Clayton Echard

Authenticity is a characteristic that many people appreciate, but unfortunately, many don’t possess it within themselves. Due to a society where comparison culture is rampant and the fear of judgment from others impedes our ability to be real, authenticity is far more scarce than it should be.

“Why do we try so hard to fit in with society?” “Who am I living my life for?” “Who am I at my core?” “What do I really want in life for myself?” Clayton poses these mindful questions to help those that listen become very clear with what it is they want for themselves in life. “You can’t change what you aren’t consciously aware of”, which is why in this keynote speech, Clayton focuses on bringing to the forefront the unconscious processes that run our minds…processes that are responsible for our conscious thoughts and emotions.

Becoming our most authentic self is possible, but in order to get there, we have to take a deep dive into the inner workings of who we are and the environments we were raised in. Clayton shares his life journey of finding his true self in order to provide insight for listeners of how they may be able to do the same.

Clayton tailored this discussion towards individuals that are ages 12–24 (middle school - college), as this age group is very impressionable and is in the stage of their life where Identity Formation is at its most critical. However, this discussion is impactful for anyone that is willing to set their egos aside and have an open mind toward change.

Adversity gets a bad reputation, when it should be welcomed into our lives, due to its ability to create growth in those that experience it. Through creating a change in perspective of how we view the experiences that negatively impacted us, we can initiate the healing process. However, in order to do this, we must find the “silver lining”, or the good amongst the bad, and this is where many individuals struggle. After all, how can a positive narrative be placed upon the loss of a loved one, or the sudden firing from a job?

It is possible, but it requires the exact opposite of what most of us do, which is to suppress the pain and emotions attached to the experience. Instead, we should be addressing the pain within and working to shift the narrative that plagues our emotional wellbeing. In this insightful discussion, Clayton shares the life lessons he’s learned that have helped create a more positive outlook on the adversity that he has faced. His vulnerability and transparency are meant to give listeners the courage to begin to have a similar internal dialogue with themselves and uncover the suppressed trauma of their past.

Clayton created this discussion for people of all ages, as adversity doesn’t discriminate, but specifically targets mindful individuals that are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They want to create change, but just don’t know how.