My Journey
Written By: Maura C. Ryan
Hi, I’m Maura. Thanks so much for visiting my website! Let me introduce myself…
My Early Life
I grew up in a suburb of Toronto, the youngest of my siblings by many years. Looking back, it felt like I was born into an established family and had to figure out how to fit in. Even the other kids on the street were teenagers before I was old enough to go to school. Although there were people around me, I was more on my own, doing creative things, watching Captain Kirk on TV and reading all the mystery stories I could get my hands on. My intuition developed early on, sensing what seemed safe to say and do while remaining out of the limelight. As a result, I became a very good listener and student. Being on my own had great benefits. Although I didn’t outwardly express myself that much, I developed inwardly through my senses to enjoy a deep connection with nature and music.
My love of nature developed when our family built a little cottage north of the city, near the shores of Georgian Bay. The summers there were great: there were forests to explore, beaches to walk, and swimming and skiing to experience. Being outdoors totally lit me up inside!
Music has also been a big part of my life. My Mom introduced me to classical music, my Dad piano, and at night I’d fall asleep listening to my brother practicing his folkcountry songs to play at the Grand ole Opry. I enjoyed it all, but what I loved the most
was rock music. Somehow, the sounds connected with my deepest feelings and helped me process them.
I excelled in school and university, thriving on the combination of analytical problemsolving and continuous learning: the future seemed full of possibilities. But once I entered the working world, that sense of excitement and potential gradually faded into
an exhausting routine. Long commutes bookended stress-filled days, and the creative, nature-loving part of me got squeezed into shorter and shorter moments. Although I truly enjoyed a couple of my jobs, for the most part work felt like a ball and chain - an
endless cycle of deadlines and obligations that left little time for family, personal interests, or the simple joy of being fully present and alive.
From Engineering to Enlightenment: My Journey from a Corporate Zombie to a Spiritual Guide
For 30 years, I was the model of corporate success. As an engineer turned finance professional, I had everything society said I should want - a great family, the prestigious career, the MBA, the perfect house, the cottage by the lake. On paper, I was living the dream. But inside? I was shuffling through life like a well-dressed zombie.
I remember standing in my corner office, staring out at the bustling city below, feeling completely disconnected from the life I'd worked so hard to build. The daily commute felt like a slow death march. The endless meetings were consuming my brain. Even my relationships felt like they were running on autopilot since I was so tired. I had mastered the art of logical success, but something essential was missing - that spark of real aliveness I could only glimpse during vacations with my family or during rare moments in nature.
Then, about twelve years ago, my soul decided it was time for a wake-up call. The question hit me like a lightening strike: "Is this all there is?”
That simple question launched me on an unexpected journey. I began exploring coaching, healing and spirituality, not because I wanted to become a coach, but because I was incredibly curious about how life really worked. I’ve taken numerous courses, consumed information on these topics and most importantly I’ve experienced deep transformation in many ways. I wanted
to understand why society’s definition of success wasn't enough, why checking all the right boxes left me feeling so... empty.
What I discovered changed everything.
Beneath my logical, analytical exterior lay a wealth of untapped creativity, intuition, and aliveness that had been buried since childhood. The little girl who once sang freely (until she was told to be quiet), who created art (until she was guided toward "practical" pursuits), who felt deeply (until she learned to suppress her emotions to fit in) - she was still there, waiting to be
reborn.
Through years of deep inner work, I learned to integrate both sides of myself - the logical engineer and the intuitive healer. I discovered that the same analytical mind that made me successful in corporate life became my greatest asset in understanding metaphysical principles and vibrational healing. My engineering background didn't hinder my spiritual transformation - it gave me a unique way to bridge the visible and invisible worlds.
I’ve shared my expertise internationally through my own coaching business and as a master coach for a couple of others in the industry. Today, I help other professionals who feel trapped in their own zombie-like existence find their way back to full aliveness. Using a combination of metaphysical tools and vibrational healing, I guide them through the same journey I've taken -
from ‘successful’ but sleeping to fully alive and thriving.
What makes my approach different? I speak both languages - the logical and the mystical. I understand the unique challenges faced by analytical professionals when they begin to sense there's more to life than spreadsheets and status reports. I know how to translate spiritual concepts into practical principles that make sense to the corporate mind. In addition, I love to incorporate creativity (art, music etc) and intuition into my programs so that instead of transformation seeming like a dry, serious do-to process it becomes an enjoyable, embodied experience that engages your senses and brings you to life!
Most importantly, I know that you don't have to throw away everything you've built to feel alive again. The key is learning how to infuse your existing life with authentic aliveness, one awakening at a time. If you're ready to break free from your zombie existence and discover what lies beyond ‘having it all’, you're in the right place. Let's work together to resurrect your zest for life and create success that truly feeds your soul.
Ready to take your first step toward full aliveness? Start with The Zombie Assessment - your personal roadmap to identify where you're just going through the motions and where vibrant life awaits.