BIOGRAPHY of Iris B. Willinger
My roots are originally Austrian, but I left over 30 years ago. I grew up in a very toxic family environment as an only-child and was a highly sensitive kid, suffering from complex emotional and psychological trauma. I had nobody to turn to but myself and nature. It made for a very volatile upbringing and eradicated my identity pretty much from day one.
What I only found out later was, that both my parents had severe childhood traumas (war related) that remained unresolved that continued the generational trauma spiral ...
I saw 'toxic masculinity & toxic femininity' from the get-go and it was the only thing 'familiar' to me - so I also attracted that kind of toxicity in later life in ALL relationships, no matter if work-wise, socially, romantically - it was hell on earth.
But I healed myself from it and noticed there needs to be a more holistic approach and active one to really transform past demons and find a better way to live.
SO this is 30 years of condensed wisdom, trials and errors and first hand experiences of conquering my own demons.
I also began studying everything about the mind already in my late 20s, then followed studies in Neuroscience, Trauma Recovery, Energy Healing, Psychology, Art Therapy, Reparenting, Epigenetics - and even Quantum Physics (yes) - whatever helped me understand the mind and brain and this whole universe better. I soon realised - it was ALL connected.
One of the biggest break-throughs came, when I finally mustered the courage to forgive absolutely everybody... and I mean everybody; my parents especially and ... myself for the shame I carried all these years. This truly set me free.
"The peace and clarity that came with my own
healing journey was priceless."
What I learned on the way allows me now to step-up for others, and be that MindShift Mentor, a catalyst of sorts, and provide a safe space where deeper issues can be tackled. Issues that hold so many back from a really fulfilling life.
I also started writing and authored a few novels and self-help books and created some selfhelp tools, something tactile to work with in the form of guidance card-decks.
When the pandemic hit in 2019, I became much more active advocate for Men's Mental Health and created the *Indigo Warrior Soul* project. A second topic became apparent - that of re-educating women - to encourage them to become men's mental health advocates too. This is also how the #she4him initiative started.
