How Nature, not AI, does the work for me

Have you ever run into a task that seems bigger than you? Something you were never trained to do that causes you to look to others for help. You might even grow apathetic, or simply throw in the towel and give up.

Arguably, one of the greatest tasks we are faced with today is coming up with solutions for chronic pain and chronic illness. Health challenges in 2026 are incredibly complex and often mysterious to those who are tasked with treating them. Conditions like CRPS, MCAS, POTS, Fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis and Ehlers Danlos syndrome are incredibly complicated and we often respond by throwing more complexity at them. More tests, more drugs, more appointments, more diagnoses. These so-called solutions often complicate life even more for the patient and create fear and overwhelm.

What if a solution to complex problems isn’t more complexity, but simplicity? Being a pain coach, I have a weekly opportunity to bring simplicity and creativity into interactions with the clients I coach. I’ve discovered something that does the work for me, and it’s not AI! It’s nature! I call it the “walk and talk.” It’s a combination of movement, meditation, fresh air and sunshine that brings a level of wisdom that only the natural world can provide. During these walks, nature has a way of speaking to us about how to solve complex health problems in the client’s life. Sounds wild right? Let me give you a wild example:

I am coaching a young woman who is struggling with handling stress in her life. The stress tempts her to drink and when she does, her life gets chaotic and even more stressful. During our coaching sessions, she has told me that she has become aware of “two brains” that are within her. I curiously asked what she meant by that. She told me that she calls one brain the “bad brain” and the other her “good brain.” Her “bad brain” is the one that wants to drink and create chaos in her life. Her “good brain” wants higher virtues, like love, courage, commitment and discipline.

One day, while walking in nature and coaching her, an eagle flew down right in front of me, and carried away a snake. I asked her what this symbol meant to her. We connected this natural event to what was going on in her “two brains.” To her, the eagle represented her spirit, the “good brain” within her that chooses what is right. The snake represented her “bad brain,” that makes her want to drink. This lesson was a light bulb moment for her. She felt connected to her courage and knew that her spirit is much stronger than her vice. She is growing to embody love and courage and this gives her the ability to live in commitment and discipline to the task she’s been given. These virtues have led her to stronger life purpose and she says the stressors in her life don’t feel so powerful anymore. Like the eagle, she’s learning to fly.

The world of chronic pain can feel like a war zone, especially for people who are in the trenches, working to make a difference for those who are suffering. I don’t want anyone to feel like they are alone in struggling with finding ways to help people with complex problems. That’s why I’ve created the Chronic Illness War Room. It’s a weekly group mentoring experience that gives students access to experienced chronic illness coaching mentorship. We combine deep instruction, group dialogue, lessons from the natural world, helpful handouts, recorded examples and energizing skills practicum.

Throughout this learning experience, you will:

·Address common challenges for those who specialize in helping those with chronic pain and illness

·Follow real life case studies from clients

·Gain wisdom for improved coaching confidence

·Learn how to tap into the wisdom of nature during your coaching sessions

·Learn helpful tips and shortcuts for mastering the art of specialized coaching for chronic pain and illness

·Navigate challenges in professional growth

·Embody deep skills that help you become your authentic self professionally

·Practice and experience helpful mind-body tools that give you access to deep listening and intuition

If you’d like to join the War Room you can sign up here. This mentoring opportunity is limited to 50 students and is by application only.