We recently connected with Eileen Sumerlin and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Eileen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was your school or training experience like? Share an anecdote or two that you feel illustrate important aspects or the overall nature of your schooling/training experience.
During my time at the Christian Coach Institute, I will never forget the day when the instructor led us in a conversation about values. Values was not a topic in my life that I devoted much time thinking about. I just knew the few things in my life that either drove me to do certain things or not to do certain things. Well, as it turned out, this ended up being one of the topics in my studies that had the biggest impact on me.
In class, we were all given the opportunity to narrow down our values from a list we were given in order to come up with our top five core values. This is yet another moment that changed the trajectory of my life. To have learned how our values motivate us in our daily lives was incredibly life-giving to me! I have loved having the opportunity to share this knowledge to those I coach.
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?
I was born and raised in Colorado. Washington and Nevada are a couple of states I also lived in. However, I always found my way back home to Colorado where I am able to take in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains which I never tire of. When people find out you live in Colorado, a common question asked is, “Do you ski?” My answer to that question is a resounding, “No, I have never taken up skiing! The idea of sliding down a mountain full of snow just terrifies me!”
As a result of growing up in a dysfunctional home, I was in a constant survival mode. After experiencing the heartbreak of two failed marriages, I was in my late 30’s when I decided to concentrate on keeping my focus on Jesus and this is when I truly fell madly in love with Him. During the next several years, as I continued to walk on this journey with the Lord, I read and studied the Bible, prayed, worshiped and attended a non-denominational church regularly, God began to heal my heart of all the pain that I was carrying around and kept hidden all those years.
Through my own life experiences (loss of employment, divorce, a child moving out of state, and a cancer diagnosis), I have learned the keys to living a transformed life by saying yes to God, trusting Him, walking in obedience, surrendering all, and how to successfully make it through the waiting process. Needless to say, I have been transformed in ways that I never thought possible.
In 2021, I received a revelation from God that changed the trajectory of my life and within a few weeks, I made a decision to take the risk of leaving the security of my corporate job to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur. A few months later, I enrolled at the Christian Coach Institute, learned a whole lot about what it was I needed to know in order for me to become a successful coach, and received my Christian Life Coach certification.
I have absolutely fallen in love with the process of coaching because I have seen the difference it is making in my client’s lives. They are coming into self-awareness, being inspired towards a vision, devising strategic plans which are helping them to accomplish their goals, and conquering any obstacles that get in their way. Needless to say, for me to be a part of the transformation that is happening in their lives is exciting to watch. It is an honor for me to have been given the opportunity to walk alongside of them in their journey.
Here is what just a couple of my client’s have to say about their journey with me as their coach: (names are not included in order to maintain confidentiality)
“At a time when I was feeling “disconnected” and stuck, you listened with no judgment. Through thought provoking questions, you helped me identify why I was feeling that way and helped me break through mental barriers. I gained clarity and courage to move forward and am now living a joy-filled life. I could not have done it without you.”
“I don’t think I would’ve had the faith or belief in myself to put myself out there like this without your coaching. Thank you so much for everything.”
After years of successfully navigating through the ups and downs in my own life, God spoke to me and said that it was time I walk in the wisdom He has given me so that I can help others as well.
As a photo artist, I was invited by Springhill Suites By Marriott Denver Downtown to join in at their “Art of Local” event where they showcase local artists. We celebrated the “Art of Sunsets” with a selection of my sunset photos on display while the hotel supplied their guests with a tropical menu along with island-themed beverages. What fun that was! I was so excited when an out-of-town guest staying at the hotel was looking for a gift to take home to his wife and purchased one of my prints.
Another specialty of mine, as a photo artist, is designing note cards. I currently have inventory at House of Js Coffee, a locally owned coffee shop in Arvada. Along with an assortment at NewDay2 located at the Painted Tree Boutiques (a creative community of shops in Northglenn), a local Christian book store in Golden (Dwelling Place Ministry and Books) and I just placed a nice assortment of note cards at Rheb’s Candies in Mt. Airy, Maryland. This is a new location for the family owned chocolate shop that has been in business since 1917.
I am so passionate about photography, that as an IPhone photographer, I have over 43,000 photos on the ICloud. Oh my! The editing process is where my creativity absolutely comes alive! As a photographer, I am constantly looking at things…the way an image feels, the way it is presenting itself, the angles! And…I am inspired by color like you wouldn’t believe. When I see color, my insides can’t help but start dancing!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience is my middle name! For me it has been about maintaining a focus that keeps me moving forward. I have learned that guarding against the many distractions which life throws our way at any given moment is imperative. Many years ago, I knew that I had a calling on my life And that was to walk alongside others. To comfort the brokenhearted, proclaim that captives will be released, and prisoners will be set free. I am talking about the prison we all find ourselves in at times that is brought on by the pain of our past.
Regarding resilience in my photography…it is all about walking in my passion. What I love, I do. Capturing moments of beauty and color…in sunsets and flowers and junk yards and trains. Creating from the complex and yet simply conceiving a story in my mind. Evoking the same in others. The abstracts, they speak soft…they speak loud. Can you hear them?
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Love it! Live it! Inspire others along the way to do the same!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alongingfulfilled.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eileensumerlin_coach
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alongingfulfilled
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/grace1895.photography
Image Credits
grace1895.photography