After running away from her dreams and battling with addictions for over a decade, Kirstin Leigh, now a sought after speaker and writer, shares how purpose is the key to breakthrough, and how at any point in your journey, you can CHANGE YOUR STORY.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirstin Leigh, speaker, singer, screenwriter and author of Change Your Story.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kirstin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I’m originally from a small town in Kentucky. Growing up, nothing about my environment said, “You can do whatever you set your mind to, just be yourself!” It was quite the opposite. I never fit in and was reminded of it daily. But despite the constant bullying, a tumultuous relationship with my dad, and an eating disorder I managed to keep secret, I still had big dreams.
I was going to be a singer and an actress. I practiced all the time, and dreamed of one of my favorite artists finding me, and whisking me away from my small town. That never happened. But I did get a job when I was twelve (you can do this in KY), saved every penny I made, and moved to New York City when I was seventeen.
If you were to have told me that right when my music career was getting ready to take off, that I would runway from everything I had ever dreamed of, worked towards and believed in…that one day I’d be drinking a 42 oz. beer before I left for work, that I’d cry myself to sleep most nights, or that one day I’d be lying on the floor of my apartment on Madison Avenue dying of alcohol poisoning, I would have said you were crazy!
And I would have been wrong. Drinking didn’t start out as a problem. But it became a habit. When “life happened,” that habit became an addiction that stole years of my life.
Because I had been “pretending to be fine” since I was nine, I was able to hide this from most everyone. I had a good job, I went to church regularly, I did volunteer work… Everyone always commented on “what a light” I was.
I was living on a tightrope. I had faith that could move mountains on one side. And on the other, I had all this fear. I balanced very well for a very long time, but balancing takes every bit of our energy, and is the biggest distraction to our destiny. Eventually, one side wins.
I knew I wasn’t going to make it much longer—I had to stop drinking. But quitting meant I’d have to DEAL with all the reasons I was drinking so much in the first place!
Understanding “why” we are doing what we’re doing is a KEY ingredient to making changes that stick. More often than we’d like to believe, the addictions, the bad relationships, and every other problem we have, are our insides screaming deal with me!
It was time to deal.
I dug deep. In addition to going to church, I read countless psychology books and studied the work of our world’s most respected pastors and thought leaders. I also wrote, prayed, and slept with headphones on blaring praise music in my ears. All of these things helped me, but Purpose was the Key to my Breakthrough.
God gave me a dream in the midst of my mess that brought hope back into my life. I saw myself speaking to thousands of people, motivating them to “change their story.” I was writing books for children, inspiring teens to dream big… This dream was a vision of the plan God had for me.
I held on to that dream, and made a promise to God that I’d do whatever He said, just to use me. That promise—and a lot work on my part enabled me to change my story.
Within the next five years, I wrote a book series for middle graders, another one for young readers, countless songs and messages for kids, teens, and adults, over 100 articles for national magazines and churches, and created a television series for teens that can bridge the gap between the secular and religious industries.
My breakout book, “Change Your Story” is the book I wish I could have read when my life needed a major re-write. In addition to the book, I teach workshops and speak at women’s events, rehab centers, youth groups, churches… My rocky became stepping stones for people all over the world.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In short, spiritually, emotionally and professionally, it has been everything but smooth. But it has been worth it.
Here’s a glimpse into my first three months of pursing purpose as well as my sobriety—
I lost my job. There was a fire in my apartment building. The doors were left open while firefighters came in and out—every rat in NYC moved in. The building was condemned. I moved into what looked like the perfect apartment… you’ll have to read the book for that story. Let’s just say that understanding the reality of spiritual warfare is crucial. Especially when changing your story.
On the practical side of things, pursing purpose doesn’t necessarily mean you quit your day job. When you’re working forty hours a week for someone else, and building your own career, you have to be extremely disciplined. You put in four to five hours of work before you even get to your day job, and when it’s time to go home and everyone else is going out—you’re racing home to get back to work.
It’s one thing to do this when you’re creating and seeing results. But when you’re dealing with all the business aspects of your dream, using skills you didn’t even know you had… when you’re sleep deprived, concerned with finances, overwhelmed with decisions, when your computer collapses (yet somehow the rejections keep pouring in!), when people you trust let you down…If what I was doing was about me, I would have said “No thanks,” a long time ago.
This is why Purpose is the Key to Breakthrough. When you are pursuing a dream bigger than you and not about you, you have to keep getting up. You work through your tears. You keep believing. You know if you stay out of your own way, do the work, and keep looking up, the vision will become a reality.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What makes your work unique?
Change isn’t a one stop shop. It takes work. But if you want to defy the odds, pursue big dreams, and live life to your highest potential—there will always be an aspect of change involved.
One of the unique aspects of my work is how I use my acting background to help people change their story. By utilizing tools such as understanding your backstory, knowing your objective, and defining your “why,” my “Change Your Story” messages offer a fresh approach to overcoming addictions, conquering depression, and letting go of the lies, lifestyles, and faulty mindsets that hold us back.
We all have our own journey. Our own road to recovery. To our destiny. There are no quick fixes. Changing your story is a process—and it’s one I know well. Whether it’s a lyric in a song I write, a story I create, a message I’m sharing at a youth event, or sitting in a room with executives; in one way or another, I teach people how to change their story and become everything they were created to be.
One of my favorite speakers, Tim Storey, says “turn your mess into a message.” That’s exactly what I do. I challenge, inspire, and empower people to discover the dreamer, the fighter, the hero… the masterpiece that lives inside them. You don’t have to let “where you are, become who you are.” You can CHANGE YOUR STORY.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Authenticity. Integrity. Trustworthy. That I live what I teach!
An ability to read my audience. To hear what is not being said.
Check Out Change Your Story on Amazon
Contact Info:
- Website: Kirstinleigh.biz
- Email: Connect@Kirstinleigh.biz
After running away from her dreams and battling with addictions for over a decade, Kirstin Leigh now a sought after speaker and writer, shares how purpose is the key to breakthrough, and how at any point in your journey, you can CHANGE YOUR STORY.
After running away from her dreams and battling with addictions for over a decade, Kirstin Leigh now a sought after speaker and writer, shares how purpose is the key to breakthrough, and how at any point in your journey, you can CHANGE YOUR STORY.
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
