MEET DR. TARA REED, FOUNDER

Just like many of you, I pushed myself to the point of exhaustion, trying to do everything for everyone around me. I didn’t want to let anyone down, and honestly, I enjoyed seeing the achievements, success, and growth that resulted from working so hard. Yes, I totally dismissed the saying, "work smarter, not harder!" But the more I gave of myself and my time, the less there was for taking care of me. I was stuck in the cycle of Forced Resilience, pushing through my limits and ignoring the signs of burnout. In fact, I was moving so fast that one night, while walking to my car to leave campus, I physically stopped at a stop sign in the parking lot. I had been pulling back-to-back all-nighters and paying the price with body aches, stomach issues from a poor diet, and complete exhaustion. I pushed right through the warning signs, causing destruction to my mind, body, and spirit.

The pandemic was a turning point. It forced me to slow down and challenged my mindset, making me realize I didn’t have to be doing something 24/7 to prove my worth or maintain success. In the beginning, my body’s reaction to not constantly being in a million places made me think something was wrong. But in reality, it was the first time in years that something felt right! My blood pressure normalized, my spirit and mood lifted, and I felt more focused, creative, less stressed, and more in control. Discovering Forced Resilience helped me understand the destructive patterns I had been stuck in—where I believed I had to do more and be more in order to validate myself. Recognizing this toxic cycle was a key moment in breaking free from it. It became clear that, while resilience is important, there’s a danger in forcing ourselves to be resilient without acknowledging our own limits.

The change I experienced felt powerful, but it was also a lesson in shedding old habits of self-sabotage, fear of missing out, and feeling alone. I made a conscious choice to stop self-destructing. I started practicing self-care, self-love, and self-empowerment every day. I set boundaries, said no when necessary, and began to truly honor my needs. For the first time, I understood that it was my responsibility—no one else’s—to take care of me first. Taking care of myself was not selfish—it was essential for my well-being and for being the best version of me. I haven’t stopped striving for high-achieving goals, but now I do it with intention, faith, and the power of one: One is me!

I founded ONE P.E.A.R.L. MOVEMENT with a powerful vision: to break cycles that disrupt well-being in order to promote a healthier, more purposed, empowered, authentic, radiant lifestyle.

Driven by the belief that these practices are fundamental to well-being, I also created the #ONEPEARLMOVEMENT hashtag as a rallying cry for a global movement dedicated to providing advocacy, community support, education and transformative resources that promote healthy narratives around self-care, self-love, and self-empowerment. This movement stands as a direct challenge to the toxic culture of Forced Resilience, encouraging individuals to break free from the cycle of doing too much for others at the expense of themselves.

Our Call to Action: "Live Boldly! Be the Movement! Embody One Purposed. Empowered. Authentic. Radiant. Lifestyle."

Affectionately known as the Motivator, Communicator, and Educator, Dr. Tara Reed is a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and semi-retired professor of communication with a passion for helping individuals break free from the cycle of Forced Resilience. As a consultant, self-care and empowerment coach, and speaker, Dr. Reed is recognized for her expertise in teaching communication, fostering inclusion and belonging, education, business, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and holistic well-being. With both professional and lived experience, she understands the challenges of burnout, overextension, and the impact of societal expectations. Drawing from her extensive academic background and real-world insights, Dr. Reed inspires transformative change, guiding individuals toward sustainable self-care, self-love, and self-empowerment. She is committed to helping others reclaim their time, energy, and authenticity, proving that true strength comes from radiating self-love and empowerment—inside and out—not from forced resilience.

Visit Dr. Tara Reed to learn more about her work, approach, and impact on ending Forced Resilience.