Rebel Soul Stories | Jaclyn DeDonato, Self Love Coach

Jaclyn's eat, pray & love solo trip around the world led her to love herself, find her purpose and meet her soul partner. 

I met Jaclyn's freshmen year of college at California State University, Chico. Funnily enough, we met in an Anthropology class titled Magic, Witchcraft and Religion. We've come full circle, and now we love to geek out over all things spiritual. I was so excited to have Jaclyn as my first guest on Rebel Soul Stories. You can tune in every Sunday at 5:00 pm PST on Instagram @therebelsoulmama all replays are under IGTV Rebel Soul Stories Series. 

This San Clemente, CA girl, is a Self Love Coach on a mission to help people love themselves unconditionally so that they can thrive in every area of life. She believes that everything flows from the extent to which we love ourselves, so when we feel safe to be who we are and when we know our intrinsic worth, our whole world starts to shift. This is the energy that calls in soulmate relationships, gives you the confidence to pursue your dreams, attracts money, and allows you to live your happiest, most fulfilled life.

I've asked Jaclyn a series of questions below. You can also check out our Instagram Live session on my Instagram @therebelsoulmama.

How did you discover your purpose and mission?

I started to follow the breadcrumbs of what lit my soul on fire and followed my intuition. For a long time, I was battling the idea that I had to work a typical 9-5, and I got confused by everyone else's idea of success. I ended up moving to Guatemala to remove myself from that idea and just listened to what my heart was trying to tell me instead of what society was telling me. I knew I wanted to help people, I was obsessed with personal development, and my heart was telling me that my pain and struggle with self-love would be medicine to other people and coaching checked all of those boxes for me. I also learned that pain leaves a lot of clues as to where your purpose can be found. ​

How did you feel in your body and in your life before you found your purpose? Who were you hanging out with, what things where you doing? ​

I felt very uncomfortable in my body and my life before I found purpose. I was very focused on the outside and not on who I was on the inside. I was in a constant battle with my weight; I drank a lot of alcohol to numb the fact that I was unfulfilled, I didn't feel like I had anyone in my life who truly understood who I was so I omitted pieces of my truest self. I was basically living my life for everyone else but me.

How was your confidence and self love when you decided to go for your dreams? And what steps did you take to evolve your self?

My confidence and self-love were at an all-time high. I had just finished a six-month program that taught me how to love myself and also gave me the tools to help my clients do the same. I invested in myself and my dreams by hiring a coach, and I created rituals that made me feel good about myself; I consumed all things self love, mindset, spirituality, and personal development. I said no to everything that felt out of alignment with who I wanted to become.

What main events happened to lead you on your spiritual journey?

​I had some small moments in my life that put me on my spiritual path, but it was the moment below that really had me seeking a spiritual connection. I was feeling so shitty that I was willing to try anything that would make me feel better. I meditated every day, journaled, went to therapy every week, inner child work, listened to personal development podcasts and audiobooks, etc. It was a process of hitting rock bottom, which slowly led me to come home to myself. ​

What's been some of your most soul crushing moments and how did you turn these into gems of wisdom?

​After I returned home from travelling the world for eight months, I jumped right back into everyday life without even thinking about it. I thought if I just found a job in the wellness space (my passion at the time), then everything in life would fall into place. I started working for a company that, on paper sounded like my dream job. I bought a car and moved into my own place all within a month of being home. I was so excited at how quickly I made it all happened, but after week 2 of my new job, I had a feeling in my gut that it wasn't right. I called my mom sobbing and told her I felt like I made the wrong decision, but I had this conditioning that told me I had to stick it out for a year. It ended up being the lowest year of my entire life. I was depressed, had regular panic attacks, and started having health issues. It was my soul trying to guide me back home to myself. Back to my true purpose. An awakening of my spirit. It led me to move to Guatemala for a year and a half to live life on my own terms and let my intuition guide the way. At the time, I looked at it as the worst year of my life, but now I see it as the most profound awakening which put me on my path. ​

If you could give the younger version of you any advice what would it be and why?

Everything you want in life is on the other side of loving yourself. Once you remember your worth, the things you've been searching for will effortlessly fall into place. ​

What are you eager to work on next?

I'm excited to build out the 2.0 version of Self Love Mastery

What are some of your BIG aspirational dreams?

I would love to become an international speaker, host heart healing retreats, create a self love membership site, and become a New York Times best selling author!

What are some steps you are taking today to become that next evolved version of you?

I've been doing a lot of inner child to heal the parts of myself that have been keeping me small, working with spiritual coaches, and embodying the next level version of myself in my day to day

Tune in next week for another Rebel Soul Story. Have a great week loves! 

xoxo, 
​The Rebel Soul Mama