On this month's Chat with Crystal, Ginny calls in.

Ginny shares that she always thought she was confident for most of her life, but lately, she's been catching herself in self-doubt. 

She says that she listens back to things she says at work and thinks to herself, "shut up, Ginny!" When Crystal asks what she means, Ginny explains that she is in constant people-pleasing mode, always apologizing when she doesn't need to and over-thanking people for every little thing. She wants to be her most empowered self but feels like this people-pleasing energy is holding her back. Ginny also explains that she quit drinking months ago, which has made her feel great, but since then, she started noticing these behaviours. She acknowledges that drinking was definitely part of her confident 'mask' that got her through many situations in life. Crystal works with Ginny to identify her two parts, or archetypes, that are coming to the surface -- little 8-year old 'Sarah' and 'Ginger' — her teenage 'addict' daughter energy. This call is filled with so many gems! Be sure to tune in.

I Hate My Inner People Pleaser

On this month's Chat with Crystal, Sarah joins the call. 

Sarah shares that she feels she's been struggling for a long time. She says she feels 'stuck in a rut' and knows she needs to push forward with her own business and get financially secure but feels the lack of motivation in her personal life has taken over. 

After chatting further, Crystal tells Sarah that she thinks there's something deeper happening, and rather than directly talking about Sarah's messaging and her business, she wants to help figure out what the block is in Sarah's life that's keeping her stuck. 

Together, Crystal takes Sarah through a body scan exercise to understand where she's feeling resistance in her body and help her open up her heart to be vulnerable. After doing so, Sarah shares that she knows what the thing in her life is that keeps her stuck — her abusive marriage. Together, they work through some fears and obstacles that Sarah has around leaving to help solution them and make them seem not as scary, as well as some small action steps to help Sarah put boundaries in place.

I Have No Motivation

On this episode, Crystal kicks it off by sharing some of her own experiences since our last Chat with Crystal episode, including how she was able to “release” 40 lbs during our hiatus. Although it feels incredible, it’s really not about the weight. Crystal shares how enforcing more boundaries, speaking her truth, and inviting more “temperance” into her life (her “word” of the year) has made such a massive impact.

Our first caller is Amy. Having chatted with Crystal before over one-on-one coaching, Amy shares how although she’s gotten everything “ready to go” for an upcoming project she’s launching at her already established and super cool business; she’s finding herself stuck in fear and unable to execute it and share it with her world (and her already “warm” list), in fear of being judged. Crystal helps Amy identify where she’s feeling this fear in her body, work through it, and help reframe things in a more accurate and Self-loving way. As we always teach in Empowerment Coaching: emotions first, strategy second. 

Sonia joins the last bit of the call. She expresses that she’s having a bit of a rough time after her daughter shared with her that she was sexually assaulted as a 7-year-old little girl by another boy her age. Sonia says she’s having trouble understanding it and figuring out the best way to support her. Crystal discusses Active Listening versus Reflective Listening and how Sonia can make space for her daughter to ensure she feels heard and validated.

Fear is Stopping Me In My Tracks

In honor of International Women's Day, for the first time, we opened up our private conference lines for another hour of Chat with Crystal this month! This is a chance for more women to get 1-on-1 coaching with Crystal, free of charge and anonymously. Yay!

During this episode, Crystal first chats with Joscelyn, who shares that as a coach-in-training, she's having trouble remembering her "why," and is experiencing some limiting beliefs that are causing her to self-sabotage. Some of these beliefs include, who am I to be a coach? Who would I work with? Who would my client be? While at the same time, Joscelyn also shares that she's at a stage in her life where she doesn't want to feel that she owes anyone anything. She'd love to be able to create a career on her terms, like a coaching biz. Joscelyn also shares that she's always been introverted and that the sisterhood and community within the school have been so significant for her, as she's been emotionally hurt by female friends over the years that she's never really been able to recover from fully. She also shares that she often worries about her adult daughter, whose partner Joscelyn believes is a narcissist, and wishes she could have done a better job in some ways while raising her to help her see her worth. Crystal helps Joscelyn see things in both her career and coach training and the situation with her daughter through different and more empowered lenses. 

Danielle then joins the call and shares that she has big dreams and feels she's not reaching her full potential, which frustrates her. Between her and her partner and their blended family, they have a lot of children to care for, which they love, but she's often so busy taking care of everyone else. There are also some financial limitations and situations that could be better for Danielle. As a natural comedian, she says that she secretly loves making funny TikTok videos to make light of things. However, she feels a little nervous and "cringey," sharing them with the world. Crystal and Danielle talk about taking the first step toward her bigger dreams and how small steps of courage lead to giant strides.

Small Steps Lead to Giant Strides

During this episode of Chat with Crystal, Crystal chats with Johanna from Finland. 

Johanna starts the call by asking, “Is it possible to just be an author without having a company?” 

Johanna shares that she’s written and self-published three books but is a “very bad salesperson” and says she loves writing but doesn’t know how to sell the books. At the same time, she ran a company for ten years, but is in a different stage of her life, having since gotten married, had a child, and is now in her 40s, in her perimenopause and wants to minimize stress and enjoy this next phase of life, while also ensuring her child is old enough for her to have more time for herself. But, she feels conflicted because she has a big vision, message, and dreams that she believes will help the world. 

This is a conversation about women in business, publishing, menopause (and perimenopause), hormones, and more!

Do I honor this stage of my life or push through toward my dreams?

During this episode of Chat with Crystal, Melody joins the line. 

She shares that, as a student in the Personal Empowerment Coach Certification, she keeps procrastinating starting her practice coaching sessions (as all students near the end of their training with the S.W.A.T. Institute must complete 30 practice coaching sessions to graduate). 

Having previously called into Chat with Crystal before, Melody also shares that she's feeling excited as her business idea, which she discussed on the last call, has since morphed into something even more beautiful. And that she and her husband have had a breakthrough since then, too, and this could be a business for both of them. 

But yet, she still finds herself nervous and procrastinating rolling it out. 

As they start talking, she shares that part of the reason for this is that her business will deal with helping people transition from religion to spirituality--something that has been so transformational in both her and her husband's life. But, she fears what people will think, with many of her friends still heavily a part of her old church. 

Catherine then joins the call. She shares that having recently had a massive breakthrough and release, she sees so much clarity about her bigger mission and purpose. But a little stuck in the mundane of everyday life, she doesn't know where to begin or her next step.

Why am I procrastinating my purpose?

During September's Chat with Crystal, Angela calls in. She shares that as a coach herself, helping guide people to awaken their spiritual wholeness, she is struggling with feeling a little like an imposter. Although she's so energetically high and healed in so many areas of her life, she struggles with this "push and pull" dynamic with her partner of 20 years. Although he's supportive of her spiritual path, he's not on his own, and she often finds herself feeling a little irritated with him, although she loves him and wants to stay in the relationship. As she and Crystal chat, Angela shares that she often holds men at a distance and tends to push them away--something she's done her whole life--and knows that this is something she's doing with her partner. She and Crystal dive into this feeling deeper to identify why she might have trouble letting men in and try a process to begin to push past this. 

Angela shares her ah-ha moment, and Crystal leaves her with some homework to try. This is a call about vulnerability and being open and honest with ourselves.

Why Do I Push Men Away?

On this episode of Chat with Crystal, Michela joins the call. She starts by sharing that she has a poor relationship with money that she needs to work on. And that growing up, although she knew people who made money, she never saw anyone doing work they loved. She was taught that work should be a struggle. And as an academic who now works remotely from her laptop, putting in long days, she feels that because she's not on her feet every day working, her parents don't really think it's work. Just recently starting her training to become an Empowerment Coach, Michela shares that she wants this lucrative and fulfilling career but feels that she has a story and belief holding her back. She gives another example of organizing a vacation with her friends on her card and having anxiety that they aren't going to pay her back. 

As she and Crystal chat into this deeper, the words "trust" and "fear" come up for her. Especially around her mother, the hardships and betrayal she faced on account of her growing up, and the pain she felt always striving for her approval. 

Listen as Michela experiences an emotional breakthrough, and Crystal leaves her with some tangible processes and action steps to try to move the needle on healing this story.

I Have A Fear Story Around Money

On this episode of Chat with Crystal, Sabrina joins the call. 

She shares that she’s not entirely sure why she’s calling in but that she’s had a few things weighing on her. 

As an Empowerment Coach in training at the S.W.A.T. Institute, Sabrina shares that she’s feeling nervous about starting her 30 practice coaching calls that she needs to complete to graduate. She mentions that she feels like she’s naturally quieter and is worried about having awkward silences or not having the right words to say as a coach.

She also shares that her studies have taken her much longer than initially planned, as she’s had three children in the last five years. Sabrina also says that she’s coming to the end of her maternity leave in a few months, and she’s dreading going back to her 9-5 job. As much as she’s nervous, she wants to get her practice coaching calls completed so she can graduate and start her coaching business, but she keeps getting in the way of herself.

Listen to Crystal ask Sabrina questions on what exactly she wants her business to look like, get clarity on her WHY, and help look at things through different lenses. 

This is a call that many women can relate to who are delaying starting the thing they want to do. 

Psst… during the episode, Crystal mentions our upcoming Free Masterclass: Build Your Courage Muscle and Develop Unwavering Confidence in Yourself So You Can Activate Your Full Potential.

Want to grab your spot? Visit: https://www.swatinstitute.com/courage-masterclass/.

I’m Nervous to Start Coaching

During this episode, Michela calls in. You may remember her if you listened to October's Chat with Crystal. 

She shares that she just turned 40 and has dreamed of having a baby for several years. Having frozen her eggs and embryos, Michela now feels she's in a place where she's ready, but keeps feeling stuck in shame and fear around people's judgment about conceiving solo via IVF and a sperm donor rather than with a partner. 

Although having had the opportunity to have a child with a partner early in her 30s, Michela shares she feels shame for deciding not to move forward with her pregnancy at that time, as her relationship and situation weren't ideal for raising a child. 

Now, in a much better place but single, she can't help feeling this inner calling to be a mother, but another part of her worries about what people will think. 

Not acting on what she really wants to do is causing her to feel angry and frustrated with herself. 

Listen to Crystal coach Michela around making this big decision, navigating what it would look like, and encouraging her to work on forgiving herself to move forward with empowerment and surety. 

This call is about self-love, worthiness, reframing, and trusting your inner whispers.

I Want To Have A Baby on My Own

This was such a kickass episode to kick off the year, and we received great feedback from the live callers. We're so excited for you to hear it!

During this episode, Melanie calls in. She shares that as a fellow coach, she knows that coaches are "supposed to be perfect," but honestly, she's feeling a little stuck and beaten down. She shares that her tank is empty, and she's having trouble finding the desire to do better. Melanie says that journalling isn't doing it, gratitude isn't doing it—and she's feeling at a standstill. She needs some inspiration. 

Having lost 103 pounds and been on her game as a coach in the industry, Melanie recently moved from California to a rural area in Texas and is having trouble finding her groove and, most importantly, her people. Melanie shares that she's let 30 lbs creep back on, and though she knows "what to do" and how to get the weight off, she's feeling stagnant and "invisible" and doesn't know where to go from here.

This is a conversation about finding your "tribe," quieting your addict, and finding the courage to shine your brightest!

PS Interested in joining our new webinar, How to Get Unstuck in 2024? Grab your spot here >> https://www.swatinstitute.com/get-unstuck-in-2024.

We're live this Wednesday at 630 pm ET. 🎉

I Need More!

Chat with Crystal is a fresh, new podcast that allows listeners to hear real-life empowerment coaching calls with best-selling author and founder of the S.W.A.T. Institute -- the #1 Empowerment Coach Certification in the world, exclusively for women!

To learn more about how to join the call live and get coached yourself, visit: https://www.swatinstitute.com/chat-with-crystal-podcast.