Trish

One-on-one with Trish

Why did you decide to join the CF Coaching program? What was going on in your life at the time?

I was profoundly unhappy with my work, marriage and income and I didn’t know how to fix any of it. Counselling had done little to help my husband and I reconnect after growing apart, and there was unbearable tension between he and I and he and our kids. While my business was successful, money was always tight, so I kept saying yes to freelance writing work I hated because I was afraid of saying no. I felt sick when I heard the cost of CF Coaching but I wanted so badly to create a future I could look forward to with optimism and not resignation.

Can you describe the impact of the program and what you learned from it?

In less than two months — just before pandemic lockdown began — I reversed the negative dynamic in our marriage. When I took responsibility for showing up with unconditional love and compassion, it radically changed how he showed up. The vibe in our home completely shifted: we all felt more safe, happy, understood and supported. Within a year, I had doubled my revenue working exclusively with clients doing meaningful work I respect. We also said yes to a longtime dream: renovating our 100-year-old house into a sustainable, energy-efficient dream home.

What was your number one takeaway?

I win whenever I follow my heart. This is a huge realization for a recovering perfectionist/martyr/victim who was terrified of failure and rejection, had a habit of saying yes when I wanted to say no, and no when I wanted to say yes. The program gave me the tools I needed to trust that I will be successful when I do what I love in a way I feel good about. The best part is living in harmony with my values creates beautiful outcomes for myself and everyone around me.

What is the biggest change you have seen in yourself or in your life?

I realized through this program that I’ve spent a lifetime bullying myself. Nothing I did was ever good enough for my inner critic: I was inwardly mean and judgmental of myself. Treating myself with the compassion, love and respect I show others has cleared my mind and lifted 1,000 pounds of weight from my heart. I now believe in myself, which sounds so simple but for me has been profound. I’m happier and more energized, creative, productive and free than I have felt in my entire life.

Any other thoughts or advice for someone who might consider doing CF’s coaching programs?

It takes as much work to go for the life you really want as it does to accept the misery of a life you don’t want. My investment in Catherine’s coaching has brought massively better returns for me than any vacation, stock portfolio or therapy I’ve ever tried.