By Emily Williams
The podcast currently has 237 episodes available.
Do you ever find yourself caught in a cycle of overwork, having to choose between self-care and being of service to your clients and community, and constantly feeling as if you’re on the edge of burnout? Maybe you’ve even been receiving physical and mental health reminders lately telling you to slow down, but every time you think about taking a break, you’re wracked with guilt and worry?
Being a busy and booked woman in business (or climbing the career ladder) is no easy feat. Whilst we work hard to increase both our income and our impact, many of us have a tendency to overdo it on the giving scale—to always be hustling towards the next shiny thing, pursuing new projects, or creating something new without pausing for breath. We worry that if we take a much-needed break, we’ll lose the momentum we’ve been working so hard towards building… that our stats will flounder and that the world will forget about us. So instead of listening to our intuition and taking a step back, we tend to keep piling things on our plate until they topple over.
But here’s the thing… if your energy stores are depleted, it’s your responsibility (and yours alone) to replenish them. Not only does this serve you, but also the people you love, and the people relying on you at work. So whatever it is that you need—creativity, drive, motivation, or that elusive spark that steered you in the direction of starting a business in the first place—taking a step back might be just what you need to encourage it to come out of hiding.
And because we like to lead by example, we’re taking a break, too! As you might know, 2021 has been a transformative year for us here at I Heart My Life. If you’ve been following along with our rebrand, you’ll know that we’ve been busy setting the foundations for massive growth behind the scenes. That’s why we’ve decided to press pause on new podcast episodes for a while, and allow ourselves the space to soak up new inspiration—so that we can come back better than ever, and with lots of surprises up our sleeves.
In this episode of the I Heart My Life Show (our last one for a while!), Emily shares the lessons she’s learned about content, creativity, and balancing being of service to both yourself and to others. If you’re busy juggling work, business, family, and all the other responsibilities that keep piling up on your plate, consider this a loving reminder that it’s okay to step back and take a breather, too. Trust us, your big mission (or your community) is not going anywhere.
And don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere either. There are over 230 episodes in our archives for you to dive into while we’re on hiatus, so you can listen and learn whenever you like. We’ll see you soon!
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“I believe a pivot is about letting things go and really deciding what you're going to put your attention and focus on in order to get the results that you want.” - Emily Williams
“Hindsight is 20/20. Of course, hard work is one of the things that got me where I am today. But at this stage in the game, I started to see that it was time for me to take a break. It was time for me to figure out a different way of living and being, without being so obsessed with being involved in every element of my company, without feeling like I needed to fill all of my space and time with another project, without continuing to pile things on my plate.” - Emily Williams
“I'm very focused on my mission and I know what I want to accomplish. This work is so important to me. And so the question for me became: ‘What is it that I want to give my attention to in order to carve out more space?’ Because I do believe that we can have it all, but I don't believe we can have it all at the exact same time.” - Emily Williams
“First and foremost, figure out what this chapter is about for you. What season are you actually in, in your business?” - Emily Williams
“If you are building a business or starting a new career right now, keep moving forward. When a plane takes off, that’s when it uses the majority of its fuel. That’s where you are right now—so maybe this period you're in is about hustle and about showing up. But that doesn't mean that you don't take care of yourself while you're going through that.” - Emily Williams
“It took me a long time to realize that we don't actually have to do everything at once—and that when we do that, we have a tendency to dilute everything that we're doing. So instead of picking one thing and doing it really well, we're giving a certain percentage of our energy to a bunch of little things.” - Emily Williams
“Relief is one of those underestimated emotions. If you feel relief when you take something off your plate, it’s telling you that you weren’t in alignment.” - Emily Williams
“What if we got better at repurposing? What if we got better at making sure that as many eyes or ears got on the content as we possibly could instead of rushing onto the next? That's what sometimes happens, especially with things like podcasts or emails, we're cranking out so much content, and yet we're spending very little time, energy and resources, actually making sure that what we create gets into the hands and the eyes and the ears of people who need it.” - Emily Williams
“I can serve and I can take a break. It's possible to do both.” - Emily Williams
“Put your focus on the things that are going to move the needle, the things you're excited about, the things that drive you and fuel you, the things your community wants. And make a plan for the other stuff—no, that doesn’t mean you toss it.” - Emily Williams
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Connect with Emily:
Emily Williams Website https://emilywilliams.com/
Emily on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emilywilliams/
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips. https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
Do you thrive on tight deadlines and always leave things until the last minute? Do you struggle to switch off, and sneak away to check your inbox after hours? Or maybe you’re the kind of person who’s never found without a project, even when you’re on vacation?
Millennials have long been dubbed the ‘burnout generation’. We’re conditioned to keep hustling, chasing goal after goal, and rushing from one project to the next without pausing to rest and recover. Whether we’re working for ourselves or climbing the career ladder, we’ve got massive to-do lists, and even bigger missions—and ramping down our efforts always feels like a risk we would rather not take.
Just like a strong cup of coffee, goals and deadlines give us a burst of motivation right when we need it most. But what happens when we start to rely on them to get anything done, and stress becomes our default setting? As it turns out, we can become seriously addicted to it—and feel the repercussions across every area of our lives.
The American Institute of Stress reports that three quarters of us experience stress that affects our physical health, and half of us have trouble sleeping. All this goes to show that our overwork and overwhelm cycles are a symptom of something bigger—and that managing our stress hormone levels is the key to leading a healthier, happier, and calmer life.
In this episode of the I Heart My Life Show, our founder Emily Williams sits down with author, speaker, sleep coach, and longtime friend Devin Burke. Once a busy, booked, and burned out personal trainer, Devin has firsthand experience of how stress hormone addiction can show up and wreak havoc in all spheres of life—from sacrificing family time to never feeling fully satisfied with any of your achievements.
Years of healing work later, he has successfully shifted into a more relaxed state of being and restored both his joy and his health—and now, he helps hundreds of clients all around the world to do the same. His life philosophy? Experience more freedom and suffer less, each and every day.
If you’ve always wondered why you find it so difficult to ramp down and unwind, and know that you’re subconsciously seeking out some of the challenges you’re facing, be sure to listen until the end to find out the daily rituals and practices that Devin stands by so you can take the first steps to shifting from stressed out to fully rested.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“When we don't sleep, that throws off all our hormones, our cortisol levels get out of whack and this vicious cycle goes on and on because now we're looking for coffee, which then is like dumping gasoline on an already hot fire.” - Devin Burke
“Stress is a source of fuel just like anything else—like coffee, like adrenaline. It’s something that gives us energy, and we can get addicted and rely on things that give us energy and help narrow our focus. So stress becomes a tool that people continue to use to narrow their focus and to get things done. But when you don’t shift back to that parasympathetic automatic rest response, that’s when we burn out.” - Devin Burke
“A lot of people think that unless they're stressed, they're not working hard enough. They're not getting enough done. They're not going to be successful. I've often had this sphere around, well, if I do things in a calm manner, or if I move through my life peacefully, is that really true drive? Am I actually going to achieve what I want to achieve? And so there's this shift that needs to happen. And I'll put my hand up for this as well, where we see that there's a different way and there's a better way. And we start to convince ourselves that it's actually the opposite in that we'll get more done and we'll achieve more if we don't rely on the stress hormone.” - Emily Williams
“I had this feeling that I always had to be doing something. If I wasn't doing something, I was behind. And I realized that I was trying to match my map of the world, to the map in my mind. And when there's a mismismatch of these maps, it creates stress. And so for me, I was like, well, I can try to change the world, which is a noble thing, but it creates a lot of stress. But I can also change my idea of the map.” - Devin Burke
“Having a consistent mindfulness practice has changed my life. Meditation allows you to create space in your mind. It allows you to see the craziness that happens in our mind and gain perspective. It allows you to stay relaxed and accomplish things.” - Devin Burke
“Breaking a pattern of physical addiction is hard and it's painful and it's scary because it's unknown territory. Your body might go: ‘no, I need this, this is how I've been able to achieve, this is how I operate, and this is how I'm able to do what I do.’ Those are all stories that I think need to be deconstructed.” - Devin Burke
“My goal is to experience more freedom and less suffering every day.” - Devin Burke
“Most of us are not trying things that we know will work or that we've heard will work because we're scared. And anytime we operate from a place of fear, that's not true freedom, that's not true joy.” - Emily Williams
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Connect with Devin:
Visit His Website https://www.devinburke.com/
Devin on Instagram www.instagram.com/devinburkewellness
Listen back to our first episode with Devin (episode 19), all about taking control of your health and creating high-performance habits and routines. https://www.iheartmylife.com/2018/04/how-you-can-easily-create-high-performance-health-habits/
Connect with IHML:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips. https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter
Connect with Emily:
Emily’s Website www.emilywilliams.com
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
We all desire and deserve to have beautiful photographs of ourselves: to share with our friends and loved ones, to feel good in our own skin, and—if we’re pursuing our passions in the online business space—to visually represent our grand vision and put it out there for the world to see.
And yet, few of us feel fully at ease in front of the camera. We stress about our clothes and our smiles, worry about where to put our hands, and convince ourselves that we’re “bad at photos” (looking back on unflattering school photos as evidence). These stories stick with us for years—but a single session with your soulmate professional photographer can change that narrative forever.
In this episode of the I Heart My Life Show, our founder Emily Williams sits down with world-travelling personal branding photographer Wendy Yalom. Wendy’s work has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and the New York Times—but perhaps the most remarkable thing about her is her magnetic energy, which makes everyone she meets want to work with her, and see themselves through her lens. One of Wendy’s most fundamental beliefs is that every woman she photographs is gorgeous, and she considers it her personal mission to help her clients see themselves as such.
Wendy has been traveling the world and photographing some of the world’s most transformative coaches for almost a decade, and most recently teamed up with Emily at the stunning Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia ahead of the launch of the all-new Emily Williams brand. It’s safe to say her work holds a special place in our hearts here at IHML!
In today’s episode, you’ll get to soak up Wendy’s wisdom around the evolution of brand photography and how to feel confident in front of the camera—PLUS get a behind-the-scenes look at the glamorous EW photoshoot, with insights from both Emily and Wendy on how it all played out. Be sure to take a look at the Emily Williams website as you listen to this episode to see how the vision for the shoot came to life!
Trust us, there’s a lot more to beautiful imagery than meets the eye! From scouting locations to prepping and pairing outfits, it can be a stressful and nerve-wracking process. But hiring the right person will make sure your mind is at ease, and your essence is captured. What we love most about Wendy is how much thought she puts into every minute detail of the process—so that each of her clients feels totally taken care of on the day of the shoot. Once all the details are ironed out, what matters most to her is the message your photos convey—and that you feel as good as you’d like to look.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your personal brand with some new imagery, or you’d like to get into the photography business yourself, you’ll pick up invaluable pointers from Wendy—so you can ace your next shoot.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“For me, there are two things that are fundamentally important. The first is that I’m collaborating with the person on their vision for their brand. So I’m not creating a cookie-cutter version. I could have six different women say they want elegant, beautiful, sophisticated shots, and each one would have a totally different interpretation of what that is. So it’s about getting inside their imagination. And the second piece is about creating a space where the day itself makes them feel that they are so taken care of.” - Wendy Yalom
“We have all these beliefs about how we think we should look in photos in order for them to be good. Few of us actually look like that version of ourselves. And it’s an ever-changing thing. There have been times when I’ve hated the way I looked in photos, and looked back years later thinking I looked amazing. Like, what world was I living in? I love that woman.” - Wendy Yalom
“Am I doing this right? Should I be doing this? Are my hands in the right position? Is my smile too big? Is it not big enough? We all have a story we tell ourselves that gets in the way of us having photos we love.” - Wendy Yalom
“When it comes to location and clothing, it needs to have you feeling psyched about life. However you’re feeling in this space, however you’re feeling in your outfit, is going to get translated.” - Wendy Yalom
“Be bold, and be you. If being you means Chanel bags and Louboutins in Paris, great. If being you means a great pair of jeans and a t-shirt on your couch with your cat, great. Whichever it is, do it fully.” - Wendy Yalom
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Connect with Wendy:
Visit Her Website https://wendykyalom.com/
Wendy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wendykyalom
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips. https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter
Episode Sponsor: I Heart Branding
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
I’ve always believed that the greatest pain can lead to the greatest growth—if only we allow ourselves to move through the process of healing, make space for rituals that ground us, and listen to the inner voice that’s always looking out for us in times of need.
There’s a commonly shared, pinned and quoted phrase that says: 99% of the things you worry about don’t happen. And yet, there are times in life when your worst worries—the ones you couldn’t even bring yourself to imagine, let alone plan for—do come true, and we’re left scrambling to pick up the pieces.
Whether it’s a devastating diagnosis or the loss of a loved one, these traumatic events uproot our foundations and irreversibly alter the course of our life. We can never change what has transpired, turn back time, or replace what’s been taken away from us. But no matter how colossal the loss may be, we can choose to let go and move forward—allowing the rest of our life to unfold.
While every grief journey is as unique as the individual walking it, there’s a certain solace and comfort to be found in knowing that we are never alone in our suffering. There is always somebody out there going through a similar experience who is willing to listen to our story, understand our pain, and share valuable lessons from their own journey. That’s why I’m so honored to share this episode with you today—and oh boy, it’s a powerful one.
My guest Kelsey Chittick is an author, comedian and speaker. At the age of 40, she was forced to face one of life’s greatest fears when the love of her life passed away suddenly of a heart attack. Kelsey’s late husband Nate was a longtime NFL player, Super Bowl champion, father of two, and a well-loved figure in his local community. His death touched many lives, but none as much as Kelsey and her two beautiful children. Together, they embarked on an incredibly inspiring journey of hope, healing, and, as Kelsey describes it, finding magic in the missing. In her experience, learning to let go was the catalyst she needed to start living the second half of her life with greater peace, grace, and gratitude.
I was incredibly moved by Kelsey’s story, and I know that her words will resonate deeply with any of you who have experienced a similar loss. By the time you’re listening, Kelsey’s memoir, Second Half, will have hit the shelves—and I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy and gather more of her insights on life, love, and loss. I, for one, cannot wait to see how the second half of her life unfolds.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“Football players always say: ‘don't worry about what happens at halftime. We've got the second half.’ And so, early on, I was like, I gotta crush the second half because if not, I'm just going to end up devastated.” - Kelsey Chittick
“I meditate probably an hour a day, which I know people are like, ‘how can you do it with kids?’ Well, it's the same way you can do anything. It just has to be something you can't live without.” - Kelsey Chittick
“Meditation has changed the way I walk through the world.” - Kelsey Chittick
“The more busy we are, the more we have to sit and slow down, because then we can tap into this moment and we can make decisions in the now, as opposed to something that happened in the past, or something we're afraid of, or something we're dreading.” - Kelsey Chittick
“I'm done being afraid. I'm done. I just don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to think about what could happen. I don't want to be spending my days hedging my bets. People always say that 99% of the things you worry about don't happen. All of mine did.” - Kelsey Chittick
“I'm here to tell you that you'll be okay if somebody dies. It won’t be fun, it’s not enjoyable, and it’s hell on earth—but you will be okay because death isn't the end.” - Kelsey Chittick
“I was so sad. He was dead. I felt bad for him. This man who loved life and loved our kids and loved everything about life—he died. And I was obsessed with the fact that he didn't get to do what he wanted to do. Over time, through a lot of therapy, I realized: that dude's right where he needs to be. And little by little, I realized the greatest gift I could give him if I really was trying to help him, was to let it go.” - Kelsey Chittick
“We can tell what we're putting out into the world based on how the words make us feel.” - Kelsey Chittick
“There are ways to get through hard times. It does get better. Everything changes. And if someone dies, you don't have to lose them. You can re-engage with them in a different way.” - Kelsey Chittick
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Connect with Kelsey:
Kelsey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kelseydchittick/?hl=en
Order Kelsey’s book, ‘Second Half’ on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Second-Half-Surviving-Finding-Missing-ebook/dp/B09DB3Z4N2
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips. https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter
Episode Sponsor: I Heart My Life Signature Course
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
What does it look like to fully say yes to your life? We all hold different definitions of success, but happiness is one common denominator for the way we measure fulfillment. But what does it look like to be truly happy? Do we have to move beyond the traumas and tragedies of our past, or wait until the positives outweigh the negatives—or is it as simple as deciding to love and accept the present iteration of ourselves, and choosing happiness from here on out?
These may be big, lofty questions, but it’s vital that we consider them as we embark on the process of creating a life that’s better than our dreams. Today on the I Heart My Life Show, I’m joined by Dr. James Rouse, naturopathic doctor, entrepreneur, activist, leader, and athlete. From Fortune 50 boardrooms to broadcast media, Dr. James has served and inspired seasoned billionaires, world-class athletes, and budding entrepreneurs—helping them to cultivate a culture of high-performance, and realize their full potential. If there’s anyone who knows the answer to any question around happiness, it’s him.
Dr. James has been such a bright light in my life for many years now. Believe it or not, he was actually the first-ever guest here on IHML all the way back in 2018! It feels like such a full-circle moment to have him back here today following the rebrand and reinvention of my companies. I can honestly say that Dr. James opened my eyes to the importance of falling in love with myself and with my life on a whole new level—and I know that listening to this episode will support many of you in doing the same.
Today, I’m getting Dr. James to spill all of his secrets around joy, happiness, healing past trauma, and how he manages to maintain his contagious positivity and radiate love and compassion wherever he goes. I was especially inspired by his insight that we are all born to be vessels of hope. I’ve always believed that every single person in this world has the capacity to make a positive impact on the lives of others—but I’ve never heard this idea described in relation to hope. According to Dr. James, by being a beacon of hope and allowing ourselves to radiate radical love and acceptance, we can increase our sphere of influence and make our message magnetic.
Be sure to stick around until the end to hear about Dr. James’ “museum of hope” morning practice. It might be the most intensive morning ritual I’ve ever encountered—and he hasn’t missed a day in over 30 years! I’m almost fully convinced that he is superhuman, and after listening to this episode, you will be too!
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“Right now, the world is so much more comfortable with looking away and creating separation. I believe the Universe, God, the light, the highest power is saying, ‘how dare you do something that's so easy. I have given you everything that you need to know to be daring enough to love everyone.’ Can you imagine if we did that instead? Does that mean we have to agree? Does that mean you have to align on values? It means nothing about that. Love doesn't do that. That's what our intellect does. “ - Dr. James Rouse
“Growth doesn’t happen in hate. Growth doesn’t happen in separation. Growth happens with integration. Growth happens when we're opening our heart, and exposing those deep and vulnerable spaces of ourselves.” - Dr. James Rouse
“The highest job description of every human being today is to understand that our locus of control is the center of love. And if we only put our focus there, our business will flourish. Our relationships will flourish. Our ability to have peace and grace in our life will flourish in such a way that you really look like you're the person that people go: ‘I don't know what she's doing. I don't know what she, how she does it. All I know is I want to be around that field of energy.’ So you're not doing any selling. You're not doing any marketing. All you're doing is being.” - Dr. James Rouse
“Willingness is such a different level of energy compared to willpower. Willingness is when you let your soul speak for you, when you let your heart dictate what it is that you say yes to.” - Dr. James Rouse
“Entrepreneurs by definition are risk-takers. That's what we do, but we don't always do it with a level of absoluteness. We say to ourselves, ‘What if I do it this time, because the money is good. What if I do it this one time, because it's a great opportunity, even though I'm not totally connected to it at the soul level. Well, you know what? That is an insidious decline of integrity just waiting to happen.” - Dr. James Rouse
“Distinction doesn't come easily—it comes naturally. But we have to get in alignment with the natural laws of the Universe.” - Dr. James Rouse
“We all want to have joy. We want to have success. We want to have peace. We want to have great relationships. But are we willing to do the deepest work of our lives before anyone lays eyes on us?” - Dr. James Rouse
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Want to hear more of Dr. James’ wisdom?
Listen to Episode 51 of IHML where he talks about how most of us are leading with our head instead of our heart. https://www.iheartmylife.com/2019/11/stop-thinking-your-life/
Or grab a copy of the ‘I Heart My Life’ book by Emily Williams, featuring an exclusive interview with Dr. James Rouse.
Connect with Dr. James Rouse:
Visit His Website https://www.drjamesrouse.com/
James on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drjamesrouse/?hl=en
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips. https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter
Episode Sponsor: I Heart My Life Signature Course
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
Have you been considering a business or career pivot lately, or thinking about quitting your current role and starting a new chapter? Maybe you’re busy weighing up your options because the path you’re currently walking no longer feels fully aligned with your long-term vision? Are you secretly afraid of what will happen when you admit to changing your mind?
So many of us harbor hidden fears, doubts, and insecurities around changing directions in life. Not only do we worry about the practical fallout of our decisions (will we jeopardize our income or lose time figuring out what comes next?) but we also project how other people might respond to our sudden change of heart. It’s perfectly natural to crave validation and acceptance, not just from our loved ones, but from our wider communities. But putting your dreams on hold in order to avoid judgment is not what we’re about here at I Heart My Life.
I’ll be the first to admit that prior to pivoting the IHML brand, I had so many preconceived ideas of what people would think. I worried about the reaction I would get from my team, my clients, and our wider community. I was also anxious that after all this work and effort, my vision wouldn’t work out—and I would find myself going back to the drawing board in a very public way. But at this stage, being in alignment with my vision was a non-negotiable—so instead of dwelling on my fears, I decided to follow my heart, step into the spotlight, and do it anyway.
Lovely, I’m so glad I did. I truly couldn’t have anticipated the outpouring of love I’ve received from our community these past few weeks as I’ve shared the story behind our rebrand. It goes to show that by being vulnerable and letting people into our world, we can unlock a whole new level of connection. I’ve always believed that we learn and grow by listening to other people’s stories—and I couldn’t be more grateful that my story interested and inspired so many of you to pursue your own prosperous pivots.
In this episode, I’m giving you an insight into all of the lessons I’ve learned over the last few weeks as we have unveiled our rebrand and launched the Emily Williams brand. If you haven’t yet listened to our two-part Rebrand Reveal series here on the podcast, I highly recommend that you check those episodes out first (Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here), so that you can get an insider look at the highs and lows (and there were plenty!) of my most transformational year in business to date—which led to my decision to reposition and revitalize IHML in the first place.
I hope it gives you the permission slip you need to listen to your heart, face your fears, and share your story openly and vulnerably—because you never know how many lives you could positively impact in doing so. And if things don’t feel aligned for you right now, don’t be afraid to make a change, Lovely. Everything you want is available for you. You just have to have that leap of faith and be brave.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“Check in with yourself and ask: is there anything that you need to give yourself credit for today? Is there anything that you've done, or a way in which you've shown up, that is really impactful and is something to be commended? We can't wait until other people celebrate us. We have to give celebration to ourselves and give ourselves a pat on the back.” - Emily Williams
“If you are somebody who has an audience or you want to have an impact in the world, I want to give you a permission slip to be vulnerable and to be real with your community. People are so grateful when you share real life, not just the highlight reel.” - Emily Williams
“So often we hang on to things that are no longer aligned. I'm definitely somebody who wants to be there to finish something. I want to be there at the finish line. I want to make sure that I'm true to my word. I want to follow through. I don't want to just start a bunch of things and not actually complete them. But sometimes, it's actually braver to pivot, or to cancel something, or to not move forward with something.” - Emily Williams
“We really have to ask ourselves on a regular basis: am I operating from a place of desire, am I operating from a place of alignment, or am I just staying the course because I feel like I should?” - Emily Williams
“You're going to be able to sell so much better if you are actually in alignment with what it is that you're putting out there, because sales is just an expression of belief. So you have to believe in what it is that you were putting out into the world.” - Emily Williams
“I believe there's always enough money. I believe there's always an opportunity. There's always an answer. There's always a solution to every single problem. We just need to look for it. And if our eyes are focused on lack, that's what we're going to see. If we're focused on abundance, that's what we're going to see.” - Emily Williams
“If this is the permission slip you need to do things differently and to get into alignment, please do so. Don't be afraid. Everything you want is available for you. You just have to have that leap of faith and be brave.” - Emily Williams
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
In case you missed it:
Listen to Part 1 of the Rebrand Reveal Series https://www.iheartmylife.com/2021/08/i-knew-i-was-building-the-wrong-business-part-1-of-our-rebrand-reveal/
Listen to Part 2 of the Rebrand Reveal Series https://www.iheartmylife.com/2021/08/what-it-means-to-prosperously-pivot-part-2-of-our-rebrand-reveal/
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
Emily Williams Website https://emilywilliams.com/
Get the Emily Williams Newsletter: https://emilywilliams.com/newsletter
Emily Williams on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emilywilliams
Emily Williams on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/emilywilliamsmoney
Emily Williams on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamemilywilliams/
https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips.
Email: [email protected]
Book a Call
Episode Sponsor: I Heart My Life Signature Course
For some, hitting rock bottom marks the end of their dreams. For others, it is the springboard they need to mark a new beginning.
We all face obstacles and setbacks in life. Some of them are easily shaken, while others shake us straight to our core. But even when all seems lost, we have a choice to make: either own up to our mistakes and learn the lessons life has in store for us, or ignore all the signs, refuse to evolve, and wade deeper into trouble until we reach rock bottom.
Today’s guest on The I Heart My Life Show, Daniel Mangena, is one of those rare people who always manages to bounce back stronger and more aligned with their mission than ever before. He is a coach, speaker, best-selling author, serial entrepreneur, and all-round problem-solver who uses both his life experience and his signature Beyond Intention Paradigm to help others live an abundant, joyful, and purpose-driven life.
Growing up, Dan knew with absolute certainty that he would become a millionaire. His unshakeable self-belief led him to making his first million dollars when he was just 19 years old—but his first business ended up crumbling just as quickly as it was built. He shook it off and pressed on, but when the same thing happened again for the second time, he knew it was time to pause and reflect. There’s no denying it was a painful process. But rather than knocking him down, hitting rock bottom ended up being exactly the wake-up call he needed to transform his life—and what led him to help thousands of other people do the same.
Having recently gone through my own process of realignment with my life and my vision, I know firsthand how debilitating those low points can feel. But just like Dan, I know that when we listen to what the Universe is telling us, and decide to persevere despite all the setbacks in our way, the difficult moments end up serving not only our personal growth, but also our communities.
I have so much respect and admiration for the way Dan held his head high in the face of tremendous setbacks, and how openly and vulnerably he speaks about his experiences with depression and suicidal thoughts in this episode. I was deeply moved hearing his backstory, and I know that it will inspire you to believe in yourself unconditionally, forget what others think or say and focus on paving your own path, and push past even the most fatal-seeming obstacles in your way.
TW: This episode contains conversations about depression and suicide.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“A lot of what I practice and share with people is life experiences. I didn't pull any of it out of my hat. I didn't become a thought leader because I wanted to make more money or be famous. I was pulled to doing this because the universe showed me that one of the reasons why I'd gone through this steep learning curve was so that other people don't have to.” - Dan Mangena
“I just woke up and realized that I actually love life. I still get the onset of depression wanting to be a part of my life. I still get imposter syndrome. I still ask myself sometimes, is this all nonsense? Am I making it all up? But the cool thing is, no, it’s not. Here's the evidence. Look at what you've achieved. Look at the change that you make in people's lives. And that just reinforces me staying on track. So there was no magic moment. It kind of just folded into becoming what I do now with confidence.” - Dan Mangena
“People are running away from their own problems or, having given up on their own dreams, are wanting to keep you paying small because they didn’t play big. Are you going to let that hold you back from living your best life?” - Dan Mangena
“When nature is left to its own devices, it's always abundant. Everything moves in harmony and takes care of everything else. And it has everything that it needs. When we step into true flow, when we're living out our purpose, when we are adding, instead of trying to take away, we enter into that harmony. All of our needs are always taken care of, opportunities and resources come, and that connection shows up. Everything always clicks into place. As long as we are open to being in alignment with the flow of that naturally occurring abundance, it is ours for the taking.” - Dan Mangena
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Connect with Daniel:
Visit His Website https://dreamwithdan.com/
Daniel on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dreamerceo
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips.
Episode Sponsor:
I Heart Money Course
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
Would I have to let go of my team? Shut down our courses and programs? Wave goodbye to some of our revenue streams while I figured out what would come next?
These were just a handful of the decisions I faced after I realized that I Heart My Life (as it was) was no longer aligned with the mission and vision I’d originally set out to follow, and that the only options on the table were to pivot or to remain unfulfilled in my business.
All I knew was that the company I’d been building for eight years wasn’t working the way I wanted it to; that I was sick and tired of it not working, and that I couldn’t settle for anything that didn’t light me up for a moment longer. And although I had no idea what the solution would look like, I knew that if I just kept following the breadcrumbs, and continued doing my mindset work, I’d reach the answers I was looking for.
As a seven-figure visionary who was steering the IHML ship, I definitely felt the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders to get this rebrand right. My team, clients, and community deserved answers—and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my moments of fear, doubt, or uncertainty while I waited for clarity to come knocking on my door.
But I held the faith, and believed that clarity would come. And it did—at the most unexpected of times. As I always say to my clients, you’ve got to trust the process. Because clarity always comes—you just can't always predict when. So if you’re facing a pivot of your very own, or if your company no longer feels in alignment with your vision, know this: your clarity will come. Keep showing up, keep listening to your intuition, and keep holding faith that you’re moving in the right direction. I promise the path ahead will get clearer with every step.
If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of our Rebrand Reveal Series, hit pause right now and go listen to Episode 228 first, so that you can get an insider look at the highs and lows (and there were plenty!) of my most transformational year in business to date—which led to my decision to reposition and revitalize the IHML brand in the first place.
In this second and final part, I’m sharing the story of my dream photoshoot at the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia, and how I decided to prosperously pivot my business and launch IHML’s sister company, the Emily Williams brand. If you’re a driven business owner or corporate executive looking to massively grow your income and tune into your deepest desires through money mindset work, I invite you to join me on this new chapter.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“It was very clear that I had to move my fear to the side, go for it, and pivot the company in the direction I wanted it to go in instead of waiting for it to happen organically.” - Emily Williams
“Anyone who's made any shifts in business will know that it can be really scary to think about turning things off that are bringing in revenue. It can also be really scary to think about letting team members go if the only issue is that you don't have a space for them anymore. So the way I saw it, I had two options. I could continue promoting programs that were no longer aligned with the vision of the I Heart My Life brand, or I could go all in on the true vision of the brand.” - Emily Williams
“I was sick of being busy. I was really sick of doing thing after thing, banging my head against the wall, wondering why it wasn't working as well as I wanted it to work. And the reality was that it was because it wasn't an alignment and it wasn't supposed to work.” - Emily Williams
“One of the main things I teach our clients is that for every problem, there's an equal or greater solution—you just needed to figure it out. And I knew that I was going to figure it out. I knew that if I kept following the breadcrumbs, I would figure it out. I just had to trust the process. Clarity always comes. You just can't always predict when.” - Emily Williams
“I metaphorically drew lines in the sand, knowing that was the best thing I could do for my own clarity, as well as for my teams’. I had to show the Universe that I was serious and that I was all in. Think about that for you. Where are you at right now in terms of your decisions? Are you waffling back and forth? Is it unclear when you make a decision? What decisions do you need to make that will make it crystal clear around what it is that you actually want?” - Emily Williams
“Sometimes things change at the last minute. Sometimes clarity comes in at the final hour. And you have to learn to trust yourself enough to be like, you know what? This is so right, and I'm going to go with it, and I’m going to go all in.” - Emily Williams
“One of the amazing things about transformation (and also about being the observer of yourself) is that you start to be able to tell what's true for you.” - Emily Williams
“I gave myself permission to have my own moments of pivoting. I gave myself permission to do things a little bit differently. I gave myself permission to be true to myself.” - Emily Williams
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
Emily Williams Website https://emilywilliams.com/
Get the Emily Williams Newsletter: https://emilywilliams.com/newsletter
Emily Williams on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emilywilliams
Emily Williams on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/emilywilliamsmoney
Emily Williams on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamemilywilliams/
https://www.iheartmylife.com/newsletter Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips.
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
Book a Call http://www.iheartmylifebooking.com/
Episode Sponsor: I Heart My Life Signature Course
Is your past holding you back from living the life you deserve and desire? Although you may not always be aware of it, your present circumstances (your routine, your reality, and the people, places, and things you choose to surround yourself with) are a direct reflection of the beliefs you hold to be true about yourself. And more often than not, these limiting beliefs and behavioral patterns go way back into your past—to the core wounds that have shaped your self-image.
Each one of us has experienced losses, traumas, and disappointments. And no matter what the source or scope of our trauma may be, we all seek coping strategies that suppress negative emotions in order to shield ourselves from pain. This is a natural and necessary self-defense mechanism—but also the root of all subconscious self-sabotage. We repeat patterns passed on by our primary caregivers until they become our default setting—and as time goes on, it becomes increasingly difficult to identify the root of our suffering.
If you’ve ever felt that you are not worthy or deserving of success, or suspected that you may be standing in the way of your own happiness (be it in relationships, career, or money matters), you may be resisting the deep work required to break free of your pain, heal your wounds, and move forward into a new chapter of your life. And the more you resist, the more power your fears will have over you (and the more they will manifest in your day-to-day life).
While conventional therapy is a highly effective method of identifying and moving past your vulnerabilities, there’s no denying that rehashing your past can be a time-consuming and disempowering process. That’s precisely why today’s podcast guest Lisa Tahir turned to alternative approaches to healing—using astrology as a lens through which we can understand and overcome our core wounds.
Lisa is an Intuitive Psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has been doing the work of healing for more than 20 years, and recently released her debut self-healing book, ‘The Chiron Effect’, where she fuses psychology, astrology, and spirituality to help people create meaningful change in their lives.
While I’ve explored my own core wounds in the past, I’ve never seen this topic approached from an astrological angle. Lisa’s work is so needed in the world, and I have no doubt that you’re going to be as magnetized and inspired listening to this interview as I was when we recorded it. Be sure to listen to the end to find out whether or not our core wounds can ever truly be healed—and how to start the process.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“You can heal your vulnerabilities and your wounds, and actually be happier sooner rather than later.” — Lisa Tahir
“There are aspects of our lives that we feel we have to hide or edit from others. When talking about ourselves, we tend to leave out where we feel less than, and that continues up the spectrum to the range of core wounding, which has to do with some of the bigger traumas in life, like abandonment, neglect, and abuse.” - Lisa Tahir
“The relationship we have with ourselves sets the tone and dictates the relationships we have with everyone else, and with everything else in our lives.” - Lisa Tahir
“When something goes unaddressed, it tends to fester. Even something that might've been seemingly small can get bigger and become more problematic. We see this in our physical health and it's mirrored in our emotional health—losses and such that we push away or don't want to deal with, can surprise us and come up in self-sabotaging ways, and cause us to be perceived in ways that we don't want to or intend to.” - Lisa Tahir
“What you do for a living, who you hang out with, whether you go to the gym or not—all these are based upon what we believe to be true for ourselves and about ourselves. And you can only go as far or as high as your most limiting belief.” - Lisa Tahir
“I invite you as a first step to try to suspend your judgments and criticisms of yourself. We harbor layer upon layer of judgment towards ourselves, thinking that's how we change things and that's how we get better—but it's really not. It just causes us to feel shame about ourselves. Sometimes we might feel guilty over a behavior, something we said or did. And it's okay to feel like maybe you could have done better there, but you don't need to shame or blame yourself. Life will give you another opportunity. So suspend your judgment and try to be a supportive coach.” - Lisa Tahir
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Connect with Lisa:
Visit Her Website https://www.nolatherapy.com/
Lisa on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nolatherapy/
Order Lisa’s Book https://www.nolatherapy.com/chiron/
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
https://www.iheartmylife.com/join Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips.
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
Ever wondered what would happen if you woke up one morning and realized the seven-figure business you’d been building for years doesn’t fulfil you anymore? Or worse, if you looked around and didn’t even recognize the business you’d built, because it feels so far from the mission and vision you’d originally set out to follow? And what if you realized that after years of helping others love their lives, you no longer enjoy your own?
These are the kinds of questions that keep entrepreneurs up at night—and the questions we all hope we’ll never have to answer. But this year, I found myself facing each of those fears head-on, and finding out the answers—the hard way. There were times I thought I’d have to let go of my team and my clients, shut the whole thing down, and start from scratch. (Spoiler alert: I didn’t do any of those things. But I DID go through all the trials and tribulations of following your heart—which led to greater alignment than I ever thought possible.)
Things are about to get VERY real and vulnerable here at the I Heart My Life Show. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous to share this episode with you! Over the last 8 months, my team and I have been very busy rebranding, rebuilding, and revitalizing both the IHML and Emily Williams brands. And while I’m so excited to reveal all that we’ve been creating and innovating, it’s just as important to me that I show you what’s been going on behind the scenes—because the process hasn’t been as easy or graceful as you might expect.
If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you’ll know that I’ve never been one to share only the highlight reel. After all, I Heart My Life is about all of life, not just the best bits! That’s why in Part 1 of our Rebrand Reveal series, I’m baring it all. Not only the highs, but also the lowest of lows. Not just what worked, but also what didn’t. Not only the end result of our rebrand, but all the difficult decisions I had to make along the way—as well as my dreams and desires for the future.
If you’re facing uncertainty in your own life and business (or even thinking about throwing in the towel), I hope this episode serves as a reminder that reaching rock bottom in your life can lead you to the clarity (and transformation) you’re craving.
Make sure to come back next week to hear part 2… because this journey is just beginning.
In This Episode:
Quotes:
“I got to the point where I didn’t even care about the money. I remember thinking: ‘if the vision isn’t coming to life, if the brand is not in alignment with what I want and what I intended it to be, then why in the world are we doing this? I built the company out of my own pain of being in a quarter-life crisis for five years, not knowing what lit me up, feeling lost, not having a passion or purpose, not feeling grounded or rooted in my decisions, allowing fear and doubt to run the show. And I found myself in a similar place in that ski chalet in Vail, seven years later—and I knew something had to change.” — Emily Williams
“I realized that I helped women love their lives—and I deserved to have the same experience. But because I wasn't in alignment with what I always envisioned this company to be, that was challenging for me. I felt like I was constantly waiting.” — Emily Williams
“Are you making decisions based on where you want to be, or where you currently are?” — Emily Williams
"Clarity comes from engagement, not thought. Take action now, you'll find your truth." — Marie Forleo (paraphrased)
“When you get to the place where you're no longer afraid—when you're in full trust and your desire takes over—you are unstoppable.” — Emily Williams
Links & Resources:
Follow the I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1569047758
Subscribe to the I Heart My Life Show on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6
Watch the original I Heart My Life brand video from 2014
Connect with Emily:
I Heart My Life Website https://www.iheartmylife.com/
I Heart My Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylife/
I Heart My Life on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow
I Heart My Life on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/
https://www.iheartmylife.com/join Join the IHML community to receive exclusive announcements and tips.
Email: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
Book a Call http://www.iheartmylifebooking.com/
Episode Sponsor: I Heart My Life Signature Course: https://www.iheartmylife.com/i-heart-my-life-course
The podcast currently has 237 episodes available.