#128 Coming back from your darkest day with Andy Coley

Content Warning: This episode mentions attempted suicide and despair.    “If you put me back 13 years ago when I was going to run my car into a tree I never ever would have believed that this life I have right now is possible. I would have called you absolutely fucking bonkers to ever thought that was possible." Andy Coley   In today's episode, we have Andy Coley, who shares his story of his “epic life fail” as Life took over, ‘wrong’ decisions, foggy thinking, where everything felt out of control in the pursuit of being in full control. Andy shares the moment he felt like there was only one way out of it, and the moment he realised there was a better way.    We talk about how our inner voice can beat ourselves up, create unwanted noise, the constant chatter and how clarity comes in amongst the confusion. Andy shares how he found a new path through coaching and neuro linguistic programming (NLP), but it wasn't without the ups and downs of navigating a transformative journey.    Andy shares how being in control is sometimes more about letting go, and knowing you can trust yourself, rather than keeping a tight grip that is surfacing your progress.    “Don’t let life happen to you, be in control, but not so tight it hinders” Here are the highlights: 05:35 Struggled with suicidal thoughts, found hope and support. 07:55 Inner turmoil and self-doubt overcome with help. 11:40 Seeking help and support to overcome debt. 16:02 Struggling business turned around through coaching and NLP. 18:32 Discussing the importance of therapy and coaching for help. 25:10 Struggled at boot camp, but found support. 30:18 Extensive NLP training business, coaching and team development. 31:33 Focus on leadership and management in business. 34:51 Motivational speaker focuses on impact, not money. 40:07 Seek and embrace support in tough times. 48:11 Take control of your life, make changes. Andy’s Another Door go-tos The things that helped Andy navigate change. Books: “NLP at Work”, by Sue Knight Music: “Times Like These.” Foo Fighters The one piece of advice:  “Get support and perspective. Find someone who's a good listener, not a good teller. Or journal, get it out of your head…just write it. Set your intentions for your future. Your unconscious mind needs some direction. What is it you'd love to have happen? What would you like it to be like in a year's time from where you are right now? Don’t be afraid to have bold goals for yourself. They are a signal to yourself that you mean it”.   About Andy Coley Andy is an award-winning TEDx speaker (he won TEDx speaker of the year last year) and is also an executive coach and leadership development trainer who works with major plc businesses, the NHS and organisations such as Meta, The Cabinet Office and a lot within the computer games industry.    He's currently working on a leadership development book which is due to hit the shelves in October 2024.   Find out more: https://www.andycoley.com; https://www.gamestudiotraining.com   Connect with Andy: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycoley/ About your host Eleanor Tweddell Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”    Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.    Connect with Eleanor: Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/ Website: eleanortweddell.com Produced by winteraudio.co.uk