Wether you like it or not, interacting with other people is a part of this whole being human thing. And not only is it a part of life, it's engrained in our operating system. Studies show that we need human connection to thrive.

So, what do we do with difficult people? Especially the ones you must work with on a regular or semi-regular basis.

Unlike last week's episode, this week we'll be talking about people who you can't just walk away from when things get problematic. These are people you work with, live near or with... people who will be a part of your life in some way beyond a passing moment in public.

In this episode we dive into how to work best with other people - a.k.a. how to play well with others.

Spoiler Alert: You're not gonna be able to change them so this will be focused on what you can control.

Ultimately, if we can approach people in a different way, we can lead a more harmonious life with everyone around us. It will be fun, I promise.

Have you ever thought about how many people you encounter on a daily basis? Not how many people you know or even how many you make a connection with. I'm talking about people that are in your vicinity whom you will likely never see again.

Lets say you encounter just 3 people a day. It may not seem like a lot, but when you take that number and multiply it by the number of days in a year, it suddenly grows to 1,095.

Now multiply that by the average lifespan of 73 years and you've got nearly 80,000 people you will come across in your life time.

Needless to say, that's a lot.

And whether you like it or not, we have got ot find a way to live with these people. Or, at the very least, co-exist. If we can get this right, imagine how wonderful the world could be.

See, the people you encounter each day are what make up your community and those communities make up the greater population and we all have an impact on it whether we know it or not.

Honestly, this should be very exciting for anyone who struggles with feeling like they're makinga difference in the world. You can impact thousands of people in your lifetime if you just aim to make a difference in the lives of people around you.

Of course, this is not always easy because people aren't easy. So how to we deal with those around us, even when they're... difficult.

In this episode we'll dive into one surefire remedy to dealing with difficult people. And you can start implementing it right now!

These days it's so easy to feel like we've been doing this whole life thing wrong. A lot of this is thanks to social media, isn't it? We were fine with our home and family and vacation plans until we opened up our feed.

The feelings of comparison fueled by perfectly curated pages give us the impression that if we just moved there, bought that, or drank this green juice then our lives would change for the better.

Quite frankly, every scroll leaves us feeling like we need a complete life do-over. And with the new year looming in the not-so-distant future, those feelings are only going to grow.

Let me tell you something, you don't need a life overhaul, you just need something you'll stick with.

Simple, I know. But when I read that on Instagram recently it stuck with me.

It's amazing how focusing on one thing can start to change every other aspect of your life without you having to put in a lot of effort.

So, what is it for you? What is something that could really change your life if you could just get it right. Maybe it's your health or a budget. Perhaps it's a degree or a mended relationship with someone close to you.

Rather than chasing a million quick fixes, what if we went all in on one thing that could have an impact on everything else?

And here's the crazy thing, I bet you already know what that one thing is. Press play and let's dive in!

Today we're talking resolutions!

Okay, hear me out before you roll your eyes. I know you've got a lot on your plate and you're really just focused on the upcoming holiday season.

But what if thinking about the upcoming year now - you know, in October - could actually be the key to keeping those resolutions come January. .

There's some research to support this idea. Maybe not the October part, but thinking about your goals for the New Year in a time that's not the New Year can actually be a great benefit.

For instance:

• There's less pressure on you to be a new version of yourself
• You're not exhausted from the holidays nor depressed due to the winter cold
• Your October probably looks a little more like normal life than January

Not to mention, there's no stress in setting goals at the moment because we're not in the thick of resolutions season. So you have time to pivot and refine those goals.

In this episode, we'll discuss the benefits of daydreaming about your New Year, months in advance. We'll also strategize how to set a good goal for youself and how you can kickstart your success here and now.

Ready to lay the groundwork for your best year yet? Hit that play button.

What do you think of when you hear the word gratitude? Maybe it's a religious ritual that comes to mind saying "you should be grateful for what you have" or perhaps a chore of writing in a gratitude journal daily.

We tend to think of gratitude as a band-aid to life's hardships. Just slap it on and move on.

Today, we're going to look at gratitude for what it really is -- a weapon. That's right, a weapon. Gratitude is more than just a last resort to combat life's battles. It's a sword and shield we wield as we charge forward across enemy lines.

We need to think of gratitude as a first resort. Or, better yet, a daily exercise that makes us healthier, stronger, more disciplined and better equipped to do life.

In this episode, we'll dive into the various ways that gratitude benefits your mind, emotions, stress levels, and even your longevity and overall health. We'll also look at some easy ways to incorporate gratitude into you daily life, including my go-to practice that doesn't require any big commitments.

We'll also learn how gratitude can set us up for success as we navigate the upcoming holiday season, which can be stressful at times, and ultimately we'll leverage gratitude to catapult us into a more fruitful new year when 2026 comes around.

I'm so thankful you're here... now let's dive in.

This week we're taking the idea of self-awareness and turning it on its head. Your understanding of self awareness may be the idea of being aware of you're surroundings and the way in which you show up in them. It's a great characteristic and everyone should be considerate of their impact on those around them.

But what if we went a level deeper... how aware are you of yourself? Do you understand who you were created to be and what God has planned for your life?

The older I've gotten, the more I've craved being exactly who I was made to be. As a 3 on the Enneagram, I tend to be extremely adaptable and pride myself on being agreeable. I can read a room and I can leverage it to my advantage.

However, this can work against me, especially when I'm on the unhealthy side of my Enneagram number. I can silence myself and turn into the ultimate people pleaser to the point that it makes others uncomfortable.

The thing is, we are all intricately and wonderfully made by our Creator. The clearer we get on who that person is, the more we can do to further his Kingdom.

Many of us are seeking to find our purpose in life and I believe the sweetness of life comes from discovering who you are, not what you are meant to do.

So, how do we do that? Well, tap that play button and let's dive in.

What if we could live our lives in reverse?

I'm not talking about dwelling on regrets or glorifying the past. I mean stepping into your future self now — walking each day in alignment with the calling God has already placed on your life.

Imagine this: Your future self — the one fully living out your purpose — is like the softest, most perfectly broken-in sweatshirt you've ever owned. It's custom-made for you, worn just right, and hanging in your closet, waiting.

You could head out the door without it. And, truth be told, you'd do just fine. But when you put it on — everything changes.

You carry yourself differently in that sweatshirt. You feel differently in it - more confident. You're careful not to spill on it. You care for it with intentionality.

Wearing your future shifts how you behave, because it reminds you who you are and where you're going.

This is what it means to put on your future self. Let the vision of your life pull you forward and shape your choices, your habits, and your direction.

So, ready to get dressed?

"How you do one thing is how you do everything."

How many times have we heard that phrase - even from this mouth? Honestly, we've lost count. And, quite frankly, I question whether those words leave us feeling motivated or stuck.

Like, if we don't make our bed in the morning, does that mean we will struggle the rest of the day? Or maybe you got a speeding ticket on the way to work, does that mean you're doomed to drop the ball in the big meeting? Does failing to do one thing, topple over a series of dominoes for everything else?

If we apply them the right way, phrases like this can motivate us. But what do we do when the pressure to perform in every little thing becomes too much to handle?

Today, we're dissecting this common phrase into something more meaningful. Something that, if applied correctly can completely transform our lives. We're looking at how little things can add up to make huge differences.

We're searching for any thing that we do well - big or small - and applying the same principles to the things that matter most.

Let's dive in!

Hey, you know what? You've got something special on the inside of you.

And letting that special gift out, is the whole idea behind the Inside Voice Podcast. The vision started in 2020 with the idea that we all have a beautiful version of ourselves that, for whatever reason, we keep hidden.

We keep our true selves locked up within ourselves in an effort to not rock the boat.

I've watched too many people around me just let life happen to them. Like a buoy in the water, letting circumstances and the environment dictate their days on earth until eventually it comes to an end.

We are meant for so much more. We are meant to be present and full of life. We are meant to be exactly who we are created to be because we are here. You've been ordained to be on this earth in this exact moment in history.

So stop hiding behind the excuses, the doubts, the fears or the imposter syndrome. Get out there and live your life. I can't gaurantee it will be perfect, but boy, it will be so worth it.

We get one shot at this thing called life. Let that masterpiece that God made you to be shine.

Bet you never thought you'd read a sentence like that, did you?

You remember Avril Lavigne's 2002 hit song "Complicated", right? No, not "Sk8er Boi", the one about a complicated relationship. She's all in with this guy and truly knows who he is. And yet, he tries so hard to be somebody else. Knowing his true character, she sees just how ridiculous this charade is.

I was inspired by a video I saw on social media encouraging people to listen to that song as if Jesus were singing it to us.

Y'all. This secular song hit me right in my faith feels.

I immediately had this vision in my mind of God sitting in the car with me, reaffirming who I am, but also wondering why I try to so hard to be everything except what He created me to be.

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

See, God has made us just the way He wants us to be and He has a plan for us on this Earth. So why can't we just lean into what He made and the purpose He made us for? Why do we "have to go and make things so complicated?"

There's so much to unpack here so if you're ready to dive in, hit that play button!