working, there was so much shame around that, even to like to allow that in, we have a great relationship, my partner and I.

But to feel that, like to have that was, was really interesting piece to work through as well. And so I guess for me, that was, it wasn't so much fear.

It wasn't fear because I did have that trust and it was shame. It was the shame around not feeling good enough to, to have money to pay for the course up front, to, to, you know, to be able to book all the things that maybe we were used to doing, you know, because we, we traveled for a while as well.

Right. So it's just this, and it felt all on me. Hmm.

@15:00 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And so what happened there?

@15:02 - Lisa Dempsey

So I just chose to keep getting vulnerable with it, like, and just express and share, like, this is how I'm feeling.

Like, I don't know what to do. It's this leaning in and asking for help, the receivership of help, which I guess is, you know, masculine and feminine, isn't it?

It's like I was holding a masculine frame work-wise and still trying to hold that energy in a relationship sense.

And so it was like, hey, how can I soften, allow, open, receive this and be open and vulnerable, which is something that felt challenging.

@15:37 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Like, it's not easy to do or be. Yeah. And that's why I just, I wanted you to share that because I feel like it's so common, so, so common.

And then, as you're telling your stories, I can feel the same would happen for a man who is a provider for the family and the shame and the fear and the guilt of not, you know, if they were to lose.

And just not being able to provide for your family is such a deep-rooted feeling in the body. And when we were talking, you shared that your partner stepped up and he went and found some work and started bringing in money for you to kind of help take off that pressure off of you.

And, you know, and so that, you know, is beautiful. And when you called me, I'm like, we're going to just pause your payments until you get your feet underneath you.

@16:33 - Lisa Dempsey

And you let me know when that is.

@16:34 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And, but I want you to continue in the program because when you do say yes to yourself, what you experienced is exactly what the program was teaching.

@16:45 - Lisa Dempsey

Wasn't it? Mm hmm. Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was.

@16:50 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah, that, that masculine and feminine and, and like having to bring balance in our being with. And it's not about just being in the masculine or just being in the feminine, but the, the beautiful balance and flow between the two.

And, you know, I, I would say that that being able to receive support is one of the most challenging and most common blocks that a lot of women have.

And especially if you're in that more masculine role in your family.

@17:26 - Lisa Dempsey

So, yeah, I, and, and, and what's happening now, tell us the rest of the story. Well, that's the good part, right?

It's like, I just knew as the, it's like, when you look up to the sky, and it's really dark, there's still shining light always there.

And so it's not about like, just light or dark. It's like, okay, well, how can you see those light, the stars when it is really dark, particularly when it's light, there is, you know, still the other things to work on as well.

And, and so, yeah, I, I, it's such perfect timing though, always, isn't it? Like when you do the program.

So when you take the courses, so everything does just unfold in the most, yeah, the divine timing of it all.

So, yeah, I finished the program and it was incredible just in like the self-trust piece, building that resilience, building that self-trust, the intuition of knowing, you know, following these dots and feelings with the trust.

And, yeah, then I actually ended up flying to America to attend the in-person event at the end of it, which, like, oh, my gosh, it's just amazing.

The, like, I just, yeah, was just smiling ear to ear the whole time. And it was like, would this have felt so good if I hadn't have gone through that to get here?

Probably not.

@18:48 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Wow. Yeah, yeah. There's something in the struggle.

@18:53 - Lisa Dempsey

It makes us stronger.

@18:55 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And it really does, it, it cracked you open to be more. And how do you find yourself today? Is it easier for you to access that vulnerability?

@19:06 - Lisa Dempsey

Or is it still a struggle for you? It's so much easier. And it's, it's, it's so much easier in my body, like, you know, and it feels nicer, like, my body feels open, my chest feels open.

It's, yeah, and it is so nice. So thank you, Lynn.

@19:24 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Well, you did the work, I just provided a pathway.

@19:29 - Lisa Dempsey

So that's true.

@19:30 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

And Lisa, the other thing that you said that really stood out there is, even when it's dark out, the stars are still there, and you have to look for them.

Yeah. And that is so key to have that, that knowing that it's there, number one. Yeah. And then two, the, the ability to focus in on the, the, the light in the midst of the darkness.

@19:58 - Lisa Dempsey

Like, that is huge.

@19:59 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

is I think you do have such a positive vibe about you. You're looking for the positive, and you also have such a beautiful, strong intuition and knowingness that you are following, and that's truly what I wish everybody had that ability, and that is what we focus on in the program is accessing and using that intuition to guide us.

@20:27 - Lisa Dempsey

And to continue to do that, even when it feels like everything is trying to pull you the other way or pull you off of that path, it's that deep trust and knowing, and yeah, it's all divine and building your capacity, isn't it, your energetic container, how much can you hold your nervous system, stretching that, that's like that contraction before the expansion, so yeah.

@20:56 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah, yeah, oh my gosh.

@20:58 - Lisa Dempsey

Much nicer on this side, however.

@20:59 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah. Yes. And, you know, the adversity and the challenge strengthens us and makes us stronger. And, you know, I always say God knows exactly how much we can handle.

@21:14 - Lisa Dempsey

You know, sometimes we wish God didn't think we could handle so much. Yes. Yes.

@21:22 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah.

@21:23 - Lisa Dempsey

And that's very true.

@21:23 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah. I just absolutely loved our conversations, Lisa, and just how you handled yourself and, you know, the ability to go there and to be vulnerable.

And I loved the support that you felt on the other side of doing that, because that truly is when we are vulnerable, you know, that support can come in.

@21:51 - Lisa Dempsey

If we let it.

@21:52 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah. When we let it, right? When we let it, for sure. So, thank you. Any last insight?

@22:06 - Lisa Dempsey

Yeah, I think it's just this, it always just comes down to your intention. Like you get to choose in all of these moments when it feels like everything around you, you might feel like you're in the eye of the storm.

It's like, you still get to choose. So focus on that because like, what you focus on will grow. That's just, you know, law of attraction, right?

So it's like, how can you focus? How can you be intentional with what you're choosing, what you're choosing to think, what you're choosing to feel?

What you're choosing to say, like, it's, you still, there are moments that you can anchor into to help you.

@22:38 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yeah, and look for the light in that into really, I love that be, be aware of your words, and what you're putting out into the world.

Because it's all consciousness and like attracts like or whatever you're putting out there is what you're going to receive.

And, and that's why it's so important for us to go in and sit with and be important in see.

Thank With those feelings, those sensations, and be able to address them. But, Lisa, love that. Looking for the light in the darkness and keeping the focus on the light and keeping your words, your attention, your energy, all of that on the light in the midst of the darkness is truly a beautiful message for everybody to take.

@23:24 - Lisa Dempsey

And I think the quicker you feel your feelings or what's underneath, that root will get you to that stage quicker.

The more you, yeah, prolong that part, I feel is like, yeah, that's the pivotal catalyst.

@23:39 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Absolutely. Well, what you resist persists.

@23:42 - Lisa Dempsey

Absolutely.

@23:42 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

I love that.

@23:44 - Lisa Dempsey

I do too.

@23:45 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

Yes.

@23:45 - Lisa Dempsey

Yeah.

@23:46 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

So the quicker you can recognize it and work with it, and that's the getting through it, right? You can't go around it.

You can't go under it. You know, you got to go.

@23:56 - Lisa Dempsey

chasing you otherwise.

@23:57 - Lynn Schulte, PT (lynnschultept@gmail.com)

It does. It does. And, you know, that, and. I was sharing this weekend in the live intensive that shame and grief are two of the biggest, most powerful emotions, energies that we as humans deal with, I feel.

And there's not really a roadmap on how to, you know, like if we're angry, people know how to get, you know, exert that emotion out into the world, whether they, you know, you punch something, you hit something.

Then obviously hopefully not another person and the, the shame and the guilt just kind of sits and it's very heavy and it's like a rock in your system and then your energy can't flow around it.

And really shame needs honoring, grief needs honoring, and the more we can just know that it's there and, and witness it and acknowledge it, the more that it can start to shift and change and move from us.

So, um, thank you. Lisa, so much for sharing your story and being a part of this Birth Healing Intensive this year.

You're such a bright light. I just knew when we did your application and we did your call before it that I'm like, oh, she's going to be so good.

And you have been. So thank you for being such a beautiful participant of this program this year and for the amazing work that you've done.

And thank you for sharing your story. So, all right, everybody. Thank you so much for listening in. I hope you got some pearls of wisdom there with this conversation.

And please know that when life gets hard, look for the light. Know that the light is always there, no matter how dark it may seem around you.

All right. Thanks, everybody. We'll see you all in the next episode. And here is the smoother burst, faster recoveries, and looking for the light.

Take care, everybody. Bye-bye. All right. All All right. right. right. right. All right. right.