I almost cancelled. 

I was so close to sending an I’m so sorry to do this last minute, but… message and backing out of my first creative coaching session with bestselling author + writer Hannah Brencher. 

Not because I didn’t want to meet her and brainstorm and get our minds firing on my writing dreams together. Rather, it didn’t make sense to take a coaching call at that moment in time.

Our call was scheduled 10 days before my wedding. I was coordinating last-minute details and helping organize family travel plans. I was packing and unpacking all of our belongings in our new apartment. I was wrapping up work before taking three weeks off. There were also, of course, all the big pre-marriage feels and reflections. And, most notably of all, there was the fact my mother-in-law was undergoing her first round of chemo, just two weeks before her first son’s wedding. This was not how any of us dreamed the engagement season would look.

Truly, it didn’t make sense to meet with Hannah. 

And yet, I knew in the depths of me that I needed it. I knew I needed a space where I could create something all my own. I knew this was going to be a light in the dark of bone-tired stress—a levity and joy when I just wanted to run away and hide. 

So I showed up to our call as scheduled. And boy, I’m so glad I did.

What followed was the beginning of a fresh wave of creativity, possiblities, and freedom in my spirit that quite honestly has forever changed me. I can’t quite describe the healing.

Since that call, Hannah and I have met many times and continued to review and study my work. Not only have I seen my blog, website, writing, and social media channels level up, but I’ve noticed the biggest change within me. Here are some key reflections I’ve taken away from my time with Hannah, and why I encourage anyone and everyone to invest in their creativity. It’s not frivolous—it’s freeing and fulfilling in ways you couldn’t imagine. 

First things first, what even is creative coaching?

“Coaching” can seem nebulous. Is it real? Is it a scam? What do you actually get out of it? These are some of the questions I had beforehand, if I’m being honest. I had an idea of what creative coaching was before my first call with Hannah, but going through the process myself really clarified the structure and value of it.

I would define creative coaching as a space to share goals, dreams, and ideas with someone who can help us move forward and solve problems we’re facing. It’s inviting someone to come alongside us who can see the big picture and point us in the right direction. Someone who encourages us at our forks in the road and urges us to keep going. Someone who asks strategic questions that unlock new thoughts and perspectives, and then helps us craft a plan to chase them down.

Having set aside time to talk about my writing and dreams with someone who champions my work is fulfilling, validating, and life changing. 

There’s nothing like talking with someone who not only gets it but wants to see me succeed. My perspective has shifted so much from this is just a little side thing I do to this is my calling, and any work I put toward it is valuable and beautiful. I’ve learned that when I start taking my own work seriously, others do, too. 

Each hour I’ve spent investing in my craft has been an hour well spent. Creativity can feel lonely at times, but it doesn’t have to. Each session with Hannah has reminded me that there are people out there who light up about the same things I do and who want to see me succeed. Talk about empowering. Freeing. 

My mindset shift has perhaps been one of the biggest, juiciest, most abundant fruits of coaching.

So many of the reasons I didn’t start sharing my writing earlier—or at least didn’t think I could—stemmed from false beliefs in my head. My own mindset was holding me back and keeping me small. I thought I couldn’t write meaningful blog posts, share on social media, or grow a readership until I got permission from someone—or everyone. I believed the lie that pursuing my art was selfish, that I wasn’t credible enough, that I had to wait to start growing a business, that no one would find my work valuable… I was stuck in a cycle of self-imposed defeat. 

These internal barriers kept me stuck. There was actually nothing and no one between me and my writing + business dreams coming true. It was all in my head. This surfaced immediately in my first call with Hannah. As I answered different questions and shared where I felt stuck, she gently but firmly pointed out the truth and how I was letting these lies box  me in.  This is really when a deep confidence, clarity, and tenacity swelled up within me. Each session since has helped me view my work, goals, and progress in the light of reality. 

It took talking to someone else to help me break down the invisible—albeit powerful—beliefs keeping me stuck in the mud and insecure as ever. Over time, I finally started to believe:

I am a writer. 

My work is valuable and worthy. 

Pursuing this work is important.

Writers grow readerships. 

I am allowed to grow a readership—it’s not self-centered. 

Writing is one way I can serve others. 

I can write about all the things on my mind—I’m not limited to a tiny niche. 

I don’t need permission to share my work online.

Other people may judge me. But I know this is my calling. So I will take steps forward in faith.

Experiencing the freedom in these statements was like coming up for fresh air after a lifetime of believing the lies. It was monumental and propelled me to keep going. Which is what led me to my next breakthrough. 

I got clear action steps. 

Before working with Hannah, whenever my excitement and ideas were brewing at max speed, it could be hard to know the next best step. It’s easy to think we need a foolproof, air-tight plan to keep going. One of the best parts of my coaching experience was understanding that any step forward was a good step. Period. Progress over perfection. 

And, by the same token, I did find it valuable to get feedback from someone who could see my progress from a 30,000-foot view. She could repeat back what I was saying was important to me and bring clarity around next steps—what would be important for me to tackle in the coming weeks to reach my long-term goals. Developing a plan together gave me vision and understanding for how to bring Everest-sized goals to life in bite-size, short-term steps. 

Another noteworthy part of this breakthrough for me?

Investing in the process mattered.

I firmly believe that we invest our time, attention, and money into what matters most to us (whether we’re conscious of it or not). Investing in creative coaching made me realize: this is really important to me, and I will work really hard to see it through. There’s something about saving and paying for things that puts a little more skin in the game than if we were to get them for free. We treat them differently. We see them more clearly and value them more. Because I saw the fruit of my coaching almost immediately, I knew it was worth saving up over time—both my money and my questions—to truly savor each session.

I’ve learned so much from people who have gone before me and pursued + valued their own creative work. If any of this stirs up excitement or revs up the butterflies in your stomach, I have good news. 

I’d love to help you chase your creative goals. 

I know what it’s like to feel stuck. And I know what it’s like to break free from the snares of defeat. I’m here to help you identify your dreams, break down the things (lies) keeping you stuck, and craft a roadmap to make your dreams a reality. 

Ready to get unstuck?

If you feel like you’ve got ideas but no roadmap—or you just need someone to help you see your gifts clearly—I’d love to help. I offer 1:1 creative coaching for aspiring writers, bloggers, and idea-makers who are ready to take action.

You can learn more and book a call here!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

P.S. More creative resources for you…

— Why I Think You Should Start a Blog

— The #1 Writing Tip That’s Pushed Me Forward

— When’s the Last Time You Created Just Because?