My life used to be very different.
I was married to my college sweetheart, had a high paying government job with excellent benefits, was enrolled in a Ph.D. program at an Ivy League school, and was a Lieutenant in the Navy.
I had a condo located 50 minutes outside of NYC, two Russian Blue cats, a top of the line KitchenAid mixer, and a dark blue Toyota Prius.
To the outside world, I had the picture perfect life.
But here’s what people didn’t know:
I felt lonely in my marriage, stuck in my job, and uninspired in my Ph.D. program. The condo, cats, mixer, and car left me feeling trapped and like a fraud. My physical health was deteriorating.
I felt like I was dying inside. I knew there was more to life than long commutes, mortgage payments, and dull relationships.
One day, after a terrible fight with my now ex-husband, I realized I couldn’t take it anymore. I had a choice: Accept the situation as it was OR create a new path more aligned with my strengths and long term goals.
But what would I do? Where would I start? How would I survive?
I decided it didn’t matter: I needed to start somewhere. Living a meaningless life was not an option.
So in the span of a week, I quit my job, filed for divorce, left my Ph.D. program, sold all my stuff, gave my condo to my ex-husband, and bought a plane ticket to Brazil.
That was where my plan ended, but where the journey began.
Since that time I’ve lived, visited, and volunteered abroad in Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and all across Europe; driven around the United States over 6 times and visited all 50 states; got re-married; changed career paths; bought a wonderful home in the American Southwest; had a beautiful daughter; and built a great network of family and friends in a different part of the country.
But most of all, I’ve gained clarity about my gifts, my passions and my purpose in life.
Every day, I’m living a life that is better aligned with the person that I truly am – and I want to help you do the same.
For over 15 years, Victoria Gigante has been working with clients all over the world as a counselor and coach. Victoria holds a Bachelors of Science from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and a double masters in Psychology and Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. She spent over six years developing and serving as the director of an academic counseling center and served over thirteen years as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve. She spent almost 9 years as the managing editor for the oldest psychology website on the internet.
Victoria is a Professional Yoga Therapist, as well as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). She is a master time manager and specializes in helping people through career transitions; relationships and divorce; body image issues; and childhood trauma. She also has a long history working with Federal Service Academy graduates and those serving in the military.
Victoria also co-founded The Higher Purpose Project and founded the Service Academy Sorority.
