Learn how to live your purpose and do what you're meant to do by listening to stories from others who followed their hearts to create their dream life.

Discover how they actually got started, how they supported themselves financially and how they overcame their struggles like fear and burnout along the way.

Today we hear from leading couples psychologist and founder of the Couples Communication Institute, Dr. Sarah Rattray, who you heard from in Ep 196: Tips For Building Meaningful Connection In Relationships.

What I love about this conversation with Sarah is that she's still in the middle of building this new vision. She shows up so authentically and lets us into what it really looks like to change directions in your endeavors. Even with 30 years of expertise, there still can be creative changes!

Listen to discover:

The top thing that helped Sarah really make progress in building her vision.
How Sarah found a creative way to help more people with her work.
What it took to shift from a traditional working model and into one that felt more aligned.

About Dr. Sarah Rattray

Dr. Sarah Rattray is a Leading Couples Psychologist, and Founder & CEO of the Couples Communication Institute. She’s been working with couples in Seattle for over 30 years. She helps disconnected couples approaching their empty nest to rekindle their relationship with loving, effective, connected communication.

How Sarah Transformed The Traditional Working Model Of A Psychologist

Sarah speaks about how she shifted from her private practice to creating an extensive online library of courses and videos. While in private sessions with her clients, the focus naturally always remained on her clients but now with this shift the focus is on her. Although drawing attention to herself and having an online presence feels uncomfortable at times, she loves being able to reach so many more couples with being online.

How To Release Struggle And Persevere

Through coaching and self-reflection, Sarah realized she had a voice and expertise worth sharing with hundreds of thousands of couples. For her to do this, she first had to learn to reach for her dreams and believe in herself. Whenever she struggles or wants to quit, she perseveres by finding solutions: whether it’s hiring someone, taking a class, or simply taking some time to reflect and regroup. She has learned to recognize the blocks and constraints in her life and how to release them for her to follow her mission.

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Key Nuggets: Doing What You’re Meant To Do

What was that moment like when you decided to go all in and fully committed to doing what you’re meant to? [6:50]

About 2 and a half years ago, I was taking a Money Mind Academy class by Sean Croxton and I had the mind-blowing realization that I had a voice and something to offer. So, rather than just focusing on my private practice, I realized I could potentially help hundreds of thousands of couples if I shifted to working online.

2. How did you start? (for real, like way before being known for your work. Did you quit your job first or did you do it on the side?) [8:25]

It was a long and still ongoing process of becoming a business person and creating my online presence. A few years ago, I enrolled in Marie Forleo’s B-School, a training program that teaches effective online marketing strategies to build your business and online presence. Her program really opened my eyes and made me realize I can help so many more people with being online.

3. What was the first step you took to start shifting from the background (private practice) to the foreground (online presence)? [13:05]

One of the videos I created was an assignment for the Money Mind Academy class. We had to talk about one of our breakthroughs; mine was about realizing I have a voice and that I can help couples online. Fast forward to 2021 and I’ve already been on many podcasts, docuseries, and summits - in front of the camera being me and talking about what I love.

4. Do you still run your private practice? How did you transition from your 9-5 ( or whatever former life you had) and into this life? [16:10]

I stopped seeing couples at the start of Covid as Washington State was one of the first states to shut down. I’ve been using all my time to create more courses and learn marketing strategies - I didn’t expect it but it is a full-time job. However, I will also return to private practice when the time is right!

5. What was one of your earliest successes and how you made it happen? [17:10]

I’d been wanting to create a high-quality, professional logo and my intuition was telling me to go with a certain person although their services were more expensive than others. It turned out great! So to me, that was a success - I listened to my own intuition and was more than happy with the outcome.

6. What was one time when you really wanted to quit? What helped you keep going? [21:00]

With each new unfolding layer of business or each barrier, I often feel overwhelmed or want to quit. I didn’t expect to be where I am now, to be a businesswoman, and it can feel inundating.

7. What’s your biggest resistance and how do you respond to it? [24:00]

Fear can really set me back. For example, when I have to write something I’ve not written before or ask someone for something. I might not know how or where to start, so I push it away for a while. My assistant is great and helps me break it down; we work it out together.

8. What’s the best thing you did that helped you create this life? [27:45]

I would say listening to my inner voice and getting coaching. Listening to voices of people that say you can dream - and if you could, what would you do? By answering these questions and diving in, I was able to create something I had never created before. Now, I’m creating a library of courses and videos and it’s my life’s work.

9. Top tangible action/tool that you’d recommend? [29:30]

For couples - remember what you love about your partner. Everyday, look at what you appreciate or admire about them, and then say it to them - don’t keep it to yourself.

10. Top advice that can help with mindset? [30:20]

You have to connect to your why. Remind yourself why you’re putting the work in - this can apply to your job, your mission, but also your relationships.

11. What do you do to check back and make sure that this is still the path for you (ie. that helps you decide that this is all worth it? [31:30]

Just even remembering I have a mission realigns me!

Resources:

Sean Croxton had an enormous impact on Sarah. Through him, she learned about Functional Diagnostic Nutrition coaching, Marie Forleo’s B-School and Sean’s Money Mind Academy.
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition
Marie Forleo's B-School
Money Mind Academy class by Sean Croxton
Martha Beck’s courses and trainings ( I mentioned Martha Beck because she was the person who had a huge impact on me just like how Sean Croxton had an impact on Sarah)

Connect with Sarah:

If you have questions or want to learn more

Website: CouplesCommunicationInstitute.com

Quotes:

“I had this mind-blowing realization that I had a voice and something to offer.” - Sarah Rattray [07:53]
“[Listen] to voices of people saying that you can dream. If you dream, what would you create? - Sarah Rattray [28:07]
“For couples, remember what you love about your partner. Every day, look for something you appreciate or admire and then say it to them.” - Sarah Rattray [29:55]
“You have to connect with your why . . . Remind yourself every day.” - Sarah Rattray [30:30]

Partners:

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