Seriously.

When they appeared in my science textbooks as a kid, I would cover the pictures with Post-it notes. If a movie scene featured one, I would fast-forward through it. Even saying the word “snake” made me uncomfortable, so I started calling them serpents instead, as if that wording somehow made it better.

Looking back, it’s kind of funny.

At the time, though, the fear was very real. And unfortunately, snakes seemed to have a way of finding me.

One encounter in particular has stuck with me for years. I had a habit of letting my dirty clothes pile up on my bedroom floor — something my parents had reminded me about many times. One day, after being told again to take the clothes down to the laundry room, I finally decided to do it.

I bent down and scooped up a big pile of clothes with both arms.

That’s when I saw something move. Uh oh. I looked down and saw what appeared to be a massive snake coiled up underneath the pile.

Cue instant panic.

Another time, one found its way into our bathroom through an exposed section of the wall. I remember standing there with a hockey stick, trying to keep my distance while making sure it didn’t come any closer. If you’ve ever experienced a deep fear, you know the feeling. Your body reacts before your mind can catch up.

Over time, the fear spread beyond actual encounters. Pictures bothered me. Movies bothered me. Even the idea of snakes bothered me. I avoided them completely.

Then one day, I made a decision.

I realized I didn’t want to live like that anymore. Fear had quietly taken up too much space in my life, and I decided it was time to do something about it.

My Four-Step Plan to Face the Fear

So, I created a simple four-step plan to face it. My plan for loving snakes went like this:

Step 1: Look at ’em

The first step was the easiest in theory and the hardest in practice. Beginning with pictures of snakes, I forced myself not to look away. I searched for them on my phone. I watched movie scenes I had previously avoided. Instead of hiding my eyes, I just sat there, hating every minute of it while reminding myself I wasn’t going to die… at least not then.

Step 2: See ’em alive — at a distance

I then mustered up the courage to visit the reptile exhibit at the zoo. Oh, boy. I was never more aware of where the exits were in a building in my entire life. But seeing snakes behind glass allowed me to observe them while still feeling safe and protected.

Then something interesting started to happen.

The more I looked at them, the more my fear waned. Surprisingly, I started to appreciate the beauty of their skin patterns, the way they moved, and their place in this world as living beings, too.

Step 3: Touch the skin of one

Now, this step came unexpectedly.

A snake was found in our backyard that unfortunately didn’t survive, and I used the moment to take the next step in my plan. I touched its skin. For me, it was pretty significant. It was the very first time I physically interacted (touched) with the thing I had feared for so long.

Step 4: Touch a live one!

This final step was the BIGGIE.

At a family gathering one day, a trusted family member found a snake in his garage. Instead of running away like the younger me would have done, I decided this was it. I was going to conquer this fear once and for all.

Now, to be clear — I wasn’t suddenly fearless.

Oh no! I was still S. C. A. R. E. D.

In fact, in that moment, I was just a little tiny bit losing my mind. Part of me couldn’t quite believe what I was doing! Years of fear were still sitting there in my nervous system, reminding me that this was the exact situation I had spent my whole life avoiding.

But.

I didn’t pull away.

I stayed with it.

With my family member holding its head, the snake wrapped gently around my wrist, its body cool and smooth against my skin. One thing that immediately surprised me was how strong it was. I could feel the muscles in its body tighten as it coiled around my arm. And somewhere in the middle of that slightly chaotic moment, something changed for me.

I realized what I was actually doing.

After all was said and done, I remember being so incredibly proud of myself. And I can’t help but think that Susan Jeffers would be proud of me, too. Here’s why.

The Deeper Lesson

Years ago, I remember someone suggesting that my fear might have stemmed from a past-life experience of falling into a covered pit of asps, while being chased. Whether you believe in former lives or not, the idea fascinated me because it connected dots. And while my phobia’s origin story was enlightening, what mattered more was what happened when I chose to face it.

Did you know that fear grows stronger when we avoid it? But when we move toward it — step by step — something powerful can happen. What once terrified us can lose its grip. Sometimes it can even become a teacher. I believe that’s what the snake did for me.

The Symbol that Followed Me

When I eventually started my own business, I intentionally chose a snake as part of my logo. It might seem like an unusual choice for someone who once feared them so deeply, but for me, it represented something pretty important.

Transformation. Courage. The willingness to shed old skin and become someone new.

Over time, that symbol served its purpose. It reminded me of the journey from panic to power. Eventually, I felt complete with it and chose a new direction for my brand. And that’s another lesson I’ve come to appreciate.

Symbols often stay in our lives until we integrate what they came to teach us. Once we learn the lesson, it quietly moves on to help another soul. My relationship with snakes is a perfect example of that. What once triggered panic now brings a sense of respect — and even a little bit of appreciation.

Not bad for something I once couldn’t even say out loud.

The post Panic to Power: How I Learned to Love Snakes first appeared on Brandi Lei.

This expression naturally attracts people to leadership, organization, and turning vision into reality. Where others see obstacles, they see opportunity. But true success for the 8 isn’t just about money or status.

At its highest level, this number encourages one to balance material achievement with spiritual responsibility – using your drive and power in a way that actually means something, not just to you, but to the bigger picture.

What Is the Expression Number?

Your Expression Number (also known as the Destiny Number) reveals how you’re naturally wired to move through life – your talents, tendencies, and the way you’re meant to show up in the world.

It’s based on your full birth name, which carries the original vibration of this energy. While names can shift over time through nicknames or changes, your birth name remains the foundation. These variations may influence how your expression shows up, but they don’t replace its core essence.

At its heart, the Expression Number shows what you’re naturally equipped to do – and how you’re meant to do it. If the Life Path reveals what you’re here to learn, the Expression reveals what you’re here to teach, answering the deeper question: What am I here to do?

(For a deeper dive into the Expression Number’s significance and how to calculate yours, check out my blog article: Your Name, Your Destiny: The Power of the Expression Number.)

Natural Gifts

You’re here to get results. You have a natural ability to understand how things work – especially when it comes to systems, people, and resources – and to bring it all together into something productive. You’re a big-picture thinker with a practical edge, and you approach life with a “can-do, will-do” mindset. You don’t just have ideas – you know how to execute them, and execute them well.

Another strong ability you possess is reading people. Sensing who’s reliable, who’s not, and who can handle responsibility comes naturally to you, making you a confident and capable decision-maker – especially in leadership roles. You tend to have a natural understanding of money as well, including how it flows, how to manage it, and how to build something stable over time. You focus on long-term goals rather than quick wins.

At your best, you can clearly see what’s possible and take the steps to make it real. You don’t just dream – you build.

Opportunities for Growth

Your real growth happens in how you choose to use your inner power. Key areas of development include:

Redefining Success – You naturally drive yourself to achieve, which can lead you to focus on money, recognition, or status. Over time, you’ll find that true success also includes integrity, impact, and the difference you make in other people’s lives.

Developing Patience – You like to move quickly and get results, but not everyone operates at your pace. Learning to slow down, trust others, and delegate effectively actually makes you stronger and more effective in the long run.

Balancing Ambition with Purpose – You’re here to succeed in the material world, but not at the expense of your deeper values. When you guide your ambition by purpose rather than ego, what you build lasts longer and feels more meaningful.

Leading with Impact – Your growth comes from remembering that leadership isn’t just about getting ahead – it’s about what you create for others along the way. The more you use your influence to open doors and build something bigger than yourself, the more fulfilling your success becomes.

Ideal Careers and Callings

You’re not here to play small. Expression Number 8 thrives in environments where there’s a clear path for growth and advancement – places where authority, direction, and follow-through matter. You’re naturally ambitious and tend to seek out roles where you can build something, move up over time, and eventually lead with integrity. You’re most fulfilled when you have a sense of autonomy and can inspire others through your vision and drive.

Expression 8’s are often drawn to roles such as:

• Entrepreneur / Business Owner – Building something from the ground up, leading teams, and creating win-win situations.

• Financial Advisor / Investor – Managing money strategically through investing, planning, and long-term wealth building.

• Attorney, Judge, Government Leader – Working within structured systems where confidence, decision-making, and influence matter.

• Corporate Operations – Overseeing people, processes, and big-picture goals to keep things running smoothly.

• Real Estate Developer / Broker – Buying, selling, or building property with a focus on long-lasting value.

• Project Manager / Program Director – Leading large initiatives, coordinating moving parts, and bringing ideas to completion.

• Nonprofit Director – Using leadership skills to make a meaningful impact through organizations or causes.

• Business Consultant – Helping others grow, scale, and make smarter decisions through insight and experience.

Even if you’re not “running the show,” you likely carry a natural sense of authority. Expression Number 8 tends to think like a leader long before stepping into that role. There’s usually an early drive to step up, take charge, and make it happen.

With that kind of drive and influence, it’s just as important to stay aware of where your energy can become unbalanced.

To Don’t List

Expression Number 8 is built for success – but when that drive gets out of balance, it can work against you instead of for you. To stay on track…

1. Don’t measure success only in money or status.
   Yes, you’re here to achieve – but real success is about what you build and what it actually means, not just what it looks like on the outside.

2. Don’t try to control everything.
   You’re a natural leader, but leadership isn’t about doing it all or calling every shot. Trusting others and letting them step up will take you further.

3. Don’t let ambition override your heart.
   You can win and still be someone people respect and trust. The goal isn’t just success – it’s success that feels good and does good.

Bottom Line

You’re here to succeed in both the material and spiritual worlds – and you don’t have to choose between the two.

Expression Number 8 is the meeting point between what’s above and what’s below. The shape of the 8 itself reflects this connection, reminding you that success isn’t just about what you achieve, but how aligned it is with who you are.

You’re not meant to feel guilty for wanting success, wealth, or influence. You’re meant to own it – and use it with purpose, integrity, and awareness.

When you learn to balance both worlds, you don’t just create success – you embody it.

The post Expression Number 8: The Ambitious Leader first appeared on Brandi Lei.

Problem-solving is a fact of everyday life — but have you ever considered it as a spiritual practice?

At first glance, problem-solving and spirituality can seem like opposites. One feels rooted in the material world, the other in something higher. Yet in practice, they’re deeply connected. Every challenge we face asks something of us: awareness, adaptability, trust, and creativity. In that sense, problem-solving doesn’t interrupt spiritual growth — it creates it.

If challenges weren’t meant to help us grow, why would they appear at all?

Let me share a real-life example.

Not long ago, a large, unexpected expense came out of our bank account. After it cleared, we realized the next couple of weeks were going to be… interesting. We hadn’t experienced that kind of financial hit all at once before, so we shifted into preparation mode.

We stocked up on groceries with the intention of making them last. We were invited to a couple of family dinners early on, which helped stretch things a little further — small victories matter when resources are tight.

For a while, everything felt manageable. Then reality crept back in.

Our food supply dwindled. We were down to one vehicle, and it didn’t have much gas left. Thankfully, I work from home and rarely need to drive — another small mercy. But the situation became more serious when our four-legged kid, Vinny, entered the picture.

Vinny had epilepsy and severe gastrointestinal issues. His seizure medication was running low and needed to be refilled quickly, and his sensitive stomach didn’t tolerate dry kibble well. Suddenly, this wasn’t just about inconvenience or discomfort. The pressure intensified.

That’s when stress and worry began to speak up.

Thoughts like What are we going to do? and How are we going to make it? floated through my mind like runaway balloons. At times, it took effort to rein them in. Eventually, though, something steadier stepped forward — what I think of as the higher self taking the wheel.

After a few gentle reminders — that this was temporary, that we weren’t alone, that we were capable — we shifted our focus. Instead of spiraling, we grounded ourselves in gratitude for what we did have and clarified what truly mattered.

There’s no faster way to get your priorities straight than when you have very little and a strong will to see things through.

We explored our options. We debated pros and cons. We made calls to lending agencies. Some returned our calls; others didn’t. Time mattered, especially with Vinny’s medication, and waiting around for answers wasn’t working.

Asking friends or family for help crossed our minds, but we felt a pull to try solving this ourselves first. Maybe that was pride (ok, probably ego), but it also sparked determination. We knew there had to be another way.

That’s when creativity entered the room.

I’m a firm believer that limitation breeds creativity. When options narrow, imagination often expands. Armed with prayer, intention, and a plan, we mapped out our remaining gas and ran only the very necessary errands. Every stop mattered. Every decision counted.

And somehow — step by step — it came together.

Not perfectly. Not magically. But sufficiently.

In hindsight, this situation wasn’t really a problem at all. It only felt like one because of how we initially perceived it.

As Wayne Dyer often taught, problems are creations of the mind, and what one level of awareness creates, another level can resolve. The experience was real — but the fear-based interpretation of it didn’t have to be.

How we choose to see a challenge determines whether it remains a problem or transforms into an opportunity.

And yes — opportunity.

That moment invited us to get creative, trust ourselves, and work cooperatively with Spirit rather than collapse into fear. It offered the quiet satisfaction of realizing, We handled this. There’s something deeply empowering about that kind of self-reliance in partnership with something greater.

What This Experience Taught Me About Spiritual Problem-Solving

If you’re navigating a challenge of your own, here are a few insights this experience reinforced for me:

Stay flexible.
Plans are just ideas that work out — until they don’t. When circumstances change, rigidity creates stress. Flexibility creates options.

Shift perception before seeking solutions.
When you see something strictly as a problem, you narrow your field of vision. When you reframe it as an opportunity for growth, solutions become more accessible — and so does the lesson within it.

Mindset matters more than circumstances.
Positive thinking isn’t about denial; it’s about direction. Where attention goes, energy follows.

Willingness changes everything.
Nothing shifts unless you’re willing to shift. If you insist on seeing challenges as problems, they’ll stay that way. Willingness opens the door to movement.

Never underestimate human kindness.
Sometimes support arrives from unexpected places. Even small gestures can feel monumental when you’re stretched thin — and they’re never random.

Bottom Line

Challenges aren’t smooth, and they aren’t always comfortable. But when you can look beyond the immediate frustration to the growth waiting on the other side, your relationship with “problems” begins to change.

So the next time something lands in your path and makes you pause, ask yourself:

Is this really a problem…
or is it an opportunity asking you to grow?

If this story resonated — especially the part about staying grounded when resources feel tight — you might find my Financial Freedom Bundle helpful. It isn’t about quick fixes or manifesting overnight results. It’s designed to help you understand your relationship with money, make clearer decisions, and work with the energy you already have.

Thanks for reading!

The post No Money, No Problem first appeared on Brandi Lei.