A Childhood of Connection and Curiosity

Growing up, I discovered early on the power of truly listening to others. In my household, as my mother raised two children on her own, I was the quiet observer, always tuning in to the emotions beneath the words. My family often joked that I had a knack for making people open up with my lighthearted presence—even strangers. Whether it was a neighbor sharing their struggles or a friend confiding their fears, I seemed to have this innate ability to hold space for others without judgment. Secretly, and sometimes very obviously, I chose to find the world funny—partially because I didn't like the feeling of people being sad.

This gift, however, came with its challenges. I often felt the weight of other people’s pain and struggled to navigate the emotional complexity of being a confidant. Humor became my way of managing it all. But it wasn’t until years later that I learned how to channel this sensitivity into something empowering and healing—both for myself and others.

A Life Shaped by Challenges and Resilience

Life has thrown me plenty of curveballs, some of which hit harder than I could have imagined. I faced the heartbreak of divorce and the emotional turmoil of bankruptcy. These experiences left me questioning everything about who I was and where I was going. But through it all, my love for my children was my anchor. They were my reason to keep moving forward, even when it felt impossible.

One of the most defining moments of my journey came when one of my children faced mental health struggles and revealed they had been harmed sexually. Later, they came out as transgender. Walking alongside them on their journey deepened my understanding of unconditional love and acceptance. It taught me so much about resilience—theirs and my own. == During this time, I also grappled with losing the business I had poured my heart into. Changes in technology and shifting client expectations left me feeling unappreciated and devastated. To top it off, I discovered that the woman I loved had built our relationship on lies. It was a lot to process. At one point, I turned to prescribed medications to cope, but what started as a lifeline became a dependency I had to fight to overcome.

The Healing Journey

Through travel, yoga, and yoga teacher training in Mexico, meditation, and the spiritually guided use of psychedelics, as well as the guidance of healers, therapists, and coaches, I began to find healing and clarity. These practices helped me confront my heartaches, process my emotions, and finally cultivate a sense of groundedness that had eluded me for years. Guiding my mind to be heart-centered has been an ongoing process—a work in progress, as I like to say.

During my journey, I devoured hundreds of books and audiobooks to broaden my perspective. One of the greatest lessons I learned is that each person’s perspective is as valid and true for them as mine is for me. This awareness became a cornerstone of my healing and growth.

Rebuilding my ability to feel from my heart was essential. One of my children, who had been estranged, reconnected with me, and our bond became stronger than ever. At the same time, my ex-wife’s struggle with mental illness created a complex dynamic in our family. Despite it all, the love I received from my children and the lessons I learned from my supportive grandparents—both during my childhood and now in spirit—kept me moving forward. 

My Journey as a Business Coach

While running my portrait studio, I also stepped into the role of a business coach—a path that merged my creative background with my passion for helping others. I was fortunate to be mentored by Dan Kennedy, a marketing and business strategist whose teachings gave me advanced insights into customer engagement, marketing, and business growth. As president of the Sacramento chapter of a professional coaching network, I guided companies toward sustainable success and growth.

I led mastermind groups where I worked with entrepreneurs to strategize, troubleshoot challenges, and achieve their goals. My approach was always client-centered, drawing on my own entrepreneurial experiences to connect on a personal level. I believed in blending emotional intelligence with practical strategies to ensure not only financial success but also personal and professional growth. These experiences helped shape the foundation of Heartfelt Listening.

Building Heartfelt Listening

Heartfelt Listening emerged from my belief that everyone deserves a safe space to express their emotions and feel validated. It’s not about offering advice but creating an environment where people can explore their thoughts and emotions freely. My goal has always been to help clients share from their heart center, empowering them to find their own clarity and relief.

In the future, I plan to train a team of empathetic listeners who share my commitment to compassion and authenticity. My hope is to create a community where every person feels truly valued and understood

Triumphs and Challenges

Running a portrait business taught me a lot about managing people—the good and the not-so-good. Those lessons have carried over into my work with Heartfelt Listening. Even before officially launching this endeavor, I’ve had the privilege of helping people find emotional clarity, overcome feelings of isolation, and reconnect with their inner strength. Each success story reminds me why I started this journey: to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

The Heart of the Mission 

At its core, Heartfelt Listening is about human connection. In a world full of distractions and pressures, taking the time to truly listen can be transformative. I’m not just building a business—I’m fostering a movement that champions empathy, presence, and the power of being heard. And along the way, I’m still learning to hear my own heart.

A Moment of Pure Love: The Birth of My First Child

To end this, I want to share a story that remains one of the most profound moments of my life. After 11 hours of labor, watching my wife at the time endure so much, our son, Weston, was born at 5:30 in the morning. I remember the nurse handing him to me right after delivery, and in that moment, this tiny little person looked up at me and gave me the warmest, most loving smile—a crooked smile that even had a hint of Elvis in it. That moment alone was priceless.

Later that morning, after everything had settled and my wife was finally asleep resting, the nurse brought Weston into the room, placing him in a small wooden crib beside me. For a while, it was just the two of us. I took some photographs, then put the camera down and simply looked at him. The room became bathed in warm light, and in that instant, I felt the overwhelming presence of love—the love of everyone who had ever cared for me, for my wife, and now, for our son. It was as if the universe gathered all the love in that room for me to feel a deeper depth of the power of love.

The first time I told Weston this story was on his wedding day, during my toast to him and his bride. And now, I share it here, as a reminder of the profound beauty that life brings us—even through all its ups and downs.

I feel truly blessed, Trenton Bahr