With Life Coaching, Be Better Than Ok
Achieve Your Full Potential with Our Life Coaches
“Are you Ok?”
We all Hear this A Lot And Often Respond With, “I’m Ok” Or “I’m fine.”
While It Is Okay To Be Okay, There Is So Much More In The Scope Of Well-Being Than Just feeling okay. You can thrive.
With the support of a life coach, you can set and achieve what is most important to you and be better than just Okay.
Which scenario best describes You?
Are you just okay? Or are you thriving? Our life coaching services can help you reach your full potential and achieve what matters most to you. Don’t settle for mediocrity – strive for greatness! Our experienced life coaches are here to guide you on your journey to a better, more fulfilling life. Take the first step and contact us today to learn more about how we can help you reach your goals.
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Are you excited to start a new day and move closer to your most important milestones?
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Do you feel confident in your next steps in life or at least eager to explore your opportunities?
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Are you prepared for what is on your plate tomorrow, next month, and next year?
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Do you have positive habits and routines that align with the most authentic you?
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Are you satisfied with your relationships and content with where you are in life?
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Are you living on purpose?
If these things don’t ring true and you are you feeling disconnected, unfocused, or unfulfilled in your personal life, life coaching with enLiven Wellness Life Coaching might be the solution you’re looking for.
Click the red button to schedule a complimentary life coaching consultation via our scheduling site or contact us directly using the chat bubble at the bottom.
Meet Us
Todd M. Smith, M.Ed., Ed.S.
Welcome, I’m glad you stopped by. My name is Todd Smith, founder of enLiven Wellness Life Coaching. I am a school psychologist turned life coach with a mission to use my life's gifts, training, and maybe most importantly, struggles to support clients in navigating their well-being journey so they can live out their vision for a fulfilling and purposeful life.
I thought about starting you off with my LinkedIn style introduction. You know, the braggadocios one that tells you about my INCREDIBLE skills and experience… but then I realized that my life coaching profile isn’t the Me that you will get to know when you sit across from me with a coffee (whether in person or connected via technology of some sort). You are certainly welcome to see that version but I warned you! Here’s what I really want you to know about me (and likely what you’re actually looking for on this page anyway).
To be brief, I spent about 14 years in education where I got my first taste of coaching working with educational teams. I later recognized how vital those skills were and how I could use them to make an impact. After a few years of searching, I finally recognized how I could best serve my community, founding enLiven Wellness Life Coaching in 2015. Since then I have logged thousands of hours of coaching, helping people develop into better and better versions of themselves.
I’ve been through my own tough times as you probably have too. Because of that, I value the power of facing and overcoming challenges. This is where I am at my best, helping people navigate their obstacles, catalysing them into resilience, grit, and a mindset primed for personal growth.
I invite you to join me in a conversation to see how I can help you grow into an even better you.
Hope L. Resendez
Hello! My name is Esperanza (Hope) Resendez, it’s so great to meet you! I’m not sure what brought you here but trust that we found each other for a reason. In my former career, I was in property management for 22 years, however, I was actually a life coach in disguise.
Let me share a story with you… Jessica worked for me as a housekeeper. She was under my leadership for several years. I remember hearing the words come from her mouth when describing her position as “just” a housekeeper. Obviously, no one is “just” anything. All positions are highly valued (or should be) within any organization but her belief set was just that. Through our time together, I encouraged her to look beyond her current role (although extremely important) and look to other opportunities that I knew she was very capable of. Fast forward, Jessica is now a lead sales person for the same company. She dominates this role and is looked to for her leadership in this industry. You see, our belief set is the thing that either provides success stories like this one or stifles the story from ever beginning. Fortunately, we both were able to celebrate her great success because she finally believed it was possible.
Why life coaching you ask? Honestly, helping others become the best version of themselves has produced a joy in my heart that has been quite unmatchable. Through countless bible studies, personal growth classes and a life of mentoring others I found a place that I belong.
I’ve spent thousands of hours in personal development as I strived to overcome countless struggles, heartbreak and pain. Through my studies, I’ve regained my life and found true whole-ness and happiness. Let’s be honest, life can be both beautiful and unattractive on the same day!
Overcoming life’s challenges and more importantly overcoming our own private/personal struggles can sound and feel very scary. What I’ve found and come to realize is that never attempting to grow into the better versions of ourselves is even more scary!
If you are searching for a deeper connection with yourself or ready to discover who you are truly meant to be, we can help!
TJ Gillespie
Hello all, my name is TJ Gillespie, and I am a Life Coach at enLiven Wellness Life Coaching! I have an extensive background in athletics, business, psychology, sports coaching and development, trauma, and relationships of all natures. Many of us are searching for solutions to the daily obstacles we face and that’s where I come in. I specialize in helping my clients identify solutions and build healthy habits that produce the success we are aiming for.
Born on a naval base in Virginia but raised in Toledo, Ohio. Discipline and understanding of my surroundings have been instilled in me by parents since Day 1. I have unique experiences growing up because I had the discipline of a “military kid”, lived in the inner city surrounded by endless crime, but also went to private school. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to help me see a different world that was out there. I have witnessed firsthand the trials and tribulations we face in our area but also the beauty within. My unique experiences have given me insight and familiarity to not only relate but to also guide and reshape the way we respond/feel.
We trust in the power of individuals to create meaningful change in their lives. We believe each person is uniquely whole, creative, and resourceful, and we are committed to providing a safe and supportive space for our clients to explore and pursue their personal growth and well-being goals.
…at enLiven Wellness Life Coaching is to empower clients to make lasting transformations in holistic well-being. Through evidence-based positive psychology practices and a strengths-focused approach, we provide a safe and supportive environment that inspires growth and change, enabling clients to unlock their potential and live fulfilling, purpose-driven lives.
…at enLiven Wellness Life Coaching is to be a top quality provider of evidence-based positive psychology solutions, offering individual and group coaching, online courses, workshops, and retreats that empower individuals to achieve holistic well-being and lead purpose-driven lives. We aspire to create a world where everyone has access to the tools and resources they need to thrive and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world at large.
are at the heart of everything we do. They guide our actions, shape our culture, and inform our relationships with clients. Our values represent who we are, what we stand for, and what we aspire to be. We are committed to upholding these values in all aspects of our work, as we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of our clients and the world around us.
- Empathy: We prioritize understanding and relating to our clients’ experiences and emotions and use this understanding to guide our coaching approach.
- Growth: We believe in the capacity for positive change and aim to help our clients grow and develop in all areas of their lives.
- Integrity: We uphold high ethical standards in all of our interactions, and maintain honesty and transparency in our coaching relationships.
- Compassion: We approach our coaching practice with kindness, sensitivity, and a non-judgmental attitude, recognizing that each client’s journey is unique.
- Collaboration: We work alongside our clients, recognizing that they are the experts in their own lives, and aim to co-create a coaching plan that is tailored to their unique needs and goals.
- Accountability: We hold ourselves and our clients accountable for the goals they set and the actions they take to achieve them.
- Growth mindset: We believe in the power of growth and personal development and encourage our clients to adopt a growth mindset to achieve their goals.
- Authenticity: We believe in being authentic and genuine in all interactions with our clients, creating a safe and supportive environment for personal growth.
- Curiosity: We value a sense of wonder and the drive to learn and grow, encouraging exploration and openness to new ideas and experiences. Curiosity is essential for personal and professional development. We strive to cultivate an environment that fosters curiosity and creativity, and we encourage our clients to embrace uncertainty and ambiguity as opportunities for growth and discovery, approaching their lives with an inquisitive and open mindset.
Client Testimonials
What to Expect
The descriptions below provide a general idea of the scope and sequence, though we will always make room for anything important that may pop up. For example, we may be focused on a given goal but when something pops up that needs to be addressed before it takes you off track, we will make space to keep you progressing.
We will work through the following three major phases, then repeat each time we set new goals (but condensed each time since we will already have established a strong base of trust and rapport):
A free 30 minute life coaching session, conducted via telephone, is the perfect way to determine if your style and expectations align with that of your prospective coach. This consultation is designed to check for fit and feel, ensuring that you are on track to achieve your goals. Your coach will openly share their thoughts on the match and offer referrals if they believe another professional would be better suited to help you. Prior to the consultation, you will have the opportunity to complete surveys that identify your top character strengths, personal values, and current state of well-being. This information will be used to guide the conversation, allowing you to better accomplish and expand on your preliminary goals using your key strengths and assets.
This is the first life coaching session primarily designed to explore your goals and learn about your experiences, both good and bad to bring light to your amazing resilience, strengths and resources so you can capitalize on that wisdom. This session, like all sessions will be organized around your priorities. I am here as a guide on your journey, you are the one that makes it all happen. This session will end with an action plan aligned to your preliminary goals so you can immediately experience success.
Following the enVisioning Session, I allow you the flexibility to use your time in a way that best fits your needs. We put systems in place and determine how to best utilize coaching supports. The typical monthly subscription provides you 4 hours of coaching support per month. The focus of these sessions will be to dream up the possibilities, design a plan to bring that vision to life and then take decisive action upon that plan, following up regularly with brief and effective evaluation and course revision as needed.
enLiven Core Values
When you are an enLiven Wellness Life Coaching client, anticipate high expectations. We believe in you maybe even more than you do. We have such high expectations because we have seen the amazing results that emerge from dedicated effort.
While our core values don’t need to be your core values, they do need to be something you’re willing to commit to in synergy with your innate values and strengths to achieve the goals you set in life coaching. Commit to and embrace these values with us to engage in an experience that will change your life.
“I persist toward my goals despite obstacles, discouragements, or disappointments.”
Perseverance is sticking with things. It means being hardworking and finishing what is started, despite barriers and obstacles that arise. There is pleasure received from completing tasks and projects. Sometimes we must dig deep and muster the will to overcome thoughts of giving up. Perseverance involves organizing oneself to support activities (e.g., scheduling breaks and sticking to them, rewarding in small ways along the way), but when all else fails, this strength helps the person to barrel through until the project is done. This helps build further confidence for future successes and goal accomplishment. Perseverance involves the voluntary continuation of a goal-directed action despite the presence of challenges, difficulties, and discouragement. There are two vectors of perseverance. It requires both effort for a task and duration to keep the task up.
“I seek out situations where I gain new experiences without getting in my own or other people’s way.”
Curious individuals are interested in exploring new ideas, activities and experiences, and they also have a strong desire to increase their own personal knowledge.
“I am realistic and also full of optimism about the future, believing in my actions and feeling confident things will turn out well.”
The character strength of hope has to do with positive expectations about the future. It involves optimistic thinking and focusing on good things to come. Hope is more than a feel-good emotion. It is an action-oriented strength involving agency, the motivation and confidence that goals can be reached, and also that many effective pathways can be devised in order to get to that desired future. Optimism is closely linked with having a particular explanatory style (how we explain the causes of bad events). People using an optimistic explanatory style interpret events as external, unstable and specific. Those using a pessimistic explanatory style interpret events as internal, stable and global.
“I am aware of and understand my feelings and thoughts, as well as the feelings of those around me.”
When a person knows what makes other people tick, he or she is displaying social intelligence. They’re aware of the motives and feelings of themselves and others. They can feel comfortable and say the right thing whether they’re in the boardroom or the janitorial room, in a school setting or at a construction site. Social intelligence involves two general components:
- Social awareness: what we sense about others
- Social facility: what we do with our awareness
“I take charge and guide groups to meaningful goals, and ensure good relations among group members.”
Leadership can take on many forms. For our purposes, leadership refers to the tendency to bring people together and encourage cooperation, while maintaining good relations within the group. Like teamwork, leadership involves being committed to the goals beyond ourselves, Leadership involves setting goals and accomplishing them, enlisting effective help, building coalitions, and smoothing ruffled feathers. Effective leaders are able to provide a positive vision or message that inspires dedicated followers who feel empowered and perhaps even inspired.
“I manage my feelings and actions and am disciplined and self-controlled.”
Self-Regulation is a complex character strength. It has to do with controlling your appetites and emotions and regulating what you do. Demonstrating self-regulation facilitates effectiveness in pursuing and achieving goals by controlling reactions to disappointment and insecurities. Self-regulation helps keep a sense of balance, order, and progress in life. Self-Regulation can be viewed as a resource that can be depleted and fatigued. A useful metaphor can be that self-regulation acts like a muscle, which can be exhausted through over-exertion or strengthened through regular practice.
The core values described above are taken from the work of the VIA Institute. Learn more about VIA Character Strengths from The Power of Character Strengths by Ryan Niemiec.
(This link directs you to Amazon. I may receive compensation for purchases resulting from following this link.)
Case Studies
Case studies presented here are composites of real processes and outcomes experienced by clients of enLiven Wellness Life Coaching. Names and specifics of their lives have been altered to protect their confidentiality. Click on a tab above to read more.
Introduction:
Ryan is a 30-year-old married young professional with a preschool-aged son. He manages older professionals in an engineering field with more education and experience. Ryan sought life coaching to address concerns about his lack of productivity and time management at work, which caused him to spend too much time on non-work activities such as scrolling Facebook and watching YouTube. Despite receiving no indication that his job was in jeopardy, Ryan was worried that his performance would result in him being fired.
Client Assessment:
Ryan reported a history of difficulty with attention and focus during high school, though his grades were sufficient. He described a tendency to second-guess his decisions and noted that he was an athlete in good physical condition during that time. Ryan lived with his mom, stepdad, and an older brother. He has a good relationship with his stepfather, but his father is only marginally involved in his life. Ryan was hired into his current organization at 20 years of age without a college degree and quickly moved into a management position despite his limited education and experience.
Ryan’s main goal was to improve his work habits and daily health and wellness habits. His overarching aim was to learn skills to implement lifelong personal growth in all areas of life. During the coaching process, Ryan learned to identify the triggers that led to his problematic behavior, such as using social media to avoid difficult tasks. He also recognized that anxiety about difficult tasks caused him to seek out activities that provided short-term relief but resulted in long-term stress and anxiety.
Coaching Process:
Ryan’s coach helped him identify and articulate his desired outcomes and goals. The coach also helped Ryan identify the underlying issues that contributed to his problematic behaviors, such as anxiety and poor time management. Ryan and his coach worked together to develop strategies to manage his stress and anxiety in more functional ways, including meditation, breathwork, and other techniques to moderate his nervous system. Ryan also created tools to manage his task priority and daily schedule. As Ryan began to feel more in control of his life, he was better able to address habits and routines outside of work, including sleep, exercise, and eating habits.
Results and Outcomes:
Ryan experienced several setbacks during his journey, but he made noticeable improvements on each subsequent return to coaching. As a result of his work, Ryan reported significant success in his productivity and was better able to manage his time. He also implemented healthier habits, including better sleep, exercise, and eating habits, which contributed to his overall well-being. Ryan reported feeling more optimistic about his future and was better able to envision a path towards his ideal life.
Conclusion:
Ryan’s coaching journey focused on improving his productivity and daily habits to achieve his larger goal of personal growth. He learned to manage his stress and anxiety in more functional ways and developed tools to manage his task priority and daily schedule. Ryan reported significant success in his productivity and well-being and was better able to envision a path forward towards his ideal life.
Background:
Jenny is a 37-year-old married professional and mother of three who holds a leadership role as the director of her department at work. Jenny sought life coaching to help her reconcile the conflict between her very restrictive religious upbringing and the values that have emerged in her adult life. Additionally, she wanted to explore questions and feelings she had about her marriage. She also expressed concern about the discrepancy between her outwardly confident persona and the inner lack of confidence she feels.
Client Assessment:
During the initial conversation, it became clear that Jenny’s restrictive religious upbringing left her feeling conflicted and disconnected from her current values and priorities. She expressed a desire to live an authentic life but was unsure of how to bridge the gap between her current beliefs and the religious teachings she had been raised with. Jenny described herself as a somewhat introverted and reserved person who struggled to connect with others. While she initially believed she could be vulnerable with those closest to her, she recognized that her vulnerability was highly curated and shared a sanitized vulnerability that she felt would not burden those around her or expose her to potential judgement and criticism. Jenny came to understand that true vulnerability allows for sharing all aspects of the authentic self with those who have developed that level of closeness.
Coaching Process:
The coaching process began by exploring Jenny’s values and goals in order to help her identify areas of potential growth and development. Together, they created a plan to help Jenny integrate her personal values with her professional and familial responsibilities. Through deep listening and supportive questioning, the coach helped Jenny identify and challenge the negative self-talk and limiting beliefs that were holding her back. They also worked on developing new communication skills to help Jenny open up to new social relationships.
Throughout the coaching process, the coach provided a safe and supportive space for Jenny to explore her thoughts and feelings. They discussed the challenges that arose during the coaching process, including resistance to change and moments of self-doubt. Together, they worked on developing new strategies and techniques to help Jenny overcome these obstacles and stay on track towards achieving her goals.
Results and Outcomes:
Through the coaching process, Jenny gained a new level of self-awareness and clarity about her values and priorities. She developed a deeper sense of self-confidence and began to assert herself more in her personal and professional relationships. She also opened up to new social relationships, which provided her with a new source of support and fulfillment. She no longer feels like her primary relationship, her marriage, needs to fulfill all of her social needs and reports that she has learned to effectively communicate with her husband which has also helped her husband more effectively communicate with her.
Jenny expressed high levels of satisfaction with the coaching process and reported feeling more positive and optimistic about her future. She noted that the coaching had helped her to live a more authentic and fulfilling life, and she felt more aligned with her values and priorities.
Recommendations for Further Personal Growth:
Jenny was encouraged to continue practicing the techniques and strategies developed during coaching, especially in challenging situations. She was also encouraged to seek out additional support from friends and family members, as well as to continue working on developing new social connections. The coach recommended that Jenny stay connected to her values and prioritize self-care as a means of maintaining her newfound sense of confidence and well-being. She is now experimenting with expanding professionally into new areas and possibly using her management and leadership skills to become a leadership consultant.
Conclusion:
Jenny’s life coaching experience allowed her to reconcile her past with her present and build a stronger sense of self-confidence and resilience. Through a combination of deep listening, supportive questioning, and strategic interventions, Jenny was able to overcome limiting beliefs and negative self-talk and develop new communication and relationship-building skills. The results of the coaching process were transformative, and Jenny emerged with a renewed sense of optimism and fulfillment in all aspects of her life.
Background:
Meet Gerald, a 68-year-old male who recently sold his business and is now retired. He is a widower with two adult children and grandchildren. Gerald enjoys artistic expression such as writing, painting, and drawing. He stays active by playing golf and pickleball. Gerald has come to a point where he feels lost and unsure about what to do with his time in retirement and found himself parked in front of a TV for hours at a time instead of enjoying what he loves. He is seeking coaching to help him find a new sense of purpose and direction.
Client Assessment:
Gerald reports feeling like he has lost his sense of identity since selling his business and retiring. He has always been a busy, and as a result, has struggled with work-life balance in the past. Gerald’s friends and family have noticed that he seems distant and less engaged in activities he used to enjoy. He has trouble sleeping and often feels like he is just going through the motions. Although he is creative, he lacks confidence in his artistic abilities and has not pursued them seriously in the past.
Coaching Process:
Using a strengths-based, affirmative outcomes approach with Gerald, emphasizing his strengths and resources to help him find meaning and purpose in his retirement. The coach helps Gerald identify his values and interests and encourages him to explore how he can integrate his passions into his retirement lifestyle. The coach also works with Gerald to consider his daily routine and identify the practices that add value, are neutral, and sap value from his life. Gerald then developed a routine that includes self-care practices like exercise and meditation and eliminated those activities that did not improve his quality of life. The coach uses reflective listening, open-ended questions, and other techniques to deepen the client’s self-awareness and help him identify limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. The coach encourages Gerald to take appropriately incremental steps towards his goals and helps him stay accountable and motivated throughout the process.
Results and Outcomes:
Gerald gains a new sense of purpose and direction through the coaching process. He identifies his core values and passions and creates a retirement lifestyle that aligns with them. He starts writing and painting regularly, and even shares his work with others. Gerald also joined a golf league and meets with friends weekly for breakfast, which helps him feel more connected to others and gives him a sense of community. He finds that he is sleeping better and feels more energized and engaged in life. Gerald reports feeling more confident and fulfilled and is grateful for the support and guidance provided by the coach.
Conclusion:
Through coaching, Gerald was able to find a new sense of purpose and direction in his retirement. He was able to overcome his limiting beliefs and negative self-talk and integrate his passions and interests into his daily routine. The coach’s solution-focused approach helped Gerald identify his strengths and resources, and take small steps towards his goals. By encouraging self-care practices and social connection, Gerald was able to improve his overall well-being and find fulfillment in retirement.
Background:
Meet Emilee, an 18-year-old high school tennis player who has been struggling with her confidence in big matches. Despite her strong technical skills, her lack of confidence has had a significant impact on her performance, particularly when facing equally skilled opponents. Emilee’s parents noticed her struggle and suggested she try life and performance coaching to overcome her challenges and improve her performance on the court. Emilee agreed and sought the help of enLiven Wellness Life Coaching.
Client Assessment:
Emilee is a high school senior with a passion for tennis. She has been playing tennis competitively since she was 10 years old, and it has always been a significant part of her life. Emilee’s parents are supportive and have been present throughout her tennis career, attending most of her matches. Despite their support, Emilee’s confidence has been shaken in big matches, causing her to lose focus and make errors. She has difficulty controlling her negative thoughts and often becomes frustrated and upset, leading to a further decline in her performance.
During the initial conversation, it became evident that Emilee’s negative mindset was a significant barrier to her success in big matches. She expressed feelings of anxiety and fear of failure, which led to a lack of self-confidence. Emilee’s personality traits showed that she is a perfectionist, with high expectations of herself and an intense fear of disappointment. Emilee has no significant prior history of mental health issues beyond perfectionism that often comes with high achievement. She has a close relationship with her family, and her parents are supportive of her goals.
Coaching Process:
The coach worked closely with Emilee to help her develop a positive mindset and build her self-confidence. The coach employed various strategies, including mindfulness techniques, visualization exercises, and positive self-talk. The coach also worked with Emily to develop effective pre-match routines that helped her stay calm and focused before big matches. The coach encouraged Emily to focus on the process rather than the outcome and to celebrate small successes along the way.
Throughout the coaching process, the coach worked to establish a strong relationship with Emily, built on trust and empathy. The coach provided a safe and supportive space for Emilee to explore her feelings and fears, allowing her to identify and challenge negative thought patterns. Emilee faced several challenges during the coaching process, such as moments of self-doubt and fear of failure after a poor match, but the coach provided encouragement and support, helping her to overcome these obstacles and recognize that poor outings happen to even the best performers and provide a window into the next stage of growth.
Results and Outcomes:
After several months of coaching, Emilee began to see positive results. She developed a more positive mindset, which helped her to approach big matches with greater confidence. She was better equipped to control her negative thoughts and emotions, which led to a more stable and consistent performance on the court. Emilee learned to focus on the process and celebrate small successes, which helped her build a more positive and productive relationship with her sport.
Emilee’s parents reported that they had noticed a significant improvement in her confidence and performance on the court. Emilee reported feeling more positive about her abilities, which was reflected in her academic work and social life. Emilee expressed a high level of satisfaction with the coaching process, stating that it had helped her to overcome her fears and achieve her goals. Emilee’s coach recommended that she continue to practice the techniques she had learned and to continue to build her self-confidence, which would help her achieve even greater success in the future.
Conclusion:
Emilee’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of a positive mindset and the role that coaching can play in helping individuals overcome their challenges. Through a combination of mindfulness, visualization, and positive self-talk, Emilee was able to develop a more positive and productive relationship with tennis, building her self-confidence and achieving greater success on the court. Emilee’s story serves as a testament to the power of coaching and the potential for personal growth and transformation.