In a world where personal growth and self-improvement are essential for success, Life Coach Maureen Scanlon stands out as a guiding light for those seeking transformation. With a passion for helping individuals break free from limiting beliefs and embrace their full potential, Maureen has dedicated her career to empowering others. Through her expertise in mindset shifts, self-love, and goal setting, she provides invaluable insights that inspire change. In this exclusive interview, we delve into her journey, coaching philosophy, and the wisdom she shares to help people create their best lives.
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Beverly Hills Magazine: Hello, Maureen. Good afternoon. How are you?
Maureen Scanlon: Hi, Jacqueline. I’m well. How are you today?
Beverly Hills Magazine: Good. It’s such an honor to have you on the show. I’m so excited to learn more about what you do and how you can transform people’s lives.
Maureen Scanlon: Thank you so much. It’s an honor to be here, and it’s a good day. It’s a really, really positive and bright, good day today.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Absolutely. As we all know, we have ups and downs in life—some good days and some bad days—but I’m with you. Today is a great day. I love that. So why don’t we get started? Tell me, what inspired you to become a life coach, and how did your journey into this field begin?
Maureen Scanlon: My background is that I was in a lot of really toxic, narcissistic relationships.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Oh, been there, done that.
Maureen Scanlon: I know, right? Unfortunately, every woman has had one of those. I had gone through this for many years, and I think a lot of it goes back to our childhood—being more codependent, believing that love had to be chased. One day, a relationship ended, and I was sitting on my bed, crying, wondering, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t anybody love me?”
Beverly Hills Magazine: That is brutal.
Maureen Scanlon: It is, and I think you have to come to that point—that “come-to-Jesus” moment—where you realize, “Okay, I am the only common denominator in all of this.” As I was sitting there, my dogs were looking at me, and I had this epiphany. They love me unconditionally, whether I’m happy, sad, or anything in between. And that’s when I realized the key issue—I didn’t have unconditional love for myself.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Wow.

Maureen Scanlon: From that moment, everything started shifting. Everyone had always called me “the counselor.” I was always the helper, always trying to fix others—which is why I ended up in toxic relationships. By nature, I’m an empath, and I want people to live their best lives. But I wasn’t doing that for myself. When I finally realized I had a choice in how my life would go, everything changed. I attracted my husband into my life. And then someone introduced me to life coaching. At the time, I had never heard of it, but when I looked it up, I thought, “Oh my gosh, this is me.” I got my certification, and it was off to the races.
Beverly Hills Magazine: That’s amazing. I agree that life experience can be more valuable than a classroom education sometimes. If you want to be a doctor or an attorney, sure, go to school. But otherwise, life experience is invaluable. You mentioned that our struggles as adults often stem from childhood wounds. Do we all need to go back and heal our inner child to find closure or healing in our adult relationships?
Maureen Scanlon: Yes, a hundred percent. But I won’t sit here and say, “It’s all your parents’ fault.” This is just part of our human experience. I believe we choose our parents to teach us the lessons we need to learn. However, as children, we are most open and vulnerable to forming beliefs based on what we see and hear. If those beliefs are unhealthy, we carry them into adulthood, and they are hard to undo. Someone once told me, “Analyze your beliefs and ask, ‘Is this my belief, or was it given to me?’”
Beverly Hills Magazine: That’s powerful.
Maureen Scanlon: It was a mind-blowing realization for me. My life changed when I let go of the beliefs that weren’t truly mine.
Beverly Hills Magazine: What’s the process for making that transformation? Is it journaling, therapy, or something else?
Maureen Scanlon: It’s different for everyone. I’m an advocate for whatever works for you. It could be journaling for some, therapy for others. I always say traditional therapy is about uncovering, while life coaching is about recovering.
Beverly Hills Magazine: I like that.
Maureen Scanlon: If you go to therapy, you understand the “why.” I help you understand the “what” so you can move forward.
Beverly Hills Magazine: That sounds empowering.
Maureen Scanlon: Absolutely! I’ve been called a “human amplifier” because my job is not to beat people up about their past. They’ve done enough of that. My job is to show them their strengths and remind them of their power to change. I’ve had clients in therapy for 10 to 20 years who completely transform in just six months of life coaching.
Beverly Hills Magazine: That’s incredible.

Beverly Hills Magazine: Do you primarily coach people in personal relationships, family dynamics, or business? What’s your specialty?
Maureen Scanlon: Many coaches say you have to pick a niche, but I don’t. I focus on the person in front of me and what they need. Life constantly changes—this month, you might want to start a business; next month, you might be dealing with a breakup. I want to be there for people through all of it.
Beverly Hills Magazine: I love that. What are some key life lessons you’ve learned in your journey that you now share with your clients? Are there any particular gems of wisdom you always like to impart?
Maureen Scanlon: Absolutely! One of the biggest things I focus on, and I speak about this in my professional speaking engagements, is changing the stigma around “self” words. Growing up, we were told things like “Don’t be selfish,” “Don’t be self-centered,” and “Don’t be self-absorbed.” But why not? Why can’t we focus on ourselves?
The problem is that many people become unhappy because they spend too much time focusing on others and seeking validation from those around them. If we all centered ourselves and truly loved who we are first, imagine how different we would be in the world. Many of our negative behaviors come from not knowing how to love ourselves, self-reflect, self-correct, or do things that bring us joy.
My biggest piece of advice? Always do what brings you joy! No matter what it is, find something that makes you happy.
Another phrase I dislike is “Be nice.” The connotation of “being nice” often means putting others’ feelings ahead of our own, even at the expense of our well-being. It creates a false facade and prevents authenticity. Instead, we should focus on being kind and authentic. “Being nice” can cause the most damage because it implies that our own feelings don’t matter. It tells us that even if we’ve been disrespected or feel uncomfortable, we should put our needs aside. That’s not healthy.
Being self-centered means being centered in self. Self-absorbed simply means having one’s attention fully engaged and greatly interested. Why wouldn’t I be fully engaged in who I am? I’m absorbed in becoming a better person every day, in showing compassion, in solving problems rather than complaining.
Selfishness, in its true sense, means being self-reliant, assured, and independent. So yes, be selfish! Prioritize yourself. The way you think and speak about yourself influences everything—how you interact with people, how you do business, and how you view the world.
Beverly Hills Magazine: That’s so true! The whole idea of “being nice” seems to suggest that we shouldn’t have boundaries. Boundaries are so important, especially now that more people are realizing their necessity. How do you see boundaries playing a role in personal growth?
Maureen Scanlon: Boundaries are essential! They protect our mental health and emotional well-being. Setting boundaries isn’t about being unkind—it’s about self-respect. Saying “no” to something that doesn’t align with our values or comfort level isn’t being mean; it’s self-care.
One thing I always say is, “Fill your own cup first and then nourish others with the overflow.” You can’t pour from an empty cup.
Self-love also ties into understanding our own needs. I love the concept of love languages, and I think knowing how we need to be loved is just as important as knowing how to love others. If we don’t understand our own love language, how can we expect someone else to love us the way we need? This applies to all aspects of life, including business. Without boundaries, we risk being taken advantage of in both our personal and professional lives.
Beverly Hills Magazine: That makes so much sense. You mentioned love languages—how do you see them impacting relationships, and what’s your personal take on them?
Maureen Scanlon: Love languages are crucial to understanding both ourselves and our partners. And here’s what people don’t realize: 99% of the time, we try to love someone in the way we like to be loved, not necessarily in the way they need to be loved.
For example, my husband’s love language is affection, which is very common for men. But I’m not an affectionate person—I didn’t grow up with a lot of hugs, so I don’t naturally think about physical touch. I’m more of a personal space person. Meanwhile, my love language is receiving and giving gifts. I love it when someone takes the time to think of something special for me.
So what happens? I buy my husband thoughtful gifts, expecting a big reaction, and he just says, “Oh, thanks.” And I’m hurt! Meanwhile, I can go weeks without thinking about kissing my husband—not because I don’t love him, but because it’s not how I express love. He has to remind me, “Give me a kiss,” because otherwise, I wouldn’t think about it.
This is where my relationship coaching comes in. Many couples have “aha” moments when they realize they’ve been loving their partner in their own love language, not their partner’s. It’s a game-changer!
Oh, and I believe there’s a sixth love language: food! Everything we do revolves around food. Funerals, weddings, holidays—food is always a central part of our memories and emotions. I believe food is its own love language.

Beverly Hills Magazine: That’s so interesting! Love languages, boundaries, and self-awareness all seem to tie back to effective communication. How can people improve their communication skills in relationships and daily life?
Maureen Scanlon: Communication is my favorite part of coaching! Many people aren’t even aware of the habits they’ve picked up in how they speak to others. Sometimes, it’s not about what we say—it’s about how we deliver it. I often tell my husband, “It’s not what you’re saying, it’s how it’s coming across.”
I use an exercise with my clients where I categorize communication styles into three types: the tiger, the turtle, and the owl.
- The Tiger: Aggressive communicators who dominate conversations and overpower others.
- The Turtle: Passive communicators who avoid conflict, don’t speak their mind, and make themselves small.
- The Owl: Balanced communicators who set boundaries, express themselves honestly, and stand firm in their needs.
I also ask my clients to rate how difficult it is to set boundaries. For example, I’ll say, “I’m not going to do that,” and some people react with, “Oh my God, I could never say that!” That’s a ten on their discomfort scale. But we work on building confidence so they can say, “That doesn’t work for me,” or “I’m not comfortable with that.” Learning to speak your truth is empowering!
Another key to communication? Listening. We have two ears and one mouth—so we should listen twice as much as we talk. In relationships, we tend to talk at each other rather than with each other. I always tell my husband, “You can be right, or you can be happy—which do you prefer?” That usually gets the point across!
The most effective communication tool is mirroring—reflecting back what someone is saying to ensure clarity and connection. When you truly hear someone, it transforms relationships.
Beverly Hills Magazine: That’s fantastic advice. Thank you so much for sharing these insights! Where can people find more about your coaching and speaking engagements?
Maureen Scanlon: Thank you! People can find me at my website, social media, or through my books. I love helping people create healthier relationships, set boundaries, and live more joyful lives!
Maureen Scanlon has a unique approach to life coaching that is both inspiring and practical, offering real solutions for personal growth and self-discovery. Her insights remind us that transformation begins with mindset and that we all have the power to shape our destinies. Whether you’re looking to overcome obstacles, build confidence, or achieve your dreams, Maureen’s guidance provides the tools needed for success. You can subscribe to her Youtube channel to get insights now. As she continues to impact lives with her coaching and wisdom, her message remains clear: the journey to self-improvement starts with believing in yourself.
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