Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen Scanlon.
Maureen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Just like everyone else, I’ve made some bad choices and decisions that I now know were learning lessons to allow me to be who I am today. I was married at 18, a mother at 19 and found myself in another country away from friends and family. I had chosen a difficult path as I was then alone with a husband in the military and in a domestic violence marriage with an alcoholic. I figured I had “no choice” but to stick it out. I was raised by parents who believe, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” Through the difficult times, I always knew I was worth more, but I didn’t believe it based on my day to day circumstances. One day, I finally got the courage to divorce my husband and raise three children on my own. Two of my children had struggles, one with ADHD and one with Bipolar Disorder. I had financial struggles, emotional stress, and health issues as I tried to parent alone. I continued to be in relationships that served someone else’s needs and allowed the abuse to continue. I had two bouts of cancer (Cervical and Skin), and I was walking with a cane at one point! Through it all, I would always talk to people about their problems. I loved helping people in spite of my own strife. My children used to call me the “counselor” and send all of their friends to me if they needed some encouragement or help.
As my children were finally growing into adults, I decided to take my life back! I realized I needed healing from childhood, marriage, and all of the negative experiences I had incurred. It took two years to figure out my worth and realize I had dreams! I met my twin flame, now husband, Dennis and realized what unconditional love looked like for the first time in my life. While on our honeymoon, I noticed people would always come up and talk to me. I love talking to people, sharing their stories and finding similarities in our lives. This is where I had my epiphany… I would become a Life Coach and help people learn to love themselves as I finally discovered I could!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We all have programming from our childhoods and past hurts. The human brain is wired to protect us from pain. The hardest part of beginning this dream was getting out of the comfort zone I had created. I had to fight the fear of the unknown and all of the past beliefs that I’d developed throughout my life. Believing in ourselves is the most challenging thing to do! Am I good enough? Will people want to come to me? Am I too old to start a business? Every day is a new endeavor and I have learned to take baby steps and give myself the mercy and compassion I have for others. I learn from those I coach and teach from the experiences I have had. Sometimes, all they need to hear is “You are amazing, and you are enough!” Life coaching is a new concept, so this is how I explain it when asked what I do. Life coaching is a new approach to figuring out who we are and why we act and react the way we do. I don’t dwell on a client’s past, we touch on it, then move forward with positivity, tools, techniques, and goals to help you achieve happiness and peace.
Maureen Scanlon Life Coaching – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As I started growing my coaching business, Maureen Scanlon Life Coaching, I took photos for the website. One day, I showed my best friend and she said, “I see this picture on the cover of a book.” I have never aspired to be an author, in fact, always felt my verbal was much better. But… in following where I was being led in my new journey, I simply said, “I guess I’m writing a book then”. And I did… in eight weeks to be exact and I had published within four months. “My Dog is More Enlightened Than I Am” came to life as I watched my dogs daily and realized what a beautiful and uncomplicated way they live. They love, have fun, and show compassion in amounts far greater than humans. The book is an inspirational and fun guide to teaching us to live from the example of the unconditional furry friends we share the planet with.
The most rewarding part of my business is the feedback and responses I receive. I also create retreats, group coaching, and women’s events. From these events and personal coaching, hearing clients say that I’ve changed their life, they are living their dreams, finding their worth, and breaking lifetime habits is such an incredible feeling! My mission and purpose in this lifetime is the moral behind the Starfish Story. A little boy is walking along the beach throwing starfish into the ocean that had washed ashore. An old man tells the child, there are thousands of them, you’re not going to make much of a difference. To which the little boy tosses another starfish and says to the man, “It mattered to that one.”
Tell us about your childhood, what were you like growing up?
I always felt like I was different from everyone else. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I remember swinging on the swings at 6yrs old and pondering about what my life would be like. I felt I didn’t belong in my family, and that no one really “got me.” I always felt like I was a lot of trouble, and honestly, I sometimes was… I was very aware of how everyone felt and would say or do something funny to make everyone laugh. I always felt life should be fun.
Pricing:
- Life Coaching Sessions – $120 per session with package deals for 5 or more
- My Book- My Dog is More Enlightened Than I Am is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Outskirts Press
- Motivational Speaking and Group Coaching also available
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lifecoachmaureen.com
- Instagram: maureen.nelson.756
- Facebook: @LifeCoachMaureenS
- YouTube: Lifecoach Maureen Scanlon
- Other: https://outskirtspress.com/MyDogisMoreEnlightenedThanIAm
Image Credit:
Amy Michele Photography, Tera Barnes Photography
Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
