From Rock Bottom to Revival: How God Turned Chris Gregory's Pain Into Purpose

Guys, I know that sometimes you feel kind of isolated and you feel like you're just doing this all on your own. I get it. There's been those chapters in my life, but I also know that we need people, but we need the right people. We need the right people to be in our corner, to have our back, and to really pick us up and say, you know what? I'm not going to let you bail on yourself. And I stumbled across this guy on social media, and I'm like, oh, my gosh. I love everything he's about. I love his message. I love, like, how he's so bold with his faith, and basically I see him doing for men, men and women, really, what I'm doing for moms, and creating something in his terms that's unshakable. So if you're ready to have a little more of that in your life, it's coming right at you. Chris, thank you so much for hanging out with me today. Guys, this is Chris Gregory. He's amazing. I am so excited to dive into this. And so tell me, like, how all this came about, because I just saw you on social media. Like, I'm seeing the finished product, but I know that it took a while to go through the fire to get to the finish. So share a little bit about your story.

Well, it depends on how far back you want me to go.

We'll do the. We'll do the. We won't do the annotated. We'll do more of the like. Like, quick, quick pick. Okay.

So, I mean, in a nutshell, for me, I. I grew up in a very religious home and went off to college, went the complete opposite way. Drugs, you know, drug addictions, alcohol, homelessness, you know, porn addictions, lust. Filled life. Like that whole. That whole thing fell down, that whole whole deal, you know, join the military, kind of continued the lifestyle, you know, and for me, it took me getting to a place of complete rock bottom. So carrying all of those things into a marriage and things like that and just basically burning down my entire life. It was that moment of, you know, divorce, that. That realization that, you know, I've got three boys and that realization that something that, you know, they had no involvement in, something that was. That I did, you know, hit their lives that hard and completely just turned everything upside down. Not to mention, you know, the. The destruction that came inside the marriage and things like that. But that was kind of that culminating moment.

Right?

I thought I'd been at rock bottom before with, you know, being homeless or drug addiction or all These other you, PTSD from, from my time in the military. And that, that was the one that, that took me. I, you know, I ended up in a field. That was, that was it. I made the decision and that is the place that God met me.

What was that like, how did God meet you there?

It was actually through, through a brother that I, that I served with. Yeah, I hadn't, I actually hadn't spoken to him in about, I don't know, it was probably five or six years. I hadn't talked to the guy and I get just a random phone call.

Dude, like you hadn't talked to in like five or six years. Then calls out of the blue. That's Holy spirit right there.

Yeah. And that, and that's, you know, that's what it was. We talked for a while. You know, I kind of just, I just kind of opened up and poured everything out and you know, he talked me off of that ledge and.

I.

Get off of that call and it was just this slap in the face moment. Like, what am I doing? You know, I've got, I've got three kids, I've got responsibilities and you know, it was, I've tried everything. I might as well just go back and give this whole faith thing a try and just see what happens, right? There's nothing left at this point. There's nothing left to lose. I've burned everything down. And you know, I, I made the decision there on the way back home. I didn't know what to do. So I went to Walmart and got my first little men's Bible study and got home and was fully planning on like I'm start this in the morning and I couldn't sleep. So I just opened it up and I just went through like the first, like, I don't know, like 20 of them just back to back. Like I couldn't stop. And, and so I felt this conviction. I was, I was attempting to do digital marketing to, because of the divorce and my ex was a stay at home mother. I didn't want her to have to work and things like that. And it, I was really terrible at it. I hated it. It was awful. It felt like a second job and I just felt this overwhelming conviction just to start sharing. You know, I hadn't posted on social media and I think the last time I posted a picture on Facebook was like 10 years ago. And so I just started putting my stuff out there and the page exploded. I think within the first like six months it was over a hundred thousand followers. It just, it just blew up and I was in the process of building the coaching program. It was something I wanted to do. Very passionate about fitness. I obviously got very passionate about my walk with God and sharing my story and, you know, wanting to help people get to the same place. And I actually had my very first client. He reached out to me and asked if I coached. And I was like, well, I'm going to. I'm not there yet. I haven't built anything. And he's like, I don't care. How much do I pay you? I was like, I don't know. So. And he's actually somebody who's still in the program today, so.

Cool, dude.

So he's been with me through the entire evolution. I've got quite a few people who've been with me from the very beginning when the, you know, the, the, the weekly calls and things like that were just this choppy, like I had no clue what I was doing, just stumbling my way through everything, you know, to, to this point now. So a few of them are actually even involved in, you know, helping with some of the calls and things like that now. So it's, it's crazy because all that was just, I mean, just over a year and a half ago. You know, it has not been that long. From the time that I was sitting in that field until I'm here now.

Year and a half is nothing.

Yeah, it's, it's been, it's been. Well, I mean, I've been crazy blessed if we want to.

Absolutely, absolutely. But that's how God works things, you know, he can. Ephesians 3:20. You can do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we can ask, think, hope, imagine. We have this idea of what it's got to look like, you know, so many times in, you know, as a, as a coach for moms, moms will have this idea. It's going to take me this long to get my life together, this long to declutter, this long to get my kids lives straightened out. And it's like, wait, like, let's like got into the equation. And you have no idea how rapidly and dramatically he can transform your life, your home, everything. And that's one reason I want to get you on here, because I, like, I think you are, I am sensing this revival in the home, in the family and marriages and, and I am here for it. Like, I don't know, like, is that, are you sensing that, like people are like, all right, I'm, I'm done with what this world offers?

Oh yeah. 100. I mean, I think it's something that's been coming. It's been kind of this slow burn that's. That's been coming and more and more people. And then, I mean, really, it culminated, you know, with, with the Charlie Kirk assassination. Right? It. It just. It just blew up.

And that was, that was. That was the, the match.

It was.

It was simmering, and that was the match.

It was. And it's just made this. This massive shift. I mean, I've seen people, you know, the people that reach out to me. You know, I have a lot of engagement. I have a lot of people that reach out. But since that happened, it's probably been double, at least maybe triple of the people who are just reaching out just, you know, just. Just for guidance, you know, just because they're. They're tired. They're tired of, you know, it's this good versus evil battle, you know, It's. It's. It's nothing less than that. And people are realizing that and they're seeing it for what it is. And I think there is a massive. And it's a worldwide thing, you know, it's. It's a massive revival that's happening.

It is. It's global. That is so true. What do you think that. What do you think that looks like for people? Like. Like, let's take your story and you had your own personal revival. Like, what can you offer people today? Like, if they're searching and they stumble across this, you know, God just leads them to, to this episode and they're looking at you and they're listening to you. Listen, what would you tell them right now? Like, like they're sensing something. How would you explain that to them?

I mean, I think what they're sensing is, is that, you know, it's that overwhelming feeling that it's just not right. You know, something is. Something is off and it's just. And it's going to take a.

It's.

It's not going to be easy. It's not going to be just this. Wake up one day and the world has changed. It starts with the little personal decisions. It starts with getting on that walk. It starts with, you know, getting rid of all of the excuses that we want to tell ourselves. The. You know, I was full of those when I, When I started. That was the one biggest thing that held me back. And it was. It was just making that decision to go, okay, you know what, let's go. Let's just move. You know, when I, When I started investing into myself, it was probably the worst time in the Middle of a divorce, you know, over $100,000 in debt. Took out a credit card to join my first coaching program. It was a terrible conversation to have because, you know, still going through everything else. But it was that moment of deciding, you know what, I'm not going to listen to the excuses anymore. And just getting up and moving and. And starting to do that walk, you know, starting to make that walk forward, you know, because that's where the enemy is going to keep you down is all those things, right? All those. I'm not good enough. I don't have time. I can't do this. I can't. You know, I don't know how. I can't. You know, all these things, you know, these people. People are reaching out that they want to make a difference. They want to be able to go out to their communities. They want to make a difference in their families. And it's this mentality of, like, I'm not good enough.

Who am I?

You know, I don't have a platform. I don't have a. But all it takes is that one little decision. I didn't have a platform. I didn't have anything. And that one little decision sparked something that, like, I. I couldn't imagine, you know, it just beyond belief of how fast and how. How big it went. And it was just making that decision to step out in faith.

That's so true. You know, when you say, you know, who am I? Why me? That kind of stuff, I see that as the number one. It's the oldest trick in the book. It's the number one tool that. That I believe Satan uses against people, especially moms. Because if we can devalue ourselves in our role, just a mom, or who am I? Like, I'm just whatever. Fill in the blank. Then we'll never see the. The value of investing in ourselves. Like, if we don't. If we don't believe in ourselves, which is what the enemy wants us to do, he wants. He always targets shame. Like, you're nothing. Like, who do you think you are? And then we will push away any opportunity to invest in ourselves, which is the only thing. Like, if we want to change, it's got to happen in us. So kudos to you, dude, for saying, at the worst possible time, I invest in myself, which is now the most critical time. Like, when everything's going well. Like, I was talking with this guy one time, and he's like, you know, I know I have a lot of issues around money, a lot of trauma, a lot of lies that I hold on to. And as soon as I get the money right, I. I really want to be able to work on that. And I was like, okay, so here's what you're telling me. As soon as I get all the symptoms gone, I'm finally going to work on what's causing it. It's like, dude, do you see that? That you got it twisted? And that's what. That's what moms will believe. As soon as I get the home in order, as soon as I get, you know, the kids out of the house, as soon as it happens, I'm gonna. I'm gonna invest in myself. No, because you won't need to at that point. And you'll never get to that point. It. You don't do that first. And so you understood at that critical time, this is the worst possible time to invest in myself, which makes it the best possible time to invest in myself. So for people who are watching and listening, they're like, I. I just. I just don't know if it would work for me. What would you say to them like that. That one step of, like, saying, my life is worth it.

Yeah. I mean, I. I had the same mindset, you know, it was that whole, like, I don't know if this will work. Like, I don't. You know, and then. And it's. It's having that. It's walking out in that bold faith because that, you know, the faith without works is that, you know, and people twist that, right. Like, well, I'm not judged on the things that I do. Yeah, but if you're not moving forward, there is no blessing coming.

Yeah. And you don't believe it anyway. Like, don't fool yourself. If you're not taking action, you don't really believe in it.

Yeah.

And.

And that's where so many people get hung up and it. And it happens both with men and women, right? Men. Men get stuck in this pride and e thing of. They think they can bootstrap themselves through it and they can do it on their own. And they're tough. And that. Because that's what the world is taught. That's what the world's taught men to be. And in reality, no, you can't. You can't do it alone. You can't boot track yourself through it. Does not work. It's the reason why 80% of all successful suicides are men, because they're trying to bootstrap themselves through it and do it alone. You know, not to mention they don't know how to talk. They don't know how to express emotion. They don't know how to be vulnerable. They don't know how to. Because we've been taught over generations that that's weakness.

Wow.

You know, and then on the flip side, with, with women, especially moms, it becomes this constant, well, I have to pour into everybody else. If I pour into me, that's selfish. That's me taking time away from my kids and my husband and my. But what they don't realize is great. So you're pouring from an empty cup constantly. So what your kids and what your husband are getting is what's left. They're not getting the full version of you because you're not taking the time to fill your cup. When you do take that time to invest in yourself, and this goes both ways. You're able to pour so much more. They get a different version of you that shows up. They get the full version. The version of you that God intended you to be. Not the constant running around exhausted, you know, never having a moment to sit down version.

Right, right. That's so true. That's so true. So you mentioned earlier, like, let's, let's. Okay, so let's say people, all right, I'm ready. It's time. They're having their field moment, right? They're like, all right, I'm. I'm done with this. Too many things are happening around me. Too many, Too many, like, weird things. I. I know God's calling me to the next thing. What would you say? Because you said, I just started taking steps, I started taking actions. What were those things that you think were most critical to your success? That you started being disciplined in doing so.

I think the number one thing, you know, if you're, if you're working on establishing the discipline, accountability is, Is massive, right? Having some form of accountability, whether that's a program, whether that's something not self accountability. Because obviously if you're at that point, you didn't have much of it to begin with anyways. So having something external to hold you account. But really it kind of starts with your mornings. You know, there's. There's so many these, like, fitness and life coach gurus out there that want to throw out. This is the perfect morning routine.

Oh, my God. This is how you tired of that? Are you as sick of it as I am? I literally saw this, this woman influencer make a post and talk about her morning routine. And I swear it's like, okay, that had to have taken like three and a half or four hours of your day. Like, just tell Me you're not a mom without telling me you're not a mom. It's like, okay, here's my red light sauna. And then I do my lymphatic massage. And then I'm like, oh, my gosh. Whoa. Okay, that. That is so intimidating to me when it's like, let me. Let me get my hike in. Let me take a shower. I'm good. It's crazy. Yeah. That whole perfect morning. There's no perfect morning routine. And we could stack and stack and stack until now. Our morning routine is over around 3pm there's no perfect.

I mean, the only perfect morning routine is the one that works for you.

Amen.

You know, there's. I tell everybody that comes through my stuff and everybody I talk to that there's. There's two things that become non negotiable. Right. No matter what your morning routine is, there's two things that are non negotiable. And it's.

Can I guess? Can I guess?

Yeah.

All right. Tell me if I'm right or wrong. All right. Don't. Okay. It's time in the word and exercise.

Close. There's one that happens before that.

Get out of bed.

It is, it is. It's. It's time. Yeah. When you set that time, when you say you're gonna get up at whatever time. Right. 5:00', clock, 6:00', clock, 7:00', clock, whatever your time is.

Yeah.

Is not hitting snoops getting up three times this morning. So what it does is it's.

Oh, you're right. You're so right.

Mental thing that you just compromise with yourself. You just lost to your flesh before you even started your day. You started with a loss and it actually, it actually. That will carry with you throughout the day and it'll make it easier for you to make compromises and other things because it's. Well, you know, I missed my whatever. Right. I missed, you know, I had to cram a workout in or. Yeah, I had to cram my Bible study in or whatever it is. You know, I had to shorten everything because I overslept. And now my whole days. And now you're in this, you know, this weird. Trying to catch up all day long. And you never get caught up because.

Right.

The day happens and you know, you can never plan for what happens during the day. You make all the plans you want. They never work.

Right.

But that. It's. It's starting that day without. Without hitting this news, without staying in bed.

Right.

Of just get up. Right. Because. Yeah, that's the very first win, you're telling your flesh like, no, no, I don't care what you want to do. I'm getting up because I made this commitment to myself. So you're. By hitting snooze, right? You're letting the flesh win and you're starting the day by lying to yourself.

Yeah, that's.

You said you were going to get up and you did.

You already compromised. I remember telling this one person, I was like, hitting the snooze button is like saying, I'm not ready to live yet. It's like. And then, of course, I did this. Can I blame it on my husband? Yeah, that's another great strategy, right? Like blame someone else. Yeah, yeah. Surfall.

They kept me up too late. They snored all night long. Like, didn't get great sleep. It's. It's completely their fault.

Yeah, that's right, that's right, that's right. Well, there were reasons we stayed in bed, but it's good. It's all good. But so, okay, no compromise in the morning. So what's the other one? You said two things.

So the other one is starting your day with God?

Yes.

You know, I mean, so for me, you know, and I have the. I have like the weirdest morning routine because when I wake up in the morning, I. I don't sleep as much as I should. So when I wake up in the morning, if I were to go, and I've tried, if I were to come in here and sit down and open up the word and just start to get in, I cannot, I'm not awake. I can't focus. So I'm sitting there reading the same.

You'Re reading about, about Nehemiah building a wall. And then you start dreaming that you're like climbing the Great Wall of China and you're like, wait, what. What just happened in my brain?

So, so for me, it's just. Just taking that quick moment, right, to just talk with God, invite him in, you know, One of the, one of the things that I started every morning off with is just. Is just asking him to come over and just take over my thoughts before I get in there and screw them up myself. Because I absolutely will, you know, and just starting with that quick, you know, and, and so I do my stuff, you know, get my, my little breakfast in and I take my pre workout and all the way to the gym. I have a little devotional that I listen to, you know, and I do my workout. I come back from a workout and then I get into my actual sit down study time. Because now, now I'm awake.

Yeah.

So, you know, that routine works for me. It fits my schedule. It fits my life, you know, And I've got clients who have stuff that's similar. I have clients who have stuff that. Yeah, the first thing they do is they jump out of bed and they just open the Bible and they're straight in.

And.

But it's, it's those two things. It's starting your day off with a win and then immediately going into just having. And, you know, having that time with God, whether that's Bible study, whether that's just sitting in. In prayer for five minutes, whatever it is of just starting that. And that, that sets you up. So, I mean, you know, I've got people who've come through the program and they're like, you know, I just, I just started doing that and like, it just feels so different.

I think people so underestimate just one workable strategy. Like, just do the one thing. Quit trying to think you have to do 47 things every day because it. First of all, that's intimidating. You're never going to do it. But the one thing, and that's literally, I'm telling you, 25 years ago, 25 years ago, when I started doing this, the first thing I did was get my butt out of bed. And, and for. And to have little kids at the time, that meant. That meant four in the morning, because I knew it was horrible. It was excruciating. But it was the one thing I knew, if I'm going to master my life, I've got to master my morning. I always say, don't try to carpe diem. Don't try to seize the day. Just seize the morning. Just carpet the morning. And if you can do that, you're already winning. And I love this so much. I think that really helps. And what you're doing is creating. Helping people create lives and homes and families that are unshakable. And it's beautiful. Love what you're doing, my man.

You should appreciate it. Yeah, it really does. Just start with that, that discipline, you know, just those small things. Because those small things start to snowball into big. It's the same as, you know, the opposite is true too. Right? You start letting the small things slip. It starts to snowball into some. Something so much bigger. And so. But every way, every decision, every little choice that you make can it. It goes one way or another, and it's snowball.

So true. And then the great thing about setting that discipline of doing one thing is it becomes easier and easier because now you start to automate it. You're not fighting it so much, you know. But here's what I know to be true. Anything that's hard at the beginning is going to be easier at the end. But anything that's easier at the beginning is going to be harder at the end. And those, those are those little things. There's always an easy and there's always a hard. There's always a narrow path and there's always a wide road. And that's why God's word tells us like, choose a narrow path, at least to life. And that's what you're helping people do. So how can people get more of you, Chris?

So biggest thing is the platform is, is Instagram. That is the biggest thing. You know, I put my content out there daily. So Chris reignites on Instagram. And then I do have my website that's up, which is just Chris Gregory Mentor. Pretty easy.

Let's go.

So those are kind of the two quickest ways to, to get more. I've got, you know, I've got weekly newsletters and things like that that go out for people who subscribe. That gets them into, you know, it's a, it's almost like a mini coaching program. It's going to challenge them, it's going to give them some insight, it's going to give them some behind the scenes of what, what the program is, you know, some client wins inside the program, things like that. I've got some free guides and stuff. And here soon I'll have a, a community that's, that's rolling out too. So that's, that's separate from the coaching, which is still going to be coaching just a little bit separate from the overall coaching program. So quite a few ways. But Instagram, the website are kind of the, the most predominant.

Absolutely. And we will link to all of that in the show notes. So make sure you guys follow Chris. He's, he's a man worth following. So thank you so much for hanging out with me today. This has been so fun.

Yeah, I appreciate you having me.

I love it and I love what everything you're about to create unshakable people. And I'm telling you guys, when you start developing discipline, creating those unshakable routines, you're going to be blessed like crazy.