Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle A. Thomas.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
After conversing with my peers about my life story they called me Olivia Pope. I thought it was funny but it stuck with me. I’ve proven to overcome every scandal in my life with integrity. I believe that every disgraceful experience can be healed. I triumph over adversity and I am an example of what trusting God entails. I was born to a single mother and raised under Caribbean roots in Brooklyn, New York. I am one of six children and the first in my family to graduate college. As a result of my tenacious spirit, I wanted more out of life. So, I joined the Army, married, became a mom, and a homeowner all by the age of 23. I continued with my education and later obtained a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University. I’ve experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly. I know what it is like when life takes an unexpected turn. The FBI showed up at my home and a scandal ensued, not because of my choices and decisions but that of my ex-husband. He went to prison and I was left to support and care for the family as well as regroup and determine my new life course. I could have thrown in the towel and hung my head in shame, but instead I chose to embrace the change and face my fears. I ended the marriage after 16 years in pursuit of becoming who I am today.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
Disappointment, discontentment, and determination were the steps I climbed to reach success. The fear of failing my children was the biggest challenge I faced. Seeing tears in their eyes that I could not stop and not being able to make sense of a senseless act was the hardest thing I ever had to face. I recalled conversations we had with our children. We reassured them that what was happening to our family was not their fault, but I knew in my heart those were just words. Everything they were accustomed to was being removed from their lives. As a parent, I felt like a failure. I had to do something to cease the hemorrhaging of their happiness.
Every decision I made was geared to create stability and support for them. I had to set my own hopes and dreams to the side to support their well being. I had no idea how long it would take, but I was determined to see them laugh and no longer hurt from the disappointment they experienced when their father was sent to prison for his reckless behavior. I had to be intentional about being consistent with my children. I created a new normal for us to grow and heal in.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
As a life coach, author, retreat host and inspirational speaker, I’m a perspective shifter. I am empathic, wise, and honest. I speak deep authentic truths to my clients and they feel comfortable and confident opening up in every meeting. I am a genuine person and my clients experience that within the first conversation with me. I love helping people. It’s just that simple for me. I assist my clients with practical solutions to thrive and overcome their current situations. I know that a simple shift in your perspective can open doors and opportunities to facilitate the growth needed to advance to the next level. Not only am I a certified Abundant Life Coach, I am equipped with a proven track record of helping my clients transform their lives. My courses focus on healing, purpose, and self-care. My clients experience tangible improvements in their lives within the first few meetings. I don’t focus on the competition. We are all here to service people that are in need of help. I focus on the person that is in front of me. I coach on how to live a life of integrity and abundance. My clients are set free from toxic thought patterns and are filled with new techniques to combat old habits. After completing my courses they are a different person. They are uplifted, transformed, and ready to help others around them.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
The first thing I would ask readers to do is consider their idea of success. Do you love your life right now? What are you doing to make it better? I’ve watched people project success to the world while feeling like a failure in private. If you don’t love your life, I suggest taking some practical steps to change your mindset. If you are experiencing a life void of wholeness and you’re torn between two images of yourself, I encourage you to reach out to me. I am an advocate of living in truth. In my courses, I provide steps to success. Two areas that I coach on are gratitude and laughter. I teach how success happens when the two collide. After this course my clients begin to see their life with new lenses and achieve personal abundance which translates to a successful life.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Growing up, I always considered success to be the big house, nice car, and lots of money in the bank. I was determined to travel and my children have experienced Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and a few places in the Caribbean. Now that I’m older, I look at my children who are my legacy and I see the smile on their faces. I can hear laughter in every room of our home. We play board games, watch television together and have random conversations about any and everything. My kids help each other and volunteer in the community. I look at success as creating a lifestyle that was better than the one I experienced. At night, I write in my journal. I sit back and think about my day. I thank God that I can recognize true success after living through a scandal. I no longer measure success through the money I acquire or the status I’ve achieved. I measure success by the memories I make with my loved ones and the laughter that I hear from the conversations that we share. I know that I am a successful woman.
What’s next for you?
I have a few projects coming up in the near future. I will host in-person workshops for my book, “When Scandal Comes Home” in Spring of 2023. I will also host a few more retreats to help people navigate through a crisis or scandal. I am also launching the third season of my international podcast, “Loss, Light & Laughter.” I will finish the year with more speaking engagements, writing projects, life coaching and consulting.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
Please check out my website www.iammichellea.com
Podcast: Loss, Light and Laughter (available on all streaming platforms)
Consultation link: https://CoachingwithMichelleA.as.me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msmichelleathomas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msmichellethomas/