Chris– Seattle

I resist the opportunity to say that Chris has changed my life because I am the person that changed my own life.  Chris' approach of guiding me to a place of empowerment for my own life is the greatest gift I have given to myself.  This empowerment can be found in the following small example of my story.  As a schoolteacher, I struggled to find the confidence of doing my job and finding satisfaction in my work.

Chris helped me break my habit of looking to the actions and opinions of others to explain why things were happening to me and help me take control of the direction of my life.  Chris helped me recognize and better understand that much of what other people said and did wasn’t always just about me – that it was often the result of someone else's story.  As a schoolteacher, I was overly sensitive to what others thought about me and my performance. I couldn't drown out the many different voices that shaped how I was thinking about my teaching and myself.  No longer do I look for affirmation from students, parents, colleagues, administrators and even my friends. 

 Now, I find satisfaction in my job from helping a child write a longer essay, delivering an effective presentation about an interesting subject or being a good listener to a child that is having a personal problem.  Before my experience with Chris, I struggled with why I needed the acceptance of those around me, including those that I didn't care for or even respect. This seeking of acceptance from others provided me nothing but grief and a desire for more acceptance as soon as the satisfaction of another's affirmation quickly wore off.  In the end, Chris helped me come to my own conclusion that I can provide myself with that satisfaction and confidence that I am doing a good job.

 Chris provided me with a course correction in my life that has made a profound impact on how I define success in many areas of my life, not just work.  I have better relationships with friends and family.  I enjoy recreation and relaxing more than ever and I know that I can solve my own problems and that I don't need to fish for solutions from other people.  Knowing that I can help myself, not matter what the problem, has become the most powerful motivator for changing other aspects of my life.

--Chris