S12e10: Jan Docherty – I Wanted to Know Who I Am
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Jan Docherty, a 65-year-old entrepreneur and Hoffman Process graduate, shares a raw and transformative journey of self-discovery that began after a cascade of life upheavals: two divorces, the deaths of her adoptive mother and birth father, and her daughter cutting ties. What emerged was not just survival, but a profound reclamation of identity. Through the Hoffman Process, she confronted buried trauma—including childhood sexual abuse and the emotional weight of being adopted—only to realize that her relentless drive, passion for business, and deep connection to nature were not random, but rooted in inherited legacies of resilience and purpose from both her adoptive and biological families. Her business, a vertically integrated cidery and tourism venture on Vancouver Island, is not just a for-profit enterprise but a 'for-profit social enterprise'—a living expression of love, sustainability, and community. The real breakthrough came not in escaping pain, but in learning to hold space for it: forgiving herself for not being the perfect mother, releasing the need to control her daughter’s return, and embracing the courage to live authentically. Today, she channels her journey into mentorship for women and dreams of rescuing senior dogs, proving that healing and purpose are not destinations, but daily practices of presence and love.
Your deepest passions may be inherited—Jan’s entrepreneurial drive and love for performance trace back to both her adoptive and biological fathers.
Trauma doesn’t have to define you; Jan learned strength and resilience from childhood abuse, not despite it.
Self-forgiveness is the gateway to healing—Jan released guilt over her daughter’s estrangement by accepting she did her best with what she had.
Business can be a vehicle for love—her cidery is a 'for-profit social enterprise' built on organic farming, community, and environmental care.
The Hoffman Process works best when you’re ready—Jan’s therapist wisely told her to wait until she’d stabilized before diving into deep healing.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Call to Self-Discovery
The episode opens with a sponsor message from the Hoffman Institute Foundation, emphasizing its nonprofit mission and the need for donations. The host, Sadie Gardier, introduces the podcast’s theme: love and the courage to journey inward, with a content warning about discussions of sexual abuse.
A Life of Purpose in Mexico and Canada
Jan Docherty introduces her dual life—living off-grid in San José del Cabo, Mexico, where she watches whales and powers her home with solar energy, and running a vibrant, vertically integrated business on Vancouver Island. She reflects on becoming a senior citizen and her deep commitment to continuing her work.
The Legacy of Entrepreneurship and Identity
Jan traces her passion for making a difference to both her adoptive and biological fathers, both entrepreneurs. She shares the surprising discovery of her birth father’s Mexican roots and a family portrait of her grandmother, a concert pianist—connecting dots between her early performing career and inherited talents.
The Turning Point: Trauma and the Need to Heal
After a series of devastating losses—including her father, mother, divorce, and estrangement from her daughter—Jan sought therapy. Her therapist advised her not to dive into deep healing yet, but to wait until she had stabilized. This moment of discernment became pivotal.
The Hoffman Process: Facing the Unbearable
“By my third day, because you don't have the phone, right? So I went to like, I need to go get check-in for my flight. No, what do you? You don't need. I'm like, oh, no, no, I'm going tomorrow, right? My brain has so convinced me because it was like, wow, this is hard. I think it's time to exit.”
“I needed to give myself love, that I needed to give her grace to leave me, to do whatever she needed to do to heal. And in doing so, I could heal and love myself.”
“I wake up most days thinking life is beautiful. That doesn't mean I don't have sadness. I do. But there's always beauty in the moments.”
“you can walk through it. And if you've got a support system and if you've got love for yourself, I didn't have a strong love for myself. I had a love for myself, but not as strong as when I left and as strong as the journey continues on.”
Hosts
Guest
Jan Docherty
person
Hoffman Process
organization
Hoffman Institute Foundation
organization
dogs
other
Sadie Gardier
person
Vancouver Island
place
whales
other
Janice Bell
person
San José del Cabo
place
Matt Branigan
person
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