“Your whole life is a reflection of your inner world. When you change your inner world, your outer world naturally, magically, follows suit.”

- Anonymous

Growing up, my default was anxious. Even as a five-year-old, I was told that I worried too much. In college, I was known as the over-thinker, and in my 20’s, my closest friends called me high-strung. As anyone who lives in their head knows- this was hell. After trying meds prescribed by my therapist that only made me feel worse, and a quick decline in my health do to an extreme lifestyle in New York that included both working and partying too much, I knew I had to make a change. I had always been interested in meditation, but I could never seem to stick with it. Sometimes sitting with my own thoughts felt scary, and sometimes it just felt pointless.

I had a lot of work I needed to do on myself. Growing up, I struggled with a ton of self-esteem and trust issues and, in my adult years, I was still suffering from my childhood trauma. I thought being healthy, losing weight, getting a better job, and making lots of money would finally make me happy. Spoiler alert: They didn’t. Overtime, I finally figured out that the only thing that actually made me calm and secure, the only thing that ever really seemed to "work," was getting a grip on my internal reality, my perspective, my mind, and finding truth and peace within. 

So how did I get here?

I tried A LOT of things to cope with my chronic dissatisfaction, overactive mind and deep sense of worry and fear. There were unhealthy coping mechanisms: drugs and alcohol, avoidance, self deprecation, self sabotage- the usual suspects of an unhealthy and scared person. I also tried things that were actually good for me- exercise, therapy, self-help books. And then there were the things that I thought were healthy, but were actually just more of the same extreme, controlling habits that spoke to my Type-A, perfectionist personality: trying to fix myself to death through personal development, “hustling" harder and “leaning in” (thanks Sheryl Sandberg…), getting obsessed with my health to a point of feeling neurotic. Of all the things I’ve tried, nothing, and I mean nothing, has brought me the calm, clarity and empowerment that sitting quietly in a room by myself has brought me. Not because of the act of meditation itself, but because of what I LEARNED and
experienced through meditation.

Meditation has helped me deepen my awareness, manage stress in healthy ways, dis-identify from my ego, "control my thoughts," turn my mind into an ally, and undo unhealthy, unconscious habits, reactions and behaviors. I’ve learned that nothing outside of myself can bring me peace. Peace is something we experience within, and peace, as the Buddha says, is the highest form of happiness. Every aspect of your life improves when you are able to create and develop this for yourself. Through meditation and spiritual principals, I’ve discovered self discipline without judgement. I’ve learned to love and trust myself unconditionally, and I’ve developed a connection to something bigger than myself that provides me with a humbling sense of gratitude. I’ve overcome and sat with depression and anxiety, learned to generate love and hope in the darkest of times, and in some moments, transcended my own consciousness. I’ve owned my sense of purpose. I’ve opened my heart and trained my brain, like a muscle, to take small, then even bigger risks into the unknown to transform my life.

This is exactly what I want for you. When you learn to transcend your thoughts and ego, live from the present moment, and connect with your own internal wisdom, you will experience the freedom, happiness, balance and calm you’ve been looking for.

Now, instead of rolling my eyes at the idea of spirituality, love and compassion, I have come to know them as my greatest tools for success. This is what I want for you. It is my greatest joy to be able to support you on your unique paths towards self-realization and true fulfillment.

Professional Bio and personal history

Eva Liao is the head/only honcho at Eva Liao Coaching, where she has has worked with women and men from all over the world who want to experience more freedom, calm, happiness and connection in their everyday lives. Eva quit her fancy-pants job in New York City to study at the Institute for Integrative Health to get her Holistic Coaching certificate. She’s also studied Herbalism I at Third Root Community Center in Brooklyn, NY, and is trained in Vipassana and Transcendental Meditation. 

Other facts about me:

• She/her

• Taiwanese American

• I’ve called each of these cities home at one point in my life: Los Angeles > Philadelphia > Tokyo > New York City > Taipei, Taiwan > Phoenix

• I prefer biking > walking > driving. And if I have to drive, I’m a windows down, music up kinda girl

• Unpopular opinions: I prefer humidity over dryness, and I don’t like air conditioning. There’s an ongoing thermostat war going on with me and my partner ;)

• I’m a free spirited girl who’s also Type-A. I feel a special connection to both nature and my google calendar (lol)

• I listen to a lot, a lot, a lot of music. After college, I worked for a short stint as a music journalist, as I aspired to be like Cameron Crowe in the movie Almost Famous