Meet Caris Snider | Speaker, Author, & Certified Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caris Snider and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caris, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
When I became a speaker and an author, it was birthed from a place of pain. You see, I am a survivor and overcomer of anxiety and depression. I went from a place of thinking they were not real…has anyone ever met someone like that? To a place of realizing just how real and debilitating they were. I lived in a place of paralysis. I was a master of the mask. Everything appeared perfect on the outside, but on the inside, was crumbling under the weight of everything I had pushed down for so long. When I hit the bottom of the bottom, I thought I was worthLESS, hopeLESS, useLESS, and purposeLESS. I thought this world would be better off without me and that was when God whispered in my soul to look up. When I did, there were the helpers-my doctor, counselor, church, family and friends. I began to move from LESS to FULL. I wasn’t hopeLESS but hopeFULL; I wasn’t purposeLESS but purposeFULL. I thought I was the only one struggling with anxiety and depression. As I began to share, women would respond with, “Me too”. I realized that we needed to be talking more about mental health and putting stories out there. That is why I am so passionate about speaking and writing on faith and mental health. I want people of all generations to realize they aren’t alone and there is hope.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am falling in love with being an author & speaker and more and more every day. It hasn’t always been that way. Being a communicator was not what I went to school for so there are times the Impostor Syndrome comes knocking on the door of my heart. I have had to push through doubt and second thoughts but it has been worth it. One thing that sets me a part is sharing from the mic and the pen. Having the ability to communicate through sharing story and practical skills speaks to people all over the world. I don’t shy away from faith being a huge part of my mental health journey. We have been silent too long about this real struggle so I do believe this sets me a part because I am not ashamed to talk about it. It has helped me to overcome the doubts and the “what ifs” by having a community of other women who are walking this same journey. Knowing there are other authors & speakers out there going through the same struggle helps me to know I’m not doing anything wrong, it really is just hard at times. Prayer calms my thoughts and refocuses me on a different perspective. Learning to not hide things and to be honest has helped me to move forward in what I do. Realizing that NO is not a bad word but a word that gives me room to breathe and space to do what I’m called to do has been freeing! We don’t have to fill every second of our schedules up…margin is needed to excel. I want the world to know that God takes our mess and makes it into a message. He takes our tests and gives us a testimony. I want the world to know that I get it…hope is hard and hope is scary…but hope is worth it to come out of the darkness and into the light..YOU are worth it to ask for help and take down the mask of perfection.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In my area of Alabama, I live in a beautiful small town, Cullman. I would first take us to Duchess Bakery for the best donuts you will ever put in your mouth. After our brunch, once the local boutiques open, we would stop in to Three Pears where I do all my clothes and shoe shopping. Then, we would drop in to Monogram’s Plus to by some authentic items for our homes and gifts. Later in the week, we would go into the local coffee shop, Karma’s, where I have written three of my books, Anxiety Elephants 31 Day Devotional and Anxiety Elephants 90 Day Devotional for Tween Boys & Tween Girls. We would sit and catch up about life and reminisce on old times. For the weekend, we would head out to Smith Lake to relax on a boat, ride jet skis, and eat smores around the fire. Before leaving, I would make sure we stop in to Carlton’s for some amazing Chicken Fettuccini. We would have full hearts and full bellies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to recognize my husband, Brandon Snider. He saw me crack under the darkness I felt surrounded me. He never allowed it to push him away from me. He stood by me. Brandon encouraged me, hugged me, prayed for me, and told me more times than I can count that he was not giving up on me and we would get through it together. Knowing that he was committed to helping me and loving me, gave me peace and courage to keep taking one step at a time.

Website: www.carissnider.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/carissnider

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conversationswithcaris

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/carissnider