306: Healing Starts Within with Dawn Wensel

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs begin with the hardest struggles! Today, Mallory and Dawn Wensel, the Director of Development at Hope Street Group, talk about healing, resilience, and the powerful connection between the mind and body. Their honest stories remind us that growth often starts with understanding ourselves. During the conversation, Dawn shares her journey from being a teacher to building a successful career in fundraising. Alongside her career, Dawn opens up about her long battle with chronic pain and how it affected both her work and personal life. She explains how reading John Sarno's book helped her see the link between stress and physical pain. Through journaling, reflection, and self-awareness, she found healthier ways to manage her symptoms and regain confidence. The conversation explores how stress can show up in the body and why it is important to address the root causes instead of only treating symptoms. Dawn introduces Positive Intelligence and explains how it can improve both personal well-being and fundraising success. Dawn also discusses the value of supportive leaders, self-compassion, curiosity, and community. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize the connection between mind and body in health and performance. Explore how stress can show up physically in everyday life. Learn how journaling supports emotional balance and stress relief. Build self-awareness to notice and shift thought patterns. Use curiosity to better understand emotions and reactions. Shift from perfectionism toward self-compassion and acceptance. Value community support in building resilience and reducing isolation. See how openness about struggles builds connection with others. And for more support with your GivingTuesday and End-of-Year Fundraising, check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a FREE masterclass here → https://malloryerickson.com/free/ Subscribe for more FREE tips on how to raise more money for your nonprofit. / @malloryerickson7946 ✨ ABOUT MALLORY✨ Recognized in read-write, Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Inc. for her energizing and innovative fundraising strategy and training, Mallory Erickson will revolutionize the way you show up as a nonprofit leader and fundraiser. She is a certified executive coach and fundraising consultant that specializes in helping social impact fundraisers apply life-changing scientific research and personal development frameworks to their fundraising work. Mallory Erickson’s brave, bold, and innovative framework (the Power Partners Formula™️) teaches nonprofit fundraisers to raise more from the right funders so they can stop hounding people for money. Fundraising doesn’t have to be uncomfortable when it is built around a mutually beneficial framework and authentic partnership. Connect with Dawn: LinkedIn:   / dawnwensel   Website: https://hopestreetgroup.org/ Mentioned in the episode: Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection: https://amazon.com/Healing-Back-Pain-... WORK WITH MALLORY ⚡️ FREE Webinar on how to Raise More From the Right Funders WITHOUT Hounding them - https://malloryerickson.com/workshop/ 1️⃣ Learn about the Power Partners Formula™️ - https://malloryerickson.com/power-par... 2️⃣ Work with Mallory 1:1 as an Executive Coach, Fundraising Consultant, and Facilitator - https://malloryerickson.com/executive... 🙋🏻‍♀️ Find me on: Instagram: / _malloryerickson LinkedIn: / mallory-erickson-bressler Facebook: / malloryericksoncoach My website: https://malloryerickson.com/ 🎙 Follow my podcast: What the Fundraising at: Instagram: / _malloryerickson Facebook: / whatthefundraising Website: https://malloryerickson.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...