We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shontorial Gilbert. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shontorial below.

Shontorial, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Most people that knew me before my journey of becoming a life coach could agree that I was more on the logical and conservative side. Before I make any decicions, I like to know all of the details and how things will turn out. Unfortunately, no one has all of the details, neither do we always know how the outcome of a situation will turn out when making major life changing decisions. This has been the story of my life for the past 2 years. I started a life coaching business over 3 years ago, to fulfill my calling to support others on their journey to success and influence. Starting wasn’t the hardest part, but believing in myself and having the courage to build has been the most challenging. Over a year ago, I decided to take a major jump, and quit my full time job to focus on my coaching business. I didn’t just one day up and decide to quit, this was a vision that God had placed in my heart years before it would actually take place. I didn’t know how things would work out, how my husband and I could continue to manage our household on one income, or if we had made the right decision. Uncertainty definitely clouded my mind from time to time, but taking a leap of faith has been proven to be effective in my life. Not only that, I live a life fulfilled with purpose! Of course, it comes with it’s share of challenges, but each challenge has been an opportunity for me to learn and grow. As I look back over my life and where I am now, I would have it no other way. The lives and people that I have had the opportunity to be apart of through coaching, speaking or training and ushering others into their destiny has been priceless.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

If I had to describe myself, I would say that I am most certainly humble, loving, compassionate and caring. Life has been a journey for me at different stages. This is how I am able to support my clients in their level of growth, overcoming obstacles, getting to success, reaching goals, getting clear on their vision and just simply supporting the client in developing his/her mindset to a healthy one. I have always had a love for empowering others. At the time of my learning and development, I didn’t know that I had the gift to empower others with my voice and through expereinces. My coaching style is sort of eclectic, which gives me diversity to coach from a person-centered approach, solution focused, and I also use a bit of narrative talk to help the client realize the stories that tend to tell themselves. Throughout my journey, I am most proud that I am able to empower my clients to overcome barriers and blocks in his/her life that keeps them from living the life they desire. It’s all about the results my clients achieve! I often let my clients know that self-development is not an easy journey, it takes constant work and the willingness to humble one’s self to become a student of life and discovering new ways of thinking, living, and being.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson that I have learned is how to move forward in life with my goals, dreams and vision even when I am faced with fear, opposition, and life challenges. The minute you stop, you will lose focus and get easily distracted. There will always be life challenges and different situations that will come in life. However, I’ve had to learn how to move even when I’ve wanted to stop. It may not have been major or big moves, but I kept moving in the direction of my vision and life’s purpose.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

You never know how strong you are until your strength is put to the test. Losing my sister and other key loved ones was probably one of the toughest and difficult challenge that I had to overcome in my life. At that point in my life, death became real. I had heard of others loosing loved ones and comforted others in their time of bereavement, but when it hit home, I couldn’t put into words the pain and emotions that I felt. Fear, trauma and depression took a toll on my health and mental health. There was a choice that I had to make. The choice that I had to make was either to allow these situations to make me, or break me, but I chose to allow it to make me. At this point in my life, I began to learn resillience and how to overcome. Actually resillience pushed me into my purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: wipurpose.com
• Instagram: @walkinginpurposecoaching
• Facebook: Walking In Purpose Coaching, LLC
• Linkedin: Shontorial Gilbert

Image Credits
Jarvis Merrit Photography RSW Creations/Rakyah Washington