Life & Work with Michaela Gaffen Stone

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Gaffen Stone.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born in England, I am a lifelong learner and nomad. Having lived in eight countries to date, I consider myself to be a Global citizen – where I come from is a story, not a place. Home is wherever I am right now. I took my expertise in tropical diseases nursing from London, UK, to Bangladesh to volunteer in an orphanage, later single handedly running a High Commission’s medical clinic and caring for upwards of 300 people. 

My ‘life event’ traveIs extended to my work life as well as frequently changing locations. I became a Montessori assistant teacher in Belgium so I could work the same hours as my young kids were in school, and I knew what they were learning because they did Montessori too!. I studied Buddhism and mindfulness with monks in Singapore, and loved diving deep into Vipassana meditation practice. My quest for more took me from Bhutan, India, Ladakh, and Sikkim to Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. I studied fitness and nutrition in Malaysia while owning and managing my own gym. All the while moving my children in what was effectively a global education for them. 

I took my love for learning to college in the USA, earning not one, but four degrees – two of them at the same time – leading to me becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. The science of behavior change ignited in me a deeper understanding of human potential. Diving into Doctoral studies fueled my desire to share my extensive knowledge of human behavior with people open to receiving all that I have to offer. 

Today, I use these tools to help people navigate complicated relationships. Sometimes, this means improving communication and understanding; sometimes, the work goes deeper. Often, the most complicated relationship a person has is with themselves. Emotional eating is a product of our complicated lives and I work with clients to uncover the chains that keep them tied to certain foods and habits. There really is no point in trying to follow a weight loss diet if you have not addressed the underlying behaviors and the psychology that keeps them in place. Some people know what their triggers are. Many more people don’t know, but they just can’t stop eating in a way that harms their well being. 

I have taken my message to MIT and UCLA will be taking the stage to speak at Northwestern University this July. I have contributed chapters to books with James Redfield and Anthony Trucks and have another called “Our Forgotten Children” – a project to support parents of children with special needs. “Light from the Shadows has been recently published and I have three more books I have contributed due for release in the next few months. It’s time I wrote my own book, I would say. 

My passion is to combine behavior change science with nutrition knowledge and an established system to guide people through a process of discovery, uncovering stories that cause emotional

eating and providing solutions that lead to the ultimate self-care – food freedom where you choose what you eat, ‘it’ doesn’t choose you!. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A nomadic lifestyle brings challenges at every turn. From navigating new cultures and languages to the inevitable surprises along the way. Learning all about the impact food has on your life became hugely important to me when I was diagnosed with Hypermobile type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Many issues come with this diagnosis, one particular concern was allergic type reactions to food. Sometimes, ANY food would cause a break out in hives, swollen lips and digestive issues. Can you imagine not being able to eat because of this? I became pretty desperate, and it didn’t help that the doctors did not know what to do. Then I discovered Wildfit, and my path has been moving me in the right direction ever since. I decided to become a coach for this program so I could help others discover what was making them ill. My knowledge and experience of applying behavior science is a perfect fit for this work. I am managing my condition and weight, and the daily chronic pain has all but gone. My allergy issue has not gone fully, but it is under control with only an occasional need for medications. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love to study. I REALLY love to study. As mentioned earlier, I have four degrees and some number over 40 certificates. I don’t count them up because it is the knowledge I am really after. The certificate is nice to have, but it’s not the main point. In the coaching world, being a Licensed Board-Certified Behavior Analyst sets me apart. I do everything from a behavioral perspective. Behavior is, after all, what gets the results we see in our lives every day. What you choose to do and not do. I guide people to choose the best options for them and help them to anchor new habits so their lives turn around. It’s a lot like holding on the steering wheel of a ship and knowing exactly how far to turn it and when to hold steady. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have five dogs, five cats and my husband and I have five kids between us. I love all things American Football and will (literally) watch anyone play. I am an adventurer – from jumping out of a perfectly good plane to cure a fear of heights as a teen, to hang gliding in Nepal and white water rafting in Ladakh, I am willing to try almost anything, once. 

Contact Info: 

• Website: www.gaffenstone.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikkigaffenstone/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaela.stone.942
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikki-gaffen-stone-15660a84/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC63BrQJ7nqOc5_RvMvv7KDA