We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eddie Gilman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Eddie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The idea for my business came to me in pieces in a synchronistic way over six years. The initial vision came to me while mowing my lawn during one of the most difficult periods of my life. My ex-wife had left me for my best friend of seventeen years; I had lost 30lbs in 30 days; I struggled with suicidal thoughts; I was barely able to function at work.
While mowing my lawn, I had a strong vision/impression in my mind of a spiritual center. I saw the human soul as an oak tree inside an acorn. And in that moment I could feel a sensation throughout my entire body that I can only describe as confirmation that I was meant to pursue the vision I saw.
As the years went by, more synchronistic events “found me”. Everything was sent to me – my methodology, mentors, ideas – all of it. It was as if a Higher Power was strategically feeding me insights that I slowly pieced together. Admittedly, it was extremely bizarre when compared to my previous life experience. But intuitively, I knew there was substantial importance to what I was being guided toward.
As I delved deeper into the synchronistic experiences I was having, the bigger picture became clear. Life was a series of foreshadows trying to lead me to my destiny. I (now) believe that this is a law of life that applies to anyone desperate enough to seek their purpose or lean into the whispers of their calling.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
About me:
I grew up in Northwest Florida. I have a great family and come from a fairly normal background. But my personal experiences growing up were quite bizarre at times. At a very early age, I was keenly sensitive and aware of the energies around me (I didn’t know what it was but I felt it). I had a few disturbing experiences where I had terrorizing nightmares, sleep paralysis, was pulled across the floor in my sleeping bag, and saw Shadow People. But I never spoke of these things.
When I was sixteen, I was on my way to church with my girlfriend, her sister, and a close friend of mine, when we were hit head-on by a drunk driver. My girlfriend and her sister died while my friend and myself ended up on life support. When I recovered, I learned to play drums and started a band with my friends. We got signed to a small record label and went on tour. I met my ex-wife and was married for ten years until she divorced me. That’s when everything changed.
Back then, I didn’t have a value system for personal growth, reading, spirituality, purpose, or knowing who I was. I was purpose depressed, lost, and clueless.
When my ex-wife left me for my best friend, I thought it would kill me. My identity was a fake mask I wore as a drummer. I had no self-worth or esteem; my ex-wife provided that. When she left me, I lost everything, and my journey began.
What do I do:
I help lost, hopeless, and purpose-depressed people find the meaning and purpose of their lives by reintroducing them to the lives that they’ve forgotten. Life is a spiritual endeavor; knowing who you are and why you are living this life is our birthright. I believe that identity is everything! When we become confident in who we are and why we are alive, the experiences of life open up to us. We were not meant to live in captivity; we were meant to push the boundaries of impossibility. We were meant to thrive in the freedom of our spiritual creativity. This sacred knowledge has been kept from us. Because powerless people empower those who seek themselves while keeping everyone else small.
What am I most proud of:
I’m most proud of my courageous clients who chose the path less traveled. Those who decided to do the (often) uncomfortable work of taking control of their lives and pursuing their passion(s) and destiny in life. Those who have faced their darkest fears and dived head-first into their limiting beliefs and trauma. Nothing can stand against the power, resilience, and determination of the human will when someone embraces their purpose. They become an indestructible force of power, well-being, and inspiration for others. And that’s what the world needs right now.
What I wish people knew and understood is that we create our realities. That within every one of us is a magnificent power that can pull our dreams into reality. Is it quick, easy, or without effort? Of course not! But no single human being has to settle for an unfulfilling life. It’s a choice – we choose the quality of life we experience no matter what our previous experiences have been. I know that sounds like a tall order, but I’ve experienced it and have seen it time again with my clients. A commitment and drive to being our most authentic selves is the pathway to possibility. A willingness to do the work is the single greatest gift we can give to ourselves.
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 was at a bookstore a few years ago searching the personal growth section when a book stood out. It was titled Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill. I was familiar with his book Think and Grow Rich, which I knew was a top-rated book on personal development. I wasn’t sure what to expect as the title sounded a bit religious to me, but as I began to skim through it, I was captivated by its contents. It wasn’t religious at all; in fact, I would recommend everyone read it. Everything in that book resonated with me to my core – without a “definite purpose” in life (as Napoleon calls it), we are “drifters” – people just drifting through life until we die. But if/when we can find our purpose in life, we can create lasting fulfillment and abundance – we can thrive and not just survive.
What I learned from reading it was that I needed to think for myself regarding any area of my life. I needed to discover who I was apart from any cookie-cutter mold or social proof/conditioning I had acquired. I had to unlearn my relationship to success, abundance, wealth, money, certainty, uncertainty, risk, value, relationships, and spirituality. Though I had grown up very religious and despite massive changes in my belief system, I did not understand that spirituality IS the science of life – spirituality proves science, not the other way around as Western culture often teaches.
Every part of our lives is spiritual and when we work through that understanding from an inside-out perspective, everything begins to change. The life we are living and the life we desire cannot be created by the same version of ourselves. Who I was 3-5 years ago would not have had the capability to create or achieve what I have today. Who I need to become to create the desired outcomes of my future must be formed. It is about continual growth, learning, and expansion; never assume you’ve arrived or that you no longer need to grow. A commitment to personal growth is the number one value I believe is a must. Accomplishments should be the impetus to (continue) creating – not slow down or quit. So, I had to learn that creation is the act of living – fulfillment is the experiences we have while doing so. Once I connected a clear sense of identity and purpose to that, everything began to change for me. I’m still learning more about that every day and I believe I will continue to learn about it until my time is up here.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I don’t know if anyone else can relate, but when I started my journey, what I had envisioned and what unfolded were very different things. I had more of a fantasy about how I thought things would turn out vs. how they did. When I completed my certification to become a coach, I announced anywhere I could that I was available to help people with their problems. I assumed that people were hungry and desperate to get unstuck; that they couldn’t wait to change their relationships with their family, friends, and spouses; that everyone was waiting for the right someone to offer them a helping hand and they would take it. Sadly, that was not the reality. Like many other businesses or coaches come to learn, that simply having problems, being unhappy or unfulfilled, does not mean that people will desire or be inspired by your services.
I had to get comfortable with rejection and people changing their minds. I had to learn that most people have a relationship to their problems. And that a lot of people need to be shown/convinced that breaking up/divorcing their problem(s) will grant them access to the lives they truly desire. I had to realize that even desperate people can find comfort in their desperation or rock bottom. I had to accept that business is not a sprint but a lifelong marathon; and that it isn’t always about what services you offer or what you do. Sometimes, the art of “business” is about self-discovery – uncovering your truths and capabilities as you embrace the unknown. Resilience IS the journey of business, as is any other relationship that requires time, energy, and attention.
Lastly, being detached from outcomes and holding loosely to your plans, ideas, and expectations. Anything and everything can change at any time and we must evolve, adapt, and learn to pivot. If something isn’t working no matter what you do, it may be time to change your approach. And as long as you don’t give up, eventually, you’ll find a way. Which I believe is another spiritual component of business. What we perceive as obstacles, hurdles, and challenges are often indicators that we are out of alignment with the energy/essence of what we are trying to accomplish. The moment we align with the core energy of our business, things begin to progress, expand, and move forward. It’s part of The Law of Cause and Effect as well as The Law of Attraction (the real one, not the pop-culture one).
Contact Info:
- Website: dreamoutloud.center
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginelifecenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dreamoutloud.center
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-gilman-a17a87228/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEM5kUEfrGyT1Cdk_sfXlg
- Other: https://linktr.ee/imaginelifecenter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=51f60a53-0f66-47fa-9ef0-c24f3fe2abb0