Carson Tueller
Carson Tueller is a motivational speaker, presenter, personal development coach and advocate for disabled and LGBTQ individuals. He currently resides in Salt Lake City. In 2013, shortly after coming out as a gay man, Carson was involved in a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down.
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in a large, military family, so I moved all over the country with my 5 siblings every three years. I’m a professional speaker, coach and writer currently living in Salt Lake City, Utah. WhenI’m not working on my business, I enjoy reading philosophy, working out, or playing video games.
How did you get into becoming a professional speaker?
When I became disabled, I began writing a blog that went viral for a bit. I shared my thoughts about my experiences with paralysis openly and vulnerably. I started getting requests to speak at schools, churches, and universities, and it blossomed from there.
What is your day-to-day like?
I start my day with some kind of ritual that puts me in touch with who I am and what I care about –usually some light journaling. I make a cup of coffee with breakfast and write for a few hours (when I’m writing a book). I then go to the gym and get back home to work with my coaching clients in the afternoon. In the evening, I write more, do some cycling for about an hour, and read whatever book I’m enjoying at the time.
What propelled you into developing a positive outlook on your life, despite your challenges?
For as long as I can remember, I have experienced a restlessness to make the most of my life. So, when I experienced unexpected situations or events, like coming out or becoming disabled, the question was simply, “How am I going to create a beautiful life that I love?” There was never any “if” about it, simply “how.”
What were some personal goals after your injury and were you able to achieve them?
I immediately wanted to become a Paralympian as a swimmer. I got back in the water only four months after the injury, which is absurd, and I started competing shortly thereafter. I competed at Olympic Trials to the Rio, Brazil games, and didn’t make the team. I went back to school and finished my degree in Psychology, which was also a goal at the time.
What advice would you give to someone who has experienced a similar situation, either coming out or healing from an accident?
I would encourage them to develop an understanding of ableism. The hardest thing about being paralyzed for me was not the actual paralysis. It was the social dynamics surrounding disability. I suffered a lot, thinking I was broken, unlovable, or destined for a life of second-best, but these are all messages generated by ableism. I want disabled people to know they are whole and complete.
Who has been your biggest supporter?
My family! My parents took me in to keep me alive, literally, after my injury. Being a disabled, adult man can feel very vulnerable, but along with that vulnerability comes some of the most beautiful experiences life has to offer. There was nothing that I went through that my family did not go through with me.
What keeps you going or motivates you?
The image I have of whom I want to be and what’s possibly for human beings. I am driven by a desire to see people empowered and free, and I have dedicated my life to that work. Seeing people find themselves and live lives that fulfill and inspire them motivates me. I get to see that every day with my clients and the work I do
I read that you were raised in a Mormon family, so do you still consider yourself a religious person or has that changed throughout the years?
I am not a Mormon anymore. I removed my records from the church in 2018. I consider myself a deeply spiritual person, but not in any religious way.
What values or principles do you admire about the Mormon church that you still follow to this day?
The Mormon church places a beautiful emphasis on community and service. There’s also a
focus on music family relationships, which is something I still cherish. My family rarely has a gathering that does not include singing in four-part harmony with piano accompaniment!
If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?
Listen to the restlessness, that feeling that there is something more, something missing, is pointing to something real and true. I would also tell myself that the feelings I was attributing to the holy spirit or god, was actually me. I would tell me to trust and listen to my Self.
What was something you learned from having to move around a lot as a kid being in a military family, and how was that experience?
I developed an adaptable mindset and social resilience. When you move every three years, you know that your friendships (at least in person) are temporary. I learned to build a relationship with myself and my family as a result. I loved my upbringing.
Is there anything you wish you could have done differently after experiencing your injury?Hmm, I think that I did the best with what I had. I wish someone would have introduced ableism to me earlier, as well as academic philosophy. I should have gotten a degree in philosophy! Most of the answers to my problems in life have come in some way from studying philosophical ideas and frameworks.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Seeing clients discover who they are and what they care about. Watching them have breakthroughs in areas where they’ve been stuck for decades is the most rewarding experience. It is not uncommon for my clients to tell me that they didn’t know that such peace and happiness was available to them in this life. It always feels like a miracle.
CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Talent: Carson Tueller
Groomer: Raquel Moreno
Photographer’s Assistant: Ozzie Gutierrez
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Associate Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Nichole Masterson, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Studio: FD Studios
SHOP THE LOOK: CARSON TUELLER
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