Own Your Work

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If you really knew that everything happening right now — the uncertainty, the waiting, the transition — was actually working for you, how would you move through this season?

I’m not talking about the surface-level “it’s gonna be okay” kind of faith. I mean deep down in your spirit, in your belly, where peace lives even when the path doesn’t make sense. If you believed that all things were working together for your good — not in hindsight, but right now — what would shift?

Would your posture change?
 Would you smile more?
 Would you release what’s been draining you and make room for what’s meant for you?

That’s the question I’m sitting with today. Because sometimes we don’t have to wait until the other side to see the blessing — sometimes the setup is already in motion.

So ask yourself with me:
 

If I knew this was taking me from glory to glory, how would I move through this season?

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In this short, reflective episode, I invite you to pause and look at what’s forming in you and not just around you. So often, when life shifts or things fall apart, we focus on what’s being taken instead of what’s being taught. But every experience carries the power to reveal a new version of you — one that’s stronger, softer, wiser, or more grounded than before.

This isn’t about pretending the hard isn’t hard. It’s about asking, “Who am I choosing to let emerge because of this?”
Because when you start to look for evidence of growth, you begin to rewire your brain to find possibility in the midst of pain.

Take a breath, tune in, and notice what’s rising. She’s already here.

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When everything shift- your title, your role, your season - it’s easy to feel like you’ve lost a piece of yourself. But even in the middle of change, there are things that can’t be taken: your growth, your lessons, your love, your character.

In this short reflection, I share the question that’s grounding me right now: When everything else falls away, what’s yours to keep? Because some things aren’t lost-they’re just coming with you into the next chapter.

• Reflection question: What’s mine to keep?
• Remember: grief and gratitude can coexist
• Carry forward what can’t be stripped away

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In this episode, I want you to really see yourself through this—whatever this is for you right now. I want you to imagine being on the other side of it, standing in your promised land, and ask yourself: what would that version of you say to the you who’s still in the thick of it?

A week before I got laid off, I was walking through my yard and had this quiet moment where I realized… I was standing in the middle of answered prayer. Not because of anything material, but because of the peace I was feeling—the woman I was becoming. And when the news came, my posture didn’t change. That peace stayed.

This episode is me processing that moment out loud, and inviting you to do the same. It’s not about pretending everything’s perfect. It’s about recognizing how far you’ve already come, even in the middle of uncertainty.

So today, I’m sitting with this question:

And I want you to sit with it too. Take a few minutes to imagine yourself there, in your promised land. Then ask: What would I whisper back to me now?

We’re doing this together for 14 days—asking questions that rewire how we see our lives, one day at a time. Be one of the first to join the community of builders, building from wholeness on substack where I am documenting my journey of building something new. 

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Before we dive into daily prompts, you need to understand WHY they work—so you don't skip them when you need them most. This episode breaks down the neuroscience of the Reticular Activating System (RAS), the brain's filter that decides what you notice out of 11 million bits of information per second. Host Sonia Holmes explains how daily questions literally rewire your neural pathways, and shares how years of this practice gave her peace instead of panic when she got laid off last week. This isn't about affirmations or toxic positivity—it's about training your brain to search for truth instead of only fear. If you're in transition and your brain is stuck in threat mode, this episode explains how to reprogram your filter, one question at a time.

What You'll Learn:

• How your Reticular Activating System (RAS) acts as a filter for reality
• Why the questions you ask yourself determine what you notice
• The neuroscience behind "neurons that fire together, wire together"
• How daily prompts build new neural pathways over time
• Why this isn't about affirmations or toxic positivity
• What actually happened when Sonia got laid off (proof this works)
• What to expect in the first 4 weeks of daily practice

Key Takeaway: These aren't feel-good affirmations—they're search questions that train your brain to filter for possibility instead of threat. Do them even when you don't feel like it. Especially when you don't feel like it.

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Rick Hanson (neuropsychologist, "Hardwiring Happiness")
• Reticular Activating System (RAS) research

What's Next: Starting today, daily 3-5 minute prompt episodes. One question. Real-time brain retraining. 

Be one of the firsts to join the community of builders who are building from wholeness. I'll be documenting my journey of building and sharing my lessons along the way. Will you join me? sonjaholmes.substack.com 

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I got laid off from Amazon this week. My 9-year-old announced it to my 7-year-old: "MOM GOT FIRED!"

This is me processing out loud. Figuring out what's next. In real-time.

I'm launching Season 2 of Own Your Work and I will be doing daily prompts for people in transition for the next 2 weeks. Not from the mountaintop. From the field.

Here's the thing: I'm really talking to myself. These are the messages I need to hear. The questions I'm asking myself as I build something new. But I'm sharing them because maybe you need to hear them too.

Today's question: What if you're on the precipice of something big?

If you're in transition, if you're figuring something out, if you're building on your own terms - walk with me.

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In this conversation, Elaine Lin Hering discusses the power of silence and the importance of unlearning it. She shares her personal journey from being a lawyer to becoming a leadership development consultant and author. Elaine emphasizes the need to create safe spaces for individuals to speak up and challenges the notion that speaking up is solely an individual's responsibility. She also explores the unintentional ways in which people silence others and suggests ways to design communication for inclusion. In this conversation, Elaine Lin Hering discusses the importance of considering different voices and perspectives, unlearning communication patterns, and being authentic and honest with yourself. She also explores the process of finding your voice, embracing different ways of operating, and overcoming shame and doubt. Additionally, she shares insights on rediscovering your voice, experimenting and intentional exploration, and the importance of supporting underrepresented voices.

Takeaways

• Silence is often an unconscious coping mechanism in response to a lack of psychological safety and the fear of negative consequences.
• The burden of calculating silence should not solely rest on individuals, but rather on creating environments that encourage and support diverse voices.
• Recognizing and addressing the biases and stereotypes that lead to silencing others is crucial for fostering inclusive communication.
• Designing communication to accommodate different preferences and needs, such as using various mediums and considering time zones, can help create a more inclusive and safe space for everyone to speak up. Consider different voices and perspectives when communicating and making decisions.
• Unlearn communication patterns that may exclude or silence certain individuals.
• Be authentic and honest with yourself about your preferred methods of communication and participation.
• Finding your voice is a journey that may require rediscovery and intentional exploration.
• Embrace different ways of operating and recognize the value of diverse communication styles.
• Overcome shame and doubt associated with not knowing or doubting your own voice.
• Experiment and intentionally explore to discover and develop your voice.
• Support underrepresented voices and challenge existing systems that prioritize certain voices over others.

Elaine's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainelinhering/

Elaine's site: Website: 

Pre-Order Book here: Unlearning Silence

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Are you ready to redefine success on your own terms and live a joyful life? That's what we did in our recent life-transforming conversation with the dynamic Jessica Kascov. As a bestselling author, speaker, and life coach, Jessica shared her journey from a thriving engineering career to the inception of her company, Joyfulness with Jess. We delved into her personal life and discovered her deep-seated love for self-help books. You'll be inspired as we explore her transformation and learn how introspection led her to discover her true calling.

In a shifting world, we all yearn for something that brings us genuine joy and contentment. Jessica introduced us to an exciting concept - the Soul Salary. Dare to redefine your wealth by aligning your time and energy with what truly fulfills you. With Jessica, we discussed a remarkable four-step process to identify and amplify our Soul Salary while reducing things that drain our joy. We also touched on the importance of authenticity and taking risks to achieve high Soul Salary status; a conversation that will utterly change your perspective on success.

Lastly, we navigated the topics of self-care, self-trust, and the critical role of finding and utilizing our voice. We explored the concept of a 'Legacy Statement,' serving as a beacon to guide our actions and decisions in life. With Jessica's wisdom, we discussed ways to escape the autopilot mode and learn to listen to our inner voice, leading to a more fulfilling life.  Get strapped, this episode is all about finding joy in the journey, and discovering your authentic self.

Connect with Jess: https://www.instagram.com/jkaskov/
Take the Soul Salary Quiz: https://soulsalary.scoreapp.com/ 
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9SF6JVK/

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What if you could take control of the autopilot mode of your life? That's what we're diving into in today's episode. I share my personal journey of disrupting ingrained habits, those default modes that have been silently dictating the course of my life. Using a specially created journal, filled with insightful prompts, I've been able to identify and begin to alter these default habits. Change isn't easy, but acknowledging these habits and recognizing their impact on our lives is the first step. Join me in celebrating and accepting ourselves as we are now, while also acknowledging that change requires time and work.

Now, imagine viewing that same journey of self-discovery through the lens of love. That's the perspective we explore in the second half of this episode. Self-reflection is a powerful tool, but it's easy to get buried under the weight of change. Instead, we should approach this journey with love and observation, allowing us to view ourselves and our work in a new light. Using a set of 12 thought-provoking prompts, we begin to realize that we are more than just our work. We can take ownership of our work, without it consuming us. As we embark on this journey together, remember: You are more than your work, and you deserve to celebrate that.

Get the free default journal here: sonjaholmes.com/default 

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What if we could disrupt the ingrained habits and routines that dictate our actions and potentially hinder our growth? Join me as I candidly share my own journey of challenging my default mode, a habit of remaining silent when I should speak up and saying yes to everything to the detriment of myself. This is an expedition not just into my personal default mode, but a collective exploration of how our default modes shape our work life, sometimes incongruously with our desires.

Brace yourselves, for this episode is all about introspection and courageous change. We're going to discover and dissect our default modes, and how they can either be our biggest ally or greatest foe in personal growth. Remember, work does not define us – we can redefine it to support the life we truly want. Let's disrupt our defaults, step out of our comfort zones, and embark on this transformational journey together. I promise you, this episode is life-changing. Let's do this!

https://www.sonjaholmes.com