Tawney Noriega: From Pain to Possibility
Who I Am
When people meet me now, they often notice my calm presence—grounded, joyful, deeply rooted in trust and possibility. What most don’t immediately see is the path it took to get here. My journey began in a place of survival, chaos, and fear. They don’t see the years of pain, confusion, and survival that shaped me. They don’t see the years I questioned if life would ever be more than pain. My life today is a reflection of what’s possible—not because the world around me magically changed, but because I did.
The Early Years: Learning to Survive
I didn’t grow up with the kind of foundation most people would call secure. I grew up in a world of instability and dysfunction. My dad and I moved from place to place, and while he loved me in the ways he could, his internal chaos often spilled over into our lives. My mom moved out of state by the time I was 3. She struggled with her own demons—addiction, heartbreak, and a weight she could never quite escape. While we stayed connected via phone in my later years, our conversations always circled back to pain—hers, mine, and everything we couldn’t quite untangle.
When she passed right before my 21st birthday, it shattered something in me. I carried the weight of that loss for years, convinced it was my fault. I thought if I said more, been more, she might still be here. I believed that if I could change who I was, maybe I could help others so they wouldn’t experience the same pain. Maybe I could even save myself from becoming her. But the harder I tried to “fix” myself, the more disconnected I felt. Everything I did was from a place of fear—fear of pain, fear of loss, fear of not being enough.
It took years of healing to see the truth—that her choice wasn’t personal. It was her way of finding freedom, and in a strange and bittersweet way, it was her act of breaking cycles for her daughters. I see now that her passing taught me one of the most profound lessons of my life: we can’t save anyone but ourselves.
A Turning Point
At 13, my sister stepped in. She was just 19, when she took custody of me and became my first example of what it means to break generational cycles and what was possible when someone chooses courage over fear. Later, my adoptive parents showed me what a stable, loving family could look like. They gave me tools I didn’t even know existed—communication, emotional intelligence, and a sense of belonging I had never experienced before.
But becoming a mother myself was what truly shifted everything.
Motherhood: Awakening Possibility
The moment I became a mother at 23, something shifted in me. All the pain I had buried—the insecurity, the fear, the lack of foundation I had carried for so long wouldn;t let up. My daughter’s presence forced me to face myself in ways I had avoided for years. I didn’t want to perpetuate the cycles I had grown up in. I wanted to be conscious, intentional, and present. Parenting became a mirror, reflecting back all the things I hadn’t yet healed. How could I provide her with safety and stability when I had never known it myself? How could I guide her into alignment and truth if I was still running from my own?
She became my greatest teacher; not because motherhood was demanding perfection from me, but because motherhood reminded me of everything I wanted to create—for myself, for her, for our family—was possible. I sought answers outside of myself—books, courses, modalities, anything that promised to “fix” me. But none of it truly gave me the answers of relief or a sense there was light at the end.
It wasn’t until 2021, during an unexpected solo plant medicine ceremony, that I finally turned inward.
For the first time, I stopped running from myself. I sat with my pain, my fears, my doubts, and I listened. Not to fix them, but to understand them.
Turning Inward
That was the shift—not the plant medicine itself, but my willingness to sit with myself. To hear my own voice, feel my own emotions, and let them move through me. I realized I didn’t need more tools or external answers. What I needed was to reconnect with the truth that had always been inside me. For much of my life, I searched for answers outside myself. Therapy, healing modalities, self-help books—anything that promised to fix what I believed was broken inside me. But no matter what I tried, I still felt stuck. I was bandaging wounds without addressing the source of the pain.
That year, I stopped seeking and started integrating. I took the lessons I’d spent years gathering and allowed them to settle into my being. I discovered that everything I needed was already within me—waiting for me to hear it.
For months, I practiced what I now call “mirror work.” I would sit naked in front of a mirror, facing all the things I had been afraid to see. I would journal, cry, and consciously speak affirmations to myself: I’m safe. I’m protected. I’m provided for. I am enough.
I became my own inner mother, nurturing the parts of me that had been silenced for so long. Slowly, I began to release the need to seek validation or healing outside of myself. I learned to trust my internal compass.
This practice evolved over time—dancing, shaking out energy, stretching, walking, and allowing my body and mind to move through what needed to move. But the core truth remains the same: The greatest transformation happens when we are willing to sit with ourselves.
There’s no course, no book, no podcast, no therapy that can replace the power of listening to your own voice. Every modality, every framework will eventually lead you back to yourself.
The real work is learning how to be with yourself first.
From Pain to Possibility
The life I live now isn’t the result of changing my circumstances—it’s the result of changing my relationship with myself. I’ve learned that pain isn’t the enemy. It’s a teacher, a guide, pointing us toward the possibility of something greater. I live in alignment with my truth, supported by a loving husband, a joyful family, and a life that lights me up. But this life wasn’t built by changing my external circumstances first—it was built by changing who I am at my core.
When challenges arise now—and they still do—I don’t resist them. I ask: What is this here to teach me? How can I grow from this?
Possibility isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you choose. It’s available in every moment, even the hard ones. And when you allow yourself to believe in that possibility, everything shifts.
This is who I am now: a woman who has walked through pain and found possibility on the other side. A woman who trusts herself, listens deeply, and moves through life with alignment and intention.
I’ve learned that transformation doesn’t have to take years. It doesn’t have to be about fixing yourself because you were never broken to begin with. It’s about remembering who you are and shifting your internal state of being in a single moment. That’s where the quantum leap happens—not in the outside world, but within.
Life These Days
Today, my life feels like a reflection of the inner work I’ve done and the alignment I’ve cultivated. It’s abundant, free, and deeply fulfilling—not because everything is “perfect,” but because I’ve built a relationship with myself that feels unshakable. I know that I will come save myself every time for everything. That feels like true power.
I thrive in conversations where ideas come to life. Whether it’s blockchain technology, crypto, community building, creative projects, personal development, or business growth, I’m fascinated by what’s possible when we think differently. I love being a soundboard—offering clarity, anchoring others in possibility, and helping others see solutions they might not have considered.
As a Manifestor with a 6/2 (role model/hermit) profile in Human Design, I’ve learned to embrace my role as both a visionary and a guide. My energy is impactful—it initiates change and inspires action—but I’ve also come to honor the quieter, reflective side of myself. I protect my peace and solitude, knowing that it’s in these moments of stillness that my best ideas and clearest insights emerge.
My life now feels abundant in every sense of the word. I’ve created a foundation of stability and trust that allows me to explore, create, and connect without limitation. Freedom isn’t just a concept—it’s something I live and breathe every day. It shows up in the way I spend my time, the way I make decisions, and the way I allow life to flow.
I’m no longer tied to the old stories of pain or survival. I’ve integrated those experiences into beautiful learning lessons—something that allows me to live with power, purpose, and alignment.
Every day, I’m grounded by the frameworks I’ve built through my healing journey. These aren’t rigid rules—they’re guiding principles that keep me aligned with what matters most:
Intuition First: I trust my gut and honor the internal guidance. Every decision, every action starts from within.
Energy Over Effort: If something feels forced, I step back. Flow is where I thrive, and I’ve learned to follow the path of least resistance.
Presence Over Perfection: I don’t chase perfection anymore. I’ve found peace in being present, in showing up as I am, and allowing things to unfold.
Possibility Always: No matter what arises, I remind myself that possibility is always within reach. Every challenge is an opportunity to expand, every moment a chance to create.
If something in my story resonates with you, I’d love to connect. Whether you’re curious about joining the Ventura County Business Women community, exploring ways we can work together, or just want to start a conversation, I’m here for it.
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