Design Your Life, Your Way - Strategic Growth for the Conscious Midlife Entrepreneur

Conventional wisdom says the keys to entrepreneurial success lie in cultivating problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. But what if I told you that the secret to success starts with your mindset? Many women entrepreneurs play small in their business because of limiting beliefs like, "you're not enough." It's time to break free from those limiting beliefs and embrace your authentic, empowered self. In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Kamini Wood, a multi-talented entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and certified life coach, to explore how we can overcome the barriers holding us back.

Show Notes | Transcript

"Awareness is only part of the way there. It's that doorway to change. Once we become aware of it, it's really up to us to then decide what... given my values of today and what's true about me today, what is it that I actually want to live into?" - Kamini Wood

As the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and creator of the Authentic Me method, Kamini helps high achievers overcome anxiety, stress, perfectionism, and more by empowering them to release trauma and rediscover their true selves. As we navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and personal growth, Kamini offers invaluable insights on recognizing and overcoming limiting beliefs.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How to identify hidden limiting beliefs that may be sabotaging your business growth

The importance of setting healthy boundaries as a form of self-care and relationship-building

Practical techniques for cultivating self-compassion and mindfulness in your daily life

Strategies to overcome perfectionism and take action in your business

Key insights include:

Why curiosity is a powerful tool for personal growth and resilience

The role of gratitude in building optimism and bouncing back from challenges

How to reframe past experiences and create empowering new narratives

The importance of understanding your values and needs to live authentically

Kamini also introduces us to her Authentic Me method, a powerful approach to helping individuals uncover their true selves by aligning with their core values and needs. This method offers a fresh perspective on personal development and entrepreneurial success.

Whether you're struggling with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or simply feeling stuck in your business, this conversation offers practical strategies and compassionate guidance to help you break through. Tune in to start your journey towards becoming the authentic, empowered entrepreneur you were meant to be!

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Kamini

Website: kaminiwood.com

Instagram & Facebook: @itsauthenticme

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Compassion and Curiosity: The Keys to Entrepreneurial Success

Episode Transcript - Live Love Engage Podcast

Host: Gloria Grace

Guest: Kamini Wood

Episode Introduction

Gloria Grace: Namaste. Tired of playing small in your business because you've got this inner voice telling you that you're not enough? Well, our guest today is going to explain how you can break through the barriers holding you back so you can finally embrace the authentic, empowered entrepreneur or professional that you were born to be.

Before we get to her, and it's going to be awesome, I want to welcome you to Live Love Engage, especially if this is your first time joining us. I am Gloria Grace, the founder of Align to Shine Academy, and I empower women over 50 to step into their highest potential with clarity and confidence.

Meet Today's Guest: Kamini Wood

My guest today is Kamini Wood, and she is a multi-hyphenate person. She's an entrepreneur, an author, a podcaster, and certified life coach who specializes in helping high achievers overcome:

Anxiety

Stress

Perfectionism

ADHD

Toxic relationships

As the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and the creator of the Authentic Me method, Kamini empowers individuals to break free from limiting beliefs, release trauma, and rediscover their authentic selves. This is actually Kamini's second appearance on Live Love Engage, so I want to officially welcome you back to our podcast.

Kamini Wood: Thank you for having me back. I'm excited to be here with you.

Recognizing Limiting Beliefs in Business

Gloria: Limiting beliefs often lead to things like imposter syndrome for entrepreneurs in particular, but it's not always easy to recognize those things. How can we realize that maybe that's why we're sabotaging our business growth? We might have beliefs that we aren't even really aware of that could be causing that type of behavior.

Kamini: That's such a great question, because I do think that oftentimes we are operating with stories, narratives, and limiting beliefs that we just don't know are there. We've never taken time to actually evaluate what are the things that we're saying to ourselves and where are those things coming from.

Common Entrepreneurial Limiting Beliefs

Especially as entrepreneurs, starting my business, there were a lot of limiting beliefs around:

Could I do it?

Am I enough to do it?

Am I smart enough?

Am I savvy enough?

Am I committed enough?

There's all of the "enough" limiting beliefs.

The Power of Curious Questions

For many of us, what we have to do is start asking ourselves deeper questions. If we notice that our inner critic is constantly nitpicking, or we notice certain patterns that we're seeing over and over again, we need to start asking more curious questions:

Where is that stemming from?

Where is the belief or storyline coming from?

What is that story?

Once we're able to identify and become aware of what that belief is or what the narrative is, then we have an opportunity to ask ourselves: "What do I want to do about this?"

Awareness is only part of the way there—it's that doorway to change. Once we become aware of it, it's really up to us to decide what we want to do. Given my values of today and what's true about me today, what is it that I actually want to live into? Do I want to keep living into this old story?

The Origins of Limiting Beliefs

Gloria: Where do some of these limiting beliefs come from? I had limiting beliefs around money, and when I started digging into it, I was surprised where these things came from.

Kamini: I have found that oftentimes the limiting beliefs that we have are deep-rooted and they're from:

Childhood Sources

Some experience or message we received in childhood

Cultural upbringing

Familial upbringing

Societal influences

Adult Experiences

However, it's not just limited to when we were younger. A lot of us also have acquired certain limiting beliefs throughout our life. They come from either:

Messages we receive

Experiences we go through and we make them mean something

That perpetuates the story or the limiting belief.

The Power of Reinterpretation

Gloria: I made up a story about something that happened to me when I was a kid. Going through a personal development workshop, I was journaling and all of a sudden it dawned on me: What if I totally misinterpreted the reaction that I had experienced? What if instead of them criticizing me, they were actually bragging about it?

It totally rocked my world because I had just made up this story for years—like 50 years at that point. Our brains are amazing, but sometimes they over-rotate.

Releasing and Reframing Limiting Beliefs

Gloria: Once we've identified those beliefs, how can we start to either release them or reframe them so that we're able to start living that life that we want to lead?

Kamini: Really, for me, what it comes down to is a couple of things:

1. Focus on Present Truth

Ask: What's actually true about me at this current stage of my life? At the age that I'm at here and now, what's actually true? Oftentimes if we're dealing with limiting beliefs, we're dealing with an old story from a younger time period.

2. Connect with Your Values

Lean into your own core values around what is meaningful to you. When you're thinking about these limiting beliefs and you've identified them, you know what's actually true about you, and you're aware of your values.

3. Take Values-Based Action

Now you can start taking action. The frame that I move into is: Now that I know what's actually true about me today, and I know these things drive me, what is the values-based action I'm going to take?

That's how we start moving through the limiting belief and rewriting whatever that narrative is. We have the ownership to do that, but we have to figure out what is actually meaningful to us and then figure out what action we want to take based on that.

Rewriting Your Story

Gloria: We can actually rewrite the stories, even the story that happened in the past that formed that limiting belief. You could just make up a new ending and create one that's empowering, because the brain doesn't know any better.

Kamini: Absolutely. In those periods where we had that story or meaning that we made, we get to say, "And what else?" It's not toxic positivity—we're not saying let's just pretend. It's more like, "I can look at this differently."

This is also how we can learn to work through and heal from trauma. Trauma is not the event—it's how we responded to it. If we keep reliving the same event the same way, we're not actually healing from the trauma. Instead, we start building up the ability to look at the trauma with a different lens.

...

Does the thought of needing to streamline business processes make you cringe, even though you know it's a necessity? You're not alone. As spiritual entrepreneurs, especially those of us over 50, we often resist the notion of creating structured processes. But what if I told you that embracing systems could be the key to unlocking more freedom and joy in your work?

Show Notes | Transcript

"Even though they (business processes) can be the bane of our existence at times, but when you get them working right and working for you, then it really works to just lighten your load and take some stress off of your shoulders." - Gloria Grace Rand

In this Live. Love. Engage. episode, I'm diving deep into the world of business systems - why they matter, how they can help, and how to approach them without losing your mind (or your authenticity).

Why Systems Matter for Your Business

Systems might seem like a buzzkill for creative entrepreneurs, but they're actually your secret weapon for:

Streamlining repetitive tasks - freeing up your time for what truly matters

Ensuring consistency and quality - so you're not reinventing the wheel every time

Scaling your business - because you can't do it all yourself forever

Improving work-life balance - a top challenge for 63% of women over 50, according to my recent LinkedIn poll

Key insights include:

What common hurdles can keep you from implementing systems

Why it's important not to let these obstacles hold you back

The key areas where business systems make a big difference

How to determine which system is right for you

Why outsourcing might be the best way to streamline your business

A Gift for You: Discover Your Personal Power Archetype

As an example of how systems can work for you, I've created a free quiz to help you uncover your personal power archetype. This automated system delivers personalized results and follow-up emails, providing value to you while supporting my business. Go to bit.ly/PersonalPowerQuiz to take the quiz!

Tune in to this episode for more practical tips, a dash of spiritual wisdom (including a special light language transmission), and guidance on making systems your ally in creating a business that truly serves you.

Resources:

Discover your Personal Power Archetype: bit.ly/PersonalPowerQuiz

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - How to Streamline Business Processes Without Losing Your Soul

Welcome to Live Love Engage with Gloria Grace

Introduction: Why Systems Matter for Your Business

Namaste! Does the idea of putting systems in your business make you jump for joy or cry in frustration? Today we're tackling this subject because I want you to be able to make systems your friend and not your nemesis.

Welcome to Live Love Engage, especially if this is your first time joining us. I'm Gloria Grace, founder of Align to Shine Academy, and I empower mission-driven women over 50 to boldly live life on their terms through my signature LOVE method and energy healing—and yes, systems.

The Reality Check: Why We Resist Systems

Systems are something I've resisted in the past, but they're a big part of helping entrepreneurs create more flow in their business and make it run more efficiently. I recently ran a poll on LinkedIn asking about people's biggest challenges—particularly women over 50—and 63% chose work-life balance.

One response that relates to today's episode said: "I can create all day long, but when it comes to creating the technical systems such as marketing apparatus needed to implement what I create, it taxes my brain."

I can absolutely relate to this sentiment.

Common Reasons Entrepreneurs Resist Systems

Cost Concerns

Initial investment in software

Training expenses for employees

Potential hardware requirements

Budget strain considerations

Complexity and Learning Curves

Overwhelming software features

Time investment required

Frustration with new tools

"I just want it done" mentality

Integration Challenges

Multiple tools that don't work together

"Shiny object syndrome" with new tools

Difficulty creating seamless workflows

Why Systems Are Essential for Business Growth

As solopreneurs, we wear many different hats—marketing, bookkeeping, sales, customer service—while also servicing our clients. With only 24 hours in a day, systems become crucial for:

Streamlining Operations

Reducing repetitive tasks: If you're doing the same thing over and over, it's a perfect opportunity for systemization

Eliminating manual work: Free up time for higher-value activities

Increasing efficiency: Six-step processes become automated workflows

Ensuring Consistency and Quality

Standardized processes prevent "reinventing the wheel"

Clear expectations for employees and contractors

Professional client experience every time

Supporting Growth and Scalability

Training and onboarding: Documented procedures make it easier to bring on team members

Client onboarding: Systematic approach to welcoming new clients

Accountability and visibility: Clear roles, responsibilities, and performance monitoring

Long-term Financial Benefits

Cost savings: More efficient operations reduce overhead

Higher profits: Automation leads to better margins

Reduced errors: Systematic approaches minimize costly mistakes

Types of Business Systems Every Entrepreneur Needs

1. Accounting and Financial Management

Popular tools: QuickBooks, FreshBooks

Track sales, revenues, and profits

Monitor quarterly performance

Prepare for tax season

2. Task and Project Management

Options include:

Traditional: Physical planners and notebooks

Digital: Trello, Asana, Notion

Calendar-based: Google Calendar for recurring tasks

Personal note: I have a love-hate relationship with some of these tools. Sometimes I prefer old-school methods, and that's okay! Use what works for you.

3. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Popular platforms: HubSpot, HighLevel, 17 Hats, Zoho

Manage contacts and leads

Track customer interactions

Automate follow-up sequences

4. Marketing and Content Creation Systems

Email Marketing Tools

Platforms: Constant Contact, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign

Automated sequences: Set up drip campaigns for new subscribers

Lead magnet delivery: Automatic follow-up for downloads

Sales sequences: Nurture prospects without manual intervention

Social Media Management

Tools: Buffer, Hootsuite, or native platform scheduling

Schedule posts in advance

Maintain consistent presence

Cross-platform content distribution

Note: I now schedule directly through Facebook and LinkedIn to avoid potential algorithm penalties from third-party tools.

Design and Video Creation

Visual content: Canva for graphics and infographics Video tools:

ClipChamp for video creation

Opus Pro for turning podcast episodes into short social media videos

5. Communication Systems

Meeting platforms: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet Messaging: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Spaces

Virtual client meetings

Team communication

Client support channels

6. E-commerce and Payment Processing

Payment systems: Stripe, PayPal, merchant accounts E-commerce platforms: Shopify for product sales

Secure payment processing

Inventory management

Order fulfillment automation

Specialized Systems for Content Creators

For this podcast, I use several specialized tools:

Recording: Streamyard for live streaming and recording

Post-production: Capshow for creating show notes and social media content

Content repurposing: Both Opus Pro and Capshow for video clips

Before Implementing Any System: Key Questions to Ask

The Time Audit Exercise

Make a list of tasks that take you longer than they should. Time yourself on these activities—this data will help you identify where systems could have the biggest impact.

The Stress vs. Value Assessment

Ask yourself:

Does this bring me closer to or further from my authentic self?

Will this system bring me peace and joy, or cause more grief?

Should I invest in software or hire someone who's already proficient?

Listen to your intuition. Sometimes it's more cost-effective to hire an expert rather than spending your time learning new systems.

A Personal Success Story: Automated Quiz System

I created a quiz using Try Interact called "Discover Your Personal Power Archetype" for midlife entrepreneurs. This system includes:

Interactive quiz functionality

Automated email sequences based on results

Personalized follow-up content

Lead generation and nurturing

You can check it out at: bit.ly/PersonalPowerQuiz

The Role of AI in Modern Business Systems

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we approach business systems. I used AI to help refine the email sequences for my quiz, making the process more efficient and effective.

Note: I'll be diving deeper into AI and systems in an upcoming interview with expert Shilpa Lewis—stay tuned!

Key Takeaways: Making Systems Work for You

Benefits of Well-Implemented Systems:

Process standardization across your business

Software integration that creates seamless workflows

Automated workflows that save time and reduce errors

Consistency in client experience and business operations

Scalability for business growth

Peace of mind knowing important tasks are handled

Trust Your Intuition

Your higher self knows what's best for your busin

Facing an empty nest can feel like the end of an era. But what if it's just the beginning? In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Dale, founder of Honest Heart Journeys, to explore how travel, sisterhood, and intuition create the perfect storm for awakening your authentic self and transforming your life and business from the heart outward.

Show Notes | Transcript

"Travel gives us that kind of opportunity where we examine our own lives and examine our own selves. Hopefully take time to reflect while we're doing it." - Jennifer Dale

As a fellow advocate for women over 50, Jennifer shares her passion for creating transformative travel experiences that empower, foster personal growth, deep connections, and the courage to embrace new adventures at any stage of life.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How to harness the power of travel to gain fresh perspectives on your life and business

The importance of intergenerational connections in fostering personal growth and healing

Why sisterhood and authentic relationships are crucial for women in their 50s and beyond

How to use themed journeys to facilitate deep personal transformation and spiritual growth

Key insights include:

The healing potential of women-only travel experiences for those navigating life transitions

How cultural immersion can challenge our perceptions and redefine our values

The role of mindfulness and reflection in maximizing the benefits of travel

Why now is the perfect time to experience the world and cultivate cross-cultural understanding

Jennifer also shares inspiring stories of transformation from her Honest Heart Journeys, including a powerful account of a woman who found her self-worth through the support of her travel companions.

Whether you're seeking to reignite your passion for life, heal from past experiences, or gain fresh insights for your business, this conversation offers a compelling invitation to explore the world and yourself. Tune in to discover how embracing new experiences and authentic connections can lead to profound personal and professional growth!

Connect with Jennifer

Website: www.honestheartjourneys.com

Instagram: @honestheartjourneys

Facebook: Honest Heart Journeys

Resources:

My appearance on the Honest Heart Journeys Podcast: Episode 20 - Love Into Your Worth

Join the Soulful Women's Network www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - From Empty Nest to Empowered: Travel as a Catalyst

Episode featuring Jennifer Dale, founder of Honest Heart Journeys

Introduction: Welcome to Live Love Engage

Namaste. Imagine stepping away from life's noise to discover your deepest wisdom alongside women who truly see you. Today's guest is going to help us explore how travel, sisterhood, and intuition create the perfect storm for awakening your authentic self and transforming your business from the heart outward.

Welcome to Live Love Engage, especially if this is your first time joining us. I am Gloria Grace, founder of Align to Shine Academy, and I empower women over 50 to step into their highest potential with clarity and confidence.

Meet Jennifer Dale: Founder of Honest Heart Journeys

Jennifer Dale is the founder of Honest Heart Journeys, a transformative travel community for women over 50. She's a blogger, speaker, and host of her own podcast called The Honest Heart. Jennifer is passionate about sisterhood, intergenerational understanding, and soulful adventures that foster personal growth, deep connections, and the courage to embrace new experiences at any age of life.

The Inspiration Behind Honest Heart Journeys: Serving Women Over 50

Gloria: What inspired you to create Honest Heart Journeys specifically for women over 50?

Navigating Life Transitions and Change

Jennifer: I think that demographic is just navigating so much transition and change in our lives. We're empty nesters. Our marriage status may have changed. For me, I was at a point where I was leaving my career behind and really thinking about reconnecting with my life and considering my legacy.

A Personal Healing Journey During COVID

It really all began when I was on my own personal healing journey in 2020, just as COVID started. I left a job right at the beginning of COVID that had left me feeling pretty empty and frustrated. I had to reconnect with who I was.

I had been working with teen women, so it was a beautiful time to move away from what I'd been doing and reconnect with my husband. We settled in an entirely different city and I really needed to heal from that situation and redefine myself.

Redefining Womanhood and Sisterhood

I recognize that the women I'd been working with, coming out of my own experience, it was time to redefine womanhood and sisterhood and how we are in community with one another. There are so many stereotypes about women and how they treat one another. Worth is a big thing so many of us deal with.

I wanted to lift that sense that women can be there for one another. We don't have to compare and criticize. I was ready to look forward and nurture community, which is something I've done in my career for years.

Building Community: Attracting Women Seeking Authentic Connection

Gloria: Are you attracting women who are already friends, or people looking to form new friendships through these experiences?

Breaking Down Barriers and Dropping Masks

Jennifer: It's really both. There definitely are women in our demographic who are dropping a lot of labels and cultural expectations. Many come feeling trepidatious, saying "Are you kidding me? Spending all this time with a bunch of women? I’m not so sure I’m up for that."

But they find that really honest, genuine connection with other people. Many have come home and said, "I don't know what just happened. I was there with you for 10 days, and I feel like all the women I met know me better than friends at home who've known me for years."

Intergenerational Connections and Healing

We also have intergenerational experiences where a mother brings a daughter, and you see healing in their relationship happening before you. Sisters celebrate milestones together, creating memories they'll always remember.

The Power of Intergenerational Wisdom

Gloria: I love how you foster intergenerational connections. As we get older, we have wisdom to pass along, but younger generations can teach us too.

Learning from Each Other Across Generations

Jennifer: I think we're at a stage where there's less hierarchy. Technology has changed so much in our lifetime that we're listening more to younger generations. They have access to information and can teach us.

My hope is that the wisdom we've gained - caring less about what others think and living into our lessons learned - is respected more. In our trips, we explore other cultures where there's more appreciation for elders, and I see younger women appreciating us more and having more patience.

Overcoming Fears About Women-Only Travel

Gloria: What fears do you see before women commit to these journeys, and how do you help them through that?

Understanding Sisterhood as a Verb

Jennifer: The word "sisterhood" itself has mixed connotations. People might think of sorority experiences or surface-level interactions. I love thinking of sistering as a verb - to sister someone, to really walk beside them.

Creating Deep Connections Through Shared Experiences

What happens on these trips is women begin to recognize we connect around things we have in common - situations, lessons, challenges, questions we're asking. I've seen two women who both lost husbands in deep conversation, one sharing how she coped because the other had just experienced loss.

Using Books and Workshops for Common Ground

We always have a book that we read before we go, giving us common language and experience to connect around. The conversation goes deep because of that book. We do workshops before traveling so we're familiar with what we're doing.

Example: The Camino de Santiago and Byron Katie's Work

Every year we take a Camino trip on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. We do the work of Byron Katie, learning how to question the beliefs in our lives that cause us suffering. We do it together and companion each other through the process.

Finding Your Tribe: The Importance of Community After 50

Jennifer: Those support systems are built in for us early on - standing next to another mother at the soccer field, collaborating at the water cooler. But as we leave the office and our kids fly the nest, we ask: "What's my purpose now? Who are my people? What's my tribe?"

Ready for Growth and Spiritual Development

We need that so much now, and frankly, we're more ready for it than ever because we're curious. We want to grow spiritually, continue to be free. We've shed a lot of stuff and responsibilities that kept us busy for so many years. I love the idea that the best is yet to come, not behind me.

The Travel and Personal Development Revolution

Gloria: Each decade for me has gotten better than the last. I'm anticipating living a long time and want each decade to continue improving.

The Fastest Growing Travel Segment

Jennifer: When I started this during COVID, I realized the number one fastest growing segment of travel is women traveling. Women are going everywhere with a sense of courage and wanting to continue being active.

Fusing Two Growing Industries

Personal and spiritual development was also coming into play. We're fusing those two industries - travel and personal development - into one experience....

As midlife women entrepreneurs, we sometimes find ourselves staring at a blank page, desperately searching for inspiration. In this candid episode, I open up about my own struggle with creative block and share how I turned a moment of resistance into an opportunity for authentic connection.

Show Notes | Transcript

"Sometimes we're going to get stuck. It happens to everyone, and especially to entrepreneurs when you... just don't want to do something... for a variety of reasons." - Gloria Grace Rand

Join me as I explore the importance of self-care, the power of flexibility, and the unexpected wisdom that can emerge when we embrace our imperfections.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How to overcome creative blocks and get unstuck in your business

The true meaning of self-care beyond massages and wine

My personal journey of releasing 50 pounds and the mindset shifts that made it possible

The surprising impact of sugar on your creativity and business focus

How light language can help release energetic blocks and enhance intuition

Key insights include:

Why giving yourself grace is crucial for long-term success

The importance of reading food labels and understanding hidden sugars

How eating well impacts your mental clarity and business performance

The power of committing to your goals publicly

Why experimenting with different approaches is key to finding what works for you

I also share a powerful light language transmission designed to help you release energetic blocks and enhance your intuition. Whether you're struggling with creative blocks, seeking to improve your health, or simply looking for a dose of entrepreneurial realness, this episode offers compassionate guidance and practical strategies to help you navigate the ups and downs of business and life.

Tune in to discover how embracing imperfection and prioritizing self-care can lead to unexpected breakthroughs in your entrepreneurial journey. Remember, it's okay to change course when something isn't working – flexibility might just be the key to your next big idea!

Ready to experience the transformative power of light language? See the resources section in the show notes to book a personalized session and address your unique business challenges.

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network here

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Schedule your private light language session at bit.ly/LLEpodcast30

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Namaste. Have you ever been stuck for an idea and you had to get something done? Whether it was, let's say, writing a blog post or social media post or recording a podcast episode? Well, that's me today. That's what we're going to be talking about today because I, I had an idea. I had an idea, but I just didn't want to talk about it. So we're going to talk about something else. But before I get to that, I'm just going to leave you guessing. I want to welcome you to Live Love Engage, especially if this is your first time joining us. Hopefully you're still going to tune in after that weird intro. I am Gloria Grace, founder of Align to Shine Academy, and I empower women over 50 to overcome life's challenges so they can embrace who they are, lead boldly, and shine their light in the world. And I had every intention about talking about systems today, but I just am not feeling it. And I really wanted to get an episode recorded because this is my week to do it. So I'm recording this when I should have really recorded this about a couple of days ago, but that didn't happen. And that's why I decided to just go ahead. Even though I am feeling a bit stuck and not happy with my topic, even though I know it's a good topic and I'll get back to it, we will talk about systems. I can give you an excuse. One of the excuses is that my back has been bothering me and it started yesterday and I went to. Went for a lovely massage yesterday, which did help, but it's still wonky. And also just the idea of systems, even though I know that they're necessary and I know they're important for business, I just don't want to talk about them today. And in fact, if you're watching this on YouTube, which I hope you are, you, you probably may even notice that I'm not even dressed as fancy as I normally am. I didn't even put on a whole bunch of makeup. I've just got a little bit of lipstick on because I just want to be real today and, and talk about the fact that, yeah, sometimes we're going to get stuck. It happens to everyone, and especially to entrepreneurs when you. You're going through and you just don't want to do something and, and it can be for a variety of reasons. Maybe it is because your health isn't up to par. Maybe it's because something has happened in your life to shake you up a little bit and we've We've talked about that in the past, so I'm not going to dwell on that part of it too much because there, there are a few things that you can do when you are stuck. Number one is to just get started, just decide to do something and just say, you know what? I know I really don't want to do this, but I'm going to go ahead and do it and you can change topics. So, so what I did before I got online to record today's episode was I did some, some research. I was trying to find, you know, what are some current trends, what are some ideas, what could I talk about? Especially because I, I'm, I sort of tweaked the title of this podcast now to be Live Love, Engage, Soulful Success Secrets for Midlife Women. Because that really has been the focus of the podcast all year long and, and for sure. And so I decided to make it official. So it does show up that way on itunes or Apple podcasts. Sorry, I'm showing, showing my age. I've been doing this podcast for six years now, going into, at the end of the, this year of recording in 2025, we'll be starting our seventh season. And it used to be itunes, but now, of course, it's Apple podcasts. And it shows up with the new description and the new title on Spotify as well. So it must be elsewhere. Wherever you're favorite podcast platform is that you listen to it, you'll. You'll see that little tweaking because I wanted to use keywords, of course, and I've talked about keywords on the podcast in the, in the past, actually, not too long ago, in fact, but they are important. So I'm. My intention is that more people will find this podcast now, especially those who are looking for soulful success secrets. And you, if you happen to be a midlife woman like I am, and, and I am sticking with, okay, I'm a little past midlife because I am over 60, but I intend to live to be at least a hundred. So not that far over the midlife area. Anyway, where was I? I got, I got sidetracked. So if you're, if you get stuck. So I was doing this topic research and then decided, yeah, I don't like any of those either, but I'm just going to go ahead. I know that if I get Streamyard, I use Streamyard to record this podcast. If I just get it set up and I, and I start putting together my little notes like I always do, something will come to me. And so I Started off by talking about what happens when you do get stuck. And I think that, number one is, is the best way to go about it is to just decide, you know, what this has to get done. I'm just going to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard or, or something and just, just get started. And what's the expression? You know, it's. It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. So you can change your mind, you can change the topic. You don't have to stay married to it unless you are someone who is working at a job and you have to for. But if you are an entrepreneur, like I presume many of you are, then you have a little bit more flexibility. So I wanted to tell you that. And the other thing is that you can also, if you have the opportunity to say, I don't feel like doing this today, and if you can actually put it off for a day or put it off for maybe a couple of hours, then do that. Give yourself the grace to take a break, to put it aside. If it's something that's not totally on deadline for you, go for a walk, do something fun, put on some music and see if the creative juices will flow later, because most likely they will. But we have to give ourselves that time. And it's really important. You only get, well, you only get one life in this particular body, okay, in this incarnation. And whether you believe in reincarnation or not, whoever you are right now, as you are listening to this or watching it, that's who you are in this lifetime. And so make the most of it and be kind to yourself. I saw a friend posted on Facebook today about. She talked about how what self care is and that it's not just, you know, a glass of wine and a massage, although that is very important. Well, the massage part, I don't drink alcohol anymore and it seems like there's been some. Now there's ideas about that maybe it's not quite as healthy as, you know, it was once purported, but then again, there are so many things out there that it gets confusing about what the heck is healthy for us and what isn't. Which also leads me to part of what I also wanted to talk about today. But anyway, she talked about how that it's, it's self care is more than that. And I think I've mentioned this on the podcast as well, and that it's really, it's about taking care of you. And, and so yes, like I said, massages could be part of that. But it's also about getting plenty of sleep, getting good exercise or regular exercise of whatever that is. I mean, for me, I go for a walk every day at least once. Sometimes I'll do twice. I may go out. I go out first thing in the morning,...

High performance living isn't just about achieving goals. It's about thriving through life's toughest challenges. Joining me to share his formula for beating burnout is Christian Ray Flores, an entrepreneur, international recording artist, philanthropist, and high-performance coach who has lived an extraordinary life spanning multiple continents and cultures.

Show Notes | Transcript

"Everybody knows, okay, problems never go away. I don't care how healthy you are, how pretty you are, how rich you are, you will always have problems. It's just part of the human experience... if you're not going to escape it, at least beat it." - Christian Ray Flores

Christian shares his journey from child refugee to pop star and philanthropist, revealing how these experiences shaped his understanding of resilience and antifragility. We explore the concept of post-traumatic growth and how it can be applied to both personal and professional life.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How to cultivate antifragility and grow stronger through life's challenges

The power of curiosity in developing resilience and adaptability

Why incorporating deep learning into daily life is crucial for entrepreneurial success

How to leverage different cultural perspectives to strengthen your life and business

Key insights include:

The importance of balancing consistency with exploration in your daily routine

Why rest and recovery are essential components of high performance

How faith and spirituality can provide a framework for personal growth

The value of aiming higher in life and business, despite the challenges

Christian also shares his practical 80/20 formula for incorporating new learning and growth into your daily life, explaining how this approach can lead to transformational results in just 30 days.

Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to build resilience in your business or simply seeking ways to thrive in an ever-changing world, this conversation offers valuable insights and actionable strategies. Tune in to discover how you can develop unshakable grit and turn life's challenges into opportunities for growth!

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network here

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Christian

Free Newsletter: christianrayflores.com

Exponential Scorecard Assessment: xponential.life

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Namaste. Life always has a way of throwing us curveballs. Have you noticed that? Well, what if you could not only bounce back, but actually grow stronger through these challenges? Well, today's guest is going to explain how we can build unshakable grit and antifragility in our life and businesses, even when the world seems to be changing faster than we can keep up. But before I get to him, so. So you have a hint already. It's, it's, it's a gentleman. I want to welcome you to Live Love Engage, especially if this is your first time joining us. I am Gloria Grace, founder of align to Shine Academy. And I, I love empowering women over 50 to step into their highest potential with clarity and confidence. And in just a moment, I am going to bring on Christian Ray Flores. And I, I'm trusting that is how you pronounce his last name. I just realized I didn't ask him, but I'm, I'm guessing, I'm pretty sure it is, but. He is an entrepreneur, international recording artist, philanthropist, and high performance coach who empowers business and non profit leaders to reach and stay at the top of their game. And this gentleman has led an extraordinary life, going from a child refugee in Chile to entertaining millions as a pop star in Europe and leading philanthropic projects around the world. And that's just for starters. I mean, I could go on and on, but I can't wait to have you meet him. So I am going to, without further ado, bring him onto our stage and welcome you, Christian, to Engage.

Hello. Thank you, Grace. Thanks for having me.

Oh, well, I am, yeah, I'm just, you know, when, and I don't know even remember how we connected, probably your PR person or something, but it was like, you know, when I'm reading up on you, I'm going, oh my gosh, you've had this incredible, incredible life. So we're talking today about, you know, really about like resilience and, and you know, and having that fortitude to be able to not only bounce back but also grow. So what, you know, throughout all of your journey that you've had, what were some of the maybe key moments that taught you the most about resilience that, you know, those watching and listening today can apply in their own lives.

Thanks for asking. I, I've had a very sort of early uncertainty as a child. You know, like when you're a refugee at age 5, you know, you're definitely in a very select group of people and, and then that kept sort of growing and changing. I basically Ended up moving to four countries by age seven. And, you know, but before I was 21, I had experienced a mil. A military coup in Chile, Latin America, a civil war in Africa, which was in Mozambique, where I lived and grew up from between 7 and 14 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, in Moscow, in Eastern Europe. So I mean, who does that, right? Who, who, who has that kind of experience on three different continents before you're even 20? So that's, that was sort of just a slice of, of that. And then of course, throw in some poverty, economic instability, even family drama, my parents got divorced. And so you have yourself a nice cocktail of challenges. Right. And I don't think there's like these sort of aha moments that are like, from one moment to another, you become enlightened. It's really more of a process, I think, and I think that's actually true of most people. It's really more of an evolution, a process that has almost like these quantum leaps every once in a while. And I think for me, that was. That was sort of the. Between 0 and 21, 25, I was sort of exposed to enough stress and enough sort of stressors, so to say that either I become sort of this perpetual victim or I develop some anti fragility so that I can not only, not only survive, but thrive in life.

Now you mentioned anti fragility right there. And I had mentioned that in the bio, and I haven't actually come across that particular word before, so I wonder if you could define that a little bit. Just, you know, maybe it's just, just my, my ignorance, but I'd love to know what you mean by that and how can we really cultivate that?

Yeah, but, you know, we talk about fortitude quite a bit or resilience quite a bit. That's sort of the, the main thing. Right. Antifragility was actually coined as a term by this guy, Nassim Taleb, who is a brilliant guy, He's a financier and entrepreneur, that kind of thing. There's actually a term in psychology that mirrors that, I think fairly closely. And the psychology term is post traumatic growth. And it's basically, you know, everybody knows ptsd. Very few people know that there's sort of this other side of trauma called post traumatic growth. And it's really fascinating because most of our sort of psychology, the discipline of psychology, focused very heavily on PTSD and on trauma. And then with maybe the last 20 years or so. So it's very recent, relatively speaking, the positive psychology movement, unearthed this other thing, right? This other capability that we have, which is post traumatic growth, but it's basically the ability to not only withstand obstacles and problems and stressors, either internal or external, but actually grow not in spite of them, but because of them. And to me that's one of the most amazing things that to, to dig into and to develop as a skill set, a human being. Because everybody knows, okay, problems never go away. I don't care how healthy you are, how pretty you are, how rich you are, you will always have problems. It's just that it's just part of the human experience. So if that's part of the human experience and you can't escape it, developing the ability to process obstacles and trauma and stressors seems to be like, okay, well you, if you're not going to beat it, if you're not going to escape it, at least beat it. Right? So that's basically the, the essence of it.

Yeah. And I have heard of the term post traumatic growth before and, and I feel like that's definitely something that I've experienced in my own life because I, I mean certainly not same kind of childhood as yours, but I have, you know, I think everybody has their own, Everybody does stuff. Yeah, of course, of course, course that, that goes. But it is that you know, ability to, to then learn from it. Have you, have you found maybe in, in working with, with clients yourself? Is there, how should I phrase this? Is there a particular quality maybe that you see in someone that, where they, maybe they, they aren't growing yet, but they do have that potential to grow. So.

Because I think, I mean, I think that quality is curiosity. That's the, that's the quality. It's the curiosity. That's all it is. Right. Like if you are at the very least open that your, you can interpret and navigate life different, differently from where what you have in the past. That's the quality. It's curiosity. Okay. You know, it's. Everything seems unsurmountable or hard to imagine for yourself when you're on this side of, of the question of, of the quest. Right. So yeah, be curious, ask questions, get guidance, read books, get coaching. Everybody can learn it. Everybody should learn it. As a matter of fact, I would say, yeah.

Because it. Otherwise you're just stuck in that cycle of being wallowing in, in it and not getting anywhere. Yeah,...

Did you know that chakra healing can help entrepreneurs find the strength to move forward again when life's storms disrupt their business journey? I know from personal experience how losing a loved one can cause chakra imbalances that shake the foundation of your entrepreneurial spirit and wreak havoc on your day-to-day operations.

Show Notes | Transcript

"Even when you know life is giving you lemons, you can still come out the other side." - Gloria Grace Rand

In this heartfelt episode, I open up about my own journey through grief after losing my sister and how it affected my business. I share how working with a spiritual coach and focusing on chakra healing helped me realign my purpose and reignite my passion for my work.

Discover how to:

Recognize signs of chakra imbalance in your business practices

Use grounding techniques to stabilize your root chakra and business foundation

Reignite your creativity when your sacral chakra feels blocked

Reclaim your personal power and set healthy boundaries in your work

Reconnect with your heart-centered purpose to attract aligned clients

Key insights include:

The impact of grief and life transitions on your business energy

How undercharging and people-pleasing relate to chakra imbalances

The importance of giving yourself time to grieve, even business changes

Why investing in yourself leads to greater commitment and results

How to use light language for chakra healing and business alignment

I also guide you through a powerful light language transmission designed to help realign your chakras and bring your business back into flow. Whether you're feeling stuck, disconnected from your purpose, or simply in need of an energetic reset, this episode offers compassionate guidance and practical strategies to help you navigate business evolution during times of personal transition.

Tune in to start harnessing the wisdom of your chakras and rediscover your authentic business path. Remember, even when life hands you lemons, you have the power to create something sweet and refreshing for your entrepreneurial journey.

Ready to experience the transformative power of light language one-on-one? Book a personalized session and address your unique business challenges at bit.ly/LLEpodcast30

Related episodes:

How to Gain Insight from Your Chakras with Dr. Susan Corso: https://gloriarand.com/how-to-gain-insight-from-your-chakras-with-dr-susan-corso/

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network here

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Namaste. If you are in a season of transition, let's say you're going through a divorce or separation or maybe you've lost a loved one, I know from experience that it can knock the wind out of your sails and leave you questioning how to move forward in your business. So today we're going to be talking about how you can actually explore how your chakras can guide you through this business evolution as you're going through these transitions and be able to find some grace through, through the process. So even when you know life is giving you lemons, you can still come out the other side.

But first, I want to welcome you to Live Love Engage. Especially if this is your first time joining us. Whether you found us on YouTube or on one of the other wonderful audio podcast platforms. I am the founder of Align to Shine Academy and I empower women over 50 to overcome life's challenges so they can embrace who they are and lead boldly and shine their light in the world.

So as I mentioned, if you are finding us somewhere and you'd like what you hear, I hope you that you will subscribe and hit that little notification bell on YouTube. I guess so. I, as I mentioned, right at the top there, I know exactly how a sudden event, let's shall we say, can like just really knock you around and have you start doubting what you're doing, the direction that you're taking in your life and your business. And for me, it was, I can't believe, almost 10 years ago, just about now as I'm recording this. And it was in, in, In July of 2015, my sister got news that she was certainly not expecting when she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. And unfortunately she transitioned like 18 months later. And when that happened, I mean, she was my big sister. She was the last member of the family, the immediate family that I grew up with. Both my parents have been gone for a long time and I lost a brother early on when I was a teenager. So she was, she was my rock, she was my cheerleader. And when I didn't have her around anymore, just tearing up, even thinking about it right now, that, yeah, it, it really, it messed me up for quite a while. You know, at the time my business was SEO copywriting and it was, you know, help writing content, small businesses for their websites and doing even a little social media. I was even doing some video SEO at the time as well. And so when I lost her, I, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do anymore. And, and thankfully I was in a Mastermind at the time that, that helped.

I had a lot of coaches I was working with, but in particular I actually have a. I had had a friend who I'd known for a few years through women's networking group who was a spiritual coach. And she actually specialized in chakras and chakra healing. And her name is Sherinata Pollock. She's also really big into emf, snail and, and, and helping you to using Shungite to be able to offset some of these energies. So maybe I'll put a link to her site in the, in the show notes. But at the time she was, she was doing this spiritual coaching and helping you with your chakras and healing, like noticing when your chakras are out of balance and helping you to realign them. Now I'm not going to. Oh, also, at the time she also, she also saw for me, which is so, so prescient, I think is the word I'm looking for. Prescient. I'm not sure how you pronounce it. I've seen it in print before that she saw for me something about spiritual SEO, which I actually did an episode about just a couple of months ago on this podcast. So go check it out. I'll. I'll put the link to that in the show notes as well. So you can go, go check it out because that's a whole nother story.

But I want to focus on chakras today, so I'm not going to go too deep into what chakras are. You can Google it or, you know, in fact, I even, I even had, a couple years ago, I think I had a woman who did, who talked about chakras. Her name was Susan Corso, as I believe. But chakras are essentially energy centers in the body and there are like seven main ones, you know, so well, starting at the bottom, we have the, the root chakra. And then you've got the, the, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus, your heart chakra, your throat chakra. Then you've got your third eye and the crown chakra. And then there's even. Cause I've studied some of this stuff before as well. There's even like one like above, I don't remember the name. And then one even like below your feet. There's another one in like the Earth. So it's a lot of stuff. But. But essentially, again, this is, you know, this comes from like Eastern, I guess, Indian origins philosophy. But, but they're like centers that they, they say are like energy centers that, that spin and when they're maybe stuck or not spin, that can show up in, in your life and in what's going on in your life. So it can also then affect your business because of course, as it's affecting you and in particular if you are, let's say a solo entrepreneur, then, you know, if you're the face of your business, you're the primary person in your business, if you're, you know, not feeling right or your, your mental state is not right, then that's going to show up in your business. And that's what we're going to really talk about today. So what I'm going to go through actually first, what I'm going to suggest that you do today is maybe pause this recording right now and go get yourself a pen and paper because I'm going to go through a lot of stuff today and you're going to want to take some notes and of course you can always listen to it again and, and go back and listen to the recording. But I really encourage you to grab a pen and paper because I'm going to go through a lot of stuff and I'm gonna, I'm gonna go through first. I'm going to tell you a little bit about each chakra, a little bit more in depth about what, what sort of, what their purpose is. But then I'm only going to focus on five of the seven today, so, and especially of like what it looks like when they're out of alignment and then give you some tips on how to get them back in alignment. And I'm also going to share a light language message as well to help with that. So. All right, so let me go through these again or go through these now and give you a little bit of information about, in, in case, especially if this is your first time and you're not familiar with, with, with chakra.

So the root chakra, sort of as it implies, deals with your foundation and, and security and, and in business it can be really about sort of grounding your business purpose. The sacral chakra moving up is your creative center. You know, this is in, in women in particular. Well, I don't think men as well, you know, this is where, you know, babies. So this is, you know, your, your passion center and this is where you, if this is, you know, when it's in alignment, this is your ability to create authentic offerings. The solar plexus is going up now. This is your power center, your personal power center, your confidence and decision making. And so you want to be able to have a good Solar plexus in

Have you ever dreamed of entering the book publishing world to share your wisdom as a best-selling author? If you're ready to turn that dream into reality and amplify your message globally, you're in for a treat. In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Cathy Derksen, an international speaker and 18-time number one best-selling author, to explore the power of collaborative books and how they can elevate your visibility as an entrepreneur.

Show Notes | Transcript

"We all have a story that could help somebody else getting through similar challenges or overcoming a similar obstacle in their life." - Cathy Derksen

Cathy shares her journey from being a first-time author to creating a platform that empowers women to share their inspiring stories. We discuss the surprising benefits of collaborative publishing and how it differs from traditional solo book projects.

In this episode, you'll discover how to:

The unexpected advantages of collaborative book projects over solo ventures

How to leverage your author status to boost your credibility as an entrepreneur

The mindset shift that occurs when women transition from aspiring authors to published best-sellers

Common pitfalls to avoid when seeking publication and how to navigate them

Key insights include:

Why your unique story matters and how it can inspire others

The importance of vetting collaborative publishers before committing to a project

How to assess the value of different publishing opportunities

The potential of using your book as a powerful marketing tool for your business

Cathy also introduces the concept of author retreats, combining writing workshops with self-care and networking opportunities. She shares her vision for future projects, including exciting international destinations for these transformative experiences.

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur looking to expand your influence or a spiritual healer yearning to reach a wider audience, this conversation offers valuable insights on how to share your wisdom through the written word. Tune in to learn how you can become a published author and open doors to new possibilities in your personal and professional life!

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network here

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Cathy:

website: inspiredtenacity.com

LinkedIn: @cathyderkseninspiredtenacity

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Gloria Grace Rand

Namaste. Imagine turning your wisdom into a best selling book that opens doors worldwide. Well, if you'd like to do more than imagine and actually get your message out in the world in a bigger way, you're going to want to stick around to hear my conversation with today's guest who helps women publish their stories. But first, if this is your first time to Live Love Engage, I want to welcome you and introduce myself. I am Gloria Grace, founder of Align to Shine Academy and I work with spiritually minded women entrepreneurs to break free from self doubt and step into their highest potential. And joining us in just a moment is Cathy Derksen and she is an international speaker and an 18 times number one best selling author. That's amazing. Kathy has created a platform for women to share their wisdom and inspiring stories in collaborative books and her programs allow you you to expand your global network, build your business and increase your visibility while becoming an international best selling author. And I am going to bring her on right now so we can get to talking all about the wonderful world of publishing and books and all that good stuff. So welcome to Live Love Engage, Cathy.

Cathy Derksen

Thank you for having me.

Gloria Grace Rand

Well, I appreciate, appreciate you. We just met recently and I was just really impressed by all the stuff that you're doing and I love that you're focused on helping women to get their message out. But I was wondering if you could maybe before we dive into really the nuts and bolts why this is important, can you take us back maybe to your first book and what inspired you to take that leap and maybe what surprised you most about the journey?

Cathy Derksen

Well, as most people that get into these multi author books, the first book that I was in, I was just one of the authors in somebody else's book. And before that one, I had actually never really thought of myself as becoming an author or getting involved in the publishing world at all. And really the main reason I got into that book, it was a local group here and I'd been aware that they had been doing some books, I think that was their fifth book that I jumped into. And it was at that point I had just been through a divorce, a complete career change. I was now a single mom with two teenagers and had I had gotten to the point where I felt like the dust was starting to settle on all of that. And I knew that my story could help other women going through a similar thing to really get through their own challenges and struggles and get through that kind of thing. So that at the time was really my only goal was just that knowing that that my story could help other women. And from there I loved the process of being in these multi author books where you're collaborating with a group of people, you're all putting your story and your wisdom out in the world. And as was mentioned, I am now have just on Friday hit 18 books that I have been part of and now seven of those are my books. So they're books that I have started with the theme and the title that I've created. I brought together the group of authors, I've you know, really coached them around developing their chapters and, and yes, release them out into the world as best selling authors.

Gloria Grace Rand

Oh, that's amazing. What, what types of categories have your books been in? Is it kind of stayed in one area or do you have a broad range?

Cathy Derksen

Well, all my books have a different theme. So based on that we do vary a little bit. And I don't know the names of the categories off the top of my head now there are several hundred of them so they've really diversified the categories. But some of the books that I've. And I'll focus mainly on the books that are my projects. So like I said, there's seven of them now. The first one was Embrace Courage, Midlife Awakening, Ripple, Effective Impact. The last three that I just had released actually in the last couple months were all focused on women in leadership in different areas. So one was focused on women in leadership or transforming leadership in business and community. One was on how women are impacting leadership in science and tech. And then the last one that we just released was specific to a community called Lead Hership Global. And, and so that book was Lead Hership Unveiled. So, so those ones being more on the leadership business side, other ones being more on the personal development and getting through challenges. But definitely a lot of focus is on women's biographies, women in business, personal development, but many categories. And that's part of the fun too of going through the Amazon launch and is that you can hit several categories with the same book. So you start with say three and as you hit number one of those ones you move to other categories and hit number one and some more categories and becomes almost part of that game of, of the Amazon system.

Gloria Grace Rand

Yeah, absolutely. I know having well published my own book and, and with, well, I didn't publish it myself, I did have a publisher but he was, yeah, picking out the, the categories that he thought for sure that I would be able to hit that number one status so I could, I could put that label on my book. In fact, there it is, it says Amazon number one. Bestseller. But actually, and speaking of that, I, I would love to know what you think about the, like, the power of collaborative books and how they differ from like solo books projects, especially maybe in terms of reach and impact.

Cathy Derksen

Yeah. And I think for a lot of people, they have the idea that they need to just focus on a solo book. But what I've seen is I would say the vast majority of people who start a solo book never finish it. Or they might finish it, but they never publish it. Or if they publish it, they don't do a bestseller campaign. And also, when you are in a solo book, it's just you and your community getting the activity and the visibility out there. Whereas with a collaborative book, you have all of those people's communities working together, building visibility and collaboration and connection. And most of my books, I have 20 women per book and they're, they are literally from all over the world. In the last book that we just released, we had us, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Dubai, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany. So all over the world. So imagine you're in a group of women from all over the world and you're each. If you go back and look at my social media over the last couple weeks, we are all liking sharing, reposting, you know, so everyone's community is just blending together. The last post that I did, I had over 1500 hits on it. And you know, that's because we are all meshing together with all these different ones. So, so I, I won't say that it's an easy thing to do to hit international number one, but when you have 20 people working together, it makes it a lot easier.

Gloria Grace Rand

Yeah, absolutely. And I do know it is, it is challenging to write your own book. I mean, it took me five years from the time that I first got the idea to when I finally even started to write it, and then, and then get it done....

Feel like unmatched business growth is out of reach? You might have an abundance wound - a deep-seated belief that you're not worthy of financial prosperity. In this eye-opening episode, I explore the hidden barriers that can block your path to financial success and share powerful strategies to heal your relationship with money.

Show Notes | Transcript

"You're doing not only yourself and your family and your business and your clients a disservice by not having money and by not being as successful as you'd like to be, then you're also unable to then share that wealth in the world." - Gloria Grace Rand

As a recovering people-pleaser who's faced my own money challenges, I know how difficult it can be to break free from limiting beliefs. You'll hear about my own personal journey, including how childhood experiences and family attitudes shaped my view of wealth. And you'll discover why even spiritual entrepreneurs sometimes struggle to reconcile their values with financial success.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to recognize the signs of an abundance wound in your life and business

Why traditional gender roles and family dynamics can impact your financial mindset

The surprising ways financial stress manifests in your body and emotions

Practical techniques to rewrite your money story and create empowering new beliefs

Key insights include:

The importance of balancing giving and receiving in your business and personal life

How life transitions like divorce or empty nesting can trigger abundance wounds

Why raising your rates regularly is crucial for sustainable business growth

The power of gratitude in attracting more financial abundance

I also introduce you to the transformative practice of light language - a multidimensional form of communication that can help clear energetic blocks around money. You'll experience a brief light language transmission designed to release old abundance wounds and open you to greater prosperity.

Whether you're struggling with undercharging, overgiving, or simply feeling stuck in your financial growth, this episode offers compassionate guidance and practical strategies. Tune in to start healing your abundance wound and create a more empowering relationship with money and success!

Resources:

Gain further insight from Mikelann Valterra's episode: Harnessing Goddess Energy and Financial Empowerment for Women

Join the Soulful Women's Network here

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Namaste. What kind of money mindset do you have? Positive one that empowers women entrepreneurs to make smart decisions, set clear goals, and achieve sustainable growth. I hope so. However, if money isn't quite flowing into your business or your life the way you'd like, it may be due to an abundance wound. So today we're going to be examining the stories that can block financial success and help you heal that abundance wound. And we're going to be talking about what it looks like. So in case you think you don't have it, you may start to think otherwise. Possibly. I hope not. But first, as always, I want to welcome you to Live Love Engage, especially if this is your first time. Joining us, I am Gloria Grace, founder of Align to Shine Academy, and I empower women over 50 to overcome life's challenges so they can embrace who they are, lead boldly, and shine their light in the world.

So what the heck is an abundance wound anyway? Well, it is a deep seated belief that you're not worthy of financial abundance. And it's really rooted in this belief that there's not enough or even more fundamentally, that I'm not enough. And I can relate to this one because I definitely, I definitely have had that come up in my life. I mean it definitely when I started, first started my business way back in 2009 and, and I wrote about this in my book Live Love Engage, that I discovered that I had a lot of like, limiting beliefs around money and, and in researching and you know, getting ready for this episode, also just sort of reminding myself of how that showed up for me.

So let's talk about that a little bit. So it can be financially, of course it can show up with patterns like compulsive spending or on the other side, excessive saving, maybe a fear of investing, you know, getting into the stock market, or it's that constant sense of financial instability even when that's not how your life actually is or maybe circumstances have improved. Maybe it was that way at one time, but not anymore. And there can also be some, emotionally, it can show up as feelings of shame or guilt or fear around money and abundance and it's often triggered by early experiences or family attitudes. And again, I'll, I'll say for, from my experience growing up that my mom definitely had, was, was always feeling like we didn't have enough and she would rely on her mom to be able to help her out, to help our family out financially. And even though both my mom and dad worked and, and they did, and, and this is even in the 70s and then not many, not as many women were in the workforce. So, you know, they were working full time. And. And as my beloved sister, who's not with us anymore, used to. Used to needle me about. Is that you were. You were spoiled. Glor. I was like. And I realize now that, well, in a lot of ways, I mean, I did have some traumatic things in my childhood, but overall, I had dance lessons. In fact, my mom quit smoking to help pay for my dance lessons. I was in Girl Scouts. I had guitar lessons, I had organ lessons. So, you know, and then later on, my mom bought tickets to Broadway shows. We. We would have, you know, those, Those plans where you get, you know, what is the word? I can't think of it like packet and whatever. A package of shows that we would go to. So we were middle class for sure. We weren't. I mean, yes, during the. There was a recession in the 70s where we were eating a lot of Hamburger Helper, which I did not like, and we had to keep the thermostat turn down low in the winter. I grew up in Michigan because it was expensive to run the furnace, so we would have to, you know, layer up on clothes and put. We had. Luckily we had in. In one room of our house, we had a fireplace, so we would, you know, put a log in the fire and stay warm that way. But it's still. There was a lot of this stuff that showed up.

And so in particular for. For women, let's say over 50, that a lot of times we might have internalized, you know, traditional gender roles, and that leads to. Can lead to guilt or hesitation around prioritizing their own ambitions, you know, whether it is working or. Or starting a business or, you know, spending family resources on their business, even if they're financially secure. And they may also have to grieve the lack of support from previous generations, and they're consciously going out and trying to choose new supportive communities. Now. Younger women, and I know sometimes we do have some younger women listening to this podcast, you may find that that abundance wound manifests as guilt over investing time and money in your business at the perceived expense of family needs. Or you might just, you know, again, as we get older, we do tend to be a little bit more financially secure. But when you're younger, you know, you're trying to pay for a house, you're trying to raise kids, you know, there's not as much necessarily disposable income, so you may tend to overwork in your business or, or again, you're not feeling worthy and you might suffer from imposter syndrome. So there's a lot, there's a lot that can happen here that can really, you know, bring up these issues around money where, where we don't feel like we have enough.

And, and a lot of too is, you know, there's a lot of common money stories that especially. And again, I think I'm hoping. I know, I tried with my kids, I think, not to repeat these stories, hopefully, and they're doing pretty well. So I think, I think we're okay. But I know for, let's say, baby boomers in particular, and maybe Gen X possibly, I forget which generation came after, I guess Gen X. But you might have heard things like money doesn't grow on trees or you got to work hard for every penny. In fact, there's a lovely, you know, there was the old Huey Lewis and the new song. You know, you work hard for the money. So hard for the money. You know, we hear these things. It comes through. Oh, and in fact, even I'm thinking about it, it's not even from. We hear money stories in our culture. It's not even just even in our family, but you'll hear story, you know, songs, TV shows, you know, all kinds of stuff. Now, I know that I think a lot of people who listen to this podcast or watch it on YouTube are also probably spiritual, Spiritual entrepreneurs. And so there's a lot of. There's some limiting beliefs around that too. You know, stories like spiritual people shouldn't care about money where it's not spiritual to make a lot of money. And that's why a lot of spiritual entrepreneurs struggle, frankly, because they, they want to be able to just give their services away and not be compensated enough, you know, or. Or it's selfish to want more when others have less. That. That goes along also with that spiritual thinking or even for older, you know, folks, I'm, I'm. I'm too old to start over financially. Get that one out right now. You're never too old to start over. Oh, my gosh, that's ridiculous.

But anyway, I want to mention right now that I would encourage you to go back and whether you're watching this on YouTube, go back and check previous episodes,...

Imagine if you were to experience true liberation from living behind a mask, so that you were finally able to speak your truth and fully embrace who you are. How would you feel? 

Show Notes | Transcript

"The armor in which you continue to place on your own being becomes that much more stifling to the true essence that we were brought into this earth of perfection in our imperfection." - Michelle Bishop

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Michelle Bishop, a certified life coach and author of "Choose You First," to explore the transformative power of self-love and authenticity. Michelle shares her inspiring journey from silent struggles to empowering others, reminding us that our stories - even the messy parts - can be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

Discover how to:

How to break free from self-doubt and reclaim your life after adversity

The importance of embracing your authentic self and shedding limiting beliefs

Why choosing yourself first is crucial for personal growth and healthy relationships

Practical strategies for building inner resilience and creating a life filled with joy and purpose

Key insights include:

The impact of childhood experiences on our ability to speak up and express ourselves

How vulnerability and authenticity can lead to deeper, more fulfilling relationships

The difference between self-care and true self-love

Why small, attainable goals are essential for lasting personal transformation

Michelle also shares her personal story of overcoming grief, rediscovering her identity, and achieving remarkable physical and emotional healing. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that it's never too late to choose yourself and create the life you desire.

Whether you're struggling with self-doubt, seeking to build stronger relationships, or simply looking to live more authentically, this conversation offers valuable insights and practical strategies to help you embrace your true self and thrive. Tune in to start your journey towards self-love and personal empowerment!

Connect with Michelle

Website: Bishoplife.com

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network here

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Gloria Grace Rand

Namaste. Are you ready to meet someone who transformed her silent struggles into a powerful mission of inspiring others? Well, I hope so, because I am about to dive into a heart to heart conversation about breaking free from self doubt and finding the courage to share your truth. And I believe it's a journey that's going to remind you that your story, even the messy parts, could be exactly what someone else needs to hear. But first, I do want to welcome you to live Love Engage. Especially if this is your first time finding us and listening or watching, if you happen to be watching on YouTube. I am Gloria Grace, the founder of Align to Shine Academy and I work with spiritually minded women entrepreneurs to break free from self doubt and step into their highest potential. And that's why I really love our guests today because we are so aligned. Her name is Michelle Bishop and she is a certified life coach and author of the book choose you first. And she helps women reclaim their lives after adversity by embracing self love and building inner resilience. Again, two of my favorite subjects. And through coaching, workshops and speaking, Michelle empowers clients to shed limiting beliefs, strengthen self worth and create lives filled with joy and purpose. And I swear we must have the same website. I, I swear it, it is cracking me up so much because we're just like simpatico here. So I want to welcome you officially, Michelle, to Live Love Engage.

Michelle Bishop

Thank you, Grace, I really appreciate it.

Gloria Grace Rand

Oh well, I, I, I just love that you are on this mission to help women love themselves. And I, I know why it's important to me. But I'd love for you to share with our audience what, why is it important to you?

Michelle Bishop

What I have finally come to the understanding is that no one can feel your love but yourself. And people ask me, you know, why now? And I was like, well, it took almost 59 years to get here and a lot of life experience and through adversities, recognizing that no one can truly complete you unless you're complete yourself within.

Gloria Grace Rand

I can relate to that so much through personal experience as well. So, so tell us a little bit about your journey because I know part of it was, was you, you are not able, you weren't able to like speak up. I think for yourself as part, part of that. And so, so how did you wind up sort of reclaiming your life?

Michelle Bishop

When you say unable to speak up, that's accurate. The title of my book is choose you first. As adults, we have the opportunity to choose the decisions and our actions throughout life. But as a child, you have truly no choice. And so when you live in adversity abuse, you learn that as being your normal as opposed to when you might be wanting to speak out, then you're actually pushed down even further into that traps of emotional, possibly mental as well as physical abuse. And, and so you always lean towards taking the least path of resistance so you stay quiet in it. And it becomes a life pattern in so much that you do. And it often creates continued layers of mask that occur throughout the stages of, you know, infancy to even toddler to young, child to child to teenage to young adults, and then, you know, raising children, business. And as those masks continue and you do not speak up, you're thinking everybody, you're, you're doing for everyone else. But in turn the armor in which you continue to place on your own being becomes that much more stifling to the true essence that we were brought into this earth of perfection in our imperfection.

Gloria Grace Rand

Oh yeah, yeah, I, I definitely, like I said I could, I can relate to that as well because for me growing up it, I really kind of quickly learned it was better to just, you know, try to be not exactly invisible, but to just, you know, kind of like, okay, I want to make sure that I don't provoke, you know, my mom in particular and, and so let me just kind of, you know, try to be quiet and, and that, and not speak up. And yet I do know, and I might ask you, ask you about this if you found this, is that when I was away from my family, I was able to be much more of myself and could. And even in school I found myself in opportunities where I did speak up. Not all the time because I also got bullied in middle school, as I think a lot of people do, but I think especially in high school as I'm getting older. So did you find that, could you find it a little bit easier maybe outside of the family dynamic sometime to be able to speak up a little bit more?

Michelle Bishop

That's a great question. And I was I guess born very, very filled with love and with a sweet soul and kind. And so in that I really chose not to make a lot of waves. So if that was, I went to a very small private school went which was a great experience because it was a safe environment. But those days are very different back then than they are now. So even back then, if there was any type of questioning, it didn't occur because you didn't speak about it. But I really internalized my own self being by creating my own world of wonderment. I, I enjoyed times that were Quiet that I was in nature, or I would see a flower even. I don't know if you remember those. I think they call them dandelions. Like, you blow those. Yeah, you blow them as a child and just see all this, like, so, you know, it was more of a. Those were more my safe havens because I always felt like I was on the stage or had to act a certain way. My parents, well, my mother actually worked at the school as well, so that made it a lot more difficult.

Gloria Grace Rand

Yeah, that's true. I could. I could definitely see that. And yeah, I, I, I think my refuge was books. I was always reading. So that way, you know, wherever, you know, in school, at home, what have you.

Michelle Bishop

So isn't that interesting how we find our own little outlets?

Gloria Grace Rand

Absolutely. So what made the difference? What, what shifted for you? You finally decide to actually choose you, you yourself, first?

Michelle Bishop

Like I said, that is a long time coming. Actually, the deciding factor was ultimately when I was vulnerable, authentic and real. It was with the love of my life. I had met my husband, actually, in 1995, and we. He was in a marriage. I was getting ready to be married, and then was married and had two beautiful children. So we kind of drifted away. And then back in 2003, amazingly enough, when my mother had passed away, who was my abuser, I had run into him on one of the busiest days in our area, because it was fall and it's beautiful in the Smoky Mountains. And had. He thought I'd moved back to Florida. And we reconnected and ended up getting married. And I. Before we started our relationship, I'd said, do you want to know me? The real me, not the business person, not the. The mother, not the friend, not all these little channels I put myself in, but all of me. And he's like, absolutely. And so I was completely honest, completely vulnerable, and truly had first experienced love in its full entirety in our relationship. And then in 2019, he had a tragic accident and died. He was in a drowning accident, fell off of a yacht that. On. Off a business trip that I happened to not be with him, and drowned. And that was completely unexpected....

Do you long for a way to awaken your creativity so your content creation process happens with ease? If you're nodding your head, this episode is tailor-made for you. As a woman entrepreneur over 50, I understand the unique marketing challenges we face, especially when life throws us curveballs. Today, I'm sharing a powerful process that will help you tap into your inner wisdom and create content that aligns with your soul while attracting your ideal clients.

Show Notes | Transcript

"Getting to know and trust those inner hits, these sparks of inspiration that come through is really great because... you'll start to listen to them more and more, and you'll get more and more of them." - Gloria Grace Rand

In this episode, I open up about my personal journey through grief, separation, and the challenges of maintaining both a spiritual practice and a business during difficult times. I share how these experiences have shaped my approach to content creation, offering insights that can help you navigate your own transitions with grace and authenticity.

Discover how to:

Tap into divine downloads for inspired content ideas

Overcome common blocks like perfectionism and the need for external validation

Create content that resonates with your audience on a deeper level

Align your marketing with your soul's purpose

Key insights include:

The importance of self-forgiveness when making mistakes in business

How to recognize and respect your life experiences as valuable content material

Why embodying your message is crucial for creating magnetic content

The power of delivering your message with confidence, even when sharing messy truths

I also introduce you to the SACRED method, a unique approach I've developed to foster inspiration and connection with your higher self. This method combines practical steps with spiritual insights to help you create content that truly shines.

As a special bonus, I share a brief light language transmission designed to clear energetic blocks and strengthen your connection to your inner wisdom. This powerful sound healing modality has been instrumental in my own journey and may offer you unexpected insights and clarity.

Whether you're struggling to find your voice in your content or simply looking to deepen your connection with your audience, this episode offers compassionate guidance and practical strategies. Tune in to start tapping into your inner wisdom and create content that not only attracts your ideal clients but also aligns with the truth of who you are.

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network here

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - Awaken Your Creativity: Content Creation with Heart and Soul

Episode featuring a transformative content creation process for women entrepreneurs over 50

Introduction: When Life Challenges Impact Your Content

Namaste. If you're feeling lost, in transition, maybe unsure of your next steps and stuck for ideas when it comes to content marketing, today's episode is for you. I'm going to be sharing a process that will allow you to tap into your inner wisdom and create content that aligns with your soul and attracts who you want to work with.

Welcome to Live Love Engage, especially if you are new. I am Gloria Grace, founder of Align to Shine Academy, and I empower women over 50 and especially women entrepreneurs over 50 to overcome life's challenges so they can embrace who they are, lead boldly and shine their light in the world.

Life Transitions That Disrupt Content Creation

Common Life Changes After 50

When you reach a certain stage in life - and most of my audience is over 40 - you most likely have possibly become an empty nester or are about to become one. You may be going through relationship changes. Life happens. We get to midlife and sometimes it's losing a spouse to death, unfortunately, or a marriage breaking up.

Maybe you've lost a loved one - it doesn't have to be a spouse. It could be a really close family member, like I went through when I lost my sister a few years ago. She was the last member of my immediate family that I grew up with.

How Life Challenges Affect Business Owners

When these things happen as business owners, they can really throw a wrench in the works and cause a lot of upheaval. For instance, you may have been a very spiritual person your whole life, and now suddenly, because of this life challenge, you're not feeling so spiritual anymore.

That's what happened to me when my sister passed. I had been meditating daily for about six years, and it had really helped me through helping her with her cancer journey. But after she passed, I really felt alone and didn't feel that strong connection to my higher power, to my higher self, to God, Source, universe - however you want to call it.

A Message of Hope for Those Struggling

If you are right now going through something like that, and it may seem really challenging, and you're like "Am I ever going to feel like myself again?" - you will. You will. I'm feeling very emotional because I feel like there is somebody out there listening to this right now who is feeling that way. So I just want you to know that you'll get there.

The Importance of Getting Support

Don't Go Through Challenges Alone

Don't think you have to do this alone. For me, I went to group grief counseling sessions a couple times. I went to a counselor. I did a lot of alternative healing modalities. I was in a mastermind at the time with wonderful, supportive people who helped me. I worked with different coaches along the way.

When we're going through stuff, we get in our own little head and can't see the forest for the trees. If I'm speaking to you, pay attention - get help. You can schedule a call at engagewithgloria.com and let's chat. Either I can help you directly or I'll point you in the right direction.

When Content Creation Becomes Challenging

The Struggle with Authentic Content During Crisis

When you go through these life challenges, it can make it challenging to create content, even on a regular basis, or content that feels genuine. Sometimes we may wind up buying programs that we think are going to help us, but because we're still in the midst of this life-changing thing, we're not able to give 100% to it.

My Personal Experience with Misaligned Content

I went through this a couple years ago when I separated from my husband. I thought this was great - I'm on my own, this is what I wanted. But I had to go through some grieving of the marriage that didn't last like I intended when we set our vows 30-plus years ago.

I enrolled in a program to help me create a coaching program. I was following their recommendations, and some of the content I created got engagement, but it didn't result in sales. I didn't get any new clients. My belief now is that I wasn't fully ready and wasn't aligned with my soul.

Learning from Mistakes

I've since learned to take my time before making decisions because I'm a manifesting generator in human design. I need to sit with something before I invest. With that program, I probably saw it and thought "This is what I need" and invested right away. It didn't work so well, but I learned some good stuff.

The Importance of Self-Forgiveness

We make mistakes and it's okay. Self-forgiveness is really important. You want to give yourself some grace and know that sometimes you may make a mistake when you're in the throes of something. Just forgive yourself and try again.

Understanding Divine Downloads

What Are Divine Downloads?

There's a term I've used before called a "divine download." Essentially, it's inspiration that comes out of nowhere. If you're a regular subscriber of this podcast, you know that inspiration really comes from your higher self or God or Source - whatever your beliefs are.

My First Major Divine Download

One of the first times I had a major divine download was when the idea popped in my head while I was meditating to write a book about love. I thought that was crazy. But I do have a book now called "Live Love Engage: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Being Yourself," which includes the Love method. Love is an acronym. That's an example of a divine download.

How Divine Downloads Show Up

It's that sudden inspiration that comes to you. It can also be that idea that pops in your head while you're in the shower or doing dishes. It doesn't have to be during meditation. Guidance can show up in conversations with people - maybe there's a recurring theme that comes up.

A Recent Example of Divine Guidance

A couple weeks back, I was reading a book by an old client of mine, Vicki Kennedy. It's called "It's Never Personal" - I highly recommend it. She's a psychologist who weaves in spirituality, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

As I was reading this book, I suddenly got this thought that when I wrote about the love method in my book, there was something before that needed to be talked about that I didn't do. The L in the love method stands for "let go and let God," including letting go of limiting beliefs. I realized it might be helpful if, before you delve into the love method, you figure out what your limiting beliefs are.

Following the Divine Guidance

Two days ago, I went to an event where a wonderful coach led us through a meditation where we reflected on our life ending. What came up for me was that before I leave this planet, I need to work on this new idea. Yesterday I spent about a half hour starting to write about it.

Then this morning, as I was recording this (it's a Wednesday and normally I record a ten-minute Wisdom Wednesday),...