We recently connected with Beth Gatlin and have shared our conversation below.
Beth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
My past includes trauma and depression and my struggles eventually led to drug addiction. So, let’s say I made friends with risk a long time ago. I was a teen mom, so that tells you one of the first “adult” risks I took (laugh out loud.) Thankfully, that was a risk that gave me a beautiful reward, my daughter Lyra. Some time later, my son, Lennon, was born. Their dad and I were together for ten years.
My twenties were spent learning how to care for my babies and coping with the struggles I had. I thought I was living the boring life of a mom, spending all my energy on their everyday needs. But when I look back, I see I spent those years risking. I risked the chance of never bettering my mental health. I risked never being able to follow my dreams. I risked missing out on a beautiful life because eventually, those struggles led to suicidal ideation, which led to my drug addiction in 2018. The way I see it now, you are always risking something. What is important to understand is what are you risking and is it worth it.
I wouldn’t change anything because the depth of darkness I experienced is nothing compared to the peace and joy I have in my healing journey. The suffering I endured affected my children but is nothing compared to the joy they have in our healing together as a family. Though I wouldn’t change a thing, for me, my passion is on fire to help others not have to travel in such dark depths. This passion has turned into my business, which represents who I am and the life I live, The Healing Addict LLC.
I had quite a few turning points in my life from 2018 until now. But, when I think of risks I think of 2021. I decided I was done risking my dreams, my peace, my sanity, and my integrity as a mother. I had still been risking continuing the patterns of my depression and falling back into addiction. I risked it by not believing in myself, and my worthiness of going after the desires that loudly called after me. I shifted risk in my mind that year. No more risking success for faith in failure. I live a life of risking failure to gain success, now.
From full-time professional musician to writer, to life coach…the risk was so worth it.
Beth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I began The Healing Addict LLC because that’s who I am. Everything that has helped me get through the cycles of depression and addiction, I bring into the world now through my business. I sing, performing all over for various venues and events. I use that platform to share the music I have written throughout the years. I am a writer, and just published my first children’s book but I laughingly call it my business card. I recently began life as a creative mentor and I have a program called “Glow Up From the Soul Up.” This book represents who I am, the thought process behind my life, and what I teach my clients. It’s called I Want to Be Wild! Wild is an acronym. W for willing to try, I for imagine your goodness and success, L for love yourself through the process, and D for decide. Deciding is the most important, because it’s not about the details which we get caught up in. It’s important to just decide and jump off the cliff when it comes to believing in ourselves. Being wild is all about giving yourself the freedom to explore who you are knowing there’s goodness inside of us and we can put that out into the world if we just decide to.
I work with women who are moving out of their past and creating a life from their now healing selves. I guide those who have experienced a transformation of the inside, they have healed so much. But they are having trouble getting their lives to reflect their authenticity. I’ve been there, my life was built on the belief system of my past where I didn’t feel worthy of my desires. I didn’t even know how to imagine a life that felt good to me when I was stuck in my past. You don’t realize how much your thoughts control you until you start working with those who truly believe in you and can help you untangle from the past. I love guiding someone to the truth of who they are…whole and beautiful and worthy! We work together to get their thoughts to reflect that truth, and that is something I LOVE to witness.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
The thing about me is my life is my business and my business is my life. It’s a beautiful flow of healing, learning, and growing that cultivates creativity and lessons to teach so I put it right back out in the world. I have learned to be vulnerable and share the good, the hard, the ugly, and the beauty. If you had told me 10 years ago I would share for the world to see about an eating disorder, a drug addiction, an abusive relationship, and the journey I took to heal, I would not have recognized that ability in me. I don’t share just to make things public, it’s very much a part of my process and comes from a pure desire to shine a light on these topics in society, releasing stigmas and shame. I believe the vulnerability, the healing nature of what I do, and the intentions behind everything bring a frequency in all that I do that resonates with people’s hearts. It gives space for someone else to be vulnerable, to heal, to release shame, and to find hope for their challenges. Everything I do is in love, love that has taken me down into the pits of darkness and out…and now I back everything I do with that love. My reputation is built on people feeling that.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Social media has been such a wonderful tool. It is so humbling to have a person message me saying they are struggling with similar things I have talked about or seek advice on a challenge. I began a podcast and YouTube channel this year so that I can help inspire real growth and healing in someone’s life, that can resonate as if my lessons and encouragement are coming from their best friend. I want it to feel easy to listen to, real and truthful, not filled with fluf. That’s why I named my show “Your Best Friend Beth.” The brand I am building is about vulnerability and love, and that comes with acknowledging some hard things often, but it’s so amazing to see everyone celebrate the wins, as well. That’s what fuels the journey. It has been beautiful connecting with so many in this way. This year I have been focused on getting more involved in the community, in person. I have created relationships with those in the creative field with open mic nights or collaborating. I am learning from those in mental health careers when they have events that offer education and training. I am going to events to learn how I can be active in our youth’s lives. I have been listening to those around me and learning where I can be of service, in the most impactful ways. I have been cultivating connections with those who share similar passions and things are beginning to come together in a new way for me.
I am so excited to share my newest venture. I am creating a program I’ll bring to the community this year. I am working with two different organizations and will be announcing when things are finalized. I’ll get to help empower people, inspiring creativity, healing, self-love, and who knows what goodness can flow when that’s the intention. I want to go where I am needed and right now, that’s looking like my community. I love having these opportunities to be of service in a way that resonates with me, my business, and essentially my own life.
Contact Info:
- Website: bethgatlin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Yourbfbeth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557014530672&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bestfriendbeth
- Other: podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6VbVqaBUDrLc7TUmjsFlaX?si=fe6f12fd01a142bf Music channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bethgatlinmusic