Inside Voice Podcast

I struggled with this topic, I'm not going to lie. It was hard to put this together and get the words out, but the face remains that you might lose some people in your life as you dig for that Inside Voice and let it out. Some people will be uncomfortable with you chasing your dreams, others may want to take advantage of your success. Ultimately, you need to be clear about where you're headed and take stock of those who are around you. And remember, it's OK if people are only in your life for a season.

It's time we stopped waiting for permission to live our lives. Seriously. Your life is your life. You should live it the way you want to live it. In my own experiences, I've waited for others to champion my ideas or be comfortable with my decisions before I took action. But here's the secret, you don't need them to be OK with what you're doing... just do it! Today we unpack 3 ways that you can give yourself permission to get going on the dreams you have for your life.

Call me crazy, but I believe there is power in how we start our days. The thoughts we dwell on can have a major impact on how we move about our day and ultimately our lives. Days are building blocks of our lives, after all. Have you ever considered what you think about each morning? Are you telling yourself to look for good, there are things to be thankful for, and you deserve happiness? Why not? I believe positive thoughts can change your whole outlook on life. 

What do you care about? I believe the things we care about are not only a core part of our Inside Voice, but they are also the things that drive us. Have you ever asked yourself what you truly care about and then considered how it affects your daily life, your actions, your tendencies? Often times we don't chase our dreams because we tell ourselves we don't have time or the task is too big, but maybe we just haven't tapped into our care. Maybe we haven't fully recognized why those dreams are there in the first place. 

Anyone else feeling out of sorts? After the year we've had, I'd say a lot of people are. I have felt like I've been stuck on the bench of my own life. As we approach these final weeks of the year, I want to regroup and recharge my batteries. While some people tend to give up at this point or others (like myself) like to go 150%, I'm choosing to serve others. I think this is why it's the most wonderful time of the year. It's what we give to others that also gives back to us. I believe this will get me off the bench in a healthy, productive way.

Do you enjoy your life? It's a simple question, but it can come with a very complicated answer. Of course we can't all live on vacation every day of our lives, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the 'normal' days. We deserve to enjoy our life. It's OUR life, after all. Each day that we wake up and live in exhaustion, misery or dread in a choice. And if it is a choice, then we can choose better for ourselves. Yes, even in a pandemic. Let's choose to enjoy each day and if we can't, let's make some positive changes!

You know what I struggle with? Telling myself I'm good at what I do. Allowing myself some time to truly celebrate my accomplishments. Ultimately, I struggle with recognizing my greatness. Somewhere along the way we started to believe that doing this is inherently selfish and conceited. But here's what I've learned, taking inventory of your wins is crucial to growth, success and living a life that is fulfilled. It's time we recognize our greatness. 

Whether you like it or not, we have all been forced to change this year. With all of the things that have been thrown at us, we simply can not stay the same. Oh, we can keep our core values, but I believe after this year we will approach many aspects of our lives differently. We have to. I pray that we love harder, feel more deeply, and prioritize the things that matter to us more often. I hope we realize that time is precious and so is this life, so stop waiting for tomorrow to come. Live today.

Ever get into a funk? A moment in which you question all of your gifts and talents? It happens to all of us. These moments can spiral into dream-killing beliefs that are nothing but false. How can we combat these feelings on the spot in order to continue being productive and move forward? It's not easy, but I believe with five simple steps, we can do this in a matter of minutes. We can address the root of our issue and reprogram our minds to get back to work.

Have you noticed in your life that you've stopped learning? As kids, it's a part of our daily routine to go to school and learn. Even after college we have a little bit of education as we begin a new career. But how do we continue to gain experiences and knowledge that will propel us forward. For some this is easier to do as curiosity is second nature. And for others education can be a little expensive. I have three easy and affordable ways for us to keep learning on the journey to our dreams.