We’re looking forward to introducing you to Maryann Udel. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Maryann, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are all about getting myself grounded and present. I wake up my mind by solving the NY Times Wordle with my first cup of coffee. Then I shift into my morning meditation to become mindfully present – setting my intention for the day. After I get dressed, I take a brisk walk in my neighborhood, connecting to the sights and sounds and the weather. I review my schedule for the day, decide the 3 most important actions to take that day and sit down at my desk around 8 or 8:30.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a best-selling author, speaker, and certified Life and Business Coach who helps people and organizations navigate the often-unexpected transitions that life brings. After losing my husband in an automobile accident at the age of 24, I was thrust into the world of grief and transformation—an experience that shaped my life’s purpose.
Through my company, Sheltering Tree, I offer 1-on-1 coaching, group programs, workshops, and retreats that support people through change, loss, and renewal. Whether I’m guiding an individual through personal loss or helping a business manage organizational transition, my work centers on helping others make peace with the past so they can embrace the promise of their future.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was in 7th or 8th grade, I took on the role of editor of the school newspaper. I had to choose & assign stories to different people, organize the layout, create the masthead, get it printed and distributed. When some of the contributors failed to turn in their storied by the deadline, I remember writing 2 or 3 extra articles to complete the issue. I felt very proud of getting it all organized, completed and out on time. I didn’t think I had that in me.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized it was the very thing that could help others heal. When I decided to become a coach specializing in grief, loss, and major life changes, I thought I needed to appear strong, confident, and “all put together” before anyone would trust me. But I learned the opposite was true. The moment I allowed myself to be vulnerable—to share my struggles and the truth of my journey—people began to see themselves in my story. They connected with my honesty and trusted that I truly understood their pain. That’s when my pain became my power.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that success was defined by numbers—how much money I made, how many clients I had, or the visible symbols of achievement like cars and clothes. But over time, I realized that chasing those external markers left me feeling empty. True success isn’t about appearances or dollar amounts; it’s about purpose and impact. Today, I measure success by the difference I make in people’s lives—knowing who I help, how I help them, and earning enough to live comfortably while doing meaningful work.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I’ve come to understand deeply—and what many people struggle to believe—is that pain isn’t something to escape from; it’s a teacher. Every challenge we face, no matter how painful, is an invitation to discover more about who we are and what we’re capable of. Most of us are taught to avoid discomfort, to distract ourselves or “stay positive,” but that only delays the healing. Real growth happens when we allow ourselves to sit with our pain, to feel it fully, and to ask, What is this here to teach me?
When we stop resisting and start listening, pain transforms from something that breaks us into something that builds us. It shows us our strength, our resilience, and our capacity to heal. That’s the lesson I carry with me—and the one I try to help others see in their own journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yourshelteringtree.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourshelteringtree/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-udel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryann.r.udel/;
