The Story Behind Strive

So many have asked me why I changed the name of my business from Carrie East Hypnosis to Strive Neuro Linguistic Hypnosis. It’s a fair question. The answer is this:

I wanted to remove my name from the business because, quite frankly, the business of coaching and guidance is not about me. It’s about you and what you want and need. I am passionate about providing the best coaching/guidance I can provide. I struggled to find the perfect common denominator, a name that would make sense to anyone looking to grow, make change, gain insights about themselves and become the best version of themselves.

Also, I had just lost my father. He was my best friend, supporter, mentor and role model. Of course I want more than anything to keep his legacy alive. His story is so inspiring. Not necessarily extraordinary in a Hollywood Blockbuster kind of way; but in a quiet, humble, classy, generous and selfless way. His good deeds, generosity and kindness touched countless souls in the 100 (just shy of 101) years he graced this planet. His contributions to science and the business world made a difference in life quality around the world. But honestly, in the 67 years I had him with me, I never once heard him talk about himself. Not once. Everything I learned about what he did, I learned from my mother, his friends, colleagues, extended family members or I read about it.

“A truly great man need never proclaim his greatness. One needs only to be in his presence, his light, to see it and to know it.” -CE

That was my father!

He was an immigrant, born in 1919 in the countryside of Belarus amidst the Spanish Flu Pandemic. I kissed him goodnight for the last time in April of 2020, the early days of the the COVID 19 Pandemic. Thankfully my brother arrived in time to say goodnight to Dad too.

Dad arrived in the United States as a child in the 1920’s. He lost his parents before he was 10. His grandmother stepped up to raise him. I am named for her. Dad worked to support himself, his grandmother and several cousins who came to live with them. His dream was to have a family, care for them and love them as he had been loved. He wanted to build a nest egg and a future for the family he loved so dearly. His other great love was this country, the USA, where he had the opportunity to create the life of his dreams. He studied and became a naturalized citizen, then joined the Navy and served during WWII.

He met my mother and they married after their third date…. just before he shipped out to the Pacific in 1945 for active duty on a mine sweeper, the USS Strive. Mom and Dad’s love story continued for 63 years until her death in 2008. She died in his arms.

The Strive was the ship that carried him through dangerous waters and into Hiroshima and Nagasaki, enabling him and his fellow sailors to clean up and provide humanitarian aid after the war ended. What a journey that must have been.

I realized as I sat thinking of my dad, missing him; the insights, the growth, the letting go of loss that he must have experienced during his time aboard the Strive. I thought about the cycles of life, loss, and trauma that each and every human experiences during their personal journey through this life. And in that moment, I found a common denominator that resonates; that is relatable.

In that moment I realized how best I could honor the memory of the man I loved and respected so dearly. His light shone through clear and bright. And Strive Neuro Linguistic Hypnosis was born!

Dad was well ahead of his time in the way he perceived the world and approached problem-solving. He taught me always to be curious, keep my mind and my heart open, be kind, and above all else, love and value life - not just my own, but all life. He had a fabulous sense of humor and never took himself too seriously.

Thanks Dad, for always being by my side. I hope to measure up to the very high bar that you have set. I will spend the rest of my life working at it.

Love,

Carrie

Master the Journey from Strive to Thrive