My personal experiences fuel my coaching
I have not always made the best decisions for myself or felt able to adjust my path.
I held self-limiting beliefs that caused me pain — physically, emotionally, and mentally.
It’s those moments that have led me to become a transformation and mindset coach for women so that you can receive the guidance I once needed.
You may feel as if you stumbled across me by chance, luck — whatever you want to call it.
I believe you were guided here.
My name is Heidi Gustafson and I live in Phoenix, Arizona. I’ve been through some painful and amazing experiences in my life — experiences that you most likely can relate to. You were led to me because your intuition knew I could guide you through what you’re struggling with now.
We are magnetic beings, drawing to us what we need when we need it. I believe I was put here on earth to serve others and that all of my experiences are lessons that I HAD to go through in order to be able to fully help other people.
Now, my purpose is to guide women just like you through so that you can live your middle years with fun and fulfillment, purpose and passion.
A glimpse into my story —
Can you relate?
I stood on the edge of the street, overwhelmed by the swirl of people and cars. I felt lost in it all, an insignificant bystander within the Bali chaos.
I didn’t belong here. No one sees me. I can’t even cross a street.
A spark. In that moment I realized I had spent most of my life not feeling seen, heard, or understood. I had shrunk myself to play small in many areas of my life — from school, to sports, to relationships.
I had dedicated myself to a quest of perfectionism. I thought that if I was perfect, THEN I would be seen. The funny thing about trying to be something you can’t is that you end up never being you at all. It’s no wonder that I lost sight of who I was!
I learned to procrastinate because perfection seeking was draining. It created my vicious cycle, my demon to battle —
The Trifecta of “P”s:
People-Pleasing / Perfectionism / Procrastination
Thankfully, this has a happy ending.
I did the work I needed to do in order to learn to care for myself again. After investing in my true self, I recreated my story into something true, sustainable, and joyous.
☆ A story of a kind, caring, generous woman.
☆ Who knows her value and her worth.
☆ Who speaks her truth and owns her sh*t.
☆ Who says what she means and does what she says.
Not only did my mindset change but my physical health improved. My personal relationships improved. My life improved. By dismantling my restrictive, tiring, impossible narratives I was able to go from just surviving to thriving.
Get to know me!
Where were you born?
I’m a small-town Iowa farm girl. Even though I’ve lived in Phoenix more than half my life now, I still call Iowa “home.”
How do you take your coffee?
With grass-fed butter & maple syrup, of course. Doesn’t everyone?
How do your friends describe you?
Kind, funny, thoughtful listener, no BS, the “real deal,” non judgmental.
Mountains or beach?
I’m a water girl so give me warm water and a beach any day!
What’s a unique job you’ve had?
I designed, sold, and accompanied wine tours in Italy and France!
Describe one of your most memorable experiences?
My first open-water dive to become SCUBA certified was in the Caribbean. Little did I know that when we got 70 feet down, we’d be swimming with Caribbean Reef Sharks. It was so cool!
Kind words from my clients
Get help from someone who has been there. Someone who understands.
Through my coaching programs you’ll heal, grow, find your voice, rediscover your dreams, and live a life you love waking up to every day!
I’ll be your support, accountability partner, and loudest cheerleader to get you busted out of that comfort zone you are snuggled up in. We‘ll celebrate together as you confront and defeat the things holding you back from leveling up in life.
It’s about time, don’t you think?
My painful lessons
Consistently not choosing myself not only brought me pain but created bad habits.
→ Thinking loyalty was more important than following my dream, I completed my degree to pursue a career I ended up hating. I found myself constantly exploring new interests but never truly committing to a change until later.
→ Staying in an unfulfilling marriage for 17 years out of fear and shame. I didn’t want to face the reality of having two divorces on my “record”. As a result, I lost my chance to have children.
→ Having FOUR surgeries in 6 months to repair something my body had manifested as a warning. Instead of listening and taking care of myself, I had chosen to please someone else over my own needs.
→ Ending up in the ER from the stress and trauma of an emotionally abusive relationship. The mind and body are intimately connected and I was so distressed that I had stopped listening to signs from my body, making me unable to heal or properly assess how I was doing.
→ Through a toxic 3rd marriage, learning that no one else’s feelings, wants, or needs were higher priority than my own… ever and that I was the common denominator in my relationships and therefore I needed to change in order to break the pattern I was creating in my life.
My amazing lessons
Realizing the power I have to influence my own life through my mindset.
→ Moving across the country to Arizona at a young age without a job or a plan! It was messy imperfect action but better than inaction. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.
→ Proving to myself that nothing is impossible when you decide it’s possible by crossing the finish line of my first marathon (26.2 miles). As a person who “hated running,” it was an important lesson in the rewards of resilience.
→ Learning that the way I view myself directly impacts me in ways I hadn’t even realized. Participation in Co-Dependents Anonymous taught me valuable lessons regarding my disempowering behaviors of people-pleasing, procrastination, and perfectionism.
→ Realizing that I have spent most of my life feeling unseen. I discovered how deeply this perception had impacted my life.
→ Allowing myself to leave my comfort zone for something better instead of letting a situation determine my worth. After 7 years, I was unexpectedly fired from my job and instead of wallowing, it became a beautiful gift that propelled me into living my dream life of being a coach.
If I can do it, so can you.
YOU can make the change you need. YOU can change your life.
check out my most popular free guide!
20 Ways to Say “No” Without Guilt (or Feeling Like a Bitch)
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