Meet Courtney Venezia | Crime Scene Investigator and Empowerment Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Venezia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Balance is the answer to many of life’s problems. I always grew up hearing “anything in excess is bad for you” but I didn’t quite understand what that truly meant until I reached my 30s. Even excessive happiness without disappointment can cause you to lose sight of what it feels like to be simply grateful for the times that are going “good”. Without darkness there is no understanding of light, and without failure there is no growth. And this applies to work as well. We get so caught up in our routines, our tasks, and the things that are asked of us in our professions that we forget to disconnect and pull back from time to time. For example, if you can make more money by committing more time to work, we tend to get obsessed with the accessibility of extra income. With more money, there is more flexibility to live outside of our means. And after the pandemic this became painfully apparent that this is a dangerous way to live our lives. Aside from the financial aspect, the mental impact of not making time for self-care and personal development can be detrimental to your core identity. Achieving a good work life balance can help you not only feel more fulfilled but more productive in all areas of life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I recently opened a wellness business “Coco Jean LLC” which aims to bring awareness to the power of positivity, adaptation, and healthy daily habits. I want to facilitate community healing where people can come together and dive deeper into themselves while being supported by like minded people who are on their own journeys. I am passionate about empowering and encouraging others to never give up and always find a way to reframe their way of thinking. Societal expectations put pressure on us to be at a certain “point” in our lives by a certain age, but everyone’s story is uniquely different. Through my teachings and practices, I share how timing and renewed purpose has changed my life and how others can implement small daily changes through their mindset and actions to feel more fulfilled and confident in where they are in their current stage of life.

Getting here was not easy, but heartbreaks and “failures”, as I perceived them to be, have allowed me to move forward exponentially in my own way of thinking and now into a business. Starting over in my 30s, learning how to become completely self-sufficient, understanding that I am my own source of happiness, and that external validation is not the measure of my worth were all significant hardships and lessons that have gotten me to the place I am today.

Moving forward, I am developing different group classes and downloadable material, a podcast, and hopefully one day will have a physical space where people can connect and conduct their wellness practices together. Some offerings will include meditation, sound healing, nature walks, empowerment and embodiment exercises, and so much more!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would start off the first morning with a caffeine and good vibes boost at Cali Coffee. Then I would take them on a nice peaceful nature walk through Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and hop on the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi for a fun ride around the waterways to explore local shops and restaurants along the route. Another day would be spent exploring Wynwood to see some street art, funky art galleries, and good eats and drinks. I would include Puttery or Puttshack for some mini golf fun. Dine-in theaters like Cinebistro and Cinepolis would be on the list as well. Anything to get outdoors, engage in an activity, eat good food, experience music and culture would be perfect ways to treat a guest to the beauty of South Florida.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
While doing a lot of self-reflection and soul searching, I turned to books such as Untamed by Glennon Doyle (which was gifted to me by my cousin) and Atomic Habits by James Clear. Also, I sought guidance from my older brother Michael, who has not only been a role model for me my whole life but now is by far my closest, best friend. Innately, I think we all tend to gravitate towards and lean on communities in our life. Whether it be family, friends, coworkers, or mentors, we seek out people who will help us expand and elevate. And I can say that my brother is the person that has allowed me to express and navigate my emotions in order to find clarity within myself and also find a greater purpose in my life.

Instagram: cocojean.wellness