As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Patricia Heitz.
Patricia (Trish) is a Certified Empowerment Coach, Author, NBC-HWC Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and Wellness Retreat Facilitator. She teaches how to communicate first with self, determining what is true/untrue about self-perceptions, keeping us from interacting as our authentic selves. Her signature: D.A.R.E. your beliefs program (Discover, Assess, Reconstruct, Expand) takes one through their belief system, and transforms self-defeating into empowering beliefs and expands this process to all areas of life.
After surviving kidney cancer, in 2002, she studied the mind and body system to learn how we contribute to creating disease and negativity in our lives. What she discovered is that it is always about our beliefs. She was able to unearth her own self-sabotaging beliefs, and heal, transform, and forgive from the challenging effects of childhood. Her book “Daydreams Come True,” A self-coaching workbook, helps others find healing and wellness, and learn how to Thrive in their lives, as she has learned to do in her own life.
You will leave her presentations inspired, transformed, and ready to create new beliefs that expand joy, abundance, and love.
In this interview, she dives into the challenges, wins, and wisdom she’s gained from over a decade of transforming online businesses.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur, and what sparked the idea for your current business venture?
My Journey to become an entrepreneur started from a miraculous journey:
In 2002, when my doctor uttered words that cracked my world wide open:
“You have a mass on your kidney.”
I had gone in for a routine GYN exam. No symptoms. No warning signs. I almost laughed at the absurdity — until the terror set in. My children were young. The only thought racing through my mind was, “I can’t leave them. I can’t die.”
After surgery to remove my right kidney, I was home recovering when I picked up a book given to me as a gift — and what a gift it turned out to be. Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life. One question hit me in the gut:
“Why did you need to have this in your life?”
The answer took my breath away.
I had grown up in an intoxicating household, holding onto a lifetime of repressed anger and unworthiness. My body had become a storage unit for years of buried emotion. I suddenly realized: this illness didn’t just happen to me. I had, unconsciously, helped create it.
And with that realization came another: If I could create disease from self-hate… what could I create from self-love?
That one thought changed everything.
A few weeks later, I received news that felt miraculous. The cancer had been “encapsulated.” My right kidney had shut down, and my left had taken over completely. It appeared no cells had escaped. The medical team told me I’d need to be vigilant, though — even one rogue cell could resurface.
I decided not to focus on that. Instead, I focused on what I could do to heal myself. I studied everything I could about how the energy of our beliefs affects the body. What I learned, I practiced daily. I was finally healing the real cause — not just the physical, but the emotional. I began rewriting every belief that had told me I wasn’t good enough, lovable, or safe.
Fast forward fifteen years to 2017. At my annual checkup, my doctor said, “I think we can use the word cure now.” I was stunned. I had been told that could never happen. And in that moment, I knew: healing my beliefs had helped save my life.
I couldn’t contain my excitement. I knew I had to share what I’d learned. I had found my purpose.
So I wrote my book: Daydreams Come True: A Self-Coaching Workbook.
After the publishing of the book, I felt I had completed my mission, but then I started getting so many questions from people reading the book, I realized, even though this process made sense to me having been through it, others needed some guidance to help them access the information buried deep in their subconscious, so I set out to become a Health & Wellness Coach, and that began my entrepreneurial journey. I realized the coaching had a process to it as well and I called it: D.A.R.E. Your Beliefs.
- Discover the unconscious stories running their lives,
- Assess where those beliefs came from,
- Recreate ones that support healing and joy,
- Expand and embody those beliefs until they become second nature.
What problem does your business solve, and how is it uniquely positioned in the market?
My business helps people uncover and release the real reason they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unfulfilled; the unconscious beliefs they’ve been carrying since childhood that quietly shape every decision, relationship, and opportunity.
The problem isn’t lack of motivation, discipline, or even mindset; it’s the emotional weight of false beliefs like “I’m not enough,” “Nothing ever works out for me,” or “I have to do it all alone.” These hidden narratives create gridlock in the nervous system, limit growth, and quietly sabotage potential.
What makes my work unique is that I blend belief-reset coaching with somatic-based practices to create real, lasting shifts, not just temporary motivation. My D.A.R.E. Method™ helps clients:
- Discover unconscious blocks
- Assess where they came from
- Release them through body-based and visual tools
- Expand into new beliefs that match who they truly are
Unlike traditional coaching that stays in the mind, my work helps clients feel safe both physically and cognitively, again, so they can trust their decisions, receive what they desire, and lead their life with confidence. This is where transformation really begins; when belief meets embodiment.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenges I have faced have been doing all the things necessary; wearing all the hats. This means marketing, administrative, networking, and speaking. Whatever it takes to get the word out, helping people choose a process that gets them results. Overcoming all the unknowns was already written for me in that it was a purpose, a drive that I had to complete and continue to move forward. I felt that because my life was given back to me, I had a responsibility to share what I have learned with the world.
How do you stay motivated during tough times or uncertain periods in your business journey?
My motivation always comes from serving my purpose. When I have worked so hard at something, and I don’t see any clear results, I will admit I have felt discouraged, and questioned whether or not this is going to work for me, but what I have found are lessons in those moments. Lessons I need to learn to be able to teach others. Every discouragement, disappointment, detour, when I start to feel the emotion pull me down, I have learned from. I will meditate and learn to surrender it knowing, something will be presented to me that will either open another door, bring a solution, or discover a new way to do something. There is always new learning, and I believe that happens, so I have more experiences to share with others I coach so that when they too feel the downward spiral, I know from experience how to pull them back up, as I have so many times. These experiences have helped me grow as a coach, as well as a person. It’s just always going back to this every time something unexpected happens that isn’t in line with my expectations.
What daily habits or routines contribute most to your productivity and success as a founder?
The most important daily habit/routine is my morning meditation. I do not leave my bed until I have meditated for at least 10 minutes. Sometimes it is longer, depending on what I am trying to work through. This helps me set the intention and energy of my day and lifts me into a positive energy mindset. By starting my day with this positive mindset, I find I am so much more productive as I am able to access more of my intelligence library of information that allows for creativity for problem solving, and new ideas. The other amazing thing this has given me is the ability to learn more. As a founder wearing so many hats, I have had to learn how to use social media, create graphics, write copy, etc. so many business activities which I had previously been so fearful of. I had always felt I wasn’t tech savvy; how could I do this? But as I start my day with a positive mindset that whatever obstacles are put in front of me, I am intelligent enough to either learn how to do it myself, or find someone easily who can help me. Changing that label for myself has been a game-changer. I have accomplished so much more in productivity by just changing that one label. That label change has allowed me to overcome bumps in the road during the day and find much more joy in what I do every day
What’s been the most effective way for you to acquire new customers and grow your client base?
I’m still trying to refine and define this, but I find that when I am able to speak with people in person, they feel more trust with the information I have to share and feel a connection that will result in a sign-up for a workshop or one-on-one coaching. Social media, even though I still post 5 days a week, really only keeps my brand in front of people. It doesn’t actually get people to purchase anything. Networking, joining different organizations and women’s groups, has been a better way for me to acquire new customers.
How do you measure success—personally and professionally—in your business?
I measure success professionally as how many people’s lives I am able to impact by helping them create a more thriving life. This has been enormously rewarding! On a personal basis, I measure success by the amount of joy I can find in my day/life. Getting up in the morning and feeling excited about my day, even if there are no appointments or meetings, knowing I am serving my purpose, allows me to see appreciation in everything that happens to me, even the disappointing stuff, because I know I am going to learn something I can share with others from this.
What marketing or branding strategy has had the most impact on your business growth?
I can’t say, still after 8 years in business, I have found one branding strategy. I use social media, speaking, and teaching classes to expose my brand. However, I cannot say there is only one that has had an impact. I think it is a culmination of all I do to expose my brand. This work is very personal, and one doesn’t just jump into one of my workshops or coaching sessions without much thought and contemplation. People resist change. Our brains like everything to stay the same, even if it feels unhappy because our brain’s job is to keep us safe, and change is an unknown, and unknowns are not safe. Therefore, someone seeing a post or video doesn’t push them into signing up. My brand is really me, and my story, so the more I am out there telling my story, the more my brand can grow. Additionally, I understand the resistance to change and try to offer free sessions to people so they can consider how their life could be so much better.
Can you share a mistake that taught you an important lesson in entrepreneurship?
One of my biggest mistakes was thinking I had to do it all alone; that asking for help was not something I could do. My belief system was about having to do everything by myself; no one was there to help me. However, since I have been able to heal that, I have found there are many people out there to lend a hand. We just have to ask, and look. Again, the detours and mistakes are opportunities for me to learn better, and then I can teach others through my coaching.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a first-time entrepreneur?
To start with, your beliefs. Because no strategy will succeed if your subconscious is sabotaging your success. I call this your belief blueprint, and it drives everything: how you show up, what risks you take, and what you believe you’re worthy of receiving.
Also: progress over perfection. You’ll never feel “ready,” so start with what you have. Take messy action. Refine as you go. And surround yourself with people who see your potential, support you, and believe in you, especially on the days you can’t.
How do you balance innovation and risk while making business decisions?
For me, balance happens when intuition meets insight. I innovate by staying connected to my mission and grounded in the energy of service. But I always pair that with data, feedback, and inner check-ins.
Before launching anything new, I pause and ask:
- Is this aligned with my values?
- Am I leading from inspiration or fear?
- What belief is driving this decision?
Risk becomes less scary when you know the “why” behind the move, and you’ve done the belief work to trust yourself.
How do you build and maintain a strong team culture or work environment (if applicable)?
While I am currently working as a solo entrepreneur, I collaborate often, and whether it’s contractors, partners, or clients, my approach is always the same: Connection first. Alignment always.
What are the top 5 things you believe every entrepreneur needs to overcome self-doubt and build confidence?
1. Awareness of Unconscious Beliefs
Most self-doubt isn’t logical; it’s emotional and learned. One of my clients realized she was underpricing her services because of an old childhood belief that “being too successful will make people resent me.” Once she discovered and shifted that belief, everything changed.
2. A Safe Space to Be Vulnerable
Entrepreneurs need community. Find people who won’t just cheer for your wins, but sit with you in the valleys too. Self-doubt thrives in silence, but it shrinks when it’s spoken out loud.
3. A Repeatable Reset Practice
I teach my clients to regulate their nervous system before big decisions. Whether it’s breathwork, a somatic belief reset, or mirror affirmations, confidence comes from both mind AND body. You will know when you are feeling doubt by allowing yourself to feel it in your body..
4. A Vision Bigger Than Their Fear
Your “why” has to be louder than your “what ifs.” When I wanted to give up on building my brand, I reminded myself of the women I’m here to serve, women still stuck in beliefs I’ve already broken through.
5. Daily Proof of Progress
Celebrate micro-wins. Every post, every pitch, every ‘no’ you survived, is evidence that you’re becoming the kind of person who keeps going. Confidence is built through evidence, not empty affirmations.
If you could lead or inspire a global movement to make an impact, what would it be and why?
I would love to incorporate D.A.R.E. Your Beliefs in every school and office/workplace. When we question everything, we think negatively, the mind starts to recognize this as a new pattern, and the answers come much more quickly. Additionally, recent studies have proven that fear, renamed as stress in a workplace, is the fight/flight/fear response showing up, and when that is triggered, cortisol becomes a blockage to our library of information in our brain and literally makes us less intelligent. This is why productivity in the workplace, as well as in schools, suffers. We are still operating in the 21st century the same way our ancestors did as cave men/women. We need to readjust our daily brain engineering to adjust to the fast-moving culture going on around us because working with the same system as our ancestors is not serving us; it’s literally killing us. Imagine what it would be like to learn at an early age that what you thought was true was not, and how easily you can change that perception before it becomes a belief that we carry with us into adulthood that limits our potential. Imagine what we could then accomplish!!!
Imagine how much success and happiness would be the norm instead of the outlier; Now, that would be a global movement that could actually cut down on disease, violence, poverty; almost every malady that threatens our lives today.
What’s a quote, motto, or philosophy that you live by as a business leader?
“Your beliefs create your biology, your behavior, and your becoming.”
This isn’t just a phrase; it’s my life story. After healing from kidney cancer, I realized how deeply our unconscious beliefs impact our bodies and our ability to thrive. Now, I help others rewrite the belief scripts they didn’t even know they were living by.
How can our readers or listeners connect with you and follow your journey online?
My website: I suggest signing up to be on my email list, as I am always running promotions. Additionally, my posts and emails always have useful information to help people incorporate into their lives.
Here are my social media handles to follow as well:
Additionally, I offer a FREE 30-minute consultation for anyone looking for answers to whatever is going on in their lives, who feels stuck and out of answers. It would be my honor to help anyone reading this, how you can create a more thriving life.
