In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, we sit down with Hillary Spiritos, founder of Bat Outta Hell, a personal development “pathfinding” consultancy dedicated to guiding young adults toward self-discovery and purposeful action. Hillary shares her journey in establishing Bat Outta Hell and delves into the methodologies she employs to help clients uncover their inner courage, grit, resourcefulness, and resilience.
Discover how Bat Outta Hell’s tailored coaching services empower individuals to navigate life’s uncertainties, make informed decisions, and create actionable plans that align with their authentic selves. Whether you’re a young adult seeking direction or someone interested in personal development, this conversation offers valuable insights into the transformative power of pathfinding coaching.
Resources Mentioned:
Website: https://batouttahell.net/
TikTok/Instagram: bat.outta_hell
Calendly link to make an appointment: https://calendly.com/batouttahell
Reclaiming Your Path: My Conversation with Hillary Spiritos on Inner Work, Emotional Agency, and the Journey Back to Self
On this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, I had the privilege of speaking with Hillary Spiritos—coach, speaker, and founder of The Pathfinding Practice. Hillary’s work centers on helping people reconnect with their intuition, emotions, and internal wisdom to forge lives that are truly their own.
Our conversation was equal parts gut-punch and empowerment. Hillary doesn’t offer fluffy advice—she challenges listeners to get real, go inward, and ask the hard questions: Who am I without the expectations? What stories am I still carrying? And what would it look like to live from a place of radical self-ownership?
If you’re in a season of searching, transitioning, or simply asking “what’s next?”—this episode is your sign to tune in. Here’s what stood out most from our dialogue.
You’re Not Lost—You’re Disconnected
Hillary kicked off the conversation by redefining what it means to feel “lost.”
“So many people say they feel lost, but what they really are is disconnected—from themselves, their emotions, their bodies,” she said. “That’s not something to fear. It’s a starting point.”
This distinction is powerful. Instead of pathologizing the discomfort that comes with uncertainty, Hillary reframes it as an invitation: a call to slow down, turn inward, and start listening.
Insight: That shift alone can change everything. If we stop thinking something’s wrong with us when we feel stuck—and start seeing it as an inner signal—we get our power back.
The Path Isn’t Linear—It’s Lived
A recurring theme in our conversation was the myth of linear growth. Hillary dismantled the idea that success or healing follows a straight trajectory. “It’s not step one, two, three,” she said. “It’s messy. It loops back. It spirals.”
She encourages her clients to release the obsession with timelines and outcomes, and instead trust in the process of unfolding.
“Real growth feels uncomfortable. It often looks like nothing is happening—but everything is happening inside you.”
Takeaway: If you feel like you’re circling the same mountain, you’re not failing—you’re deepening. Growth is rarely visible in the moment.
Doing the Inner Work: Start with the Body
Hillary’s coaching isn’t just intellectual—it’s somatic. She emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the body as a source of truth and healing.
“The body always knows,” she said. “But we’re so conditioned to override it—to rationalize, suppress, distract.”
She shared how simple practices—like breathwork, walking without headphones, or simply placing a hand on your heart—can begin to rebuild that connection. These small, grounding rituals create the space for real emotional insight.
Insight: This stood out to me. We spend so much time trying to “think” our way out of pain, when the body already holds the answer. That’s where the real work begins.
Your Inner Child Isn’t a Concept—It’s a Companion
One of the most resonant parts of our conversation was Hillary’s take on inner child work. Far from being abstract, she sees it as deeply practical—and essential.
“Your inner child is the part of you that formed beliefs to survive,” she explained. “And those beliefs are probably running your life right now—especially when you’re triggered or afraid.”
She described the healing process as a compassionate re-parenting: acknowledging what that younger part of you needed, and learning how to meet those needs yourself, today.
Takeaway: The work isn’t to shame your past self—it’s to build trust with the part of you that’s still scared, still yearning, still trying.
Permission Is an Inside Job
We talked about how easy it is to outsource permission—to wait for someone to validate our dreams, feelings, or truth before we take action.
Hillary called this out directly: “No one is coming to crown you. You have to give yourself permission to want what you want, feel what you feel, and be who you are.”
She shared how we internalize voices from childhood, culture, or past relationships that keep us small—and how breaking free requires conscious effort, not just awareness.
“You have to choose yourself. Again and again.”
Insight: That’s the mantra right there. Choose yourself—loudly, unapologetically, repeatedly.
Being With What Is—Without Fixing It
When I asked Hillary what she sees people struggling with most, her answer was clear: “They want to skip the sitting. They want answers without being with the question.”
She explained that the obsession with fixing, optimizing, or bypassing pain often blocks the very insight people are seeking.
Her coaching invites clients to stay—to feel the discomfort, name the emotion, and trust that clarity will come on the other side.
“It’s not about fixing who you are. It’s about remembering who you were before you started believing you were broken.”
Takeaway: Presence is the medicine. The truth doesn’t shout—it whispers. But you have to be quiet long enough to hear it.
Finding Safety Within
One of the deeper threads in our talk was the idea of internal safety. Hillary believes that a lot of our external striving is an attempt to find safety—through achievement, relationships, or approval.
“But the safety we’re looking for isn’t out there,” she said. “It’s inside. And it’s built through consistent self-trust.”
She teaches her clients to create rituals of self-holding—to become a safe place for their own emotions, doubts, and dreams.
“You don’t need to be fearless. You need to feel safe enough to move through fear.”
Insight: That’s next-level. We think we need to eliminate fear, when what we really need is to create enough internal support to move anyway.
What Pathfinding Really Means
As we closed the interview, I asked Hillary what “pathfinding” means to her. She lit up.
“It means creating your own way—not because it’s trendy or rebellious, but because your soul asked you to.”
She explained that her clients often come to her feeling like they’ve followed the rules but still feel unfulfilled. Her job is to help them remember: you can build something else.
You don’t need to burn your life down to start again—but you do need to get honest about what’s not working. And then take one small, brave step at a time.
Takeaway: You don’t need a map—you need a compass. And your compass is your truth.
Hillary’s Advice for Anyone Feeling Stuck
As always, I ended by asking Hillary what she’d say to someone who’s in the thick of it—confused, discouraged, searching. Her response was tender, powerful, and to the point:
- You’re not doing it wrong – Uncertainty is part of the path.
- You’re not broken – You’re in a process of remembering.
- Get quiet – The answers are in you, not out there.
- Find support – You don’t have to do it alone.
- Stay curious – You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the next step.
Insight: That’s the message. You’re allowed to be messy. You’re allowed to not know. And you’re still worthy of your own love and courage.
Closing Thoughts: Lessons from Hillary Spiritos
My conversation with Hillary Spiritos was a deep dive into the inner terrain of healing, clarity, and radical self-leadership. Her wisdom is grounded, gentle, and fiercely empowering—a combination that makes her voice one of the most needed in today’s personal development space.
If there’s one thing I took away from our talk, it’s this: The answers aren’t out there. They’re already in you. You just have to be brave enough to listen.
For anyone navigating a big decision, a painful transition, or simply wanting more from life—this conversation is your reminder: the path may not be clear yet, but you are strong enough to walk it.
To learn more about Hillary’s work, visit The Pathfinding Practice and explore her coaching, workshops, and upcoming offerings.
Until next time, remember: your path isn’t behind you—it’s waiting to be created.
Made with Bullet