Bravery, Boundaries, And Skinny Dipping Into Self-Discovery With Sara Barnes She Who Dares, Wins. podcast

Bravery, Boundaries, and Skinny Dipping into Self-Discovery with Sara Barnes

6d ago 53:40

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This week, Michelle sits down with writer, swimmer, and all-round adventurer Sara Barnes, whose story is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. After surviving major heart surgery and multiple health setbacks, Sara turned to the freezing lakes of Cumbria for healing — and found her purpose.

From the icy calm of cold-water swimming to the realities of rejection, imposter syndrome, and late-life confidence, Sara’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to start over or to finally back yourself.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

Life’s curveballs are invitations, not endings. Sara’s health scares forced her to slow down and realign her priorities.
Community saves us. Cold-water swimming connected her to a supportive world of women who push past comfort zones together.
Rejection isn’t failure. Years of “no” built the tenacity that led to her first published book.
Dreams lose their sparkle when they become reality — and that’s okay. The growth is in the pursuit, not the finish line.
Boundaries build better relationships. Saying “no” turned Sara’s life from lonely to aligned.
Confidence isn’t a switch. Even the boldest women still battle self-doubt — the trick is doing it anyway.

Timestamps

0:00 — Welcome & Sara’s story: surviving heart surgery and finding perspective

0:03:40 — Grief, loss, and how writing helped her heal

0:11:50 — The Instagram trap: learning to disconnect and reconnect with real life

0:12:18 — The unexpected beginning: how cold-water swimming saved her

0:19:48 — From ugly duckling to swan: the boss who underestimated her

0:26:20 — [Mid-Roll Ad Slot] + Identity shift — becoming an author and imposter syndrome

0:33:45 — The truth about chasing dreams and learning to enjoy the process

0:43:30 — Skinny dipping, confidence, and helping women find freedom

0:52:55 — Bonus Episode begins: Quick-fire dares and reflections

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157 episodes

🗝️ Key Takeaways

Life’s curveballs are invitations, not endings. Sara’s health scares forced her to slow down and realign her priorities.
Community saves us. Cold-water swimming connected her to a supportive world of women who push past comfort zones together.
Rejection isn’t failure. Years of “no” built the tenacity that led to her first published book.
Dreams lose their sparkle when they become reality — and that’s okay. The growth is in the pursuit, not the finish line.
Boundaries build better relationships. Saying “no” turned Sara’s life from lonely to aligned.
Confidence isn’t a switch. Even the boldest women still battle self-doubt — the trick is doing it anyway.