Meet Anne-Marie Zanzal
Coming Out Coach & Chief Joyologist, Lesbian, Ordained Minister of the United Church of Christ, Mom, and Partner
Get To Know Anne-Marie
Rev. Anne-Marie Zanzal, M. Div., is an author, coach, counselor, and speaker based in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a graduate of Yale Divinity School. She is a minister who has pastored churches and worked as a hospice chaplain, a grief counselor, and worked for Girl Scouts as an adult development trainer. These experiences combined have made her uniquely qualified to help anyone making big life changes.
She came out as a lesbian at fifty. Her personal experience includes a decade long journey of coming out and frustration in finding both help and community. The experience also includes the dichotomy of both losing an old way of existing and embracing authenticity. She struggled with lack of information and understanding from both straight sources and longtime members of the LGBTQIA+ community that just did not understand the nuances of navigating through these challenging issues. This experience galvanized her to try and find a way to help.
She started Anne-Marie Zanzal Coaching in 2018 to help facilitate this difficult journey of loss and profound joy at the same time. Her goal is to provide compassionate support. Her approach makes the process of later in life coming out less isolating, providing clarity when one is questioning their sexuality, while also helping people enjoy and make the most of their newfound authenticity.
Anne-Marie has thrived both personally and professionally since starting her own business. Alongside Anne-Marie Zanzal Coaching, she has now created Purposeful Empowerment. Her speciality is coaching others who seek to find their purpose in life. She is a master at helping people find clarity so they can create the life they desire. If you want to create a business or map your next life step, Anne-Marie is the person who can accompany you on this journey toward more clarity, momentum, and success.
Purposeful Empowerment is a continuation of my story of having experiences “later in life.” Or perhaps I am just living my life and opportunities are available to us at any age.
As a LGBTIA+ Life Coach I work with other Queer folks to help them focus on discovering and fulfilling their purpose in a transformative journey of self-exploration and growth. Through personalized guidance and support, we uncover your passions, values, and unique strengths.
My coaching process involves clarifying goals, identifying obstacles, and developing actionable plans to align one’s life with your true purpose. Like all of my other businesses I help individuals gain clarity, confidence, and direction to live a more purposeful and meaningful life.
Mission & Vision
Purposeful Empowerment is dedicated to catalyzing transformative journeys towards purposeful living and business success. We are grounded in the core values of self-compassion, clarity, equanimity, vulnerability, and spirituality. Our mission is to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and build lives and businesses aligned with authentic values. We help others through innovative programs, coaching, and resources. We foster self-compassion, providing a foundation for clarity in decision-making, equanimity in facing challenges, the strength found in vulnerability, and a deeper connection to spirituality. We believe in empowering individuals to embrace their unique strengths, navigate life’s complexities, and cultivate a meaningful and purpose filled existence.
Purposeful Empowerment envisions a world where every individual embraces courage to embark on transformative journeys towards purposeful living and business success. Grounded in our unwavering commitment to the core values of self-compassion, clarity, equanimity, vulnerability, and spirituality, we strive to be a place of safety for exploration and a beacon of inspiration and guidance. Our vision is to create a global community of individuals who have unlocked their full potential and are leading lives and businesses in harmony with their authentic values. They are inspiring others to do the same. As an organization, we aspire to be at the forefront of catalyzing positive change through our innovative programs, coaching, and resources. We envision a future where self-compassion forms the bedrock for confident decision-making, clarity serves as a compass in navigating life’s intricacies, equanimity empowers resilience, vulnerability becomes a source of strength, and spirituality fosters a deeper, more meaningful connection to ourself and the world.
My Core Values
Self Compassion
Self-compassion is a fundamental aspect of emotional well-being and resilience, encompassing the ability to treat oneself with kindness, understanding, and acceptance in the face of personal failures, challenges, or shortcomings. It involves recognizing and acknowledging our own suffering without judgment, and offering ourself the same care and compassion that would naturally be extended to a friend in a similar situation.
I believe deeply in the work of psychologist Kristin Neff, self-compassion emphasizes the importance of cultivating a positive and nurturing relationship with ourself, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and common humanity. By embracing self-compassion, we not only build a more compassionate and resilient inner dialogue but we also establish a foundation for healthier relationships with others, ultimately contributing to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Equanimity
Equanimity refers to a state of mental and emotional stability, calmness, and composure, especially in challenging or stressful situations. It involves maintaining an even-tempered and balanced mind, regardless of external circumstances or internal thoughts and emotions.
Equanimity does not imply indifference; rather, it involves a mindful and non-reactive approach to our experiences, allowing us to observe and respond to situations with clarity and wisdom. Rooted in mindfulness and various contemplative traditions, equanimity help us to cultivate emotional resilience, reduces reactivity, and fostering a sense of inner peace. Practicing equanimity involves developing an awareness of the impermanent and ever-changing nature of life, leading us to a more stable and harmonious mindset even amidst life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Vulnerability
Vulnerability is a profound and transformative aspect of our human experience, essential for personal growth, meaningful connections, and overall well-being.
Embracing vulnerability allows us to step outside of our comfort zones, take risks, and confront our fears, fostering resilience and adaptability. It is a catalyst for authentic relationships, as being open and honest about our thoughts and emotions creates deeper connections with others. Vulnerability also plays a crucial role in fostering empathy and understanding, as it requires acknowledging and sharing our struggles and imperfections.
In professional settings, acknowledging vulnerability can lead to innovation and collaboration, as it encourages us to express ideas without fear of judgment. Ultimately, by embracing vulnerability, we cultivate a greater sense of authenticity, courage, and emotional resilience, contributing to a more enriched and fulfilling life.
Spirituality
As a core value, serves as a guiding force that provides us with a sense of purpose, interconnectedness, and inner peace. Rooted in the exploration of meaning beyond the material realm, spirituality encompasses our personal journey towards understanding our beliefs, values, and the broader significance of existence.
It offers a framework for ethical decision-making, emphasizing compassion, empathy, and a connection to something greater than ourself. It fosters a commitment to self-reflection, personal growth, and holistic well-being, spirituality not only contributes to an our inner resilience and peace but also cultivates a deep sense of interconnectedness with others and the world at large, creating a foundation for a meaningful and purposeful life.
Embracing Clarity
Embracing clarity as a core value in various aspects of life, work, and communication can yield us numerous benefits.
As a personal value, clarity involves a commitment to transparency, openness, and precision. It means striving that we strive to express thoughts and ideas in a straightforward manner, minimizing ambiguity, and fostering a clear understanding of one’s intentions and beliefs.
In the professional realm, a commitment to clarity can enhance our leadership effectiveness, facilitate efficient teamwork, and contribute to the overall success of an organization. Clear communication help us to reduces the risk of misunderstandings, aligns teams toward common goals, and builds trust among colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Embracing clarity also supports effective decision-making by ensuring that information is presented in a comprehensible and actionable way.
Overall, making clarity a guiding value help us promote coherence, understanding, and effectiveness in both personal and professional interactions.