Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Paetz.
Matthew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Your power is in your story. If you were to peel back layers, it would look like I’ve lived many lives, and none of them I’d describe as normal. After growing up in a small rural town in Indiana, I moved across the country, a few times. There’s not much that I’ve not seen or done in my time on this earth; as I have been blessed with experience, friends, flaws, and successes. What I’ve acquired is a deep awareness of self and an understanding of how we become who we are. In my life I had to dig deep into my own healing. After experiencing years of sexual abuse as a young child, I embarked on a journey I didn’t understand until much later.
I moved away from home, understanding now, I was trying to escape. My home wasn’t the only thing that I ran from. At the first sign of success, I would sabotage any opportunities I had because I felt guilty for having them. I battled disappointment, anxiety, poverty, and depression all because I was too afraid to follow my truth.
I chose alcohol and drugs to numb the pain of my shame and outrun my past. Then I came face to face with my rock bottom. In this place I realized that I didn’t want my life to end, instead, I wanted my life as I knew it to end. Then I was handed the greatest gift anyone could receive; I no longer had the luxury of fear. Because if I was willing to do what I almost did, I no longer could say that I was too afraid of my healing, I could no longer say that I was too afraid of my dreams, and I could no longer say I was too afraid of my truth.
I have made six figures and I have lived on the streets. I have also studied at top universities and have the privilege of working with some of the most influential minds among us. What I bring to my work can’t be measured or framed on a wall, it can only be understood. My work came to life because I had to fight from the dark to reach the light of joy.
Along the way I have gained tools, understanding, and compassion. I have also learned that your purpose is something that you connect with, not find. Your purpose has been with you since day one, please allow me to support you in connecting with it. I believe in a life created, not just a life lived.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
HA! No, it hasn’t hahaha. As I mentioned in the last section, my story started with the sexual abuse from the age of 6 to 11.I experienced many emotional complications stemming from, what I now understand as subconscious coping strategies. Most of which included alcohol and social drugs.
I continued a pattern of struggle, both emotionally and financially for the majority of my adult life. Despite the life I appeared to be living on the surface, I spent nights on the streets while homeless, broke, alone and fearful of how I’d ever make my life right again. It was during this time I hit my rock bottom and almost attempted suicide. Because of that moment I could no longer be more afraid of facing my insecurities head-on, having tough conversations with my loved ones, and taking full responsibility for my life than I was of dying.
Today I share my story of sexual abuse and how that affected my relationship with my own self-worth and all of the choices I made while living as a victim to my circumstances versus the creator of them.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a Personal Development Coach with a focus on early childhood survival patterns and root cause emotional trauma. My purpose today is to help others to begin living from their creation instead of their conditioning.
I have taught celebrities, executives and entrepreneurs of all levels, how to overcome the patterns of their past conditioning and to integrate their whole story into alignment, so they can begin to live the life they deserve. My focus is in supporting my clients fully along the journey of transformation. I believe just like success, healing is a team sport.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I’m a firm believer that life is the result of how you respond to it. Once you begin to trust yourself to lead the life you’ve been called to, you’ll move with intention and purpose, leaving luck to those who are merely wandering through life.
Contact Info:
- Website: matthewpaetz.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @matthewpaetz
- Facebook: @matthewpaetz
Image Credit:
Chase Stockman, Brad Everett Young, Christine Solomon. Alex Stone
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
