For all 33 years of her life, Elizabeth had never been able to experience something many people take for granted: eating seafood. Living with allergies, asthma, alopecia, and other autoimmune conditions, she arrived at her first Dr Joe Dispenza retreat hoping to become a stronger, more empowered version of herself.

But as Elizabeth puts it, sometimes you go into the work wanting one thing and come out with another.

At her first retreat, she noticed an unexpected change in her breathing. At a later event in Denver, she had another experience during meditation. She describes finding herself surrounded by a deep, dark sea, where she encountered fish, an octopus, and a crab. Instead of responding with the fear she had associated with seafood her entire life, she felt gratitude. She thanked them and experienced a sense of connection with something she had always feared.

When Elizabeth opened her eyes, she had a new thought: What if I’m not allergic anymore?

A month later, she traveled to Japan and decided to find out.

Sitting in front of a loved one, Elizabeth took her first bite and waited for the reaction she had expected her entire life.

Nothing happened.

She continued exploring different kinds of fish and seafood, raw and cooked, and says she no longer experiences the reactions that once kept them completely off-limits.

But for Elizabeth, the real transformation isn’t what’s on her plate. It’s the freedom to experience more of her life without fear.

Today, she can travel, explore new foods, and participate in experiences she once believed weren’t available to her. As Elizabeth says, “It’s not about the thing, it’s about the experiences.”

Recorded at the Cancun Week-Long Retreat in February, 2026.