I’ve finally been able to establish a solid routine in my life, including things like daily meditation to keep focused and centered. In my career as a creative person, I feel more confident than ever in expressing my authentic voice. I can clearly hear the change in the music I write these days. Probably the most profound changes in me have happened on the inside though. I’ve learned how to find balance, to forgive myself, to express gratitude, to stay curious, and to be courageous in the face of my fears. I needed my entire life to change – and that’s kinda what happened.

BURNOUT:

Near the end of 2014, I had dug myself into a workaholic ditch, and felt like I had no control, no compass, and no concept of who I was anymore. I was barely sleeping, eating horribly, and engaging in a myriad of unhealthy stress reducing habits. I could not fathom how my once beloved career had devolved into such a prison.

Everything came to a head one morning when I looked down at my keyboard and discovered it was covered in my own hair. Yes, my hair was falling out. Neglecting my health had finally caught up to me in a bad way, and I knew I needed help to regain control of my life.

And help did come, in the form of a recommendation from a dear friend. “A Life Coach?” I thought to myself. “Really?” as the meat and potatoes Midwestern side of me bristled with mild contempt. But I was determined to be open to help from any and all sources, so I mustered courage and threw myself into the process. However, I had a hard time convincing my fiancée that embarking on life coaching was worth it. Eventually, she told me I had her blessing on one condition, “if your entire life changes,” she said. A tall order, no question about it. But that is what needed to happen. I needed my entire life to change.

REBUILDING:

One of the most powerful lessons I learned from my life coaching experience is that everything starts in the world of the internal. Often in our sessions together, I felt like Leonard DiCaprio in the movie Inception. But instead of breaking into my dreams, Amber helped me to hack into my thoughts. For instance, I couldn’t get my schedule under control until I learned to kick my “say yes to everything” habit. And there was no ridding that habit until I realized where that impulse originated from…the thought that what I DO is who I AM. Once I realized I was saying yes to everything to prop up my sense of worth, I began to be in control of my decisions again. Personal breakthroughs like this helped me to see that emotional obstacles in my internal world were blocking the goals in my external world.

Over the course of several months, Amber was able to help me dismantle my circus show of spinning plates. I no longer felt like my whole world was one bump away from crashing down around me. I’ve finally been able to establish a solid routine in my life, including things like daily meditation to keep focused and centered. In my career as a creative person, I feel more confident than ever in expressing my authentic voice. I can clearly hear the change in the music I write these days. Probably the most profound changes in me have happened on the inside though. I’ve learned how to find balance, to forgive myself, to express gratitude, to stay curious, and to be courageous in the face of my fears. I needed my entire life to change – and that’s kinda what happened.