Flipping Forward When Life Derails – Jay Waddell

What this episode covers

Authentically Aligned What do people actually do after life blindsides them? Not the polished version. Not the motivational version. The real version — when they’re stuck, uncertain, and unsure how to move forward. In this talk, Jay Waddell introduces the concept of “flipping forward” — the small, often quiet shifts that begin to change direction after adversity or trauma. Drawing from his own journey through stroke recovery, heart failure, and heart transplant — along with stories he has collected from others navigating profound disruption — he explores how forward movement rarely starts with bold decisions. It often begins with something much smaller. This session is for anyone who has been brought to their knees by life and felt stuck. You’ll hear how real people moved forward after illness, loss, and identity-shifting events — not through formulas or advice, but through messy, relatable steps Jay calls “micro-flips.” You’ll gain a new lens for understanding your own stuck moments, language for recognizing forward movement, and the reassurance that meaningful progress often starts quietly. And if you’re lucky, you might leave inspired to become a “serial flipper.” Sometimes the most powerful way forward is seeing how someone else took the first step. Jay Waddell writes and curates stories of people who have faced life-altering adversity and found ways to move forward. A former business executive and university professor, his own path was disrupted by a catastrophic stroke, years of heart failure, and a heart transplant. During his challenging recovery, he became fascinated by “positive outliers” — people who rebuilt their lives despite overwhelming setbacks. That curiosity led him to collect and publish powerful lived-experience narratives, including his book, Voices from the Heart: A Collection of Inspiring Heart Transplant Stories. His current book project focuses on what he calls “flipping forward” — the small, often quiet shifts that help people move from stuck to forward again. Jay also offers life coaching for a limited number of coaching clients navigating major life transitions, identity disruption, and recovery after trauma or adversity. [email protected] http://jaywaddellstories.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jay.waddell.77 https://www.instagram.com/jwadz/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-waddell-9537662/ https://authentically-aligned.com/jaywaddell   ~ More About Authentically Aligned ~ Your Healing Journey Begins Here… This is a safe space to show up just as you are. No masking. No people-pleasing. No playing small.  Your soul brought you here to remember who you are – & I’m here to remind you. I blend intuitive healing with real-world tools, so you can move through trauma, stop second-guessing & start embodying the most authentic expression of your soul’s truth. My mission is to empower you to align with the universal abundance that’s already waiting for you —just by being you. Owner Abby Mae https://authentically-aligned.com/ [email protected] Sponsors Ditch Key Words L.L.C. https://christinaditchkofsky.com/      Your Book Your Way  https://yourbookyourway.kimdietrich.ca      Powered By Angels  https://jacquelinekuhn.com/      Bee Limitless Now  https://beelimitlessnow.com/home      Susan Shatzer International  https://www.susanshatzer.com      To get more of Authentically Aligned, be sure to visit the podcast page for replays here: https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/authentically-aligned/

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