01 | How to Survive Chronic Illness with a New and Powerful Wellness Mindset

Chronic illness can change the way you see your body, your faith, and your daily life.

It can change your calendar.
It can change your energy.
It can change your motherhood.
It can change the way you pray.

In this first episode of Becoming Natural, I wanted to share the story behind the podcast: where I came from, why I care so deeply about natural health, and why I believe overwhelmed moms need simple, practical ways to support their bodies without shame, fear, or perfectionism.

This is not a story about rejecting medicine. It is a story about learning to ask better questions, listen to the body more carefully, and recognize that healing often requires more than covering up symptoms.

TL;DR — Quick Summary

This episode shares Penelope’s personal story of chronic illness, Crohn’s disease, motherhood, faith, and the wellness mindset shift that led her to start Becoming Natural. It introduces the heart of the podcast: helping busy moms simplify natural wellness, reduce toxic overwhelm, and take small, sustainable steps toward supporting the body.

What You’ll Learn

Why Penelope started the Becoming Natural podcast
How chronic illness shaped her view of health, motherhood, and faith
Why she began asking deeper questions about symptom management
How her background in occupational therapy and pharmaceuticals shaped her perspective
Why natural wellness does not have to be extreme, expensive, or overwhelming
How small, sustainable choices can help women become better friends to their bodies

My Story with Chronic Illness

Before I was an occupational therapist, before I was a mom of three boys, and before I ever imagined starting a podcast, I was a young woman trying to survive symptoms that would eventually be diagnosed as Crohn’s disease.

My symptoms began when I was a teenager and continued to worsen over time. By age 24, I finally had a diagnosis. But even with excellent doctors, strong medical care, and access to specialists, my body kept struggling.

Over the years, I had multiple surgeries, took many medications, and lived through seasons where I was simply trying to function. I wanted to be the mom who showed up. I wanted to go to the activities, keep the household moving, and act like everything was normal — even when my body was begging for help.

If you have lived with chronic illness, you know that kind of determination. It can look brave from the outside, but inside it can feel exhausting. That is why this episode connects naturally with my guide, Chronic Illness, Fatigue & Mom Resilience: A Gentle Guide for Moms, because healing is not only about symptoms. It is also about endurance, support, and learning how to care for your body in the middle of real life.

When the Medical Model Was Not Enough

My professional background gave me a deep respect for Western medicine.

I trained as an occupational therapist. I worked with critically ill patients. I loved acute care and the incredible complexity of the human body. I also worked as a pharmaceutical representative and saw another side of the medical industry.

So when I say I began asking questions, it was not because I had no respect for medicine.

It was because I had lived the medical model from nearly every angle — as a clinician, as a patient, and as someone who had promoted medications — and I still found myself deeply unwell.

That tension became a turning point.

I began to wonder: what if my body needed more than symptom control? What if it needed a different environment? What if the small choices around food, stress, toxins, emotions, and daily habits were not side issues, but part of the healing picture?

Learning to Support the Body Instead of Fighting It

One of the biggest mindset shifts in my story was learning to see the body as designed with purpose.

As an occupational therapist, I had watched patients heal after devastating injuries. I saw patterns in recovery. I saw the body move through stages. I saw that healing was not random chaos — it was often structured, layered, and beautifully complex.

That changed how I viewed my own body.

Instead of seeing my body as broken beyond hope, I began asking how I could support it.

That did not mean abandoning medical care. It meant becoming more curious. It meant paying attention to what I put on, in, and around my body. It meant learning about plants, food, stress, emotions, and environmental exposures. It meant taking small steps instead of trying to overhaul everything overnight.

Why Faith Matters in My Healing Story

My healing journey cannot be separated from my faith.

There were seasons when I was very sick, deeply discouraged, and unsure what the future would look like. But even in those dark places, God was present.

I do not share that lightly. Chronic illness can be painful physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It can test your marriage, your motherhood, your identity, and your hope.

But I also believe God is in this story.

Not because every answer came quickly.
Not because healing was simple.
Not because I did everything perfectly.

But because even in the hardest seasons, I can look back and see provision, endurance, wisdom, and grace. If you want to explore that connection more deeply, my guide on Faith & The Body Connection walks through how faith and stewardship can shape the way we view healing, the body, and daily wellness choices.

Natural Wellness Does Not Have to Be Extreme

One reason I started Becoming Natural is because natural living can feel overwhelming.

You hear about toxins, endocrine disruptors, food additives, cleaning products, stress hormones, gut health, and emotional wellness — and suddenly you want to throw out your entire house and start over with a goat, a garden, and no Wi-Fi.

But that is not the heart of this podcast.

The goal is not panic.
The goal is progress.

Natural wellness can begin with one small, faithful step. Reading one label. Swapping one product. Asking one better question. Learning one new way to support your nervous system. Choosing one cleaner option when it is time to replace something.

Small steps matter because sustainable steps are the ones we actually keep.

What Becoming Natural Is About

Becoming Natural is for moms and women who want to support their health in simple, practical ways.

This podcast will explore topics like:

simple food swaps
natural support for chronic symptoms
reducing harmful household chemicals
using plants wisely
emotional health and stress
preventative wellness
faith and healing
supporting loved ones with chronic illness
learning how the body was designed to function

The heart is simple: helping women become better friends to their bodies.

Not perfectly.
Not fearfully.
Not overnight.

Just one faithful step at a time.

Helpful Resources

For general information about Crohn’s disease, these resources may be helpful:

FAQ

Can chronic illness change the way you think about healing?

Yes. Chronic illness often forces you to notice patterns you may have ignored before: stress, food, sleep, toxins, emotions, and the daily choices that either drain or support the body. That does not mean healing is simple, but it can invite a more thoughtful wellness mindset.

What does a wellness mindset mean when you are living with chronic illness?

A wellness mindset is not pretending everything is fine. It means learning to support your body with curiosity, patience, and practical next steps instead of only reacting when symptoms become overwhelming.

Is Becoming Natural anti-medicine?

No. Becoming Natural is not anti-medicine. Penelope has a healthcare background and respects medical care while also encouraging women to ask better questions and support the body wisely.

How does faith connect with natural wellness?

Faith brings hope, perspective, and gratitude into the healing process. It reminds us that the body is not random or disposable, but carefully designed and worth stewarding with wisdom.

Where should an overwhelmed mom begin with natural living?

Start small. Read one label, make one cleaner swap, simplify one routine, or learn one new way to support your nervous system. Sustainable change usually begins with one faithful step, not a complete life overhaul.

Related Episodes

Continue with these Becoming Natural episodes on chronic illness, resilience, and healing:

Final Encouragement

If you are living with chronic illness, trying to clean up your home, or simply wondering why your body feels so worn down, you are not alone.

You do not have to change everything today.

Start with one small step.
Ask one better question.
Learn one new thing.
Give your body a little more support than it had yesterday.