Why I Started Coaching: A Journey of Rising

Claire Ginbey
Jul 21
4 min read

Updated: Jul 21

From breakdown to breakthrough, discover the true story behind One Life Rising. Founder Claire shares how a personal crisis became a catalyst for transformation—and how coaching became the lifeline for helping others rise.

When Everything Fell Apart

There are moments in life that come without warning — no time to prepare, no time to shield yourself. Just the crash. For me, it wasn’t one dramatic incident. It was quieter than that. Slower. A silent unravelling that built up over 30 years until suddenly, I was standing in the wreckage of a life I no longer recognized.

On the outside, I was functioning. I was the dependable one. The strong one. The “got-it-all-together” one.

But inside? I was crumbling.

There was a numbness I couldn’t shake. An exhaustion that went deeper than sleep could fix. I was dealing with what I now know was high-functioning depression — a relentless, invisible weight that I carried like a second skin. I didn’t even realize how heavy it had become until I couldn’t carry it anymore.

Then life did what it does when we ignore the whispers for too long — it stopped me in my tracks. Everything came crashing down. And for the first time in my life… I couldn’t keep going the way I had been.

But it was also the first time I ever truly looked inward.

It wasn’t the end. It was the beginning — of healing, of reckoning, of rising.

The Yellow Car That Kept Showing Up

You know that thing where you notice a yellow car and then suddenly you see them everywhere?

That’s what discovering coaching felt like.

Once I started doing the inner work — asking myself the hard questions, allowing myself to feel, admitting I wasn’t okay — I began to notice others who were quietly holding it together while slowly falling apart inside.

It was like a veil had been lifted.

I began to recognize that so many people around me were struggling, stuck, questioning their purpose, doubting their worth — just like I had been.

And I knew, deep in my bones, that I didn’t just want to heal.I wanted to help others heal too.

That’s when the seed of coaching was planted — not as a job, but as a calling.

The Woman Who Helped Me Find Myself

My guardian angel - my steady, my no-bullshit but gentle force who never flinched in the face of my shit show.

While I was busy pretending to be okay, she saw through it, for 12 months my guard was completely up yet she continued to hold space for the real me to emerge, for me to come to the realisation that I needed help and that I was not 10 foot tall and bullet proof. She asked the questions no one else dared to ask. She didn’t rescue me, advise me, or fix me. Instead, she helps me, guides me, supports me and allows me to identify the version of me buried beneath the trauma, guilt, grief, and perfectionism without judgement.

She constantly reminds me that healing isn’t linear. That feeling deeply is a strength, not a flaw. That it’s okay to not have all the answers. Most of all, she guided me to the realisation that I am worthy of rising — exactly as I am.

My guardian angel is the person that made me realise something I’ll never forget:

One person showing up with compassion, curiosity, and courage can change everything. There are still good people on this planet and when you meet them, gratitude is overwhelming

The Heart of One Life Rising

When I started coaching, I didn’t want to build a business.I wanted to build a sanctuary — a space for people to feel seen, heard, and whole.

My coaching practice is built on the same values that helped me rise:

Integrity – Truth-telling, even when it’s hard.
Awareness – Shining light into the hidden corners.
Empathy & Compassion – Meeting people exactly where they are.
Resilience – Holding the belief that we can rise, again and again.

I don't coach from a pedestal — I walk with you. Not because I have all the answers, but because I’ve walked the road too.

What Rising Means to Me

Rising isn’t about having your life together. It’s not about being fearless, flawless, or always upbeat.

Rising is about:

Learning to cope with emotions that once overwhelmed you
Showing up with courage, even when it’s uncomfortable
Making choices that align with who you're becoming
Honoring your past while still moving forward
Evolving — slowly, gently, and powerfully — into your next version

It’s not a straight line. It’s a tide — sometimes crashing, sometimes calm, but always moving, and that movement... That’s rising!!!!

One Truth I Want You to Know

If you’re reading this and quietly wondering if your life could feel better…If you’ve been putting yourself last, hiding your pain, or doubting your worth…I want you to know something: