Freedom in Reform

I have received confidence in my motherhood, and in my own medical practice, the Lord has shifted my mind from a disease– based mentation to one of promoting health. When I put the Lord’s priorities and will over mine, I am more efficient, with improved mental clarity.

I began my journey with Reform Wellness three years ago. I have always had a great interest in health and was drawn to Reform after listening to Jackie on a podcast. At that time, I defined health as a healthy diet and exercise. Since these were staples in my life, I considered myself healthy. But, to my intrigue, Reform defined health in a whole new way, and praise be to God, I signed up for the Reform Online course! I began the course during a new season of life. I had been married for three years with two children under two, recently graduated from residency, and was working full-time as I started my career as a family medicine physician. During this time, I was also struggling with my daughter’s health and my husband’s addiction and felt the weight of responsibilities in my life grow. I found myself isolated and overwhelmed, running on about four hours of sleep, caffeine, and a generous dose of self-reliance!

I began Reform Online with goals for more energy, improved mental clarity, clearer skin, and increased productivity. As I write this, I smile about my consultation with Dr. Bridget. In true Reform fashion, she simplified everything! In the kindest and most gentle way, she also challenged my faith. I had hoped that supplements and diet – things I could control–would be the answer to optimizing my health, but Reform offered me something much greater than this. 

My journey started with small steps. I began by setting a rhythm for my days, starting with thirty minutes of prayer each morning. Soon, these thirty minutes grew, and now I crave this time and carve out extra prayer time whenever possible. I was set free from a restrictive diet by focusing on eating simple and real foods. My definition of exercise morphed, and I started moving in a way that glorified God and my body. I began to prioritize rest, stopped working on Sundays, and started honoring a Sunday Sabbath with my family. Learning to play with my children helped me understand what it means to have a childlike heart. The health bank account helped me to gain greater awareness of the state of my body and soul. Throughout the journey, I began to see the holes in my life and handed them over to the Lord. 

Ultimately, Reform brought me closer to the One who is life itself, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Reform's nine wellness pillars centered me on what was most important and simplified my life in many ways. Through Reform, God gifted me with a Catholic community that supports my reformation.  

Little by little, through the tools offered by Reform, many areas of my life are continually being reformed and renewed in Christ. I now crave simplicity and have found that this allows space for the Lord to move in my life. In Him, I have found freedom from fear-based living and anxiety. The Lord has put me on a journey of confidence in surrendering to Him and His will. I didn't even know what this meant, let alone believe it was possible to live this way before my journey with Reform. Further, I have felt my heart change and grow in ways I know only the Lord can do.

I continue to see the fruits of my Reform journey overflow into other facets of my life. I have received confidence in my motherhood, and in my own medical practice, the Lord has shifted my mind from a disease– based mentation to one of promoting health. When I put the Lord’s priorities and will over mine, I am more efficient, with improved mental clarity. Additionally, the graces of my personal reformation have sparked a reformation in my husband in healing from addiction, which has blessed our family in so many ways. In particular, we have been blessed with two more healthy pregnancies and children since taking my first Reform class (I even received our daughter’s name at the Reform Totus Tuus retreat!). Most importantly, my love for Jesus, His Church and the sacraments has grown as I fight each day to make them the center of my life.  

I am so grateful for Reform Wellness and pray for all those discerning this journey. I can’t recommend it enough and am confident you will find the freedom and space for the Lord to do BIG things in your own life through Reform. 

— Lauren Parvin, DO