Claiming Independence: A Soulful Journey Back to Self – Two years ago, I made the most life-altering decision of my adult life—I chose myself.
At the time, it didn’t feel brave. It felt terrifying. But I was at a breaking point—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And the truth was undeniable: if I didn’t leave the life that was draining me, I was going to lose myself entirely.
For years, I had been the overfunctioning partner in a marriage where I was carrying the emotional weight for two. I was giving everything—trying to grow, evolve, and support—while my husband had long since stopped showing up. He had no interest in healing, expanding, or meeting me where I was. He had quit on himself, and by extension, on us.
As the founder of the Soul Intelligence® Method, I help others clear energetic blocks so they can evolve, heal, and live aligned with their highest self. I guide them to embody the best version of who they are meant to be. And yet, in my own home, I was living with a man who resisted growth, dismissed his potential, and refused to heal. I was witnessing him abandon his own well-being, and it broke my heart.
But I stayed.
I prayed.
I tolerated.
I pleaded.
I begged.
I hoped.
Until my body gave me no other option.
A severe glaucomatous crisis nearly stole my vision. My back gave out. My hip went out of joint—on the tennis court, my one sanctuary. I had never once retired from a tennis match in over two decades, yet that day, I could barely walk. Each symptom was a message: You’re holding too much. You’re unsupported. You don’t want to see the truth.
My body was screaming what my soul already knew: this wasn’t just emotional or spiritual misalignment—this was a full-blown crisis of self-abandonment.
And yet, I stayed. Even as I was unraveling, I continued to be the caretaker. He was battling his own health issues—prostate cancer, depression, and a heart event that landed him in the hospital. But when I needed help, he couldn’t show up. It was always about his illness, his pain, his anxiety, and his life. I felt invisible.
What hurt the most was watching him actively sabotage his healing. He ignored the need for proper nutrition, refused supplements, and continued drinking and eating poorly—habits that fed the cancer he was battling. He chose stagnation, and I could no longer pretend I wasn’t drowning beside him.
That helplessness was the hardest part. Because I knew, deeply, that healing has to be a choice, and he wasn’t choosing it.
And so, on July 4th, 2023, I chose me.
I walked away—not out of resentment but out of truth, out of the necessity to reclaim my peace, my power, and my purpose. I left to create a life where I could finally breathe, heal, and expand.
And everything changed.
In the two years since I made that decision, my life has transformed in ways I only used to visualize and script in my journal. I published my first Book, “Healing through Soul Intelligence,” an LA Tribune bestseller and recognized by Best Holistic Life Magazine as one of the 2025 Books of the Year. I helped lead an incredible nutraceutical company to scale and thrive. I’ve spoken at numerous conferences, been featured in major media, and guested on countless podcasts.
My first book signing was held at The Grove in Los Angeles, and I even held a red-carpet event in my hometown of NYC with my own billboard in Times Square! Most importantly, I’ve surrounded myself with soul-aligned people who believe in my mission and continue to support my evolution.
What am I up to now?
I still help lead that stellar nutraceutical company, which continues to exceed projections. I’ve relaunched the Soul Intelligence® Method online course to teach others this groundbreaking bioenergetic modality. I am in the midst of writing my second book, cohosting “The Holistic Truth” podcast, and speaking at health and wellness events throughout the country.
This isn’t just a new chapter. It’s an entirely new book.
On that day in 2023, my motivational calendar read:
“I deserve the freedom to be all that I can be today and every day.”
I still do.
And so do you.
This story isn’t just mine. It’s one I hear reflected in the stories of women and men everywhere—those who’ve given too much, stayed too long, and sacrificed their light trying to heal someone else’s wounds.
If that’s you, hear me clearly:
What you need is your own willingness to say, “I choose me.”
Choosing yourself is not selfish. It’s sacred.
You don’t need permission to realign your life.
You don’t need validation to choose peace, purpose, or freedom.
The moment I made that choice, I came home to myself. And that, truly, is the greatest independence of all.
Happy Independence Day—to your soul, your healing, and the freedom that awaits.
About the Author
Kristine Genovese founded the Soul Intelligence® Method, a transformative healing system designed to clear energetic blocks for lasting mental, emotional, and physical well-being. As an author, spiritual gangster, and speaker, Kristine empowers others to realign with their highest self and live a soul-led life of purpose and freedom. Learn more at her website.
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