We recently had the chance to connect with Carolyn Collins and have shared our conversation below.
Carolyn , so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day set the tone for everything that follows. I wake up at 4:30 in the morning, and most days I am in the gym by 5. That time is sacred for me because it is where I challenge myself physically, clear my mind, and build momentum before the day begins. On the days I do not go to the gym, I spend that time meditating or sitting in stillness to prepare for work. It is my way of reconnecting with myself before stepping into the busyness of the day.
Having that morning routine helps me stay grounded and intentional, especially when I am dealing with different personalities and energies throughout the day. It gives me a calm center to operate from, and I have noticed that I am more patient, focused, and able to respond thoughtfully rather than react emotionally. Starting my day with discipline and stillness allows me to show up grounded, no matter what the day brings.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carolyn Collins and I am 40 years young. Growing up, I always questioned the things around me and the way I was raised, but I did not truly notice an issue until about five years ago when it felt like every connection I found myself in was draining me mentally, physically, and spiritually. That period of my life became the turning point that led me to rediscover who I was beneath all the expectations and patterns I had carried for years.
From that journey, Evolve With Unique was born. It is a self love and life coaching platform created to help others heal, grow, and reconnect with their true selves. Through my own experiences of overcoming codependency, people pleasing, and unhealthy relationships, I learned the importance of self awareness, emotional balance, and setting boundaries. My mission is to share those lessons and empower others to evolve into the most confident and grounded version of themselves.
Evolve With Unique is more than just a brand, it is a safe space for those who are ready to rise above their past, release what no longer serves them, and live with purpose and clarity. Through encouraging content, coaching, and transparent storytelling, I aim to help people strengthen their relationship with themselves so they can attract healthier connections and create a life that aligns with who they truly are.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who to be, I was a curious, free spirited, and deeply feeling little girl who simply wanted to love and be loved. I was sensitive to energy and always wanted to help others, but as I got older, that pure nature became buried under expectations, people pleasing, and the need to prove my worth.
I learned to shrink myself to keep the peace and to take care of everyone else before me, thinking that would earn me love and acceptance. But deep down, I was always that same intuitive and compassionate soul who saw the world through love and connection.
Now that I have done the inner work, I have returned to her. I am no longer trying to fit into the world’s mold. I am honoring my truth, protecting my peace, and walking in alignment with who I was always meant to be.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life came from growing up in a home where love and discipline were often mixed with fear. I was raised in a Jamaican household where strength, obedience, and respect were valued, but emotional connection and softness were rarely expressed. As a child, I learned to associate love with performance. I believed that if I did everything right, stayed quiet, and made others happy, I would be accepted and loved.
That belief carried into adulthood and shaped how I moved through relationships. I attracted people who reflected my unhealed parts. I gave too much of myself, ignored red flags, and stayed in situations that drained me mentally, physically, and spiritually. I confused self sacrifice with love because deep down, I was still trying to earn the validation I never received as a child.
My healing began the moment I chose to stop running from my pain. I allowed myself to sit with my emotions, even the uncomfortable ones, and started asking where they came from. I began meditating, journaling, spending time in stillness, and reconnecting with God. Those quiet moments helped me see that my patterns were not a reflection of my worth but a reflection of my wounds.
The deeper part of my healing came through forgiveness. Not just forgiving others, but forgiving myself. I had to release the resentment I carried toward those who hurt me and understand that most people only operate from the level of awareness they have. They did not know better, and for many of them, they were simply repeating what was done to them. Recognizing that truth brought me peace. It did not excuse their actions, but it helped me stop internalizing their pain as my own.
Through that process, I learned to set boundaries without guilt, to honor my voice, and to love myself without conditions. Healing has taught me that peace is a daily choice and forgiveness is a form of freedom. My wounds became my greatest teachers, and now I use that wisdom to help others through my platform, Evolve With Unique. My goal is to remind people that healing is not about forgetting what happened, it is about reclaiming your power and choosing to love yourself enough to no longer carry the weight of what broke you.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is very much the real me. What I share online, whether on my personal page or through Evolve With Unique, comes from a genuine place. The lessons, reflections, and messages I post are all rooted in my real experiences and the things I have had to overcome.
At the same time, I believe social media is not always a safe space for deep vulnerability. I choose to keep certain parts of my life private because some healing moments deserve protection and not public consumption. I share what feels aligned, what I have processed, and what I believe can help or inspire others.
I think I am as real as it gets, but being real does not mean exposing everything. It means showing up authentically while also honoring my boundaries and peace. My goal has never been to be perfect, but to be present and truthful in a way that feels safe and empowering for both me and the people who connect with my message.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply that most people do not is that peace and healing do not come from changing what is outside of you. They come from returning to yourself. Many people spend their lives chasing validation, success, or love, believing those things will fill the emptiness inside. But true fulfillment comes when you slow down long enough to listen to your soul and make peace with your past.
I have learned that healing is not about forgetting what happened or pretending it did not hurt. It is about facing your truth, feeling your emotions fully, and allowing those experiences to shape you without hardening your heart. Most people run from pain because it is uncomfortable, but what they do not realize is that pain is one of our greatest teachers. It reveals where we are still disconnected from ourselves and where love needs to return.
I also understand that forgiveness is not weakness. It is strength. It is choosing peace over revenge and freedom over bitterness. Forgiving others and even yourself does not mean you accept what was done. It means you refuse to let it have power over your spirit.
Another thing I understand on a deep level is energy. I am very aware of how energy influences your frequency and the life you attract. The energy you carry determines what you experience. When you are living in alignment, grounded in peace, gratitude, and self-love, you naturally attract abundance and opportunities that match that vibration. When your energy is low or filled with fear and resentment, you attract more of the same.
Life has taught me that everything we experience is working for our growth, even when it does not feel that way. Every challenge, every heartbreak, every delay is guiding us back to alignment. Once you understand that nothing is wasted and everything has purpose, you stop seeing life as something happening to you and start seeing it as something happening for you. That awareness changes everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://evolvewithunique.com
- Instagram: @unique_beauty85 and @evolvewithunique
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Evolvewithunique/
