Life isn’t going to be easy and if you’re here, you’re likely having a hard time trying to figure out a problem you’re dealing with. I’m glad that you’re here because you’ve just taken the most important step, getting help.
A question you need to ask yourself and a quiz to take.
Question: Do you know what the problem is or at least do you have a really good idea about what’s wrong? Truth is when you accurately know what has to be addressed, you can get to the right solution. Sadly, too many people get derailed precisely because they’ve missed what really needs to be solved for.
Take the quiz below:
Do you know what you’re trying to resolve? Y M N
Are you certain? Y M N
Do you know why you need to resolve it? Y M N
Do you know what you’ll need to know in order to resolve your situation? Y M N
Do you know why what you’re seeking is actually what you need to know? Y M N
Are you certain? Y M N
Do you know what questions you need to ask to get the answers you need? Y M N
Do you know who to ask or where to go to get the answers you need? Y M N
Do you know how the answers will actually help you? Y M N
Do you know how to implement the answers you get? Y M N
For “yes” answers - verify!
For “no” answers - get help.
For “maybe” answers - it’s either yes or no so decide which it actually is and verify or get help.
I help you: understand your circumstances, clarify what’s actually happening, determine what needs to be done, identify the solutions that will resolve what you’re dealing with, and implement the solutions identified.
In coaching you’ll learn how to courageously embrace the challenges you’re facing. You’ll use specific strategies to progress from what first happened to you all the way through to its resolution. Along the way I’ll introduce you to researched backed approaches on how to use your body to combat stress, and to 3 simple practices you can do everyday to be in your life more effectively.
My intention is that you not only resolve the situation you’re in today, but to become someone who can skillfully address your life’s next challenges when they arise. This is Peak Performance Living.
Resilience. As it is being used today, is never the goal. Going back to what was, but no longer is, isn’t an option. You don’t go back to where you were, but you can go forward from where you are. This is why humans learn. We learn so we can go forward better.
Adversity. Difficult, painful and hard circumstances require growth - learning how to be different to address them. We grow better by adapting to circumstances that require adopting new resources. The difficulties encountered in life’s challenging circumstances offer the most accessible opportunities to become better resourced and therefore, the chance to change for the better. In therapy we call this post traumatic growth.
Consider this, happiness is all the more joyful because you've known sorrow's grief. The celebration of success is sweetest after you've suffered great and repeated failure. Ease feels even lighter if you've carried the weight of pain. Difficulty is an important part of life. When we learn to see it that way it becomes a process we go through in order to gain what we never could have without it.
As of this writing I’ve been on the earth over 6 decades and I live a satisfying life. I’ve been coaching for over 40 years, in addition to a number of other iterations I’ve had along the way (e.g. financial services executive, development professional, pastor, little league coach, composer, speaker, author, father of four adult children, grandfather “Baba”, world traveler, wine drinker, coffee lover, brother, uncle, descendant of the enslaved, of Fulani lineage, son of an opera singer, recovering french hornist, and more). Life for me hasn’t been easy, I’ve been through many crisis and hardships throughout it. What has happened started early judging from a 10” scar on my right arm, a scar of unknown origin that I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I don’t ever want to minimize that and other life changing events that involved: family, children, work, relatives, 3 near death experiences, parents, church, employers, employees, finances, housing, death, murder, job loss, bullying, violence at home, welfare, discrimination, racism, and much much more. However, what I’ve endured, I’ve grown because of not in spite of.
Hard and painful experiences always helped prepare me to accept the invitation into the next phase of my life. They are the roots of my work helping others successfully get through life’s inevitable and unavoidable problems. They are what has helped me find joy in things like my kids and grandkids, sunsets in the Pacific Northwest where I live, watching clients’ lives metamorphosize, having coffee with new and old friends, playing games, teaching Stillness Practice, leading workshops, walking the beach, staring at the ocean, hearing peoples’ stories, and just waking up each day.
I look at my life this way. I AM because hard things: made me learn, gave me skills that changed me, imparted wisdom I’d not know any other way, provided perspective to understand, compelled humility that quenched my pride, and enabled me to love myself as is.
I’ll repeat the word of encouragement from above because it is true. Consider this, happiness is all the more joyful because you've known sorrow's grief. The celebration of success is sweetest after you've suffered great and repeated failure. Ease feels even lighter if you've carried the weight of pain. Difficulty is an important part of life. When we learn to see it that way it becomes a process we go through in order to gain what we never could have without it.
Coaching. I’ve been coaching for over 40 years. More than just my certified coach training, my coaching education is my Brown University BA in Organizational Behavior (human growth, development and behavior, in organized systems). I’m a C.O.R.E. Practices* Master Coach. Get the full FAQ!
Sharing Wisdom. I’ve given a TEDx Talk at University of Paderborn Germany, been a featured speaker for National Education Association NH, Clinical Lab Managers Association, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Community College of Vermont, and Banknorth Group on these signature topics: Foundations of Well-Being; Dealing with Difficulty; and The Practice of Stillness. Get the full FAQ!
Lived Experience. In addition to being a master coach, the lived professional experience I have also plays a key role in what I offer to clients. And that’s a lot, in case you missed it above, here’s the recap: a dad of 4 adult children, a grandfather, an adjunct college educator, a writer, a nonprofit board member, an athlete, arts advocate, recovering french hornist, former senior financial services executive, former minister, an entrepreneur, and world traveler. Get the full FAQ!
I’d love to work with you! You can achieve how you want change, and find the inner strength and serenity you need. If you’re ready or just curious, click the button below and let’s set up a First Step Conversation and begin your journey back to wholeness.
Eric
*C.O.R.E. Practices is a systematic approach to coaching that I created. It’s based in my 40 years of coaching, proven science, research, wisdom traditions and spiritual practices. I’m proud to use it as my modality to help clients achieve the lives they need and show up in life as their best selves.
Dr. Jaih Jackson, DDS
“My experience with Eric Russell as my life coach has been incredibly rewarding and transformative. From the moment I started my journey with him, I knew I was in good hands.
The catalyst that led me to seek coaching was the loss of my mother, and Eric has been an invaluable source of support throughout this challenging time. He has shown unwavering empathy and understanding, helping me navigate the complex emotions that arise from grief.
What sets Eric apart is his approach to coaching. His words are always thoughtful and insightful, offering me valuable perspectives that I hadn’t considered before.
Eric is an exceptional life coach who possesses a remarkable ability to connect with me on a deep level. His kind and caring nature, combined with his commitment to establishing healthy routines and providing the tools, make him a true asset in the field. I am grateful for the positive impact Eric has had on my life, and I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone seeking compassionate support and guidance on their personal journey of growth and healing.”
“Eric is a wonderful coach. He guides his clients gently and joyfully into a new and better direction for their lives.”
Ryan M. Weisgerber, Stories and Tips for Evolving on Purpose
“I love working with Eric. It can be so hard to see new solutions after I’ve sat with a problem for a long time, and Eric’s ability to highlight subtleties in my approaches that aren’t working for me and offer alternatives is invaluable.
Essentially, what Eric does is help construct a path from where you are to where you’re going. He’s helped me identify a group of mentors and helpers who’ve already achieved pieces of what I’m building so I can learn from them and hasten my arrival; he’s highlighted a new audience I can serve with what I’m creating; and he’s repeatedly helped me reframe the questions I’m asking myself to make sure that the questions I’m asking can produce the answers I need.”
“Thank you for giving me the tools and courage to set off on this new course. Things have been moving very quickly over the past two weeks. It’s not lost on me the role you’ve played in my trajectory.”
