Podcast by Crystal Andrus Morissette

Join us for an insightful conversation on this episode of Chat with Crystal, as we welcome Joan, a courageous caller in her early 60s, who bravely shares that she's found herself at a bit of a crossroads in her life. She candidly discusses her desire to prioritize self-care, lose 25 lbs, navigate the complexities of aging gracefully, and discover her purpose. Joan shares that she "has so much more to give" in this life but doesn't know how to tap into that. She dreams of using her passion and knowledge of the outdoors to start an adventure company, empowering and connecting women through nature. Yet, amidst these aspirations lies a sense of apprehension—a fear of stepping into the unknown, fueled by self-doubt and limiting beliefs. In this coaching call, Crystal provides a guiding light for Joan as they explore strategies to overcome these obstacles and unlock the untapped potential within. Together, they unravel the layers of Joan's journey, offering insights, encouragement, and actionable steps to empower her—and all listeners—to embrace the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. Psst... to watch the webinar we discussed during the episode called For Women Over 40 Who Want to Lose Weight and Feel Great, visit: https://www.swatinstitute.com/webinar.

On this month's Chat with Crystal, Veronique calls in and shares that she's having trouble accessing her "feminine side." Crystal goes over her Three Dominant Archetypes, as outlined in her Emotional Age work (featured on Oprah.com)--Daughter Energy, Mother Energy, and Woman Energy--and how being stuck in Mother Energy can sometimes translate to not feeling "feminine." In fact, in the world of "yin + yang" or "feminine + masculine," Daughter Energy represents the feminine. In contrast, Mother Energy is masculine, and Woman Energy is the transcendence of the two into the "wholeness" of who we are. Veronique shares that throughout her marriage, she definitely showed up in Mother Energy, but four years ago, when she ended her marriage due to domestic violence, she felt her Woman Energy emerging more. Though, she still struggles with it. She also shares that her role models growing up were in Mother Energy, too, being "strong," and not complaining or talking about things that were hurting or burdening them. Crystal takes Veronique into some inner dialog work and urges her to speak to the part of her she's buried in the basement--the feeling inside of her that Veronique describes as "turbulence"--something she's felt bubbling for the last 30 years. This is a beautiful call about new beginnings, putting yourself out there, and reconnecting with all of your parts to step into the wholeness of who you are.

Have you ever felt so super excited to share something new you've learned but also uncertain or afraid that you're stealing someone else's work? During this month's episode, Chela calls in. She shares that having graduated from the S.W.A.T. Institute's Master Empowerment Coach Certification, she's now excited to be holding group coaching sessions and seminars for women in both Argentina, where she spends three quarters of the year and in Canada (in Spanish and English -- exciting!). Chela has questions about the best way to use someone else's work in her sessions and incorporate it into her work while still crediting them. "Am I allowed to do this?" she wonders. She even says she's been up at night worrying about it. We dive into that! Chela also asks if it's possible to show up in different energy levels or levels of empowerment in different areas of her life based on the situation. For instance, she feels so in the flow and up in Desire or higher while teaching; however, when she has to speak about money or pricing, she almost drops into Shame. Gabrielle also joins the last bit of the call and shares that she was a nurse for 30 years and has recently retired. Her husband is in the military and deployed, gone much of the time. And in this new chapter of her life, now certified in different healing modalities, she's SO ready to share her gifts and talents with the world and help better the lives of others through heart alignment. However, she feels this resistance and protectiveness over her energy. Gabrielle also shares she doesn't know where to start in terms of her next steps in her business. Listen as Crystal helps both Chela and Gabrielle find more insights and clarity in their next steps!

This was such a kickass episode to kick off the year, and we received great feedback from the live callers. We're so excited for you to hear it! During this episode, Melanie calls in. She shares that as a fellow coach, she knows that coaches are "supposed to be perfect," but honestly, she's feeling a little stuck and beaten down. She shares that her tank is empty, and she's having trouble finding the desire to do better. Melanie says that journalling isn't doing it, gratitude isn't doing it—and she's feeling at a standstill. She needs some inspiration. Having lost 103 pounds and been on her game as a coach in the industry, Melanie recently moved from California to a rural area in Texas and is having trouble finding her groove and, most importantly, her people. Melanie shares that she's let 30 lbs creep back on, and though she knows "what to do" and how to get the weight off, she's feeling stagnant and "invisible" and doesn't know where to go from here. This is a conversation about finding your "tribe," quieting your addict, and finding the courage to shine your brightest! PS Interested in joining our new webinar, How to Get Unstuck in 2024? Grab your spot here >> https://www.swatinstitute.com/get-unstuck-in-2024. We're live this Wednesday at 630 pm ET.

During this episode, Michela calls in. You may remember her if you listened to October's Chat with Crystal. She shares that she just turned 40 and has dreamed of having a baby for several years. Having frozen her eggs and embryos, Michela now feels she's in a place where she's ready, but keeps feeling stuck in shame and fear around people's judgment about conceiving solo via IVF and a sperm donor rather than with a partner. Although having had the opportunity to have a child with a partner early in her 30s, Michela shares she feels shame for deciding not to move forward with her pregnancy at that time, as her relationship and situation weren't ideal for raising a child. Now, in a much better place but single, she can't help feeling this inner calling to be a mother, but another part of her worries about what people will think. Not acting on what she really wants to do is causing her to feel angry and frustrated with herself. Listen to Crystal coach Michela around making this big decision, navigating what it would look like, and encouraging her to work on forgiving herself to move forward with empowerment and surety. This call is about self-love, worthiness, reframing, and trusting your inner whispers.

On this episode of Chat with Crystal, Sabrina joins the call. She shares that she's not entirely sure why she's calling in but that she's had a few things weighing on her. As an Empowerment Coach in training at the S.W.A.T. Institute, Sabrina shares that she's feeling nervous about starting her 30 practice coaching calls that she needs to complete to graduate. She mentions that she feels like she's naturally quieter and is worried about having awkward silences or not having the right words to say as a coach. She also shares that her studies have taken her much longer than initially planned, as she's had three children in the last five years. Sabrina also says that she's coming to the end of her maternity leave in a few months, and she's dreading going back to her 9-5 job. As much as she's nervous, she wants to get her practice coaching calls completed so she can graduate and start her coaching business, but she keeps getting in the way of herself. Listen to Crystal ask Sabrina questions on what exactly she wants her business to look like, get clarity on her WHY, and help look at things through different lenses. This is a call that many women can relate to who are delaying starting the thing they want to do. Psst… during the episode, Crystal mentions our upcoming Free Masterclass: Build Your Courage Muscle and Develop Unwavering Confidence in Yourself So You Can Activate Your Full Potential. Want to grab your spot? Visit: https://www.swatinstitute.com/courage-masterclass/.

On this episode of Chat with Crystal, Michela joins the call. She starts by sharing that she has a poor relationship with money that she needs to work on. And that growing up, although she knew people who made money, she never saw anyone doing work they loved. She was taught that work should be a struggle. And as an academic who now works remotely from her laptop, putting in long days, she feels that because she's not on her feet every day working, her parents don't really think it's work. Just recently starting her training to become an Empowerment Coach, Michela shares that she wants this lucrative and fulfilling career but feels that she has a story and belief holding her back. She gives another example of organizing a vacation with her friends on her card and having anxiety that they aren't going to pay her back. As she and Crystal chat into this deeper, the words "trust" and "fear" come up for her. Especially around her mother, the hardships and betrayal she faced on account of her growing up, and the pain she felt always striving for her approval. Listen as Michela experiences an emotional breakthrough, and Crystal leaves her with some tangible processes and action steps to try to move the needle on healing this story.

During September's Chat with Crystal, Angela calls in. She shares that as a coach herself, helping guide people to awaken their spiritual wholeness, she is struggling with feeling a little like an imposter. Although she's so energetically high and healed in so many areas of her life, she struggles with this "push and pull" dynamic with her partner of 20 years. Although he's supportive of her spiritual path, he's not on his own, and she often finds herself feeling a little irritated with him, although she loves him and wants to stay in the relationship. As she and Crystal chat, Angela shares that she often holds men at a distance and tends to push them away--something she's done her whole life--and knows that this is something she's doing with her partner. She and Crystal dive into this feeling deeper to identify why she might have trouble letting men in and try a process to begin to push past this. Angela shares her ah-ha moment, and Crystal leaves her with some homework to try. This is a call about vulnerability and being open and honest with ourselves.

During this episode, Tracy calls into Chat with Crystal. Tracy shares that she's not entirely sure why she's calling in but that she's feeling "dumber by the day" at her current job. Tracy says that although her job isn't horrible, she doesn't feel fulfilled. After Crystal and Tracy chat more, Tracy admits she's "super sad" that she's not where she was expecting or wanting to be financially. She feels that although she's made some strides in different areas of her life, her finances have yet to be one of them. Crystal and Tracy chat deeper into this, and Crystal asks Tracy some questions to help her identify her financial goals to help break things down and create some inspiration and excitement in her next steps. Tracy leaves the call saying she's feeling much lighter and brighter.

During this episode of Chat with Crystal, Jennifer calls in. She shares that she's never called into Chat with Crystal before but is seeking some guidance. Jennifer has had this feeling for a long time that she's ready to shift careers and work in a particular field she knows she'd be passionate about. After applying and interviewing for a job in this field, she is disappointed to learn it's located too far away to make sense for her. She feels anxious about making a decision as well as letting them down. Jennifer and Crystal talk through this together. Another Jennifer then calls into Chat with Crystal. She shares that whenever she feels good, and her energy is higher, it's almost like her husband purposely pulls her back down in a way that's become a pattern. Jennifer shares that although she loves him and their family together, he can be extremely immature and lash out over the most "random" things, leaving her feeling voiceless. She shares that she feels frustrated and unsure of what to do from here. Crystal chats through things and provides advice and next steps for each caller to help them see things with new clarity.

During this episode of Chat with Crystal, Crystal chats with Melody, who, as a student at S.W.A.T., is nervous about starting her 30 practice coaching calls that she needs to complete the program. Melody knows she has this beautiful coaching business idea floating around in her mind that she feels passionate and excited about. Still, Melody says she doesn't understand why she's procrastinating and "freezing." As Crystal and Melody chat, she shares more about her business idea and how she's leaving behind a part of her past that she was very involved with by launching this business. She has anxiety and fear thinking about what people who were a part of that community, people who used to be friends, might say or think about her. Catherine also later joins the call and shares that she has this burning feeling that she wants to do bigger and more fun things with her life, but she feels bored in the mundane of everyday life and doesn't know where to start. If you're considering taking the first step in a new direction, you'll love this conversation.

During this episode of Chat with Crystal, Melody joins the line. She shares that, as a student in the Personal Empowerment Coach Certification, she keeps procrastinating starting her practice coaching sessions (as all students near the end of their training with the S.W.A.T. Institute must complete 30 practice coaching sessions to graduate). Having previously called into Chat with Crystal before, Melody also shares that she's feeling excited as her business idea, which she discussed on the last call, has since morphed into something even more beautiful. And that she and her husband have had a breakthrough since then, too, and this could be a business for both of them. But yet, she still finds herself nervous and procrastinating rolling it out. As they start talking, she shares that part of the reason for this is that her business will deal with helping people transition from religion to spirituality--something that has been so transformational in both her and her husband's life. But, she fears what people will think, with many of her friends still heavily a part of her old church. Catherine then joins the call. She shares that having recently had a massive breakthrough and release, she sees so much clarity about her bigger mission and purpose. But a little stuck in the mundane of everyday life, she doesn't know where to begin or her next step.

During this episode of Chat with Crystal, Crystal chats with Johanna from Finland. Johanna starts the call by asking, “Is it possible to just be an author without having a company?” Johanna shares that she's written and self-published three books but is a “very bad salesperson” and says she loves writing but doesn't know how to sell the books. At the same time, she ran a company for ten years, but is in a different stage of her life, having since gotten married, had a child, and is now in her 40s, in her perimenopause and wants to minimize stress and enjoy this next phase of life, while also ensuring her child is old enough for her to have more time for herself. But, she feels conflicted because she has a big vision, message, and dreams that she believes will help the world. This is a conversation about women in business, publishing, menopause (and perimenopause), hormones, and more!

In honor of International Women's Day, for the first time, we opened up our private conference lines for another hour of Chat with Crystal this month! This is a chance for more women to get 1-on-1 coaching with Crystal, free of charge and anonymously. Yay! During this episode, Crystal first chats with Joscelyn, who shares that as a coach-in-training, she's having trouble remembering her "why," and is experiencing some limiting beliefs that are causing her to self-sabotage. Some of these beliefs include, who am I to be a coach? Who would I work with? Who would my client be? While at the same time, Joscelyn also shares that she's at a stage in her life where she doesn't want to feel that she owes anyone anything. She'd love to be able to create a career on her terms, like a coaching biz. Joscelyn also shares that she's always been introverted and that the sisterhood and community within the school have been so significant for her, as she's been emotionally hurt by female friends over the years that she's never really been able to recover from fully. She also shares that she often worries about her adult daughter, whose partner Joscelyn believes is a narcissist, and wishes she could have done a better job in some ways while raising her to help her see her worth. Crystal helps Joscelyn see things in both her career and coach training and the situation with her daughter through different and more empowered lenses. Danielle then joins the call and shares that she has big dreams and feels she's not reaching her full potential, which frustrates her. Between her and her partner and their blended family, they have a lot of children to care for, which they love, but she's often so busy taking care of everyone else. There are also some financial limitations and situations that could be better for Danielle. As a natural comedian, she says that she secretly loves making funny TikTok videos to make light of things. However, she feels a little nervous and "cringey," sharing them with the world. Crystal and Danielle talk about taking the first step toward her bigger dreams and how small steps of courage lead to giant strides.

On this episode, Crystal kicks it off by sharing some of her own experiences since our last Chat with Crystal episode, including how she was able to “release” 40 lbs during our hiatus. Although it feels incredible, it's really not about the weight. Crystal shares how enforcing more boundaries, speaking her truth, and inviting more “temperance” into her life (her “word” of the year) has made such a massive impact. Our first caller is Amy. Having chatted with Crystal before over one-on-one coaching, Amy shares how although she's gotten everything “ready to go” for an upcoming project she's launching at her already established and super cool business; she's finding herself stuck in fear and unable to execute it and share it with her world (and her already “warm” list), in fear of being judged. Crystal helps Amy identify where she's feeling this fear in her body, work through it, and help reframe things in a more accurate and Self-loving way. As we always teach in Empowerment Coaching: emotions first, strategy second. Sonia joins the last bit of the call. She expresses that she's having a bit of a rough time after her daughter shared with her that she was sexually assaulted as a 7-year-old little girl by another boy her age. Sonia says she's having trouble understanding it and figuring out the best way to support her. Crystal discusses Active Listening versus Reflective Listening and how Sonia can make space for her daughter to ensure she feels heard and validated.

On this month's Chat with Crystal, Sarah joins the call. Sarah shares that she feels she's been struggling for a long time. She says she feels 'stuck in a rut' and knows she needs to push forward with her own business and get financially secure but feels the lack of motivation in her personal life has taken over. After chatting further, Crystal tells Sarah that she thinks there's something deeper happening, and rather than directly talking about Sarah's messaging and her business, she wants to help figure out what the block is in Sarah's life that's keeping her stuck. Together, Crystal takes Sarah through a body scan exercise to understand where she's feeling resistance in her body and help her open up her heart to be vulnerable. After doing so, Sarah shares that she knows what the thing in her life is that keeps her stuck — her abusive marriage. Together, they work through some fears and obstacles that Sarah has around leaving to help solution them and make them seem not as scary, as well as some small action steps to help Sarah put boundaries in place.

On this month's Chat with Crystal episode, Jenn joins the call. Jenn shares that she's been a student at S.W.A.T. for the last ten years in the original Master Empowerment Coach Certification (MECC), and in that time, she feels like she's taken more time than she "should have" to complete the program and get clarity on her business. However, Jenn's now at the end of her MECC studies getting ready to graduate and is ready to put herself out there. Still, she is having a bit of a disconnect with her current business that she'd love to marry with her Empowerment Coaching business. Crystal asks Jenn if she could wave a magic wand and do anything; what would she do? Jenn shares that she's doing a lot of it now. As a dog trainer, teacher, and coach for the last 20 years, she knows how so often with her clients, when a dog comes in with a behavioral issue, it almost always has to do with the owner. Our dogs often mirror us back, and usually, both the owner and the dog need coaching. Crystal reassures Jenn that this is a brilliant and niche business idea and shares some tips with Jenn to get her going on the right track. Ellen then joins the call and shares that as a student in the brand-new MECC program, there's an assignment she's gotten stuck on, one about triggers. Crystal and Ellen walk through the assignment together, and Crystal asks Ellen (as per the assignment) to think about a person in her life that triggers her and what it is about this person that does so. Ellen shares that this specific woman in her life that triggers her can be a b*tch — that she is a know-it-all, master of all, judgemental, patronizing, and condescending, and that she makes Ellen feel insignificant. Crystal asks Ellen to think back to a person in her life growing up that treated her the same way or a time when she decided that behaving in that way was not who she wanted to be. Ellen shares that it was her older sister. Crystal leads Ellen through a trigger exercise to find her own buried 'bitch,' and help her heal this trigger.

On this month's Chat with Crystal episode, Nicole joins the call. Nicole shares that she's been in a 7-year-long custody battle from hell with her ex over their daughter. Living with autism, Nicole is a brilliant and educated software engineer and expresses the impact this custody battle has had on her life and the injustices she's endured by the courts because of her disability. Now living in an RV, desperate to get custody of her daughter, Nicole is looking for a discrimination advocacy contingency lawyer who can assist her. Listen as Crystal talks through the details with Nicole to see if there's a way we can support her in staying in her most empowered energy while going through this journey. Angelika also briefly joins the call to share that she too has an ex-partner who makes things difficult for her and her young child. She also shares that she's been struggling day-to-day to stay in her Woman Energy. Crystal shares some advice with Angelika on how she can stay feeling empowered while reminding her that we are human.

On this month's Chat with Crystal, Ginny calls in. Ginny shares that she always thought she was confident for most of her life, but lately, she's been catching herself in self-doubt. She says that she listens back to things she says at work and thinks to herself, "shut up, Ginny!" When Crystal asks what she means, Ginny explains that she is in constant people-pleasing mode, always apologizing when she doesn't need to and over-thanking people for every little thing. She wants to be her most empowered self but feels like this people-pleasing energy is holding her back. Ginny also explains that she quit drinking months ago, which has made her feel great, but since then, she started noticing these behaviours. She acknowledges that drinking was definitely part of her confident 'mask' that got her through many situations in life. Crystal works with Ginny to identify her two parts, or archetypes, that are coming to the surface -- little 8-year old 'Sarah' and 'Ginger' — her teenage 'addict' daughter energy. This call is filled with so many gems! Be sure to tune in.

On this month's episode, Elka calls in. She shares that although she's trying her best to stay high vibing, she feels discouraged. After chatting with Elka more, Crystal learns that apart from being in the healing and wellness industry for 30+ years, Elka is now a part of a network marketing company that sells essential oils. Elka also has an expertise in oils that she carries from her 30+ year-long career. She says she keeps trying to share her business and connect with clients but is having trouble getting them to sign up. Elka also shares that she's been doing this business for a few years. Crystal asks Elka why she's continued to ''do the business'' if she finds it difficult and isn't feeling successful with it. As they chat, Crystal asks Elka to dive deep into her ''why.'' Initially, Elka shares that she wants to help people feel good and be happy, essentially to make the world a better place. Crystal asks again, "why?" And as they dig in, Elka uncovers her real WHY for doing this business and how she needs to change the way she's approaching it. Ellen then joins the call and shares that her life overall is pretty good, but the one thing that she feels is holding her back is her weight. She's not happy with how much she's put on over the years and doesn't like the reflection in the mirror. Having chatted with Ellen before, Crystal asks her to do some reframing and recognize that the weight might have been an unconscious ''safety blanket'' that Ellen created to keep herself safe from past traumas. Ellen shares that years ago, after losing weight in her 30s, she became promiscuous and received harsh comments from women in her life. After chatting this through more with Crystal, Ellen agrees that she's healed and is ready to take some action for herself and her life.

On this month's Chat with Crystal, Michele calls in. She says that she doesn't really have anything specific to talk about but knows that Crystal often has a knack for getting to the root of an issue. As they dive in, Michele shares that she left her husband of 34 years and sold her business right before the pandemic hit. Since then, she's been trying to start fresh — getting her own apartment and working four days a week. She also shares that, in a way, she feels as though she's rebelled - letting her greys grow in and not feeling the need to wear makeup. As they chat, Crystal uncovers that Michele is feeling a bit of guilt, as she wants to continue prioritizing herself but has been so conditioned to put everyone else's needs before her own. Crystal asks Michele if she could dream something for her life, what would she dream up? Together they chat about Michele's dreams and goals and put together some next steps. Sharon then joins the call. Having recently joined back up for our Empowerment Coach Certification, she shares her excitement. She and Crystal chat about how Sharon, despite living on the opposite side of the world in Australia, has been in Crystal's world for 15 years -- before our school, the S.W.A.T. Institute, was even founded. She talks about being a single mother, but now as an empty nester, she's ready to step into her power and launch her dream business empowering and supporting women. If you are ready to step into your power and the next stage of your life, this is a feel-good call that will leave you feeling motivated!

On this month's Chat with Crystal, Catherine calls in. She shares that she's feeling disempowered financially. Having lost her job last year due to the pandemic and now being 18 weeks pregnant, she's having anxiety about how she's going to manage as a new mom. Catherine feels scared that she isn't going to be able to care for her baby and angry that she might end up with a minimum wage job, as she's on the hunt to secure something, so she's able to get maternity leave, but having issues finding anything. Now 33, she's having flashbacks to being 19 years old, pregnant with her first child and trying to manage. Crystal goes through Catherine's options with her. She reminds Catherine that it takes two to tango, and it's not just on her shoulders but on her husbands as well to figure out a plan of action. Crystal also asks if worst came to worst if they could sell their home and downsize. Catherine says that her parents wouldn't let it get to that point and would help if that were the case. Crystal helps Catherine see that things aren't as dire as they feel. And on top of that, she's also working away on creating a business of her own that she's genuinely passionate about. Together, they make some next steps to help Catherine get in a better place. Angelika then joins the call. She shares that she can relate a lot to Catherine's first half of the call. A single mother in a new country with a new language, she's had to learn to navigate and take care of her infant son while also working full-time. Crystal gives Angelika a massive pat on the back for how gracefully she's handled it with zero support around her. Angelika shares some of her dreams and visions for her future as well. This is a feel-good, must-listen call for any new mom or anyone feeling helpless in their life.

On this month's Chat with Crystal, Melody calls in. She shares that she's been feeling stuck and unsure of her purpose in life. Recently Melody started a group coaching session with a few clients that takes place every Saturday morning. She shares that she's not really sure if she likes it or is on the right track. As Crystal chats about this further with Melody, she learns that part of what Melody doesn't like is that the session runs every Saturday morning. Crystal reminds her that we always have a choice and that one of the great things about being an entrepreneur is that you can pick your own hours and what works best for you. The other part that Melody isn't sure about is that she feels that her clients aren't always “doing the work,” which can be frustrating at times. Crystal shares some tips to help Melody understand this better and not get discouraged. As they chat deeper, Crystal learns that Melody has been a physical therapist for 30+ years, and though she'd like to move away from it, her dream is to teach women how to use their minds and bodies to create a life they love. From her work as a physical therapist and her own personal experience, she knows how emotions and thoughts affect the body. Despite living a very healthy lifestyle, being overworked and stressed manifested into Melody facing a series of health issues this past year. Because of that, she expresses that she feels like an imposter to teach about it herself. Crystal helps Melody see that her first-hand experience is what gives her the right to be able to teach about this and that her time as a physical therapist will marry perfectly with her coaching work. As a result, Melody has some ‘aha' moments, gains clarity, and ends the call with excitement. Yay! To learn more about the S.W.A.T. Institute and our certifications and programs, visit: https://swatinstitute.com/,

On this month's episode, Vannessa calls in. Vannessa has been in our world for several years, and we've watched her incredible empowerment transformation before our very eyes. From a broken home, extreme childhood abuse, and a toxic, narcissistic mother, Vannessa has spent the last five years 'doing the work' to heal and create a more healthy and happy life for her and her family. At the beginning of the call, Vannessa shares that she feels happy for the first time in a very long time, 34 weeks pregnant with her third baby and feeling great about where she is in her life and her empowerment journey. She shares, though, that something has been bothering her in the back of her mind. Sometimes she feels as though she picked a husband who might be narcissistic and gaslighting like her mom. Having worked with Vannessa for many years, Crystal chats with her to ask what she means and what types of things he does to make her feel that way. As they dig deeper, Crystal helps Vannessa see that her husband isn't a narcissist. However, the way he responds to things might sometimes be frustrating and triggering for her. A lot of times in relationships, miscommunication is the root of many issues. Crystal demonstrates more effective communication styles and ways to talk with him about the things she is frustrated with to create a more win-win situation. For example, rather than saying, "you're not doing your fair share of chores around here," instead, trying something more like this: "If you'd be able to help me with _____, that would be so helpful and amazing." Vanessa has an 'aha' moment on the call and realizes that her communication with her husband could use a little love and tweaking. So whether you're also dealing with a communication breakdown or just want to feel more heard, respected, and appreciated, you're going to love this conversation! Note: if you are in an abusive relationship, don't hesitate to contact https://endingviolencecanada.org/getting-help-2/ or a national resource to get the support you need + deserve. No one should ever feel abused, emotionally, mentally, verbally or physically.

On this month's episode, Heather and Marie both called in. Crystal first chatted with Heather, who shared that her mother passed away this past April after being sick, quadriplegic, and dependent on Heather for a long time. Heather feels as though she's struggling to do everything right now — taking care of her four young sons, trying to be there for her dad and family, and meanwhile, on top of a million responsibilities, missing her mom so much. Crystal has Heather tap deeper into her grief and uncovers that deep down; she feels angry at her mom for being sick and accepting her illness — feeling as though she never actively tried to get better. And then, in turn, Heather feels guilty and angry at herself for being angry with her mom. Heather shares that she feels hurt and robbed that she will never have that true unconditional love from a female again, something she cherished with her mom. Crystal helps Heather let go of the stuff that kept her from fully grieving her mother and see that she needs to prioritize herself and self-care and ask for help more often. After a great chat with Heather, Marie joins the line. She shares that she is feeling deeply lost and stuck. She feels as though she's spent her life taking care of everyone else. As a single mom who raised three kids on her own, now in their 20's and doing great, this past year found herself homeless due to the pandemic. Having lost her good-paying, full-time job in a surgical room, to then losing her beautiful property and home, Marie describes it like dominos falling. After living in her car for some time this past year, she was offered a job as a live-in caretaker, where she's fed and housed. From dealing with a sick and senior man to another young man with bipolar disorder living in the house, Marie feels very unhappy. She's not sure where things got so bad, but she knows her drinking is part of the problem and keeping her stuck. Crystal helps Marie see her options, put some concrete next steps in place and helps her to understand that we always have a choice. As Crystal always says, "empowerment is choice. When you think you have no choice, you disempower yourself."

During this month's conversation on Chat with Crystal, Elka and Catherine both called in for empowerment coaching. Elka first shared how frustrated she is with her business, something she does called Emotional Release with Essential Oils. Elka also mentioned that she recently moved from Michigan to Florida and didn't know many people in her community. Crystal talked about a book she's reading called Rebellion Marketing by Mark Schaefer and how business has dramatically changed over the past hundred years, particularly in the last ten! People aren't being conned anymore by slick promotions, technology, and advertising; instead, they want to buy from real people and companies they feel connected to personally. Crystal gave Elka different ideas to help her use this approach to garnering new clients, and by the end of the short chat, Elka was telling Crystal how deeply grateful she felt for her advice. Then Catherine got some powerful coaching around a friendship that is under strain and stress. In a matter of minutes, Crystal shifted Catherine from guilt and tears to some giggles and relief. It was an excellent call that proves the power of empowerment coaching.

During Chat with Crystal, I spoke with Crystal, who shared that she is afraid that now that she's doing this empowerment work, she will blow her life up. Crystal works too much, she has a job she doesn't enjoy, her marriage needs an overhaul, and it's like suddenly the veil has been lifted, and she sees how much she's been ignoring for so long. I assured Crystal that healing is an inside job and that she doesn't have to have heavy, intense conversations with anyone right now. By the end of the call, we came up with ways to create more joy in her life, bit by bit, step-by-step, and put a plan in place to get her marriage back on track and work towards creating a career that gives her joy.

On this month's Chat with Crystal episode, Ellen calls in. As a student in our current Emotional Edge 2.0 course, Ellen shares that she's feeling stuck on one of the Emotional Age Sub-Archetypes that Crystal covered this past week, called ‘the Chubby Bubby' (also found in Crystal's best-selling book, The Emotional Edge). Ellen feels as though her Chubby Bubby is holding her back from living her fullest life. On the other hand, she knows that part of herself is creating some stability and ‘protection' in her life, so she's scared to let her go. Like many women, in the back of her mind, Ellen worries that if her Chubby Bubby is no longer in control and she has her mojo back, that she may be unfaithful to her husband or question if he's enough. Crystal helps Ellen to dialogue with this part of herself, as well as a different Emotional Age Sub-Archetype she's “locked away in the basement” who's desperate for love, her Charmer. Crystal urges Ellen to do some deep journaling to let those two parts of herself dialogue and feel heard so that the real her — Ellen's Woman Energy can take the lead. Melanie also joins the latter half of the call. She shares that although she and her ex-boyfriend separated six months ago, she can't seem to shake him. Melanie admits that she doesn't even like him or his personality, but for some reason, she can't seem to let him go or stop replaying old conversations in her mind. Crystal learns more about their shaky relationship to help Melanie understand why she might feel this attachment and let it go.

On this week’s episode, Crystal chatted with Catherine. Catherine shares that she found Crystal’s podcast just two weeks ago while recovering from one of her many surgeries since being diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago at 29. Since discovering Crystal, she’s signed up for all of the courses at The S.W.A.T. Institute, including the Empowerment Coach Certification. Catherine feels ready to use her story to help other women trust their intuition and advocate for themselves, their bodies, and their health, something she struggled with early on in her journey. At first, Catherine shares that she might be resonating in shame, as she’s feeling bad about not being there for the people in her life the way she was before. After chatting further, Crystal quickly learns that Catherine is actually resonating much higher on the Empowerment Scale, at fear — in her own words, fear that she might get sick again and that her story won’t make her confident and strong. Crystal helps Catherine to understand her fear a bit better, and the next step in her journey to empowerment -- anger, a level that can be uncomfortable for many women but is necessary to soar.

On this Chat with Crystal, Octavia from South Africa joins the call. She shares that it is easy to forgive others, the problem she has is forgiving herself. After leaving her corporate job and starting her own business that hasn’t done as well as she’d hoped for, she can’t seem to forgive herself for “failing.” Crystal helps her see that everything is happening in divine timing and that even the ‘supposed’ failure was a tremendous learning lesson about what not to do next time. Octavia expresses many “aha” moments (as she calls them) during this coaching session. Listen to Crystal take Octavia through the empowerment process, and ‘level up’ in her thinking.

On the morning of our last Chat with Crystal call, we all received the tragic news that our beloved S.W.A.T. siSTAR and graduate, Kathryn Chavez, had passed away suddenly by suicide. Crystal worked closely with Kathryn for many years, coaching her 1-on-1 on her business and helping her build her website. Kathryn was so loved within the S.W.A.T. Institute and was truly such a light to all who knew her. Apart from being an amazing coach and intuitive, she was also a phenomenal singer, having spent most of her adult life singing in Las Vegas alongside her beloved bandmate and husband, Rick, who passed away just a week before her. Crystal opens the lines for some of our grieving S.W.A.T. siSTAR’s to talk and share in a safe place during the call. Fellow S.W.A.T. graduates, Charlene and Taryn both join the conversation.

During this call, Crystal chats with Jasmine about an old shame story that Jasmine has been carrying for over 20 years. It is a story she has not told anyone, not even her own husband. Jasmine worries that she can't be a truly empowered woman and coach doing authentic work in the world unless she comes clean with her husband and tells him about her past. Crystal helps Jasmine realize that we all have done or experienced things that we carry shame over, but that we still have the right to create a life we love – a life worthy of us. "We are not what has happened to us," Crystal explains, "we are what we do with what happened to us." Jasmine then sees that she has taken her past and turned it into gold, and you can feel the palpable shift in her energy.

During this call, Crystal chats with Katy and Ellen. Ellen shares that she is an 'empath' who has been deeply affected by the January 6th event in the US on Capitol Hill. Using the Empowerment Coaching process, Crystal helps shift Ellen from despair to courage--one step, or emotion, at a time. But first, Katy updates Crystal on her journey from the first time they chatted back in September 2020. Katy has not only gotten her drinking under control; she has dealt with the guilt and shame of not being able to get pregnant and is now filled with purpose and passion again.

During this call, Crystal chats with Sarah. After joining the call, Sarah tells Crystal that she feels as though her 'father wound' has manifested itself into her relationships and the way she views men, and that she's "secretly" upset with her dad. It's a secret, she says, more so to herself, as she never wants to deal with the feelings around it and often pushes them down. She shares that she's never met her father and has only spoken to him one time on the phone when she was 18-years-old; a conversation that left her disappointed. As Sarah opens up, Crystal learns that her home life growing up with her mom was an often oppressed environment. Her mother had bipolar disorder. Anytime Sarah spoke about anything that upset her, including her feelings around her absentee father, it triggered her mother into an episode of mania or depression. With her mother's mental health issues and struggle with drug abuse, her two older siblings were put up for adoption as small children before Sarah was born, something that too has caused heartache within her family. As a result of her childhood, Sarah often silences her feelings in an effort to not "rock the boat" — a feeling she describes like a shaken soda bottle, over time eventually exploding. And after doing so, feeling ashamed for it. Crystal asks Sarah to think about the last time she got really angry — which Sarah says is not often. She recalls a time earlier in the year when she and her newly separated husband had a blow out over her wanting him to put more effort in with their children and evenly share their responsibilities, which he dismissed and shamed her for. As they dive into this topic, Crystal learns that this is where a lot of her heartache is harbored right now, as she wants her children to have a happy, healthy relationship with their father; something she never had. Crystal urges Sarah to reconsider the way she's communicating with her ex. She also asks her to write a letter, practicing how she's going to approach him in a reasonable and empowered way, so that they can move forward as parents harmoniously and help their three little children be the most loved, healthy, and happy they can be.

During this call, Crystal chats with Ellen. 
 Ellen calls in looking for a little guidance. After taking many different certifications, she still feels she's not confident enough to begin offering coaching services. Unsure about her next steps, she wonders: how should she start a coaching call, "break the ice," and get the client comfortable? How should she price herself, and what about the technical side? After chatting with Ellen, Crystal learns that she was never actually given the opportunity to coach anyone during her studies despite being certified. Crystal reassures Ellen that her feelings of uncertainty are entirely normal, and though she clearly has a natural talent for coaching, she just needs practice.  
 She tells Ellen about our Empowerment Coach Certification, it's extensive teachings, and how once our students have been through the program, we help them hone their skills through our Mentorship Coaching Program. We provide our students with a minimum of 30 hours of practice coaching calls that are not only listened to by our Professor of Coaching, Izabela Viskupova, LLM, M.A., but where you'll be provided with meaningful, constructive feedback regarding your strengths and areas of improvement. Crystal reassures Ellen that we make sure our students are entirely comfortable coaching before graduating. We also teach students about coaching contracts, the best ways to connect with their clients, how to record their sessions, and more! After chatting about it with Crystal, Ellen has since signed up to become a Certified Empowerment Coach through The S.W.A.T. Institute!  
 Ashley also joined the latter half of the call. Having recently signed up for 1-on-1 coaching with Crystal, she called into Chat with Crystal before their first session together. She shares that although her marketing materials and branding are on point, she doesn't feel she's getting the sales she deserves. Crystal tells Ashley that her thought-out social media posts, though beautiful, are never actually "asking for the sale." She talks about the exchange of energy that needs to happen for a business to run harmoniously. And Ashley has a few 'ah-ha' moments before Crystal gives her some homework for their first 1-on-1 session together.  
 Interested in learning more about some of the services discussed in the call? 
 To learn more about our Empowerment Coach Certification (ECC), visit: https://swatinstitute.com/empowerment-coach-certification. This only runs 2x per year!  
 For information on our Mentorship Coaching Program, where you can sign up for free coaching with one of our outstanding students who are about to graduate, visit: https://swatinstitute.com/Home#1562336473281. 
 And if you'd like to check out Crystal's 1-on-1 coaching packages, visit: https://crystalandrusmorissette.com/what-is-empowerment-coaching. (Note: we are only taking a very small number of new clients at this time)

During this call, Crystal chats with Katy. After joining the call, Crystal instantly recognizes Katy’s voice. Having coached Katy over 14 years ago, Crystal had shared a story about Katy in her 2006 book, Transcendent Beaty (with her permission, of course). At the time of their coaching, Katy was so worried about never getting married or having children. In Transcendent Beauty, Crystal shares a process where she helps Katy “find the voice of her fear,” also something Crystal calls ‘Working with Parts.’ Going through the process together, they discovered Katy’s wounded self was a lonely, little old lady with curlers in her hair, wearing a ragged, old housecoat, who was so worried Katy is going to turn out like her. Fourteen years later, Katy calls into Chat with Crystal and shares that she indeed did get married, but that she’s spent the last six years or so going through IVF unsuccessfully. Crystal instantly remembers Katy and her Mother Energy — the same old, scared little lady who is now freaking out that Katy will never have children. Together, Crystal leads Katy through a powerful process to help her make peace with her Mother Energy and the fear that she’s clearly drawn near. Katy feels instant relief and also shares with Crystal that she’s recently signed up to become a Certified Empowerment Coach with The S.W.A.T. Institute, all these years later.

During this call, Crystal chats with Robin. An educated woman, Robin is a Doctor of Metaphysical Science, a Drugless Practitioner, and a Certified Empowerment Coach through the S.W.A.T. Institute. After battling an auto-immune disorder and learning how to heal her health and life holistically, Robin sold her medical spa six months ago to focus on growing her business to reach women on a larger scale. Though filled with inspiration and ideas, Robin calls in and expresses that she now feels she’s hit a standstill and lacks clarity on her next steps. Crystal and Robin chat about all of the entertaining Robin has been doing recently, leaving her feeling depleted. Crystal helps Robin see that she’s been swinging back and forth between “Mama Robin,” taking care of everyone else, to “Cinnamon,” as Robin calls her fun, but sometimes irresponsible Daughter Energy. Crystal coaches Robin to help her get clear on what she needs to do to stay in her Woman Energy, where she will be able to make a more empowered decision on the exciting possibilities of her new business endeavor.

During this call, Crystal chats with Sandika. Living “off-the-grid” on a very remote island in Western Canada, Sandika offers a variety of services to her clients, both virtually and in person. She leads empowerment adventure weekend workshops near her home, is an empowerment coach, as well as the Mentorship Coaching Coordinator at the S.W.A.T. Institute. Before graduating as a coach, Sandika was a hair stylist; a service she still offers part-time to people living on her island. During this episode, Sandika calls in to speak with Crystal about an upcoming opportunity she’s been offered. A beautiful, private, oceanfront office space has been made available to her, that she feels would be perfect for all her business offers. It even would give her the opportunity to expand her services. Although she’s excited about it, she is nervous about taking on the commitment that comes with it both financially and logistically. She doesn’t have long to make a decision, as an opportunity for this type of real estate doesn’t happen often and is in high demand. Taryn, another wonderful coach and graduate joins the call, who expresses her excitement and fears with her own business as well. Listen to Crystal chat with both Sandika and Taryn through their fears, to make the best decisions for their businesses. This is a super fun, empowered call between three wonderful women and coaches. Be sure to listen in!

During this call, Crystal chats with Jennifer. Although she has been taking the necessary steps to launch her career, she is still nervous about putting herself out there in a bigger way. She struggles using social media, and worries that her messaging or mission won’t be perceived in the right way. Crystal helps Jennifer to understand that although she might be afraid, she has to start putting herself out there to strengthen her “courage muscle” and answer her calling. Alisha then joins the call. Alisha is a Black woman from Chicago, who expresses the anger she feels at the looters and rioters of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Together, Crystal and Alisha have an honest conversation about racism, and Crystal encourages Alisha to see the situation from a different point of view.

During this call, Crystal chats with Norma. A few days away from the one-year anniversary of her beloved 22-year-old son’s sudden passing, Norma shares with Crystal that the past year has been the most unimaginable pain and numbness that she could ever begin to explain. Though her family and friends have been well-meaning, the experience has made her realize that most people do not know the right things to say or do for a woman grieving the loss of her child. She explains that the best thing you can do for someone grieving is to simply be there for them; hold space for them. Norma tells Crystal that she desperately wants to be the mother her other two daughters need, but she can’t imagine this pain ever ending. Every small moment of happiness or laughter leaves her feeling guilty and longing for the emptiness and loss she feels for her son. Listen to Crystal talk with Norma to help her to come to terms with her loss and slowly help her see a beautiful purpose moving forward. This is a must-listen-to call for any coach who wants to better understand how to deal with a client in grief.

During this call, Crystal chats with Alicia. Despite a brutal upbringing that included extreme emotional and sexual abuse, an abortion at 11 years old, kidnapping, and more recently being diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving a double mastectomy, Alicia has defied the odds. Not only is she a strong, successful woman completing her Empowerment Coach certification at the S.W.A.T. Institute, she is also a phenomenal mother. Her son has completed his master’s degree and is in the midst of getting his Ph.D. Though she’s done her best to persevere, to move forward, and above all, to be strong, she can’t help the anger and hurt she harbors, and the feelings of uncertainty about the future. Selma also joined the call. For the last few decades of her life, Selma has tried her best to protect her children and to give the appearance of a perfect family. Though on the inside, she felt like she was drowning in dysfunction. In some ways, Selma feels as though she married someone who treated her just like her mother. No matter how hard she tried, she was never good enough, and in turn, suffered emotional abuse at the hands of her husband. Now that her children are adults, Selma and her husband have separated. Though, he now claims to be a new man and is desperately trying to reconcile with her and mend their broken marriage. Listen to Crystal coach these two brave women through the Empowerment Ladder, to help them understand their options, and get clear on their next steps.

During this call, Crystal chats with Carol, who says the first time she ever did something selfish was when she was 40 years old; she left her husband. But even that decision was more for her daughters, who at the time were 11 & 12 and who told her they just wanted to see their mom happy. Now, at 53, Carol realizes she's never really allowed herself to consider what would make her happy. Instead, she lives her life just under the radar... never shining too bright, never following her dreams, never rocking the boat. But Carol wants to know why she's so afraid and if her "time" will ever come.

Why Would God Leave You Now? — is an empowerment coaching call between Taryn and Crystal. Taryn has spent the last year getting ready to put herself out there in a big way. She’s completed Empowerment Coach Training, had a beautiful website built, and is in the process of developing her own course to help women become their greatest Self’s. She shares with Crystal, that although she’s “done the work”, she still can’t help but feel some fear and self-doubt about putting herself out there. As a Christian, Taryn mentions that this doubt, almost makes her feel like she is stepping out of her faith. Crystal helps Taryn tackle her fear by asking her “Why would God bring you to this point to leave you now?” Listen to Crystal coach Taryn through the emotions as she learns to quiet the sabotaging voice in her head, to trust herself and her faith in the process.

My Adult Kids are Spending Christmas with My Ex Who Left Me at Christmas -- Is a coaching call between Crystal and Linda. Linda reluctantly shares with Crystal that she is feeling a little upset and abandoned. Her ex-husband, who years ago up and left her and their children over the Christmas holidays, is invited to spend the night at her now adult daughter’s home, to have Christmas morning with them and her little grandchildren. In an effort to not “rock the boat,” Linda didn’t get an invite from her daughters. She shares with Crystal that she really doesn’t want to upset her kids, but can’t help but feel a little lonely and hurt, like she’s the one who should be spending Christmas morning. Crystal helps Linda come to realize that she never really healed from being left and rejected by her husband over Christmas all those years ago, as at the time she was trying to be strong for her kids. Crystal provides Linda with some next steps, urging her to have an honest adult discussion with her daughters to let them know how she’s feeling, while ensuring to stay in her ‘Woman Energy.’

What To Do When a Friend Dumps You - is a coaching conversation between Charlene and Crystal Andrus Morissette. Years ago, Charlene went through a divorce that she describes as “something you see in the movies.” And though it was so turbulent and painful, a lot of the heartbreak came from the betrayal of the women closest to her. Throughout the years of her marriage, Charlene created a really solid place in her community and a group of female friends who’d been inseparable for over 20 years. Now happily remarried, she still has a sensitive spot in her heart every time she hears about the terrible things these women who she believed were some of her best friends have said about her or done. Recently, her hopes had been lifted as she thought she’d reconciled with one of them, just to learn it was one more “punch in the stomach.” Missing them in her life, but tired of being hurt, Charlene reaches out for guidance on her next steps. Amber also joins the later half of the call and discusses what she describes as an empty feeling in her life. She knows that she can be happy alone, but she also feels that it would be really nice to have someone in her life that treats her well. Crystal instructs Amber to go back and think about the first time she experienced this feeling to help her understand why she keeps attracting unfaithful men, and to get clear on how to attract the right ones.

My Mother Sold Me into Sex Trafficking is an empowered coaching conversation between Crystal Andrus Morissette and Willow. Willow is 21-years-old, and this month marks a year since she was rescued from sex trafficking. She and her younger siblings had been trafficked at the hands of her mother since Willow was four-years-old. Her mother, who was also a victim of trafficking, was murdered by her abusers in 2017. Her younger brother, committing suicide in foster care last year, as a result of the abuse and pain he’d been through. Despite all of this, Willow is studying law full time and is graduating later this year. She has 2.5 jobs, and just started her own non-profit to spread awareness on human trafficking. Though she’s doing and achieving all these amazing things, on the inside she can’t help but feel she is struggling. Listen to Crystal coach Willow through her emotions to help her begin in heal her heart, and quiet the emotional flashbacks she is experiencing.

My Five Children Have Stopped Talking to Me - is a coaching conversation between Crystal Andrus Morissette and Shirley. After a 36-year-long toxic marriage and turbulent divorce, Shirley and her children have been through a lot. Shirley knows that because she was so deeply wounded and disempowered, she didn’t always make the best decisions with her kids, because she was struggling a lot of the time to even take care of herself. Since her divorce, and what she describes as a “series of unfortunate events,” in which she takes her share of responsibility for, her children, now adults, are no longer speaking to her. Shirley recently was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and with the proper medication is in a much more stable and empowered place than she once was. She desperately wants to reconcile with her children, and let them know they are loved and she is sorry for any hurt she has caused. Listen to Crystal coach Shirley through the empowerment ladder and give her some concrete steps to start mending her relationship with her children.

Am I Sexually Liberated or Still Wounded? - is a coaching conversation between Crystal Andrus Morissette and Naomi. After being sexually assaulted numerous times, including having her virginity taken from her, Naomi has done a lot of empowerment work, soul searching, and healing. Though she craves a deep connection with another person, she has recently been having these visions that she is meant to experience sex with different people to become sexually liberated and to trust others through practicing conscious consent. However, Naomi feels as though her “puritan” is sitting on her one shoulder and her “charmer” on the other. Listen to Crystal Andrus Morissette coach Naomi to dive deeper into these feelings to help her make sure she is making a decision that will leave her feeling liberated without harming her heart in the process.

It’s Time to Face Your Anger — is an empowerment coaching call between Taryn and Crystal. Taryn has been through some devastating events; the sudden death of her husband last year, a brutal rape, dealing with her mother’s ongoing dementia, breaking her femur this past year, and her battle with her weight and self-worth. Despite all of these traumas, Taryn is very high functioning; with a great career and attitude. She tells Crystal that she is not broken, that she’s empowered, dealt with it all, and moved on. Yet, Taryn still feels like something isn’t quite right in her life. Listen to Crystal coach Taryn through the empowerment ladder, to come face to face with a feeling she isn't too familiar with -- anger.

I Feel Like I’m Stuck In Groundhog Day - is an empowerment coaching call between Crystal and Wendi. Wendi is a highly educated physical therapist, with certifications in Energy Balancing, CranioSacral Therapy, Body Grounding & Meditations, Yoga, Somato Emotional Release, and more. Trying to juggle it all; Wendi works six days a week, is a full-time sports mom, trying to be the perfect wife, daughter, and mother while also trying to spend more time building her business practice. She feels unfulfilled at the clinic where she spends half her working days. And she has guilt about letting her health slip and not giving herself she self-care she needs. She describes feeling like she’s stuck in “Ground Hog Day,” feeling like she works so hard and is so burnt out yet it never feels enough. She tells Crystal she wishes she “could do more.” Crystal helps coach Wendi through the empowerment ladder and helps her get clear on what exactly she wants so that she can make immediate changes to become her happiest, most fulfilled self.

I’m a Medical Doctor, but I’m Not Smart or Good Enough - is an empowerment coaching call between Crystal and Rima. Rima is a certified Medical Doctor, Medical Intuitive, Reiki practitioner, and yoga teacher, among other things. Despite all of her accomplishments and accolades, she can’t shake this feeling of never feeling good enough or sure of herself and her next business step. Listen to Crystal coach her from shame through the empowerment ladder!