MY STORY
Motherhood did not make me less capable.
It made my life more complex - and eventually forced me to learn skills that let all of that capability feel less exhausting.
For the first three decades of my life, I knew how to succeed.
Work hard, prepare, make the plan. Do excellent work and try harder when something isn't working.
That operating system got me through school, degrees, a career I was proud of, relationships, and a home and a life that felt capable and full.
Then I had two babies.
I couldn't wake up earlier or stay up later to catch up. There was always more to do. I felt like I was failing at things as basic as feeding my kids. I felt uncomfortable in my postpartum body. I was overwhelmed, anxious and resentful - and terrified that the capable version of me had disappeared.
Because I was a perfectionist, I did what perfectionists do when life stops cooperating.
I tried harder.
I read more parenting books. Made better schedules. Tried to get more organized. Tried to anticipate more problems. Tried to control more variables. Put more pressure on myself.
And then I judged myself when motherhood still didn’t feel the way I thought it should.
Your life changed. Your performance review of yourself did not.
Eventually, I realized I didn't need to get better at controlling my life.
I needed a different way to use everything I was already capable of.
During those long nights feeding and rocking babies, I discovered a self-coaching model that helped me slow down what was happening in my head, understand why I was feeling and responding the way I was, and decide what I wanted to do next.
The ideas were surprisingly simple. That was part of what made them powerful.
It felt like someone had pulled back the curtain on a great coaching session and shown me how to begin supporting myself in the moment. Not instead of therapy or coaching. But in all the hours when my therapist or coach wasn’t sitting next to me.
I finally had somewhere to go with my own brain.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS TO ME
Motherhood revealed the pattern. The pattern was never just about motherhood.Â
I now see those same familiar rules in leaders, entrepreneurs, parents, and high-achieving people navigating big changes: “I have to get it right.” “I should be able to handle it.” “If someone is disappointed, I’ve done something wrong.”
Different circumstances. Remarkably similar thoughts.
I’ve spent years coaching people through decisions, relationships, careers, ambition, difficult emotions, and the feeling that they should somehow be doing it all better.
You don’t have to give up your standards or become less ambitious to change how you experience your life. You can learn skills that make you more discerning, more intentional, and much kinder to yourself along the way.
This work should be deep enough to change your life - and simple enough to use while you’re living it.
I love personal development. I’ve bought the books, listened to the podcasts, hired coaches, and taken the courses. I’ve finished some. I definitely haven’t finished others.
The ideas that changed my life weren’t necessarily the ones with the most content. They were the ones I could actually use when I needed them.
That’s why I created Choose Better Thoughts: one repeatable method, ten practical skills, and a way to keep learning about your own mind in the moments that matter.
You can absolutely learn this. And I’ll be in your corner while you do.
THE EXPERIENCE THAT INFORMS MY COACHING
Thoughtful coaching. Practical application. Real life.
- Certified Life Coach, The Life Coach School.
- ICF-certified Life & Leadership Coach.
- Advanced training in Leadership and Performance Coaching, Brown University.
- B.A. in Psychology, University of Virginia.
- Master of Public Policy, Georgetown University.
WAYS TO WORK WITH ME
You don’t have to do this alone.
FEEL BETTER
Change the thinking patterns that make everyday life harder. Learn how to reduce overthinking, guilt, perfectionism, and unnecessary pressure.
EXPAND
Choose a meaningful goal and pursue it without turning achievement into another way to prove your worth.
PRIVATE COACHING
Work individually with me on the decisions, relationships, leadership challenges, and patterns that matter most.
FOR ORGANIZATIONS
Better thinking drives better performance.
I also partner with organizations through leadership coaching, group experiences, and custom workshops.
EXPLORE ORGANIZATIONAL COACHINGI want you to feel proud of what you’ve built - and excited about what comes next.
Not because your life is finally perfect. Because you know how to support yourself through whatever life brings.
Always in your corner, Amanda
