From Stage to Self: Natalia Jansen’s Radical Path to Transformation

She’s directed plays, danced across continents, and shared the stage with legends—yet her most powerful role was one she had to write herself. Meet Natalia Jansen: MFA, PhD candidate, Theatre-Inspired Transformation Coach, and fierce advocate for conscious, creative living.

Born in Slovakia and raised by a spirit of exploration, Natalia’s journey spans the globe—from Chicago’s theatre scene to sacred dance in India, and classrooms across America. But her true calling isn’t about performance—it’s about purpose. Today, she blends the art of theatre with the science of personal growth to guide others in stepping into their own starring role. With a heart rooted in service, a mind trained in leadership, and a soul on fire with creativity, Natalia is helping people unplug from the matrix of limitation—and rewrite the script of their lives.

You’ve had a fascinating global journey from Slovakia to the U.S., India, and beyond. How did these diverse experiences shape your approach to coaching and personal transformation?

When I was in high school, a life-changing opportunity presented itself: the chance to become an exchange student in the United States. Up until that point, my world was fairly contained—rooted in the small Slovak town where I grew up and the Crimean village where I spent summers with my grandparents. But with that one opportunity, everything expanded. Suddenly, the world felt enormous and full of possibility.

I embraced the unknown and came to the U.S. as a teenager. Later, while attending Lake Forest College in Illinois, I discovered a study abroad program and once again followed my heart—this time all the way to India. To a girl from Slovakia, India felt like the most mysterious and magical place I could imagine. I remember thinking, If not now, then when? That trip turned into one of the most transformative experiences of my life.

These global adventures—and many more that followed—taught me a foundational truth: anything is possible. And I don’t just believe that in theory. I know it with every cell in my body because I’ve lived it. Over and over again, I’ve followed the whisper of curiosity and the pull of my heart’s desire, and each time it has led me to new insights, new connections, and new worlds.

My immersion in different cultures and communities—learning to listen deeply, to adapt, to embrace the unfamiliar—has profoundly shaped the way I coach. I’ve learned to meet people where they are, to see beyond the surface, and to connect with the humanity and truth inside every person. These experiences have made me a more compassionate listener, a more intuitive guide, and a more expansive thinker.

As a transformational coach, one of the most essential discoveries I help my clients make is that they are powerful, more powerful than any situation they might be facing, and that within them lives a vast, untapped potential. When they begin to awaken to that truth—even just a sliver of it—their lives begin to change, they start to see that the universe is not working against them, but with them—as a co-creator, a collaborator, a faithful partner in manifesting their dreams.

It’s deeply fulfilling to witness someone light up when they open even a small corner of their mind to new possibility. My global journey—the leaps of faith, the cultural immersion, the resilience of building a life from scratch—has gifted me with the empathy, flexibility, and wisdom to support that unfolding. My life has been a tapestry of magical and sometimes messy adventures, and I draw from that richness every time I guide someone into their transformation.

How do you integrate theatre and improvisation techniques into your coaching? Can you give an example of a specific practice or exercise that has helped clients unlock their potential?

Theatre and improvisation are at the heart of how I guide transformation. I love using techniques like role play, character analysis, and embodiment exercises to help my clients step into the version of themselves they’re becoming. It’s one thing to talk about your goals or visualize your dream life—but it’s a whole different level of impact when you act it out, speak it, move as that person, and feel the emotions as if it’s already true. It becomes a visceral, full-body experience—and that’s where real change begins.

When clients embody their future selves in a safe, playful space, something magical happens. They begin to feel what it’s like to live with confidence, joy, purpose. They laugh, they cry, they move in ways they hadn’t allowed themselves before—and most importantly, they realize, “This version of me already exists. I just needed to give her permission to come forward.”

Improvisation, in particular, is a powerful tool I use often. One of the first things it teaches is presence—you have to be fully tuned in, listening deeply, and ready to respond in the moment. It also teaches trust: trust in yourself to handle whatever comes, and trust in the unfolding process. And then there’s the golden rule of improv: “Yes, and…” No matter how unexpected or outrageous an idea your scene partner presents, you don’t reject it—you accept it and build on it. That mindset alone is transformational.

In life, we’re often conditioned to default to “no” or “but”—to resist, to shrink, to doubt. But improv teaches us to expand, to flow, to consider new possibilities. I once worked with a client who was very shy and quiet. She rarely spoke in meetings, constantly second-guessed herself, and worried endlessly about what others might think. Through improv games and role-play exercises, she began exploring new ways of expressing herself—stepping into characters who were bold, expressive, and unapologetically confident. Week by week, she started to soften her fear and strengthen her voice. Eventually, she began contributing in meetings, leading discussions, and claiming her space in a way she never had before. She found her voice—and it all started through play.

That’s the magic of theatre and improv: they unlock joy, presence, and potential. And in that space of playful exploration, people remember who they truly are—and who they’re here to become.

You often mention the concept of “flow” in your coaching. How do you help clients move from a state of resistance to one of flow in their lives?

That’s a beautiful question. You see, as we sit here having this conversation, we’re breathing. And yet, most of the time, we don’t even notice our breath—because it’s just there, happening naturally, rhythmically, effortlessly. That’s flow. Life, in its purest form, is a constant, intelligent flow—always moving, always expanding, always responding to us.

The truth is, joy, vibrant health, abundance, and ease are our natural states of being. But somewhere along the way, we learn resistance. We try to control, we second-guess, we fear. What I help my clients remember is that life doesn’t have to be a struggle. It’s not meant to be a constant uphill climb.

One of my favorite metaphors is water. Think of a river. When it meets a rock or the bend of a bank, it doesn’t fight or push against it—it flows around it. Water always chooses the path of least resistance, and yet it reaches its destination. That’s how I guide my clients: first, by helping them recognize that they are the highest authority in their lives. They get to choose, moment by moment.

When they become crystal clear on what they truly want—what lights them up—ideas and inspired actions begin to flow naturally. Those next steps feel energizing, not exhausting. They may require effort, even learning something new, but it no longer feels like a grind. It’s exciting. It’s aligned. That’s the power of flow.

But when we try to force or control the outcome—when we resist or doubt or try to micromanage how our dreams should unfold—it’s like trying to swim upstream. Or worse, like stepping on a hose and cutting off the flow entirely.

One of the foundational tools I teach is how to tune into your longing and your discontent. Both are sacred signals—your soul’s way of guiding you. The things you don’t want help clarify what you do want. From there, I help clients become deliberate with their thoughts. When we think in possibilities, when we choose thoughts that feel good, we return to alignment—and flow begins again.

In this space, it often feels like the right people, opportunities, and resources show up just when they’re needed as if by magic. But it’s not magic. It’s alignment. It’s love. It’s the universe responding to your clarity and openness.

One of the most important beliefs I help clients plant is this: everything is always working for my good—even when it doesn’t look like it. This belief, when nurtured and affirmed daily, begins to seep into the subconscious mind. And as awareness grows, so does the capacity to surrender, to trust, and to live in that beautiful, effortless current of life we call flow.

You’ve taught in both public and private schools, integrating theatre into academic subjects. How has this experience informed your current coaching practice, especially in empowering youth?

Absolutely—teaching has been one of the greatest joys of my life. For over two decades, I’ve worked with students across a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and learning styles. Whether I was teaching in public or private schools, I always used theatre and arts integration to engage, inspire, and empower. The arts naturally create a safe and expressive space where students can discover their strengths, lean into their creativity, and find their voice.

Rather than expecting students to sit silently for hours and learn in one rigid way, theatre invites them to move, speak, imagine, and connect. It fosters confidence, collaboration, empathy, and joy—all essential life skills. And these experiences stay with them far beyond the classroom.

One of my favorite stories comes from when I was teaching high school theatre, and we were producing Shrek the Musical. One student—who had never taken a drama class before—only enrolled to fulfill a graduation requirement. His friends dared him to audition, joking that he already looked like Shrek. He took the dare, auditioned for fun… and landed the lead role.

He had never sung, danced, or acted before, but through the process of rehearsing and performing, something amazing happened—he discovered a sense of joy, purpose, and self-expression he never knew existed. He completely lit up. By the time the curtain fell on closing night, he had fallen in love with theatre. Even after graduating, he came back to help mentor younger students and eventually landed an internship with a professional theatre company. Watching that transformation unfold—seeing him go from hesitant and unsure to proud and passionate—was one of the most rewarding moments of my career. And it’s just one of many stories like that.

These kinds of experiences have deeply shaped my coaching practice today. So many of the young people I work with are still searching for that sense of self—looking for a space where they feel seen, heard, and encouraged to grow. I use theatre-inspired techniques like role-play, improvisation, and storytelling to help them connect with their authentic voice and imagine the life they want to create.

Alongside my coaching, I’m also pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership because I believe we need to go deeper in how we support students—not just academically, but emotionally and spiritually. We need to prioritize helping them build a positive self-image, think independently, and use empowered language to shape their world. Social-emotional intelligence, creativity, and self-awareness should be core components of education, not afterthoughts.

When we give youth the tools to know themselves and express themselves, we don’t just help them succeed in school—we give them the foundation to live meaningful, purpose-driven lives.

You’ve studied Kabbalah and world religions, seeking universal truths. How has this spiritual journey shaped your coaching methods and your approach to personal transformation?

Yes, I have always been—and still am—a lifelong learner, seeker, and explorer. From a very young age, I was drawn to the big questions: Why are we here? What is our purpose? How does the universe work? That curiosity led me to study Kabbalah and explore the wisdom found in world religions and spiritual teachings across cultures and traditions.

And what I discovered—through years of inquiry, reflection, and personal experience—is that at the heart of all these teachings is one unshakable truth: There is one life, one infinite presence, one source—and it expresses itself through everything and everyone in this living, breathing, ever-expanding universe.

Whether we choose to call it God, Spirit, Universal Intelligence, the Divine, or the Quantum Field, this presence is omnipresent, omniscient, and infinitely loving. And the way we connect to it—the way we tap into its creative power—is through unconditional love, faith, and surrender.

This understanding deeply shapes how I coach. I don’t just help people set goals or create plans. I help them reconnect with that deeper, divine part of themselves—the part that knows they are worthy, powerful, and connected to something greater. I help them quiet the noise of fear and limitation so they can hear the quiet truth within: You are not separate. You are not alone. You are a co-creator with life itself.

In my coaching, I draw on spiritual principles that are timeless and universal principles like the Law of Vibration, the Law of Circulation, and the idea that what we focus on expands. But I also bring in the practical tools of mindfulness, visualization, language, and embodiment to help people not just understand these truths intellectually but live them experientially.

When my clients begin to see themselves as spiritual beings—when they begin to trust in the intelligence of life and align with the frequency of love—transformation unfolds naturally. They stop forcing outcomes and start flowing with inspiration. They begin to act from wholeness instead of lack. And life responds to that energy with grace, synchronicity, and abundance.

At its core, my coaching is about remembering. Remembering who we truly are. Remembering that we are connected, guided, supported, and loved. And from that place, anything is possible.

As a single mother who raised two daughters, how did you manage the balance between your personal life and professional aspirations? How has this experience influenced your coaching practice?

Becoming a single mother was not something I planned—it happened overnight and completely unexpectedly. At the time, I was between teaching positions, and my work status was uncertain. I had two little girls—just one and four years old—and in that moment, my focus narrowed to one thing: survival. I did whatever it took to protect them, to make sure they had what they needed, to ensure they felt safe and loved. My instinct to care for them became the compass that guided me through the darkest days.

I learned to ask for help, to lean on friends, on my family, on community. But over time, something began to shift—I started to feel like I was disappearing. I had lost sight of me. I was exhausted, depleted, and emotionally drained. I watched fictional characters on TV having adventures, following their dreams, living full lives—and I felt like I had become a supporting character in my own story.

One day, I woke up. I remembered the woman I used to be—the adventurer, the dreamer, the creator of her own life—and I realized something deeply important: If I wanted my daughters to grow up happy, confident, and fulfilled, I had to model that. Because children don’t just listen to what we say—they watch us, they absorb how we live.

That realization changed everything.

I stopped waiting for my circumstances to improve and started taking ownership of my life. I made a commitment to myself to grow. I began waking up early, carving out time before the day began just for me. I started meditating, journaling, doing yoga, and exercising. I devoured books on mindset, manifestation, and personal growth. And then one day, as if by divine timing, an email landed in my inbox—an invitation to explore becoming a life coach. That’s when I discovered the Brave Thinking Institute and enrolled in a rigorous certification program to become a DreamBuilder Coach and Life Mastery Consultant.

But I didn’t stop there. I kept going—investing in mentorship, courses, and spiritual study. I stopped making excuses. I stopped waiting. I started living—deliberately, intentionally, joyfully. I discovered incredible freedom in embracing this truth: I get to choose. Every moment of every day, I get to decide who I am, what I give my energy to, and what kind of story I’m writing for my life.

Now, I live what I teach. I model for my daughters—and for my clients—that joy, abundance, and purpose aren’t things we chase; they are choices we make. I became the star of my own life. And every day, I continue to direct, script, and evolve in that starring role.

That journey—of losing myself and then finding my way back—is at the very heart of my coaching practice. It’s why I’m so passionate about helping others do the same: reclaim their power, rewrite their stories, and step into the life they were truly meant to live.

What’s next for you in terms of both your academic research and your coaching career? Are there any new projects or ideas you’re excited to explore?

Yes, I’m incredibly excited about what’s ahead, both academically and professionally. My PhD dissertation will focus on testing a curriculum I’ve designed to help students build self-awareness, confidence, and emotional intelligence through theatre and improvisation. This research feels deeply personal, as it brings together my lifelong passion for the arts and my mission to empower young people through creative self-expression.

On the professional side, my first book is currently in the editing phase, and I’ll be sharing more details soon across my platforms. It’s a concise, practical guide presenting 15 ACTs for developing confidence, character, and emotional resilience—especially for young people—using theatre-based activities, improvisation strategies, and social-emotional learning tools. It’s designed to be accessible for educators, parents, and students alike.

Alongside the book, I’m also launching a podcast, which will be a space for rich, meaningful conversations around transformation, creativity, conscious living, and the power of story. It will offer inspiration and actionable tools for those seeking to live more intentionally and joyfully.

One of the most exciting opportunities on the horizon is speaking at TEDxFiesole in Florence, Italy on May 4th. My talk will focus on simple, in-the-moment strategies to uplevel joy and happiness in our everyday lives—tools that are easy to implement and can shift your state immediately. I believe joy isn’t something we have to wait for—it’s something we can choose and create, right now. Sharing this message on such a global stage is a true honor.

I’m also in the early stages of creating a theatre-inspired spiritual and transformational retreat designed especially for parents and children—particularly single moms who, like I once did, are searching for more joy, purpose, and connection, but may not have the support system to take time for themselves. I envision a space where families can grow, heal, and transform together through creativity, play, and heart-centered practices.

And finally, I’m holding space for a new physical location—a studio or sanctuary—where I can host in-person workshops, masterclasses, sound bath experiences, and live events. A place where transformation, creativity, and community can thrive.

Above all, I remain open to the flow of life. I’ve learned that when I stay aligned, inspired, and in service, the right opportunities always find me. I’m excited for what’s next—and I’m just getting started.