Erin Wood is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her honesty and strength of character.
She transitioned from mental health to coaching clients seeking to realize their fullest potential and their dreams in 2022. Armed with a psychology degree, a background in crisis work, undertaking a yearlong ontological life coaching training program through Accomplishment Coaching, and being a ICF certified coach, she founded her own business.
But that’s just the tip of the cake. Her life long transformational journey started when she was 16, she was diagnosed with debilitating chronic health conditions that plunged her into depression, anxiety, and a lack of self worth. When she was 33 she endured four strokes. But when she was in her lowest point, she showed a miraculous strength of character and instead of going down on the downward spiral and feeling sorry for herself she realized that she can choose happiness. But something was still missing.
It was not until January of 2022 when she realized that all that she was missing in her life was self love. Here is what she said.
Meet Life Coach Erin Wood:
Name: Erin Wood, ICF certified coach
Pillar: The Spirit, The Mind, The Heart
Who is this coach for: Anyone who wants to live up to their fullest potential, cultivate their ideal way of being, and make their dreams come true.
How they can help: Through various techniques and tools like active listening, asking powerful questions, reflection, and visualization just to name a few.
First of all, how are you and your family doing after these Pandemic times?
My husband and I are thriving right now.
We are both starting exciting new journeys.
He has just been accepted into Luther Seminary and has a dream of becoming a pastor.
I am an Ontological Life Coach and have started my coaching business Empower ME
Coaching LLC.
We are on an exciting journey of personal and spiritual growth.
We are grateful for the presence of our two beloved rescue dogs, Pippin and Gracie Mae, who
bring joy and companionship into our lives.
With hearts full of gratitude, we embrace this season of growth, love, and fulfillment.
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?
The pandemic impacted my clients in diverse ways.
Some faced loss and grief, while others encountered challenges to their hope and faith.
Many experienced isolation and sought connection, while others dealt with fear and a sense of powerlessness.
Overwhelm and the desire for control were common themes, as well as the need for meaningful connections.
Through our work together, we navigate these challenges, fostering healing, resilience, and growth.
What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?
The pandemic has been a profound teacher, imparting invaluable lessons that have shaped my perspective and transformed my life.
Firstly, it taught me the power of gratitude.
I developed a deep sense of appreciation for what I did have, recognizing the blessings and beauty in the ordinary moments of life.
Gratitude became a daily practice, helping me cultivate a positive outlook and find joy in even the simplest things.
Secondly, I discovered the true value of family and community.
During challenging times, my relationships with loved ones became even more precious.
I nurtured a stronger bond with my husband, cherishing each interaction as a precious gift.
We adapted to virtual connections and cherished outdoor visits, making each other a priority and deepening our connection.
Additionally, the pandemic led me to rediscover the beauty of life.
I reconnected with nature, finding solace and inspiration in its wonders.
I developed a newfound appreciation for the small, everyday miracles that I used to overlook.
This awakened a sense of awe and reverence, infusing my days with a renewed sense of wonder.
Lastly, the pandemic taught me the value of solitude and the importance of strengthening my relationship with God.
I embraced moments of being alone, using them as an opportunity for self reflection, introspection, and spiritual growth.
Through prayer, meditation, and deepening my faith, I found solace, guidance, and a profound connection to the divine.
In essence, the pandemic served as a catalyst for personal growth, teaching me to embrace gratitude, cherish relationships, appreciate the beauty in everyday life, and deepen my spiritual connection.
These lessons continue to shape my journey, allowing me to navigate life’s challenges with resilience, faith, and a greater sense of purpose.
The Origin:
Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?
My coaching career emerged as a pivotal part of my transformative journey towards self love.
It traces back to my lifelong battle with chronic illness.
As a child, I thrived with health, happiness, and confidence, excelling in sports and academics.
However, at the age of 16, I received the diagnosis of debilitating chronic health conditions that plunged me into depression, anxiety, and a lack of self worth.
Although I never gave up, life became a constant struggle, overshadowing my dreams.
From age 16 to 38, I navigated life in survival mode, encountering numerous mountains to climb.
At 33, I even faced the challenge of enduring four strokes.
Yet, amidst my lowest point, a profound realization struck me, I consciously chose happiness.
I collaborated with both traditional and non traditional medical professionals, embarking on a journey of self care.
However, something was still missing.
In January 2022, during a New Year’s resolution to improve myself, I delved into personal development and had an epiphany.
I discovered that I lacked self love and belief in my deservingness of joy and success.
Becoming a personal development enthusiast, life began to flow effortlessly.
Rather than life happening to me, I became a conduit through which life flowed.
By prioritizing myself, I experienced incredible results, including an 89 pound weight loss that enhanced my overall health and I was able to think clearer like I did before my strokes.
My growing self belief allowed me to recognize the value I had to offer others.
Armed with a psychology degree and a background in crisis work, I chose to transition from mental health to coaching clients seeking their fullest potential and the pursuit of their dreams.
Undertaking a yearlong ontological life coaching training program through Accomplishment Coaching, I founded my own business.
Recently, I had the privilege of being a guest on three podcasts, where I shared my transformative journey.
I invite you to watch and join me in exploring the profound power of self love and personal growth.
What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?
I transformed my biggest obstacle: myself.
I once struggled with self love, believing I wasn’t deserving of joy or success, and doubting my own value.
I identified as a chronically ill disabled woman, trapped in a victim mindset.
I let my health circumstances dictate my life, allowing things to happen to me.
But now, everything has changed.
I rediscovered self love and learned to get out of my own way.
I realized that prioritizing self care isn’t selfish, it’s a gift that enables me to help others without sacrificing myself.
I’ve become a different person.
By putting myself first, I embraced exercise and healthy eating, resulting in an 89 pound weight loss and newfound vitality.
I’ve never been healthier.
I now have the confidence to run my own business and openly share my story, inspiring others and empowering them to embark on their own transformative journeys.
Through my personal transformation, I’ve gained the ability to help others and contribute to the community without neglecting my own needs.
I’ve become a beacon of inspiration, radiating the message that change is possible and that self love is the catalyst for a fulfilling life.
The Coaching Style:
How do you innovate with coaching your clients?
One of the ways I innovate in coaching is by fostering a deep sense of trust and belief in my clients’ innate wisdom and capabilities.
I recognize that my clients are the experts of their own lives, and I approach coaching with the understanding that they have the inner resources and answers to reach their goals.
Creating a safe and supportive space, I encourage my clients to tap into their inner wisdom, intuition, and unique perspectives.
I facilitate their exploration of thoughts, feelings, and experiences, helping them gain insights and clarity on their goals and aspirations.
Through thought provoking questions, I prompt deep reflection and self discovery.
I challenge my clients to explore new perspectives, uncover limiting beliefs, and recognize their own strengths and resources.
Instead of imposing my own ideas or solutions, I empower my clients to take ownership of their journey and make decisions aligned with their values and aspirations.
I provide support as they navigate their path, respecting their autonomy and honoring their individuality.
By trusting my clients completely and honoring their inner wisdom, I create a partnership based on collaboration and empowerment.
This approach allows my clients to develop self confidence, make meaningful progress, and ultimately achieve their desired outcomes in an authentic and sustainable way.
What’s unique about your coaching approach?
I look at you as whole and complete, with all the answers within.
You are the expert in your life.
I am there to walk alongside you as your champion asking thought provoking questions to evoke awareness and hold a mirror so you can see the reflection of the greatness of who you are.
Ontology, the study of being, forms the foundation of my coaching approach.
I focus on supporting you in cultivating your way of being.
Your way of being encompasses how you communicate, behave, and interact with the world around you.
It encompasses your perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs that may often operate at a subconscious level.
Through our coaching journey, we explore and bring awareness to these underlying aspects of your way of being.
We delve into the patterns, habits, and thought processes that shape your actions and responses.
By shedding light on these unconscious aspects, we can uncover opportunities for growth, transformation, and personal development.
Together, we work on aligning your way of being with your goals, values, and aspirations.
We explore how your perceptions and attitudes influence your experiences and choices.
Through targeted interventions and exercises, we create space for new perspectives, empowering beliefs, and conscious behaviors to emerge.
By elevating your awareness of your way of being, you gain greater clarity, authenticity, and purpose in your life.
You become more intentional in your communication, interactions, and decision making.
This deep exploration of your being allows for meaningful personal and professional transformations to take place.
Ultimately, my coaching approach revolves around the understanding that by consciously shaping your way of being, you can unlock your full potential, enhance your relationships, and create a more fulfilling and aligned life.
What benefits do your clients get after working with you?
Working with me as their coach, my clients experience a profound transformation that touches every aspect of their lives.
Through our journey together, they gain a deep sense of self awareness and a newfound understanding of who they truly are at their core.
Together, we embark on a co creative process, crafting a personalized plan of action that empowers them to navigate their desired path and become the person they aspire to be.
This plan encompasses not only their goals and aspirations but also the alignment of their actions with their values and purpose.
One of the most profound shifts my clients experience is in their relationship with themselves.
They learn to cultivate a genuine and unwavering love for themselves, embracing their worthiness and acknowledging that they deserve to lead rich, fulfilling, and meaningful lives.
Through this self love, they shed the limiting beliefs that once held them back, freeing themselves from the constraints of self doubt and self sabotage.
A pivotal realization for my clients is that the primary obstacle standing in their way is often their own limiting beliefs and self imposed limitations.
Together, we explore these beliefs, challenging their validity and empowering my clients to rewrite their narratives with empowering and supportive beliefs.
A cornerstone of our work together is the power of self care.
My clients learn the invaluable lesson of prioritizing their own well being and making themselves a priority.
They discover that by nurturing and caring for themselves first, they cultivate the energy and resilience necessary to care for others authentically and wholeheartedly.
Through self care practices tailored to their unique needs, my clients embrace self compassion, self nurturing, and self replenishment as essential components of their daily lives.
As my clients embark on this transformative journey, they discover a newfound sense of empowerment, confidence, and clarity.
They awaken to their own potential, stepping into their authentic power and embracing the endless possibilities that await them.
With each milestone they reach and each belief they shift, they become the architects of their own destiny, shaping a life that aligns with their deepest desires and aspirations.
Ultimately, the benefits my clients receive from working with me extend far beyond the coaching sessions themselves.
They experience a profound shift in their perspective, creating a ripple effect that touches their relationships, careers, personal growth, and overall well being.
They become agents of change, embodying their authentic selves and inspiring others to embark on their own transformative journeys.
In the words of my clients:
- “Erin helped me look at life differently, from resigned to thriving. She encouraged self awareness, self care, and self love. Now, I see myself as open to possibilities.”
- “Erin has helped me make great changes in my life. She recognized my strengths and helped me focus on my goals. I highly recommend her coaching and empowerment tools.”
- “I have been meeting with Erin for about 2 months now, and I have made positive changes in my personal and work life. She assisted me with setting achievable goals that have allowed me to become more organized, energetic, and confident in making difficult changes. I am so happy that I found Erin to help coach me through this part of my life, and I recommend her to everyone.”
- “Erin Wood has been a great life coach for me! I have worked with her for 6 months now. She is upbeat, friendly, encouraging, creative, and wise. I have made progress towards my goals and now feel empowered and confident in achieving them. I would highly recommend Erin as a Life Coach!”
These testimonials from my clients further illustrate the transformative benefits they have experienced through our coaching journey together.
Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?
When it comes to efficiency in working with my clients, I employ a range of powerful tools that facilitate their growth and transformation.
First and foremost, active listening is a foundational tool I utilize.
By giving my full attention and genuinely hearing what my clients are expressing, I create a safe space for them to explore their thoughts, emotions, and aspirations.
Through active listening, I am able to understand their unique perspectives and gain valuable insights into their inner world.
Additionally, I employ the art of asking powerful questions.
These thought provoking inquiries help my clients delve deeper into their foundational beliefs, values, and desires.
By challenging their assumptions and encouraging them to explore new possibilities, powerful questions ignite self reflection and facilitate transformative insights.
Another valuable tool in my toolbox is reflection.
I skillfully reflect my clients’ words back to them, allowing them to hear their own thoughts and gain fresh perspectives.
This process fosters self awareness, as clients often discover hidden insights and unlock their own wisdom.
In addition to these foundational tools, I have specific tools designed to enhance self discovery and personal growth.
One such tool is focused on uncovering the essence of who my clients are and how they are perceived by the world around them.
This deepens their understanding of their authentic selves and helps align their actions with their true identity.
Another tool centers around identifying self protection mechanisms that may be hindering personal growth and self expression.
By recognizing these patterns, clients can consciously release them and embrace their vulnerability and authenticity.
One of my favorite tools involves a powerful exercise where clients envision themselves already living their dream and embodying the person they aspire to be.
Together, we create a reverse timeline, mapping out the milestones they need to achieve to manifest that future self.
This tool provides clarity, direction, and actionable steps towards their desired transformation.
By employing these various tools, I strive to make our coaching sessions efficient and impactful.
Each tool is tailored to the unique needs and goals of my clients, allowing them to gain self awareness, overcome limitations, and ultimately create profound shifts in their lives.
The Impact:
If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?
With the super megaphone amplifying my message to the world, I would share these empowering words:
In a world filled with noise and distractions, let us find solace within ourselves.
Be kind and gentle with your thoughts, for they shape your reality.
Embrace the greatness that resides within each and every one of us.
Believe in our potential, our unique talents, and the incredible contributions we can make to this world.
Too often, we underestimate the power of our own self talk.
We criticize, doubt, and belittle ourselves, unknowingly holding ourselves back from reaching our true potential.
But today, let us be our own champions.
Speak words of encouragement, support, and love to ourselves.
Celebrate our successes, no matter how small, and learn from our failures, seeing them as stepping stones to growth.
To truly unlock the magic of our dreams, we must step out of our comfort zones and venture into the unknown.
It is in those uncharted territories that the seeds of possibility are sown.
Let us embrace the exhilarating feeling of uncertainty, for it is a sign that we are expanding, growing, and evolving.
Take risks, pursue passions, and trust in our ability to overcome challenges along the way.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?
The power of self love has been an incredible revelation in my life, profoundly transforming my journey.
Embracing self love has had a cascading effect on every aspect of my being.
As I started to cultivate love and acceptance for myself, I witnessed a remarkable shift in my confidence and self perception.
Gone were the days of doubt and self criticism, replaced by a deep sense of worthiness and a recognition of the unique gifts and talents I possessed.
Through the lens of self love, I began to see myself as a vessel of immense value, with boundless potential waiting to be unleashed.
This newfound self assurance propelled me forward, empowering me to step into my purpose and share my authentic self with the world.
I discovered that by nurturing self love, I not only elevated my own well being but also became a source of inspiration and empowerment for others.
With each step I took on my journey of self love, I realized that I held the key to unlocking my fullest potential.
It became clear to me that self love was not merely a fleeting emotion but a profound choice to honor and cherish myself unconditionally.
Through self love, I discovered the courage to break free from self imposed limitations and step into the light of my true essence.
I embarked on a path of self discovery, embracing my strengths, acknowledging my weaknesses, and celebrating the beautiful imperfections that make me who I am.
The power of self love has not only transformed my relationship with myself but also how I interact with the world.
It has allowed me to show up authentically, radiating love and compassion towards others, and creating a ripple effect of positivity and empowerment.
As I continue to deepen my practice of self love, I am reminded of the infinite wellspring of love that resides within me.
It is a constant reminder to honor my needs, nurture my soul, and embark on a lifelong journey of self discovery and growth.
I am forever grateful for the profound impact that self love has had on my life, as it continues to guide me on a path of purpose, joy, and limitless possibilities.
Your final thoughts?
My final thoughts revolve around the power of choice and personal responsibility.
You hold the key to making powerful choices and taking ownership of your actions, fully embracing the consequences that follow.
By authentically showing up and taking decisive action, you can actively create the life you desire.
Remember, the time is now to stand for yourself and step into your personal power.
Additionally, personal growth is a lifelong journey that often requires stepping out of your comfort zone.
It may feel uncomfortable at times, but the rewards are immeasurable.
It’s not only about acquiring knowledge through reading and learning, it’s about integrating that knowledge into your daily life and taking action.
Embrace the discomfort and allow it to propel you forward on your transformative journey of personal growth.
Where Can You Find Erin Wood?
If you liked this interview and you would love to live up to your full potential, go to empowermecoachingllc.com and see how Erin can help you do that.
You can listen to few of her interviews and podcasts here:
If you’d like to connect more personally with her, you can do that through Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn account, or by sending her a message on her Email [email protected]. It was an honor having this interview with her.
