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

Renee, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I was teaching high school, and I loved it, but there was something not quite in place — not that I could name it. I enjoyed talking about grammar, literature, and writing, but I most enjoyed talking with students about their lives and challenges. There wasn’t a lot of time to do that in the school day, so those moments were precious. I felt like I was at my best.

I was offered a position in a program fashioned after the Peace Corps. I was 23, so the adventure of living abroad was exciting as well as scary. The job was directing activities at a community center in Wales. I not only had students to work with, but I also worked with mothers and toddlers, adults, and senior adults.
One day about a year into my two-year assignment, I was talking with an adult who was struggling with life and challenges. I offered support, encouragement, and counsel. As she was leaving, she told me I was a really good listener. “Have you ever thought of being a counselor?”
That was the moment I knew — that was the “something” I’d been seeking. I pursued a master’s degree in counseling, and later shifted to coaching. Helping others heal their hearts or get unstuck from self-sabotage or lose those pesky pounds that drive them nuts — it’s a privilege that makes me feel so alive.

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.

I’m Renee, and I’m a coach and speaker. I spent 40 years on the Diet Yo-Yo before losing my weight in 2012. Today, I remain at my goal weight because I overcame the self-sabotage of emotional eating. Honestly, when I faced my stuff, I no longer needed to stuff my face for comfort or stress relief. Feeling healthier and better in my body was important, but the real gift came from the process that helped me get unstuck from all the self-sabotage. It set me free to use my gifts and talents to help others.

So many are stuck in self-sabotaging patterns and behaviors that prevent them from reaching their goals. In my coaching program, a talk, or workshop, I work with frustrated dieters, those stuck in bad habits and phobias, and those whose self-worth, doubts, and fears hold them back.

These issues can be resolved. Hearts can heal and we can get unstuck from all the self-sabotage. Imagine what life would be like if we weren’t acting out of our wounded selves but living from the best of who we are. Imagine that!

I did a master’s, a clinical residency, and all the training in contemporary methods of transformation, but I’ve learned so much from my clients. They bravely face what feels like impossible change, and they are wise enough to get help. Hey, I wasn’t so wise — 40 years up and down the scale — and when I did ask for help, I achieved my goal, and I’m a better person for the experience.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

All the training in the world is hollow unless you have a heart of love, grace, compassion, and honesty and can use that to speak directly about the issues damaging someone’s life. Honest, loving, and direct words help a person drop all the masks so they can reclaim their best.

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 had to unlearn that comfort foods were truly comforting. During my 40 years on the Diet Yo-Yo, I reached for food to make myself feel better. It worked — for a moment or two, but it also added a lot of inches to my waistline. Real comfort lasts and doesn’t create regret.

I created a mantra while I was losing my weight that served me well: “Face your stuff; don’t stuff your face.” Find the root of the discomfort or self-sabotage. I didn’t need a Twinkie — maybe I needed a hug, a walk around the block, a good conversation, or to play with my dog. Those things soothed more than food ever could.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.backyourownbag.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourownbag
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/packyourownbag
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/renee-jones-speaks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeJonesCoach
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReneeJonesPackYourOwnBag