Entrepreneur, Author, Mindset Coach
Meet Lisa Canning, New President of The Guiding Star Project
Hi! I'm Lisa Canning, and I am truly thrilled and honored to step into the role of President of The Guiding Star Project. The values and mission of this organization have always held a special place in my heart. Guiding Star's commitment to a new definition of feminism, empowerment, and transformative support for women and families aligns perfectly with my personal and professional journey.
On a personal note, as a mom of 11, what excites me the most about this opportunity is the chance to help all women, regardless of their circumstances, not fear their fertility. I want women to feel empowered by their ability to conceive, carry and bring new life into the world. My vision for Guiding Star is to create "the village" that every mother wishes she had, one where she wholistically feels supported in mind, body, and spirit.
It's time for life-affirming healthcare to become the norm in America.
I'm so excited to get to know you. Here are some fun facts about me:
9
CHILDREN ON EARTH
1
CHILD IN HEAVEN
1
CHILD ON THE WAY
15 YEARS +
IN TV, MARKETING & COACHING
As seen on:
I'm on a mission to show women what is possible in motherhood.
In 2007, I was featured on an HGTV show called Marriage Under Construction. It was a dream come true for a young up and coming interior designer.
At the same time, I was getting ready to marry the love of my life, Josh. And you better believe I was receiving mixed messages around what success could look like- one camp was advising me to not get pregnant because it would negatively impact my television career, and another camp was telling me I shouldn't be working at all because there was no way I could be a mom, and work, and do both well.
So I set out to prove to both camps that I could do it all, and have it all... and spoiler alert, when we try and prove our worth to others, it doesn't end well.
After a literal come to Jesus moment in my messy minivan, when I was returning to a construction site just days after giving birth to my fourth child in 5 years because I felt pressured to prove I could do it all, I realized there could be another way I could pursue my dreams, be a great mom, AND take care of my mental, spiritual and physical health at the same time. From this time of rediscovery I wrote my first book, The Possibility Mom: How to be a Great Mom and Pursue Your Dreams at the Same Time.
I learned there was an entirely different way the pursuit of excellence in motherhood could be defined- one where success comes from an internal measurement, instead of an external measurement.
After writing my book, I transitioned from helping moms design their homes, to helping moms design their lives. I'm a certified Mindset Coach through Metanoia Catholic, and am embarking on Level 1 Certification in Internal Family Systems. In my work as an online coach for women, I have worked with hundreds of women in 1:1 and group settings, find more freedom and fulfillment in motherhood.
-
I believe women are much stronger than they know, and naturally, it can be scary to enter into the unknown. I want to equip mothers with the mindset and skills needed to navigate the inevitable challenges of motherhood.
-
I believe women know their bodies better than they think they do. Equipped with the knowledge of how to read the signs of their bodies, I believe women can navigate fertility and childbirth in a way that honors their natural design, instead of working against it.
-
I believe motherhood does not have to be the death of dreams for women—however, it requires support from all angles, including health care, for this to be a reality.
FAQ with Lisa
How did you come to learn about The Guiding Star Project?
I met Guiding Star founder Leah Jacobson when she signed up for one of my online life coaching experiences during the pandemic. As a fellow mom of many, I had a deep admiration for what she had created in Guiding Star, and over the years we stayed in touch. She even hired me at one point to create some interior design brand guides for new centers under construction. It's been so much fun to watch Guiding Star grow, and now be able to visit some of the centers I helped to design!
Did you always want to have a large family?
When I was younger, the importance of a career and financial stability was definitely impressed upon me. And I just did not know how it would be possible to do that, and have a large family—let alone one or two children! I am a little ashamed to admit it, but at one point I definitely believed children were an impediment to my success. My experience changed as I came to understand that there isn't "one right way" to find success as a mom and as a woman, and that this definition of success most definitely cannot come from the standards of others with different lives, values and circumstances. It has to come from an internal place, and in discernment and discussion with your spouse.
Tell us about your HGTV show! Do you still do interior design?
In 2007, fresh out of college, I was the designer on an HGTV show called Marriage Under Construction. That work led me to work both in front and behind the camera across the United States and Canada, including working on the design team for several seasons with The Propery Brothers. For over ten years, I ran a design firm and produced content for lifestyle television shows. While I don't really design for other people anymore, I am excited to help all our Guiding Star Centers feel like places of comfort, hope and possibility for mothers.
Why did you become a life coach?
In my book The Possibility Mom, I describe an event I affectionately call my "minivan meltdown", where just days out of hospital after giving birth to my fourth child in five years, I was bringing my newborn to a construction site because I felt like I had to prove myself to everyone. I was exhausted and miserable, and I knew that there had to be another way where I could feel fulfilled and use my gifts and talents, but not at the expense of my marriage, my relationship with my children, or my health. This started a journey of self discovery, and as I made changes to my own life, I started to share them with others. This eventually turned into my book, online business, and life and business coaching practice.
What are you most excited about in your role as President with The Guiding Star Project?
As an entrepreneur, I am really excited to bring my business experience to the Guiding Star Project and to help each Center, and the organization as a whole, become as successful as it needs to be to satisfy the mission of a wholistic feminist approach to care for women across the entire United States.
I'm also excited to bring my years of broadcast experience to the organization, and increase the visibility of The Guiding Star Project at the local and national level via podcast, web content, and other media exposure.
Why is mindset work and mental health so important to you?
I am married to an amazing man who has clinical anxiety and has suffered bouts of clinical depression in the past. I myself have also relied on the support of coaches and therapists in various seasons of life.
I believe mental health, is health, and particularly for moms, an essential skill to master, just like one would learn how to cook, clean, or change a diaper.
Stress is an inevitable reality in motherhood, so I believe women should have the tools necessary to navigate it on a day-to-day basis.