March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, a time to elevate conversations around a condition that affects millions yet remains widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and often minimized.

At Hera Hub, we believe in amplifying the voices of women and advocates who are reshaping how we think about health, work, and community. This month, we connected with Hera Hub member Katie Donlevie, founder of Revive and Thrive Coaching, in conversation with Monti Pace, to continue an important dialogue on living and thriving with chronic illness.

Living with Endometriosis: Stop Fighting Your Body and Start Working With It

Katie experienced debilitating symptoms for years before finally receiving a diagnosis in her 30s. Unfortunately, her journey highlights a frustrating and all-too-common reality for many: women’s pain is frequently overlooked and misunderstood.

To understand the true impact of endometriosis, we have to look past the common misconceptions. Here is the reality of the condition:

  • It is not curable. It requires ongoing, lifelong management and care.

  • It is frequently misdiagnosed. Symptoms are often dismissed, normalized, or attributed to other causes.

  • It is much more than “just period pain.” It is a systemic, whole-body condition that can trigger severe fatigue, chronic digestive issues, and widespread inflammation.

Because of its complex and deeply personal nature, living with endometriosis requires a fundamental shift in how we view our health, our routines, and ourselves.

Shifting the Narrative

A central theme in Katie’s work revolves around a powerful, paradigm-shifting concept: stop fighting your body and start working with it.

Instead of forcing yourself to conform to “normal” routines that leave you drained and defeated, Katie encourages a more sustainable, self-compassionate approach. She helps her clients pivot their mindset so they can:

  • Honor their energy levels: Recognizing that productivity looks different on flare-up days, and that rest is a vital part of the routine.

  • Communicate their needs: Setting clear boundaries at work, in relationships, and at home without guilt or apology.

  • Build sustainable lifestyles: Creating daily systems that actually accommodate the realities of chronic illness, rather than ignoring them.

You’re Not Alone

Navigating a chronic, invisible illness can feel incredibly isolating. When the people around you can’t physically see your pain, it is easy to feel like you are fighting the battle completely on your own. But connection changes everything.

As both Katie and Monti highlight, open conversations and supportive communities are the antidotes to that isolation. Finding safe spaces where you are seen, heard, and validated is essential for both empowerment and mental well-being.

Why It Matters

Awareness is the catalyst for action. By dismantling the myths surrounding endometriosis and normalizing these difficult conversations, we pave the way for more inclusive workplaces, better standards of healthcare, and stronger, more empathetic communities.

Let’s keep the conversation going this month and every month beyond.

Katie Donlevie is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), as well as the founder of Revive and Thrive Coaching. With a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and certification as an Energy Leadership™ Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), Katie brings both strategic insight and deep empathy to her work.

She specializes in supporting individuals navigating chronic illness and persistent health challenges helping them move from burnout and frustration to a more sustainable, aligned way of living. Through her coaching, Katie empowers clients to reconnect with their bodies, redefine success on their own terms, and build lives that honor their energy, needs, and well-being.