Ever feel like your inner voice got buried under the roles you play—mother, partner, career woman—and somehow lost its way?

Hello and welcome back to the Empowered and Unapologetic podcast! I’m your host, Veronica Cisneros, LMFT, and today, we’re diving into the world of finding your voice. Joining me is the amazing Amy Green Smith, a certified life coach and hypnotherapist who’s mastered the art of blending irreverence, wisdom, and humor. Amy has dedicated her career to helping people step into their power and embrace their true selves, and today, she’s sharing her journey to discovering her voice.

Growing up in a strict, religious household, Amy had always been the “good girl,” following all the rules and doing everything “right.” But as she ventured into adulthood, she felt the need to step away from her family’s expectations and find her own path. This journey became especially poignant after her father’s passing, when she was confronted by her mother, who felt that she and her siblings had disappointed their family by not following the faith.

“I realized I was at a precipice: Make someone else happy or choose my own happiness. And that day, I chose me.” – Amy Green Smith

This moment marked a turning point for Amy—a realization that her voice mattered, even if it ruffled some feathers.

Finding your voice isn’t easy. It’s a journey filled with self-doubt, fear, and sometimes, opposition. Amy and I joked about the struggle of “staying strong” in your beliefs while dealing with the discomfort that comes with asserting yourself.

Amy reminded me—and all of us—that finding your voice means embracing discomfort. It’s about learning to sit with the pain of standing up for yourself, even if it means going against what others want or expect. For her, the journey included setting boundaries, sometimes clumsily, with her mother. It was messy and often painful, but it was a necessary step toward living authentically.