The Power Within: A Path to Wellness and A Mission to Help Others ThriveCavel Shine |Profiles of Jamaica | Posted October 17, 2027
I recently sat down with Dr. Andrea Blackwood-Harriott, a remarkable entrepreneur who transitioned from a thriving corporate career to become a wellness entrepreneur.
Dressed in a peach and yellow ensemble, she exuded confidence and warmth as she settled into her seat across from me in the studio.
To start, I asked her how she found herself in the wellness field, given her extensive background in process engineering, marketing, and strategy.
A Calling to Wellness
“I was born for this work, Cavel. Why else would I emerge as a fat 11-year-old in an era when obesity wasn’t yet a widespread issue?” she replied, her tone reflective. “I was humiliated, stigmatized, and even faced name-calling from others including my own family for being different.”
At 11, she stood 5’7″ and weighed 165 pounds, a stark contrast to other children around her. This drew unwanted attention and made her wish she could fade into the background.
Dr. Andrea’s journey was marked by challenges, including health issues and miscarriages, but it deepened her empathy for those who, like her, have been judged for their appearance or circumstances.
The Foundation of Giving Back
“Is that why you established your foundation?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” she responded. “Without a few benefactors, I wouldn’t be here today. Growing up, all my education and opportunities were funded by others. Now, I know that I drew those resources to myself—and I believe everyone can learn to do the same.”
Her inspiration came from her mother, a self-taught philanthropist who helped hundreds of children. Despite her own limited means, her mother would snoop out available resources and either point others to the source or collected and redistributed the resources to others. She reflected,
“We always had other people in our home, short term to escape a beating, to wait out a challenging situation in their own home or longer term to attend school or get help to seek out better opportunities.”
“At an early age, I would give away my bus fare and walk home or bring strangers home if I thought they needed a meal or shelter,” Dr. Andrea recalled. “My mother would sleep on the floor and share our food with those we welcomed, often sacrificing her own portion.”
I always had a big heart to give. I would give everything. Time, talent, possessions: from the clothing I was wearing to the money in my purse.
“I would make monetary pledges, to causes and individuals when I was in financial flow, then my personal financial situation would change and I would find myself embarrassed and in need f financial support.”
She admits she struggled financially due to her inclination to give, having never learned about saving, budgeting, or planning for generosity.
I struggled because I was never exposed to the true principles of success.
I thought my mother was practicing self-denial. For a long time, I had limiting thoughts about giving.
It wasn’t until she encountered a program called the Master Key Experience that her understanding of giving and serving shifted.
“Educated Dunces” and a Global Perspective
Dr. Andrea’s mother had a term for those who lacked compassion despite their privilege and education: “educated dunces.”
My life exposed me to many things. Ideological support for the struggles for Economic liberation of those oppressed by capitalism and imperialistic expansion into Africa and the so called ‘New world’, Teaching in Japan, Study in USA and India, consulting in the Africa, the Caribbean and former Soviet States.
I was moved, touched and inspired by these experiences and exposure to different philosophies and practices.
My daughter was an international student volunteer who provided relief during the 2004 Tsunami. worked in an Ashram in India and introduced me to yoga when I was 59 years old.
My social conscience was high, but the process of discovering my authentic self, and my personal power to make a difference and to live the values gnawing in my belly was slow.
I suffered many personal setbacks because I did not understand the setup. I always saw the power in others and myself without power resources. I saw representations of power, things and positions and wondered if I would ever acquire these power resources.
“I spent years looking at others’ power without realizing I had it within me. Like the good witch Glenda told Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, I had the power all along.”
The personal development books and courses I bought gave a lot of insights, but lacked a process for transformation and gaining this power.
I believe that earlier and more systematic exposure to the truth about person power, the Mysterious source within and our capacity create the life we desire when assimilation will lead to massive transformation.
I am trying to seed earlier self-discovery and integration of the mind-body-spirit selves and the power within, in the scholarship recipients chosen by my foundation. I am excited at how this is unfolding with our first 10 recipients.
A Transformative Blueprint for Health
Before concluding, I asked her the question that had been on my mind throughout our conversation. “You openly mention being in your seventh decade, but from where I sit, you look decades younger. What’s your secret?”
With a hearty laugh, she responded, “The secret is learning to eat well and live well. There’s so much misinformation about healthy eating. Many of us have been ‘civilized out’ of natural, nutritious food in favor of processed foods that taste good but harm our health.”
Our tastes have been altered and we have become addicted to the chemicals that make modern day food taste good while quietly destroying our health.
Mass media and the ICT revolution has been set up to make us believe that taste rules, and freedom to choose is about choosing from offering that they parade daily on behalf of food manufacturers, retailers and food service industries.
I told you at the beginning of our session that I was fat at 11 years old. In my case there was some hereditary gene expressions and these were reinforced by emotional and subconscious patterns that led me to reach for food to soothe uncomfortable emotions that had nothing to do with biological hunger.
“My early relationship with food was shaped by genetics, emotional eating, and subconscious habits. It took me 27 years to unravel my ‘fat story’ and rewrite it,” she said.
“Rewiring my brain led to a complete physical transformation, and I’ve stayed on a healthy track for 20 years now.”
A Blueprint for a Healthy Relationship with Food
So is there a secret formula you can share?– I asked.
“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula,” she cautioned. “Each of us has a unique blueprint for a healthy relationship with food and life. Some people never struggle with weight, despite living in an obesogenic environment. But anyone can discover their blueprint, then practice it until it becomes second nature.”
“I now dedicate my life to guiding whoever is willing and ready to find and live this blueprint.”
As the interview wound down, she glanced at her watch. “Perhaps we can discuss this blueprint in more detail next time?”
“I’ll hold you to that,” I replied, grateful for her insights and wisdom.
“Thank you, Dr. Andrea. All the best with your foundation, and continue to radiate health and vitality.”
