Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Sanford.
Brad, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love for writing originated at age 8 when I discovered the power of poetry as a way to cope with extreme PTSD. Throughout the years, my writing evolved, allowing me to explore self-help, personal development, and motivational literature. Writing allowed me to develop a profound understanding of the human psyche and the power of the unconscious mind.
Consequently, I became an NLP Master Practitioner, Emotional Intelligence and Gestalt Therapist, certified in EMDR Therapy, CBT, Happiness, Law of Attraction Life Coaching, and just 2 days ago received my certification for EFT/TFT Therapy. I offer a holistic approach to personal transformation and growth, focusing on overcoming limiting beliefs, cultivating resilience, and tapping into inner strength and potential.
Clients describe me as warm, empathetic and insightful, empowering them to live fulfilling lives. I am currently launching my latest book titled, As I Read These Words: The Unconscious Mind’s Hypnotic Portal to a Better You, which includes over 300 self-hypnosis scripts, providing emotional healing and spiritual growth for readers.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road getting to where I am today. It took a lot of uncomfortable shifts in my life to get here.
Our biggest struggles often turn out to be our greatest accomplishments, and for me, this was the case. When I made the decision to leave my home in Beaumont, TX I had spent most of my life there without travel until I was 37 years old. When the pandemic consumed everyone’s livelihood and we couldn’t work, I told myself “If I’m ever getting out of this state, it’s going to be now or never.
And so, I jumped, I took off to Boston, Massachusetts for a new experience. I was only supposed to be there for 2 weeks, but ended up staying for 8 months. When that leg of the journey broke, I had no idea what to do, but I reached out to one of my best friends Clint in Phoenix, and he told me to just show up and I would be welcome in his home to figure out my next step. I stayed there for about 3 months and then went to visit my second mother in Vallejo California for a couple months. She told me if I was ever near the west coast and didn’t come see her, she’d kick my butt!
Around this time, I was being called back to Boston, so I packed up my car again and drove across country back to the East Coast. This visit didn’t go as long as expected, and I then reached out to my brother who lives in Clarksville, Tennessee just north of Nashville. He had just purchased a new house and could use help paying the bills. He said just get there and I would be welcome in his home. So, I packed up the car again and headed for Tennessee. I ended up staying there nearly 6 months, and by this time, I had really run my vehicle into the ground with all the driving across country to and fro. I was in a 1999 Honda Accord, with 324,000 mi on it, and it was leaking about 3 quarts of oil a day just driving to and from work.
I knew something had to be done, but I couldn’t afford a vehicle, so I did the only thing I knew how to do and got to work on a new manifestation. I took out a piece of paper and wrote front and back. Specific questions, not statements, about how my new vehicle was going to feel. You see, I had a theory, that the brain is automatic switching station. And, when you ask it a question, no matter if you want to or not, your brain automatically goes looking for an answer. So, I tailored affirmations into the form of questions to bring my new car home.
I wrote, how will my steering wheel feel as I grip it in my hands on a warm summer day? How will the upholstery feel as I rub my hand across the passenger seat? How will the sound system feel as it reverberates through my body with the sound turned all the way up? How will the breeze feel in my hair with all the windows down and the sunroof open as I drive to my next destination? And so on and so forth until I had two pages filled. And I closed my notebook and forgot about it.
Two weeks later, I got a call from Clint in Phoenix, and he asked me, “Hey, are you planning on growing roots over there in Tennessee?” I said “No! Not at all! It’s reminding me of Texas a little bit too much!” He said “Well, that’s great, I’m so glad you said that because me and Shannon just bought a brand new 2022 Toyota 4Runner, and we were wondering… Do you want our old car?” At this, I replied, “Well, first of all, Clint define want… Do I want to buy it? Do I want to pick up notes? What does that mean exactly?” To which he replied, “No, we’ll just donate it to you.” So, I said does a bear shit in the woods?!? Of course, I want your car!” He said “It’s November now. Why don’t you plan on being here in February, and we’ll sign the title over to you.
And so, I packed up my car again in November and headed back to Phoenix. And wouldn’t you know it doesn’t always happen like we expect it to. They had let Shannon’s parents borrow the vehicle that week because they were looking for a new vehicle and needed something to drive around to the car lots to make their decision. And, a week later, on their way to bring the vehicle back, just 5 miles from the house, they got rear-ended. So, I got stuck in Phoenix heat for an extra four and a half months. Which is still a blessing because I needed to spend a little time there shining light on some of my favorite people.
In June, the vehicle was finally mine and out of the shop, it was 115° outside in the Phoenix heat, and I just couldn’t do it. I opened up my phone, looked at the map, and said San Diego; yeah, I’m going to go figure that out. My oldest daughter had just moved to Camp Pendleton with her new husband, and it was most logical for me to choose San Diego County for the next stage of my journey. I lived out of my vehicle for the first 2 months and started bartending on Mount Laguna in the second week at The Outpost by Valley Farms Market. By September, I had found my own place on the mountain. And my landlord just happened to be an AMI therapist and Harp therapist, assisting patients to better themselves through sound frequencies and mindfulness.
This past November my mother passed away from brain cancer, and I traveled back to Texas to pay my respects and see my family. When I lost her, I didn’t feel the sense of sadness and grief that most people feel when losing a loved one. Instead, when I close my eyes and think of her, I feel nothing but love, excitement, and exhilaration. I know she’s always with me, and since she’s been gone, a bursting fire for life has been lit guiding my soul to accomplish great things. And so, I continue to better myself every day, helping others along the way to a better, more fulfilling life.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been a bartender by trade for years, but I’ve always had side projects going on in my life. If it’s not writing poetry to submit to contests, it’s compiling a book, or learning more about the unconscious mind in any way possible. I am a certified life coach, law of attraction life coach, emotional intelligence practitioner, gestalt therapist, EMDR therapist, neuro-linguistic programming master practitioner, happiness coach, cognitive behavioral therapist practitioner, and EFT/TFT therapist. To say the least, I’m in the process of working myself out of a bartending job, and as soon as it makes sense to work 100% from home, I’m ready to make that jump.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Clint and Shannon Baggett- two of the most compassionate people that I know. They gave me somewhere to stay when I had nowhere to go, provided me with transportation when I needed somewhere to go, and true friendship when I needed to believe in the goodness of others.
Serina Gordon- one of my dearest friends, I talk to nearly daily; our friendship has stood the test of time and frustrations. Through our friendship, I really began to understand and practice providing healthy space for another human being and understanding what that truly meant. And one of the best artists I’ve ever known.
Scott Sanford- my older brother, who is always been there for me in a pinch when I needed him most. Always willing to lend a helping hand, even when it was out of his means.
Lacey Barber- one of my best friends and biggest cheerleaders that I met in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Pricing:
- NLP session $150
- Emotional Intelligence Session $100
- Happiness Coaching $80
- Law of Attraction Life Coaching $100
- As I Read These Words: The Unconscious Mind’s Hypnotic Portal to a Better You (Book) $15.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thechangeinyou.support/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_changeinyou?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.sanford.756?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_ChangeInYou?t=8QOgu215hJ9ByMi8pH4k1g&s=09
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thechanginyou
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechangeinyou?_t=8bPb4wF4Eix&_r=1
