Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Sims.
Hi Beth, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
People often ask how I got into the wellness field. I was living in a big city, burnt out, working 50+ hours a week. and decided to simplify my life. So, I started practicing yoga, meditation and actually did a 3-day silent retreat. I have always eaten healthy so I thought this meditation and the act of slowing down would put an end to the stress that had stalled me in my personal health quest. I had been waking up with a pit in my stomach that I would try to stuff down and ignore. But without distractions from friends and my daily routine I was forced to actually spend time with my thoughts. Walking in a park one day, embarrassingly teary-eyed, I was hit by the truth in the title of a Jon Kabat-Zinn book I had bought but never read: Wherever You Go There You Are.
I was living this privileged life, but my mind was beating me up. So, I did the only thing I knew to do: I began practicing meditation and walking (without music) every day. This provided a space from my tangled mind. I began unraveling all the ideas about how life should be and who I should be. This practice helped guide me into my body so that I could find clarity in my mind and experience my own presence.
My new lifestyle woke me up to all the ways I was sabotaging my own wellbeing to fit into the corporate-paced world. It allowed me to trade out my bad habits to healthier ones. I learned how to center my wellbeing and improve my health.
What I’ve learned from all of this is that you don’t have to dramatically to change the patterns of anxiety and improve your wellbeing. You don’t have to move your body into extremes to feel peace and power. Change happens one small, steady step at a time with support.
Centering your wellbeing in your life is how you change your experience of life. When we feel good we can be present with others, we are empowered to choose how we respond to the world around us. We become the creators of a new world.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Holy Moly yes there have been some bumps along the way. Broadly, health coaches work with people (either one-on-one, or in groups) to make changes in their lives that promote health and wellness. Most health coaching focus areas fall under one of two umbrellas—preventative coaching or symptom and disease management. Within these categories, a coach can engage deeper dimensions of health. Common concerns include weight management and dietary habits, diabetes prevention, alcohol or smoking cessation and mitigation of autoimmune disease. When someone comes to me with a problem like “I have diabetes” that typically is not the problem the problem is – what they are eating or the lack of exercise or their sleep is off or they aren’t managing their meds. Alot of people don’t realize that and changing a mindset can be a hard 1st step for a lot of people. And let’s face it habit change can be difficult. Another obstacle I run into is that folks want an quick fix and I always say “This is a commitment; a lifestyle change – stick with this for a minimum of 3 months.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a health coach, nutritionist and exercise physiologist. As a health coach, my proudest moments are always helping my clients with a significant achievement! Whether it was helping a client reach their fitness goals, supporting someone through a challenging health journey, or witnessing a positive transformation, those moments are truly rewarding. I am passionate about helping people become their most alive selves through the power of leading with an open heart. Getting to have a front row seat when someone masters habit change gives me chills. I guess you could say I am a personal growth junkie
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
wow such a great question. As a health coach, success can be defined in several ways. The most obvious ones are Client Progress: Part of my success lies in the positive changes my clients make. Whether it’s weight loss, improved fitness, better stress management, or healthier eating habits, celebrate their progress. And then behavior change: Focus on helping clients adopt sustainable habits. Success is when they consistently make healthier choices and maintain them over time.
But success also means giving empathy, and an authentic connection to my clients; because we ALL need that: I try hard to build strong relationships with my clients. I try hard to understand their circumstances/needs, and then providing personalized guidance without judgement are essential.
I also spend a lot of time in Self-Reflection: I regularly assess my effectiveness. Am I adapting to my clients’ needs? Are they achieving their goals? I adjust my approach as needed.
I tell myself every day that success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about positively impacting lives!
