Jayson Blair Reinvented
How did that incident impact your life and your next steps?
The scandal saved me from a disastrous path, both in terms of my mental health and my character. On a personal level, however painful the scandal was, it was a vehicle for a saving grace that I am grateful for in more ways than I can count.
What has been the initial perception from your clients?
My clients have not been, by and large, that surprised. For most of them, it makes a lot of sense that a guy who has been through mental health problems, substance abuse problems, career problems and all sorts of other things – and made it to live another day – has something to offer them. It’s not even counter intuitive. It’s intuitive.
What is one of the greater principles you promote as a life coach?
I am a firm believer in an individual approach tailored to each client, although some reoccurring themes with many of my clients are existential and relate, beyond the surface of the specific issue, to isolation and belonging, meaningless and meaningfulness, self-awareness, forgiveness and freedom. My personal approach involves accepting people how they are and making that clear to them. I want to help them become self-aware, lean into their strengths to the extinct that we can and minimize their weaknesses. I think I try to be honest with people about where I can help and where others are needed to join in the mix. I am never offended by human nature and interested in the roads that people have traveled. I see mistakes, even in the relationships between my clients and me, as powerful teachable moments.
What have you learned yourself from the experience of coaching others?
One of the best elements of this work is that I am constantly learning from the people who come in and teach me through their experiences every day I’m at a home or in session. I am constantly growing, and I see evolving as one of the most important human experiences. I realize each day that there is a thin line between the human potential for good and bad, and that knowledge, effort and self-awareness make all the difference.
How do you look back and view your past today?
I see that part of my past just like I see yesterday, a chance for great opportunities for me to grow, learn, be enriched and evolve as a person. Yes, it was painful, but sometimes we have to learn certain lessons a hard way in order to move forward, avoid even worse consequences and grow as humans.
Do you feel that you are in a better place?
Very much so.
Are you planning on writing a book and entering the national spotlight again?
I am working with a clinical psychologist on a book about bipolar and a collection of short, narrative, non-fiction stories on the human condition about people I’ve encountered in life.
