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Monday, May 5, 2025

Sparkle Through the Storm: Andrea Woolf on Resilience, Advocacy, and Choosing Joy

 


Sparkle Through the Storm: Andrea Woolf on Resilience, Advocacy, and Choosing Joy

By Rosabel Zohfeld – Life Unscripted Podcast

What happens when a life coach with over three decades of experience is faced with her toughest client—herself?

That’s exactly what happened to Andrea Woolf, bestselling author, speaker, and coach of 35+ years, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer. In our recent Life Unscripted Podcast conversation, Andrea opened up about her diagnosis, her mindset shift, and how she turned one of life’s harshest storms into a journey of resilience, positivity, and empowerment.

“Sparkle Every Day”: Finding Strength in the Unexpected

When Andrea received her diagnosis, she found herself doing what she’d spent decades coaching women not to do—spiraling into worry, fear, and self-doubt. But instead of letting those feelings consume her, she stood in front of a mirror and asked, “How am I going to handle this?” The answer that came was unexpected—sparkle every day.

And she did. Every single day, Andrea wore something that sparkled as a symbol of choosing light and joy. It became a daily ritual and a form of self-anchoring—reminding her that, even in the face of cancer, she had the power to choose how she faced her day.

Writing Through Chemo: Birth of a Book

Armed with notebooks during chemo treatments, Andrea began jotting down wisdom and reflections—thoughts that would become her book: Simple Wisdom for Super Smart Women Making It Through Cancer and Other Life Challenges. As she received treatment, Andrea also connected with fellow patients, offering encouragement and seeking—if possible—a giggle. Her gift? Not just surviving cancer, but elevating others while in the thick of it.

“I couldn’t help myself,” she said. “This is what I’m here to do—make a difference.”

The Power of Advocacy in Healthcare

One of the key messages Andrea champions is being your own best advocate, especially in healthcare. She shared the powerful story of a former client with pancreatic cancer who was stuck with a dismissive doctor. With Andrea’s support and insistence, the woman found a new physician who listened—and more importantly, cared. That shift may have saved her life.

The takeaway? Don’t settle for care that doesn’t serve you. Whether it means switching doctors or insurance plans, your life is worth the effort.

Life Lessons and Leadership

Beyond her cancer journey, Andrea has coached business leaders and everyday individuals toward transformation. Whether helping two feuding team members reconnect for the sake of company success, or guiding a woman to set an intention for a marriage proposal (which happened the very next day), Andrea lives her belief: “Where you choose to focus determines your experience of life.”

She reminds us that leadership and personal growth aren’t always about bold, sweeping moves. Sometimes it’s in choosing to let go of fear, choosing to listen, and yes—choosing to sparkle.

You Always Have a Choice

Andrea’s philosophy can be summed up in one simple but powerful truth: You always have a choice. Even when circumstances seem to offer none, even in grief, loss, or trauma, we can choose where to place our focus. “That choice,” Andrea says, “is the foundation for a life you love.”

Free Gift: A Book That Heals

Andrea is generously offering a free download of her short book Making It Through Cancer and Other Life Challenges—a 12-chapter gem of wisdom and emotional clarity.

👉 Get the free book here

Please share it with anyone who is navigating the cancer journey. It’s not just a book—it’s a companion, a mirror, and a spark of hope.


💬 Connect with Rosabel Zohfeld

If this episode inspired you, stay connected with Life Unscripted Podcast and all things Rosabel:


Subscribe, share, and stay tuned. Life is unscripted—but that doesn’t mean you have to go through it alone. 💛

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