Aarti Chawla

It was a sunny day in April when I found myself joining the Internet Lifestyle Hub, filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. I had no idea where to start, but deep down, I knew I had to make an impact, particularly in helping women in distress.

I had seen Sidz’s ad, and after buying the Silver Membership, something inside me urged, “Why stop here?” Within two days, I upgraded to Diamond Membership. It felt as precious as a diamond necklace—rare, valuable, and close to my heart. For the first time in a long while, I was thrilled about the possibility of making a difference online, finally able to spread the mental health awareness I’d always dreamed of.

The reason I left my 17+ years in the corporate world was simple—immense pressure. The long work hours and lack of freedom were draining me mentally and physically. So, when I heard Sidz teaching us how to run a ‘freedom business,’ it felt like a revelation.

After quitting my job, I became certified in psychology and began my practice, but COVID-19 put that on hold. The world had stopped, and with it, my dream. But now, thanks to this new journey, that dream was coming back to life.

I started with the Hackathon, wanting to help working professionals combat burnout. But then, like many of us do, I got sidetracked. “Maybe I should help Gen Zs” instead, I thought, feeling the pull to help the younger generation with emotional challenges. Yet, even then, something felt off. I still hadn’t found my true mission.

In the Freedom Business Model, we were taught to align our niche with our personal story. That’s when the pieces started falling into place.

I had spent 16+ years in leadership roles in big companies like Vodafone and Airtel, climbing the corporate ladder. Yet, despite my success, I felt emotionally drained, going through a painful divorce that left me burnt out.

I didn’t even realize the toll it had taken because I was too busy focusing on my career. But the hormonal imbalance from midlife, combined with the emotional strain, hit me like a ton of bricks. I started experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. I couldn’t focus, and I became irritable.

That’s when a friend suggested therapy. “What do I have to lose?” I thought, and I dove headfirst into healing my childhood trauma.

It changed my life.

I took a quantum leap forward, gathering myself up, tapping into my true potential, and even manifesting love and my now-husband. Today, I’m in a happy place, and I owe it all to the mentors who helped me heal.

Now, I wanted to give that gift back—to help women like me, struggling with troubled marriages, heal their trauma and empower themselves after divorce. But this mission wasn’t without its own challenges. The stigma attached to being divorced weighed heavily on me. I hesitated to share my story openly. Even my clients, though deeply impacted by my work, were reluctant to offer testimonials. “What if people judge me?” I often thought.

But then Sidz’s voice rang in my head, “When you feel nervous, think of service.” I thought about all the women struggling in silence, just like I had.

A fellow ILHian once told me, “This is God’s work.” And I knew she was right. Only those who had been through such trauma could truly understand its value, and they would find their way to me.

The supportive community around me helped me break the stereotype of being a ‘generic life coach.’ I decided to focus on coaching women specifically through their divorce journeys.

“I know this pain, and I know the way out,” I reminded myself. Many sleepless nights followed as I worked on course content, technology, and, more importantly, my confidence.

One afternoon, while battling my inner critic as I built my website, I heard Sidz’s words echo again: “Either you spend time, or you spend money, but never be cheap on your journey to greatness.” That was the push I needed to seek help and get my website done professionally.

Slowly but steadily, I got everything in place—the tools, the webinar slides, the confidence. Finally, after weeks of working on myself, breaking stereotypes, and confronting my fears, I launched my first webinar. The sense of relief was indescribable. When I saw a 30% conversion rate, my confidence soared even higher. “I can do this,” I thought, finally believing in myself.

Six months later, I stood on stage with Sidz, holding the Hall of Fame trophy at the Freedom Business Retreat in October 2023. I’ve earned plenty of accolades in my corporate career, but nothing compared to that moment. “This feels different,” I thought, the trophy in my hands feeling like the culmination of years of hard work, emotional growth, and self-belief.

Since then, I’ve helped over 100 students heal from heartbreak and design their dream lives, filled with happiness and joy. Some students relieved themselves from physical ailments like digestive issues, others found emotional balance, and some even landed promotions or got married. Five of my students got promoted at work, three found their life partners, and many more left abusive relationships. Every single one of them healed their inner child, just like I had.

And as I look back, I often think, “If only there had been a digital coach to help me when I was at rock bottom.” I didn’t know where to go for help. But thanks to Sidz and Internet Lifestyle Hub, I’m now able to guide women who truly need it, helping them build better relationships with themselves and others.

In January 2024, my journey took a new turn when I was made a facilitator for a Hackathon team. Supporting others to reach the finish line, become Freedom Finishers, and achieve the Hall of Fame was nothing short of fulfilling. “This is what I’m meant to do,” I thought, as I watched my team members launch their courses and share their success stories. The camaraderie, the shared mission, the collective energy—it was all so beautiful.

Finally, graduation day arrived, and we all gathered on one screen, talking to our mentor Sidz. As I listened to my fellow ILHians share their Hackathon experiences, I couldn’t help but feel immense gratitude. “We manifested this,” I thought, recalling the sense of unity that brought us all together. Twice we met offline to celebrate—once for the January-March Hackathon and again for the April-June one. Each time, it felt like reuniting with family.

They say when you connect with certain souls, it’s because you’ve known them before. They’re part of your soul family. I believe that wholeheartedly. And I believe Sidz is part of mine, guiding me on this incredible journey.