Always striving… As someone who has always been striving for more, I have read lots of books, Steven Covey etc. and took courses for self improvement including an MBA, Critical Thinking etc. None has had such a profound positive effect on my life as Chris' course. The accountability and reflection as well as the group meetings with other guys similar to me really hit home. I was reluctant initially to sign on, but really glad I did. I did not expect to find that is was one of the best investments in myself I could have done. Follow the course along and you will discover the better you, which you have been seeking.

Creating an Empowered Life - What to Expect If you are reading this, it means that you are researching Ascent Empowerment, which also means that you are probably looking to make some changes in your life. GOOD FOR YOU! The purpose of this review is to provide some “data points” on the program so that you can make an informed decision. First off, the Creating an Empowered Life program is real. Chris and Steve are real, and the results are real. In my experience, Chris and Steve are 100% sincere in their desire to help men get the most out of life. Creating an Empowered Life is a web-based, 10-week program and that is pretty much self-paced. If you fall behind nobody gives you a hard time, but it’s important to keep up as best you can. It’s like a physical fitness program; the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. To do it right, you can probably expect to spend 3-5 hours per week on the work. The consistent practice throughout the program is daily journaling of “wins” from the previous day along with weekly assignments. Most of the assignments consist of a video or reading on the concept(s) for the week, followed by a video of Chris doing a one-on-one coaching session with someone else to illustrate the concept(s) in the context of the program. After watching the videos, you will have specific tasks or practices to execute in pursuit of the growth concept. At the end of each week, you turn in your work along with a reflection of what it was like (difficulties, emotional responses, etc.) to complete the work. After a day or two, Chris sends recorded message via email with his assessment and feedback. There is relatively little personal coaching scheduled into the 10 weeks. To use the fitness analogy, it is like the difference between taking group class and working with a personal trainer; the coaches (Chris and Steve) are available to provide encouragement and answer questions, but the workout is the same for everyone. All participants in the program are encouraged to join a weekly, one hour Zoom call. There is also a private Facebook group for sharing and discussions. The cost of the program is not insignificant (at least for me). I think it is important to understand this from the start, because the Breakthrough Call is also a sales call, and Chris is a hard-closer. If you have a spouse or partner that you share finances with, my recommendation would be to speak with them about the potential investment before your Breakthrough Call, and be prepared to make your decision when you take the call. In retrospect, Creating an Empowered Life was a positive experience for me. The one thing I learned for certain is that the change I was seeking was already inside me. The program helped me tap into a new awareness of being. I have since begun a mindfulnesses meditation practice, which is something I probably would have scoffed at before working with Chris and Steve. I still have the same struggles, but they no longer hold the same power over my emotions. As you will learn early in the 10 weeks, “suffering is optional.” I hope this review was helpful. Best of luck in your journey!

First three weeks Sharing my experience after the first three weeks, as I wanted to highlight the program's ability for generating some great 'a-ha/breakthrough' moments. What Chris and the program are extremely good at is doing great deep work to help uncover what could be holding you back or causing your stress/anxiety/burnout, etc, and then providing you with very actionable tools and strategies to help educate and address. Those two factors have really helped me see things differently and provide the catalyst for those breakthroughs. I feel like I've made more progress, learned more, and had more of those 'lightbulb' moments over the past three weeks than I have over the past three years in trying to do this on my own.

You've Got Nothing to Complain About...So Why Aren't You Happy I didn't quite understand how bad my state of unliving was until I started the Creating an Empowered Life program. Everything indicated that I "should" be on top of the world...great career, amazing family, lots of "friends", material possessions...but in reality, I was really struggling. When my hobbies were dormant and the music stopped, I was burnt out, unmotivated, lethargic, quick tempered, and utilizing my phone or the television to distract these realities each night in attempting to fall asleep. Fast forward as I am approaching completion, I can honestly say that I've only fallen asleep watching television 2 times in the past 2.5 months. And both mornings afterwards, I've woken up without judgement but in the mindset of acknowledgement and hyperawareness of how I feel mentally, physically, and emotionally. This presence creates a lasting motivation and energy to continue down the paths that I know will best serve me and the ones that I love around me. While this was my primary objective in joining the program, had I known all of the other "wins" I would find along the way, I would've probably paid more! But I am not here to say that everything is perfect and that all my problems are fixed because Chris can hire actors to say that. I am living proof that downturns will still happen and yucky feelings do creep back in, I just know that I don't have to stay there for extended periods of time and that I have the tools to get me back to feeling awesome again. Make the investment in yourself and take your life to it's full potential...the guidance is profound, the progression is well designed, the network is invaluable...you don't have to do it on your own!!

Invaluable in helping me reframe my mindset. Working with Chris and Stephen has helped unlock the potential that was always within me. It has helped grow my confidence and silence my inner critic. In the last 6 months, I have experienced major personal and professional changes. I can definitively say that I would not be embracing the new path I find myself on without their help and guidance.