We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aerica Sanders a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Aerica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

In my journey as a coach, I’ve always understood the power of guiding moms to cultivate inner calm in their relationships, both with themselves and others. Yet, what surprised me were the unexpected areas where these changes could profoundly impact their lives. Take, for instance, one client who was grappling with the decision of whether to end her marriage. Instead of diving into discussions about her relationship directly, our work began by focusing on her self-relationship. Over three weeks, we delved into how she could honor her own needs and desires. To my surprise, she messaged me after this period, revealing her decision to pursue divorce. It dawned on me that nurturing a positive self-relationship empowers individuals to navigate tough choices. This realization was further reinforced when another client disclosed during a session that she no longer relied on a nightly bottle (5 glasses) of wine for relaxation – something I hadn’t even known she was struggling with. It’s incredible how transforming the self-relationship can ripple into unexpected facets of life. The power of coaching is life changing!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

More than 15 years ago, I found myself waking up to a life in shambles. The weight of a failing marriage, financial turmoil, and heaviness took over my life. I felt unheard, unappreciated, and alone. It was then that I made the decision to change how I felt. I sought therapy, immersed myself in countless books, and eventually found what I was missing in coaching. It changed my life. This journey paved the way for me to become a coach myself, specializing in guiding women through their own struggles. Through my own challenges, I came to realize that often, it’s not the difficulties themselves, but our lack of tools to navigate them that leaves us feeling overwhelmed. I also learned that we have a tendency to compound our problems by how we handle them. My mission now is to equip my clients with the tools to find calm amidst chaos, to empower them to honor their desires, and to let go of whatever holds them back from living their fullest, most authentic lives.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to rethink a few things. One is the idea that others are responsible for my emotions, like saying, “he/she made me mad.” Believing this puts you at the mercy of others’ actions, leading to an emotional roller coaster. Let me illustrate why it’s not true: if someone criticizes my children in the same way, their reactions vary. My son might brush it off, while my daughter might feel upset. Why? Because it’s not the words that make someone mad; it’s your interpretation of them. You control your thoughts. Feeling out of control leaves you powerless and constantly triggered. The second thing I’ve had to let go of is the belief that I could change others by communicating my needs. This often leads to pain; people only change if they want to. You have to accept others as they are and decide if you want them in your life. This is how you reclaim your peace and power.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe what truly helped me build my reputation within my market is the life-changing results my clients experience. Seeing them transform their lives and achieve significant improvements is a testament to the effectiveness of my approach and the value I provide. It’s the success stories and positive feedback from satisfied clients that have helped me establish credibility and trust within my industry. I had a client who went on a family trip with a big group of people to St. Martin for the Holidays. Everyone there asked her what had she done differently because she seemed like a brand new person, she was so calm. This is the best way to build a reputation not only doesn’t the client feel it but others see it too.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aericasanders.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aericasanders/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aericasanders
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aerica-sanders-b7874855/