Lydia Clancy once lived life in the fast lane as a commercial airline pilot. But after the pandemic in 2020, she discovered a new passion in coaching others to find their inner strength and motivation. Her journey exemplifies how we can turn pain into purpose.

Leaving a High-Flying Career

As Lydia recounts, she spent over a decade working for major airlines like Virgin Australia Airlines. “I couldn’t stop, I just had to keep fighting, keep pushing that way,” she says, describing her relentless drive. Even from a young age, she felt drawn to the thrill and prestige of aviation.

Yet over time, the nonstop pace took a toll. The early mornings, long hauls, and demanding schedule left little room for self-care. “It was just all wasting my time talking about my feelings…how I was hurt by other people, how I’d look through other people’s lenses,” Lydia shares.

She reached a turning point after losing her mother at 50 and brother to cancer. Their passing put her own mortality into perspective. “I’m 48, 49 this year. So, I’m younger than [my mom when she passed away],” Lydia notes. Witnessing their fight against the disease lit a fire under her. Why spend life worrying what others think when it could end any day?

Finding Strength in Adversity

In her grief, Lydia sought refuge in her God and the  bible, and found a new sense of purpose. “It’s not about that anymore. It’s about doing deals, how can I sort this calendar out?” she says. Rather than dwelling on pain, she dove headfirst into personal development.

Lydia joined intensive coaching programs led by mentors like Aaron Sansoni. She credits him and others with showing her how to reprogram limiting beliefs. “What story am I telling myself each and every day? Is it a story about being a victim? Is it about reminiscing about the past or going towards what I want to achieve?” she explains.

Listening to these mentors’ wisdom helped drown out her inner critic. “Before I was worried about what other people thought of me. Now it’s about how I can launch this coaching program,” Lydia remarks. She advises tuning out naysayers who try to plant seeds of doubt.

Empowering Others Through Coaching

Now a certified life coach, Lydia wants to guide other entrepreneurs in strengthening their mindset. She focuses on business owners struggling to scale up or let go of control. “A lot of this is because of their mindset and self-worth. They can’t delegate their time to other people because they don’t trust themselves,” she notes.

Often, perfectionistic tendencies prevent leaders from expanding. “It comes down to pride. I’m not gonna ask for help, I’ll do it on my own,” Lydia says. Through coaching, she instills practices like visualization, positive self-talk, and fear-setting.

Lydia also invests directly in companies to put these lessons into action. For instance, she recently met with the CEO of a timber construction firm looking to pass the business to new leadership. “The kids don’t want to take over these 40 year old businesses because they’re into the internet now,” Lydia explains. By getting involved, she can sustain the company’s legacy.

Looking Ahead with Peace and Purpose

The future remains a work in progress for Lydia Clancy. But she embraces the journey, rather than fixating on a rigid destination. “I’m gonna be working on [my mindset] and that’s okay. I’m still gonna get there,” she says with acceptance.

While still a student herself, Lydia aspires to spread the psychological tools that have changed her outlook. She concludes, “The mindset is everything because we can be physically healthy, work out, eat right. But it’s the mind that determines how I exist right now.” Lydia explains that she has mentioned a few strategies on how to deal with obstacles and  overcome them to be happier in her book Be Happier By Tomorrow. You can visit the website to purchase it.

Lydia Clancy shows us all that with self-awareness and grit, we can turn wounds into wisdom. The same passion that fueled her airborne career now drives her to lift others in the next chapter of her life.

To learn more about Lydia Clancy, visit her LinkedIn profile here.