We recently connected with Kirstin Leigh and have shared our conversation below.

Kirstin, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Risks…according to others, my life is full of them. I moved from a tiny town in Kentucky to New York City when I was barely 18. Later, I sold everything I owned and moved to Los Angeles. I’ve said “no” to jobs when I desperately needed one. I’ve said “yes” to God, having no idea where that “yes” would take me. I wrote my first book knowing no one in the industry, created a new type of recovery program on a Word from God… the list is long.

People see these as risks. They tell me I’m brave. However, I never saw them as risks. They were things I had to do, to get where I needed to be.

Kirstin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m the CEO of Change Your Story Enterprises. I’m an author, Christian/motivational speaker, wellness/life coach, and the founder of The Change Your Story Workshop. Whether it’s the books I write, the messages I share, by coaching, or through The Change Your Story Workshop, I’m on a mission to help people live life at their highest potential.

The Change Your Story Workshop offers a faith based, holistic approach to “Breaking Free from what is breaking you and Discovering how Purpose is the Key to Breakthrough.” It’s a 9 week, curriculum based program. Unlike other programs, The Change Your Story Workshop doesn’t promote living life in recovery mode. It equips you with the tools it takes to live in the Freedom God provides.

Basically, it’s what I needed when my life needed a major rewrite.

I’m originally from a tiny town in KY. I never fit in, was constantly bullied, had a very turbulent relationship with my dad, and as a teenager, I developed an eating disorder that I managed to keep a secret. But despite this, I had big dreams! I was going to be a singer and an actress. I practiced all the time, got a job when I was 12 (you can do that in KY!), and moved to New York City when I was barely 18. I was ready to conquer the world.

It’s true that we have to move forward despite what is in the way, but we also have to Deal to Heal. I never did that. I just kept on going.

If you had told me that right before my career was getting ready to take off, that I would run away from everything I had ever dreamed of… that one day I’d be drinking a 42oz beer before I went to work, that I’d cry myself to sleep with regrets, or that one day I’d be lying on the floor of my Madison Ave. apartment, dying of alcohol poisoning, I would have said, “You’re crazy.” And I would have been wrong.

Alcohol didn’t start out as a problem for me. But it became a habit. And when “life happened,” that habit became an addiction that stole years of my life. As in, I drank 20 beers a day—and no one even knew.

God gave me a dream in the midst of my mess that set me on a journey. I was determined to get to the root of ALL my issues.

For the next two years, I studied the work of world renowned psychologists, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, pastors, and though leaders. I wrote like crazy asking myself question after question. I’d sleep with headphones on blaring praise music in my ears. My acting background also proved to be a tremendous asset. I broke down my life like an actor breaks down a scene. I didn’t realize it at the time, but everything I was doing was rewiring my brain. During this process, God delivered me.

A couple weeks later, God gave me another dream full of insights, revelations and divine wisdom. The Change Your Story Workshop is a strategic conglomeration of that dream and what took me years to discover.

God saved me to use me. And when I see people breaking free from addictions, bad habits, childhood trauma, faulty mindsets, people pleasing issues, perfectionism… when I see them pursuing their dreams again, believing in themselves… well, it makes my former mess make a lot more sense.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the first things we cover in The Change Your Story Workshop is how “the truth will set us free.” But equally important (for this exercise) is what we believe to be true.

There are things I believed my entire life about myself, men, life in general, that were 100% not true. I call these “thoughts lies.” Lies we’ve believed for so long that they’ve become our truth.

Our actions stem for our beliefs. Understanding the cognitive dissonance going on in our brain is a game changer.

Believe it or not, saying good-bye to alcohol was not the hardest thing I’ve ever done. (Though it’s definitely on the list!) Rewiring my brain and not letting feelings be the boss of my life was.

We have to Deal to Heal. I had to unlearn life as I knew it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Whether it’s because of circumstances beyond our control, or due to our own decisions, we all go through “Victim Valley.” What we do there, changes our story.

I lived in the regrets, the “what if’s,” the shame and guilt for way too long. But the resilience, the tenacity, the strength of God in me, refused to let me settle there.

My life is an example of how with God—and a lot of work, you can Change Your Story.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thechangeyourstoryworkshop.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kirstinleigh3
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kirstinleighofficial/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Kirstinleighofficial/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/Kirstinleigh
• Other: https://www.tiktok@Kirstinleigh www.Kirstinleigh.com